Posted by John Williamson on 12/21/07 20:35

Ken Maltby wrote:
> "John Williamson" <johnwilliamson@btinternet.com> wrote in message
> news:DeSdnVsV4r4ek_HanZ2dnUVZ8vudnZ2d@bt.com...
>> knews4u2chew@yahoo.com wrote:
>>> On Dec 20, 10:26 pm, knews4u2c...@yahoo.com wrote:
>>>> Knowing this has been asked before...here goes.
>>>> What is the best software(s), free or otherwise, to go from DVD to a
>>>> web based format file?
>>>> I don't have a DVD reading software on my XP OS yet, as I'm aware, and
>>>> if I put a DVD in the the CD player I see no files in Explorer.
>> Windows Explorer will show 2 folders on a DVD, if the drive is working
>> correctly. These are VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS. VIDEO_TS holds the video files
>> that are played by a DVD player. AUDIO_TS`is used for audio only DVDs. If
>> your DVD is from a camcorder, it needs to be finalised in the camera to
>> work correctly.
>>
>> If you can't see these folders in Windows explorer, either your drive is
>> faulty or the DVD is not compatible with it.
>>
>
> Or he did "put a DVD in the CD player".
>
That *would* make the DVD incompatible with and hence unreadable by the
drive. ;-)

>
>>>> Do I need two or three reading and compressing softwares?
>> Not necessarily. There are easy to use single program solutions, or there
>> are suites of programs that are more versatile, but harder to use.
>>
>
> But he will have to install something that adds a MPEG 2
> Codec, to be able to read DVDs. If he buys a DVD drive
> it will probably come with DVD player software.
>
I've seen programs advertised for sale that claim to re-code your DVD
into whatever format(s) you want to pay for. Either they have an
internal codec, or the adverts lie.

Installing the player software that comes with the DVD drive will
install a decoder, though.

>>>> Is mpeg4 the best thing to go to to have a web based format?
>> No. The most widely readable are Windows Media or Real Player formats.
>> Mpeg4 is good for saving space, but a lot of people don't have the
>> programs installed to view it.
>>
>>>> I've been tohttp://www.videohelp.com, but am really a novice at all
>>>> this software jargon and usually have a terrible time downloading and
>>>> installing things.
>>>> Anyone have a step by step or do I need to call a pro?
>> You'd be best off talking face to face with an expert who has a certain
>> amount of hardware expertise as well as video knowledge. You may have
>> hardware problems.
>>
>
> Reading the related newsgroups would be a good thing
> to do before "talking face to face with an expert".
>
Coulda sworn the OP wrote that he knew the question had been asked
before. ;-)
The OP also admits to having problems with downloading & installing
programs, something which can't easily be learned from just reading
newsgroups, but *can* easily be learned in a face to face situation with
an tutor of some sort. Even at my level, I could probably teach more in
an hour face to face than someone could learn in a month of reading
newsgroups.

>> You'll also make less enemies if you only post to one newsgroup at a time,
>> as most people regard crossposting as rude.
>>
>
> Crossposting to three closely related Newsgroups, is not
> what causes problems.
>
There's already been one rude reply about it being crossposted...
Not only that, but a lot of people who might be able to help have their
newsreaders set to killfile all crossposted items.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.

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