Playing DVD on Computer

dbz2000 · Post by **dbz2000** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 6:26 am

I am trying to create video to play back from my hardrive without burning to DVD. I have been able to create the Video/Audio Folders by burning an image to hard disk. The problem is that when I click on any of the files in the video folder, I am unable to get the video to play back beginning with the Chapter menus. I can get the chapter menus to come up, but they do not activate the rest of the video; or I can get the video to play from the beginning but not from the chapter page.

What I am trying to do is use video clips for my classes, but want the ability to click on them separately and view them individually. Do I have to create each clip individually to get this effect or am I missing something in the process?

If I burn a DVD, all is well. I just don't want to carry the DVDs around when it is easier to just view them from my hard drive.

anniebrion · Post by **anniebrion** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 10:43 am

What software are you using to playback the DVD.

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 2:38 pm

I like to use PowerDVD to playback dvd's on my hard drive. You can also use software dvd players like WinDVD and even Ulead's very own DVD Player (among others)

George

BrianCee · Post by **BrianCee** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 6:36 pm

In order to get the full functionality of a DVD playback on your computer you must have a software programme installed which simulates a DVD player - such as Power DVD or Sonic Cine-Player etc.

jwarner · Post by **jwarner** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 7:12 pm

Or, Windows Media Player with the proper MPEG/DVD Decoder installed.

BrianCee · Post by **BrianCee** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 7:16 pm

I've never been able to get menus to work in Media Player - what codec do I need John ???

jwarner · Post by **jwarner** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 7:33 pm

I use WMP 10 but it should also work with 9?

Open WMP, select TOOLS, DOWNLOAD, PLUGINS.

This will take you to a Microsoft web page.

Click on DVD Decoder Plugin and select the one that best matches your system. Since I have a NVIDIA graphics card, I selected the NVIDIA one.

They cost around $15 to $20 but are WELL worth it! The NVIDIA one has a 30 day free trial as well.

My WMP plays DVDS and MPEGs perfectly now with no more long delays trying to load a file. The menus work fine as well. Also, the slider now lets me go anywhere in the file instantly which is great for finding video segments to include in my UVS edits!

The only thing the NVIDIA one does not do that it should is the ZOOM feature does not appear to be implimented yet. This would allow me to zoom in slightly to eliminate the overscan area when viewing my DVD's on my PC.

If you want to see if you already have a compatible Decoder installed, download this tool:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 7:41 pm

Microsoft shipped a free dvd player with some of their OS packages. They didn't tell you about it, but it's in the .cab files of win98se and winME (and maybe even Win2k).

The program requires you to have an mpeg2 decoder installed on your computer, but as long as you have that, you can use Microsoft's DVD Player to playback dvd's from your hard drive (menus and all).

I think it was called dvdplay.exe

Interesting that they now charge $15-20 for what was included on so many OS discs (although I'm sure their current version is alot nicer -- the old one was very basic).

George

dbz2000 · Post by **dbz2000** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:36 pm

Thanks to all for the quick replies. In essence, I am using all of the players mentioned - Power DVD 5, WinDVD, Ulead Player, WMP 10, Cine Player and none of them will allow the video to play from the menu / chapters. I can get either the menus which do not activate the video, or I can get the video to play from the beginning without the menu to start it.

When I look in the folders (Video TS) I see several files. ISO, IFO, BUP etc. I have tried each and every one and sometimes I get a part of the video and the other part is a separate file. Is there a particular one that I should be engaging to initiate the full DVD beginning from the menu/chapters? Even though I have tried every file there.

Any help will be appreciated. Again, thanks for the earlier replies. Be blessed!

jwarner · Post by **jwarner** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:56 pm

This is the one that works for me: VIDEO_TS.IFO

Did you download the Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility to verify you have compatible DVD/MPEG-2 decoder installed (assuming you're running Windows XP)?

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en

WMP will use whatever decoder it can find on your system but if it is not compatible as shown by the utility, you will get all sorts of odd results.

dbz2000 · Post by **dbz2000** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 2:39 am

I have used Video_TS.IFO as well and it brings up the menu page, but when I click on one of the chapters, all I get is the video window resizing from full screen to regular screen size.

Really at a lost for solving this dilemma, but I like a challenge and will figure it out.

Thanks to all for your replies! Be blessed!

rwindeyer · Post by **rwindeyer** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 6:42 am

It might be a dumb question, but what are you creating on the hard drive - an iso image, or a DVD folder? I have been experimenting a bit recently and found that the DVD folder works well. With PowerDVD, Cineplayer and WinDVD I can play the video. The screen size also stays at what I have selected.
Just select Navigate to DVD Folder (or equivalent, depending on software), and find the VIDEO_TS folder/file. It should work fine from there.

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 7:31 am

Are you actually loading the file properly into "Power Dvd"?

Open PowerDvd and click on the bottom right icon, choose
"Play Dvd from folder", then browse to the Video_ts directory
and select OK.

You can program the dvd in the dvd creation process so all the
files display as Icons. Then set the program to make the player
go back to the menu after it's done playing that video.
These are the options available when creating the dvd.

Many teachers use this option so as to only select the video they
want to teach.
VS lets you program the dvd this way.

MD

dbz2000 · Post by **dbz2000** » Sun Jan 16, 2005 8:16 pm

':oops:' Thanks to all who replied. Rwindeyer & maddrummer both hit it on the head.

I had figured it out prior to returning here and as was stated I was trying to create a shortcut on my desktop to the video, and not initiating the program through either of the players.

Once I initiated the video through the players themselves, all was well and the Video_TS file worked fine. Thanks again to all! I always find good answers in this forum, even from the old forum. Be blessed!

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