DVD Copying Problems/Program Suggestions

[karl.pestell]

Hi Everyone

I received a DVD writer for Xmas, an NEC ND-3500 and installed it all and tried to copy a DVD video. I used Nero 6.0.0.11 and it comes up with an error saying "The Disk is Blank and Invalid" from the source drive (DVD).

I am very new to the idea of copying DVD's and I read somewhere about the size of the disk on a commercial DVD compared to the 4.7 on a standard DVD-r. I know that the disk I am trying to copy only has 4.27gb on it, so it shouldnt be a problem here.

I am just about to update Nero and see if that helps, but I also read on here that someone had the same kind of problem as this and it was Nero thinking that the DVD was copy-righted, or something like that. Just so you know, the DVD was a promotional DVD from a university which I was told I was allowed to copy for some friends who were interested in it.

Sorry if this is just me being stupid, but as I say I have not dealt with DVD-writers before.

Thanks for any help and Happy New Year to everyone

Karl

[glc]

Update your Nero.

[karl.pestell]

Thanks GLC... on my way now! Ill keep you updated!

[RJ]

Or just use DVD Decrypter. Mode > ISO > Read, and then Mode > ISO > Write.
Makes a perfect 1:1 copy.

RJ

[karl.pestell]

Hi All

I updated my Nero to 6.6.0.3 and tried to copy the disk again and it come up with the error message - Cannot copy this disk to a DVD.

I am abit confused now, has anyone got any ideas what else I can do?

Thanks

[TwoRails]

Have you tried RJ's tip?

If you are using Nero, did you use the Nero Recode applet? That's the one designed to backup unprotected video discs. You don't want to use the regular backup.

[karl.pestell]

Hi havent tried RJ's tip as I was trying to do it "on the fly" and not do an iso and then burn the image.

I just wanted to copy a disk to disk on the fly and thats where Im getting the problems.

[karl.pestell]

Right, an update...

I have unchecked the "on the fly" option on Nero and it still wont copy. I am assuming it is something to do with the disk I am trying to copy being copy protected?!?!?!

Any ideas?

[karl.pestell]

OK then... I have found a few more things out now...

1 - When i click on disk info in Nero and select the DVD drive, the disk is coming up as empty even though its a DVD video.

2 - I tried to copy and burn on the same drive, so put the DVD into the DVD writer to read it and the disk then said it had data on, where the DVD player didnt. Also, when I tried to press copy, it comes up saying that the DVD is copy protected and cannot be read.

3 - I tried to copy a DVD-r data disk which I created before. This wouldnt let me do it on the fly not.

So Im abit lost as to why I cant get my DVD player to recognise that the DVD has data on it? I think this is very weird as the DVD will play fine on the PC, but when it comes to copying it, the DVD drive (reader/Source) thinks that the disk is empty, even though it is not!

Also, if this disk is copy right protected, I assume that I wont be able to get this to ever copy no matter what software I use?

[karl.pestell]

Right, after some more research I have found that a few other people have this problem.

I was wondering if there is any software available which ignore the copy right stuff and you can select the write speed of the disk? Someone suggested one to me before which doesnt allow you to select the write speed, so it takes 30 mins to burn a copy!

[RJ]

Ok, if you want to copy on the fly, then you need a program that decodes CSS on the fly.
In particular, AnyDVD.

Then you can just use Nero as you're used to (or any other burning software), as AnyDVD will run in the background and take care of the copy protection.

RJ

[karl.pestell]

Thank you very much, just the answer I was looking for. I will get that now and go from there.

Thanks again

[karl.pestell]

Another update... I installed the AnyDVD program and that worked as in it ignored the copyright stuff when I did the copy using the same DVD drive, eg I set the source as D: and the target as D: when the image had been copied.

When I tried to do the copy "on the fly" Nero comes up saying "Cannot Copy Disk" and stops. The thing is, when I use the disk info tool in Nero, the contents of the DVD drive always says "the disk is empty" even though XP picked up on it being a DVD and prompt what program to use to view it.

I assume this is the reason now that I am not able to do the copy "on the fly" as my PC is thinking that the DVD movie in the DVD reader/player is an empty disk.

If I put the DVD movie into the DVD-RW and then use the disk info on that drive, it gives all the information and does not say the disk is empty.

Has anyone got any siggestions on this? I am using a Liteon 16x DVD rom drive which works fine and will play DVD's etc on the PC.

I have tried to put in a normal CD-Rom and not a DVD into the drive and then press disk info and the CD info works fine, so it only seems to be happening on the DVD disks.

Also, In windows explorer, the DVD drive is showing as a CD-Drive when no disk is inserted, although it picks up on the DVD, I am not sure if this could be a reason for the problem. The DVD-RW comes up as DVD-R which is fine, but the DVD drive is thinking its a CD drive only. The driver does state DVD/CD, but im not sure if this is the problem.

I have got a dvd o copy now, but not getting the image from the DVD drive and burning it on the DVD writer, which is the main problem now.

Any ideas or hints would be a massive help

[reboot]

Get DVDShrink and DVDecrypter (both free).
Shrink will extract the dvd (regardless of copy protection scheme), and allow you to edit the contents (removing foreign language tracks, unwanted extras, etc.) and then burn with decrypter.
Both tools and guides are at www.videohelp.com

[karl.pestell]

Hi All

I have now installed AnyDVD which is working fine, but when I attempt to use Nero and copy one disk drive to another, either on the fly or not on the fly, the disk info says that the DVD in the source drive is empty.

I assume this is the reason that I am getting the error about not being able to copy etc.

Do you know any reason why this is happening or what can be done about it? I dont know if it has anything to do with the copy protection, but I assumed that the anyDVD program would eliminate that.

Also, I am able to use 1 Click DVD copy and read from that drive without a problem, but Nero thinks that the disk in that drive is always empty.

I have included some screen shots below so you can see what I mean.

Windows Explorer (DVD Reader/CD-ROM)
http://www.dp006a4811.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/explorer.jpg

Nero (DVD Reader/CD-ROM) Without touching or moving the disk
http://www.dp006a4811.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/nero.jpg

Any advice would be good.

Thanks. Karl

[glc]

Your DVD drive has a problem. It's dirty, needs a firmware update, or is going bad - or it (or the other drive on the cable or both) are not jumpered correctly.

[karl.pestell]

But how come it is working OK in Windows Explorer?

I will have a look and see what I can find. Start with dirty and go upwards lol.

As for jumpers... Im sure I have mine set as DVD Reader/CD-ROM - Master and DVD Writer - Slave, but if thats wrong, please say and I will double check to make sure as well.

Thanks again for the reply.

[karl.pestell]

The jumpers all all correct.
I have tried a firmware upgrade and I have the latest version - (LTD-166S Drive).
Tried to clean the drive.

Im very lost now, the problem is only with Nero... all the other programs I use seem to work fine!

[not important]

Originally Posted by reboot Get DVDShrink and DVDecrypter (both free). Shrink will extract the dvd (regardless of copy protection scheme), and allow you to edit the contents (removing foreign language tracks, unwanted extras, etc.) and then burn with decrypter. Both tools and guides are at www.videohelp.com

I don't mean to hijack this thread but there have been a few movies out lately that Shrink and DVD Decrypter won't work on. The DeCrypter site has a patch that will work for some of these problematic movies but VobBlanker seems to be the best solution.

[marty.wicks]

G'day Karl,

I had exactly the same problem as you. I have different hardware (Pioneer DVR-108 burner and LG 50x rom).

I've done some digging around and it appears that some versions of Nero have issues with different hardware. Mine is version 6.3.x.x, but I've read that 6.6.x.x also has been troublesome.

I got sick of trying to see what was wrong with Nero and have since used cdburner xp pro (http://www.cdburnerxp.se/) It does on the fly DVD to DVD and is freeware!

Cheers,

Marty

[bailey]

try making the writer the master and the rom the slave. see if that changes anything

[karl.pestell]

I have downgraded my Nero to 6.3.x.x I think and it works fine on the fly etc.

I really dont understand it at all, and I assume this means that it shows that there isnt a problem with master and slave etc and it works fine.

I will stick with this version of nero for the mo, but I have 1 click copy as well which seems to work well.

[MaxRat]

Nero is your problem! it will not copy "on the fly" with that version....6.3.1.2.5 will! you will have to Manually copy that dvd with the version you have.... meaning open the Burning Rom select dvd video...select New.... copy and paste all the audio and video ts file over then burn it....it will work! if you need more post back and we'll give a detailed instructions....Terry

Edit... Nero will not copy a copyrighted dvd (rented) the one you have will copy.... for others you will need "dvd x copy platinum" or dvd shrink to work in conjunction with Nero.....