DVD Reading Software.

[JRChadwick]

This isn't a very complicated problem, but I have not had much luck with it. I have a DVD full of old 8mm tape conversions from the 1950's and 1960's. I have been unable to either decrypt it or even play it. The company that did the conversion in 2002 has since went out of business. It can play on a bluray player or DVD player, but it won't play on my laptop. I've tried a few HP and Vista software, but it does not play. It does not give any errors, it just does not play.
I was wondering if anyone could suggest a program to try.

 

[Master_Ghost_Knight]

What do you mean it doesn't play? It is able to read the files but mediaplayer doesn't run them? In that case I would sugest you to find codecks, k-lite codeck pack is what I generaly use altough since it is an old covesrion the necessary codecs may have been decomitioned. If you can get the name of the file format or just the extension we might be able to help you.

If your problem however is that your pc is unable to recognise your cd, then it is your driver that is not compatible with the disk format, if it is able to recognise but the content is giberish to the disk reader then you may have a bigger problem on your hands because part of the cd mybe damaged. It is recoverable but I don't know of any program that would help you save a restored image of your disk on your pc to save it clean later (but I do know that there are such programs).

 

[JRChadwick]

My computer automatically launches QuickPlay when I load the DVD into my computer, however this is all that happens when I try to play it. The file types are pretty standard for a DVD; VOB, IFO, and BUB. Playing the DVD with Windows Movie Maker doesn't work much better.

 

[Master_Ghost_Knight]

The HP Quickplay and the movie maker are really limited in regards to the formats it can play. Use isntead the media player classic that comes with k-lite codeck pack, I see no issue why it wouldn't work then.

 

[JRChadwick]

I'm sorry, I meant to say that I tried Windows Media Player. I also tried another HP program with no results. I have no media files to edit with Sony Vegas or Movie Maker. Those programs can not edit the DVD files. I have some older codec packages in my archives. I suppose I could try loading them and see what happens. I reiterate, the DVD does play in a DVD player.

 

[scalyblue]

Just use VLC, it's a *lot* less messy than codec packs

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

It's also (slimly) possible that the disc's file system isn't compatible with your drive's firmware but try VLC first.

If you want to pull stuff off of the DVD, see how handbrake works.
http://handbrake.fr/

 

[JRChadwick]

I have that program, I was not aware it was able to play DVDs as well.

 

[scalyblue]

I have that program, I was not aware it was able to play DVDs as well.

Yeah, open VLC and press ctrl+d to open a disc, then choose your DVD

 

[JRChadwick]

Unfortunately, I still can not play it. Oddly, my DVD player can't play it either, but my Play Station 2 can.

 

[scalyblue]

Unfortunately, I still can not play it. Oddly, my DVD player can't play it either, but my Play Station 2 can.

This is an 8 year old DVD-R, the substrate could be breaking down. They really aren't designed for shelf life, (edit: with the exception of maybe taiyo yuden discs) and it may be that only certain laser pickups are either strong/sensitive enough to read the data off of it.

When you put it in your PC, don't try to open any program, try to go to computer/My computer, right click the drive in question, and click open. If you can see the folders such as VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS, attempt to select them and copy them both to a location on your computer. If you receive any error messages please document them verbatim and post them here.


Alternately, download cdburner xp and use its "grab disc" function to create an ISO image of the disc in question. Again, document any error messages you may receive.

 

[JRChadwick]

Damn. It says it can't read from the source file or disk. You might be right. I'm planning on seeking a professional on Monday, maybe they can do something from it.

 

[scalyblue]

Damn. It says it can't read from the source file or disk. You might be right. I'm planning on seeking a professional on Monday, maybe they can do something from it.

A plextor or TDK drive should be able to read the data off it..see if you can pick up an external, it might be less than a service fee

 

[JRChadwick]

To Best Buys, I go!

 

[Master_Ghost_Knight]

If the playstation can read it there might be away to hook up your pc to the PS3 and use it has reader so you ca recover the data in your pc. I don't what how tht can be done but given the situation it might worth the time learning it.

 

[scalyblue]

If the playstation can read it there might be away to hook up your pc to the PS3 and use it has reader so you ca recover the data in your pc. I don't what how tht can be done but given the situation it might worth the time learning it.

This isn't a plausible procedure with either the ps/2 or the ps/3

 

[Master_Ghost_Knight]

Well the PS3 has an hardrive that can be connected to a Pc and PS3 can be used for databanks, ofcourse what we want is just advanced error correction and we can do that without the PS3. But I'm not sure about this so I will skip it.

 

[JRChadwick]

I'm playing it with my Playstation 2, my Playstation 3 is broken.

 

[Netheralian]

Surely you could capture the analog signal from your PS2 into whatever recording device you use with your TV (even if it is VCR, at least you will have a copy until you can get it transfered to something better.

 

[JRChadwick]

My DVD player is almost as old. It can't record DVDs. It does have a VCR as well, but I don't have any blank tapes... or any tapes. At any rate, the image is starting to degrade and it won't play all the way through. I need to get it salvaged as soon as possible.

 

[scalyblue]

My DVD player is almost as old. It can't record DVDs. It does have a VCR as well, but I don't have any blank tapes... or any tapes. At any rate, the image is starting to degrade and it won't play all the way through. I need to get it salvaged as soon as possible.

Worst case you send the disc to a company like ontrack and they will recover all of the data.
They'll also charge you several hundred dollars.

edit: and clarify degrade. a DVD is a digital stream, if the data is playing back at all, it's playing back exactly as recorded.