dvd burning

I am trying to burn dvd's from pc to dvd. i am using software ImgBurn. The transfer from pc files to dvd were successful. the problem is when i try to play them on a regular dvd player, i receive an error message "invalid dvd" or "no valid dvd" any help would be greatly accepted

 

You may find this tutorial of value

http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/burn_dvd_folder_imgburn.cfm

 

How are you copying the DVDs to the PC? You cannot simply copy the AUDIO_TS and the VIDEO_TS folders to the hard drive, and you cannot copy all the various .VOB and .BUP and .IFO files from the VIDEO_TS folder to the hard drive. For obvious reasons, commercial (ie; store bought) DVDs are encrypted. Everything may copy over OK, but it's worthless, it won't play on a DVD player, and probably won't play on your PC either. You'll need to decrypt the DVD first using any number of programs:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/DVD43_d6135.html (if using Nero to copy a DVD, run DVD43 in the backgroud and it will remove encryption)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/DVDFab_d5168.html (it says "Shareware" but for basic encryption removal it's free; if this isn't the free version, you can download the free version and get more info at this link)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/DVDFab_Passkey_Lite_d6423.html (similar to DVD43; does not decrypt all BluRay movies; visit the program's web page for more info)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/RipIt4Me_d5408.html (I haven't used, but it has a fairly large user base)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/DVD_Shrink_d4020.html (as famous as this is, I have never used it; plenty of info on the web, just search for "copy DVD with DVDshrink")
http://majorgeeks.com/DVDVideoSoft_Free_Studio_d6621.html (includes MANY tools including a free decrypter for DVDs)
.... and of course, the immortal DVDdecrypter http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/page15.html#DVD Decrypter
All of the programs I listed are 100% FREE to download and use.

The guide linked to above by thisisu is excellent for burning DVDs that have already been decrypted, or for home movies that are obviously not encrypted. However, since your opening post was VERY light on details, I am assuming that you are trying to back up movies that you already own because you don't want the original movies getting lost, scratched, etc. If you have a large DVD collection, and your DVD player has DivX playback (many newer players have it), you can rip your DVDs to DivX (or XViD which is different but 100% compatible with DivX players). This allows to you put up to 6 or 7 full movies on a standard DVD+/-R. So, you can put the full "Lord Of The Rings" collection on a single disc; I have all the "Star Wars" movies backed up to a single disc. Once you get skilled at this, you can keep the original surround-sound 5.1ch audio intact.... it's worth taking the time to learn this stuff!

:major

 

I also found this: http://dvdidle.com/download/FreeDVD.exe Apparently it allows you to remove encryption from DVDs already copied to the hard drive. SO, if you copied "An Awesome Movie" from the DVD you just bought to a folder on your hard drive, you can run FreeDVD on it to remove the encryption, then burn it using your favorite burning program or the guide linked to above by thisisu.

(I've never used this, and I've never heard of this program either so I can't vouch for its usefulness)


G O O D L U C K ! ! !

 

Actually the issue was, My grandson downloaded some small Simpson trailers to my computer and asked me if they could be put on a dvd so he could play them on his portable dvd player while on vacation. Of course I said yes, and being a novice I had no idea of what would be involved. I did manage to burn them from my file to a dvd using ImgBurn from thisisu's post but then could not play them on a stand alone dvd player. Then I found DVD Flick and in conjuction with ImgBurn, I accomplished my task. I still have to figure out how to not loop all the trailers together, and be able create an index to pick and choose which one to run. There is probably a setting that I missed somewhere in either one of the programs. Never the less I believe the boy will be happy with what I have now. I just need to enhance it. Thanks for your help thus far

 

I used DVDflick exclusively for years until I bought a home DVD player with DivX support. To create an "index" or a chapter list with each clip being a new chapter, use the option to "create new chapter with each video source" (this may not be the exact wording). So, for each clip added, you'll have a new chpater assigned to each clip. I haven't used DVDflick in quite some time, and don't remember all the intricacies, so I can't offer a lot of help with it, but it is perhaps the best free video-to-DVD program available.... I strongly suggest you read/print the DVDflick "How-To" guide available in a number of languages at this link.

Good luck!

 

dlb: used your link and created a nice menu. thanks

 

Glad I could help! If you're interested in creating more DVDs with custom menus, you might want to check out DVD Styler. You can use your own pictures for backgrounds and menu thumbnails... I haven't tried it personally, but it's highly rated here at MG.