Hi,

yes, it's simple but a DVD video disc is not a simple data disc as it is using a different file system. Just copying the files will lead to a disc which most likely won't run in a hardware player.

You could use ImgBurn (freeware) for the job or commercial suites like Nero, WinDVD and others. The most important part is to tell the burning application that it's got to produce a DVDVideo-disc.

Cheers

darkframe

Gotta disagree with you Darkframe.

A dvd IS a data disc with a certain file structure. Copying the video_ts and Audio_ts folders of a finalized dvd is all that is needed to make a successful copy. Done it a million times.

Mike

I think you are both right. It IS a data disc, but it burns using the UDF file structure, not the ISO/Joliet structure.

However, ANY burning program can copy a disc, and it will copy the file structure. So, use the copy function on the DVD burning program.

Actually, for TeeTime, the simplest thing would be to just copy the AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS folders back to the hard drive, and then have DVDA do the burn. Just tell DVDA to burn an already-prepared compilation and point to the folder where you put the AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS folders.

Hi Sab,

yeah, finally any disc containing data is a data disc ;)

Well, maybe we're both talking about the same. When using e.g. Nero you can of course simply hit "Copy disc" and all will be fine. It'll be like this in many other applications as well.

On the other hand, try burning both folders with e.g. Nero while Nero is set up to burn a data disc and you might end up with a disc not playable in your hardware. Still that's depending on the hardware player as well as some do not actually need the correct file format but mine does. Anyhow, that's what I meant. In case you've got VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS on your harddisk you should take care of the correct output format, i.e., in Nero you should use the DVDVideo template in this case. In case you're only copying the disc that will be taken care of by the application.

Maybe I'm nitpicking but regarding my own experiences I thought I might clarify that a bit (did I?) :)

IMHO John's suggestion is showing the easiest way but TeeTime's brother might not possess DVDA so could e.g. use Nero, WinOnCD (sorry for the typo above) or freeware like ImgBurn.

Cheers

darkframe

You are right darkframe, my brother does not have DVDA so I was looking for an alternative that could work for him. Thanks all for the info.

Jerry

I was under the impression that the data structure in the IFO files on a DVD has absolute sector addresses for the multiplexed mpg data so it IS possible to copy a DVD as a data disk and have it not play.

You can replicate the file system and data structure but have the physical location of a given piece of be different thus it won't play. Many copy programs will keep it the same and thus it will work but it's not guaranteed.

I think when you use something like Nero and tell it the disk is DVD-Video it makes sure to get the physical locations correct. If it can't do that you'll get an error message.