I've got a couple documentaries I want to burn, both about 2 hours 10 minutes in length. I've never burned a DVD before in my life, but I do know that the 120 minute DVD-Rs I have will not be adequate.

I saw some 240 minute dual-layer DVD-Rs at Best Buy, but I'm not sure if the burner that came on my T60 is compatible. If it's not, I assume I'm fucked because you can't really split a DVD up onto two discs, right?

9/10/2006 4:19:06 PM

this is a common problem - google

9/10/2006 4:20:07 PM

google didn't help at first

but pulling the drive out and reading the info on it did

/

9/10/2006 4:40:58 PM

couldnt you just connect the 2 files and then use dvd shrink to shrink it onto one dvd?

or just buy a dual layer disk, they are around a dollar a disk now

9/10/2006 4:48:19 PM

yeah i just wasn't sure if my drive was compatible, and didn't want to have to call ibm

but "dl" is clearly written on the drive, I just had to pop it out and check

9/10/2006 4:53:15 PM

so what are you gonna end up doing?

getting dual layer disks and put them both on one, or try to put one movie per disk single layer?

9/10/2006 4:56:53 PM

I'm not sure if this is a problem anymore, but i used to have problems getting DL burns to read in DVD players. I'm with lucky2 on the DVD shrink idea. You could just lower quality and get it on one disc. It probably wouldn't even be that bad of a quality loss for a 2:10 movie.

9/10/2006 5:01:42 PM

ok my original post may have been misleading...when i said I had a couple I wanted to burn, I didn't mean I wanted to put them both on one disc, but that both of them were to large to be burned individually onto 120 minute discs (both are over two hours in length)

but now that I know my drive is compatible I'm just gonna go get some dual-layer discs

and download dvd decrypter to rip them and nero to burn them, i think

[Edited on September 10, 2006 at 5:05 PM. Reason : ;]

9/10/2006 5:02:48 PM

yeah, but I mean, getting a 130 min movie on a 120 min disc isn't too big of a deal. Depending on what you're using to do it, you can lower quality a little bit, or chop off the credits at the end or something and it'll get onto a single layer disc. Nero vision express does that.

9/10/2006 5:08:36 PM

http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Tools/CD-DVD-Rip-Other-Tools/DVD-Shrink.shtml

9/10/2006 5:14:23 PM

i agree with ^^

dual layer disks are probably at best a dollar a disk

the last time i stocked up on single layer disks i spent about 13 cents per disk

imo, it would be easiest and cheapest to just decrypt with dvddycrpter, then open those files in dvd shrink and put in a single layer disk

9/10/2006 5:21:25 PM

^, ^^^ i'll look into that, 120s are alot cheaper

[Edited on September 10, 2006 at 5:22 PM. Reason : a]

9/10/2006 5:21:56 PM

Quote :

"I'm not sure if this is a problem anymore, but i used to have problems getting DL burns to read in DVD players."

9 times out of 10, the problem is that you didn't change the bitset to DVD-ROM...dvd-rom is the standard, and all dvd players can read dual-layer dvd discs (as that's what most movies are burned onto), but the bitsetting can be an issue for certain players

9/10/2006 5:26:03 PM

alot of options in the "settings" menu of dvd decrypter...is there anything I need to be concerned with?

9/10/2006 5:33:49 PM

pretty sure the default settings are fine

i just opened it and didnt see anything i think i changed

9/10/2006 5:36:07 PM

well, that's just it...out of 3 burners i have at my disposal, only one was set by default to dvd-rom...the other two i had to use bitsetter to change, i don't know why

here's a list of book type utilities, including bitsetter:

http://www.dvdplusrw.org/Article.asp?mid=14&sid=18&aid=77

9/10/2006 5:44:33 PM

ok now i'm in dvd shrink viewing the dvd structure

Under the "extras" folder there are a few titles that i don't really care about. I am going to delete them in order to get a better compression ratio, but can't figure out how. Re-authoring?

9/10/2006 6:21:49 PM

yeah

your at the easy part now

9/10/2006 7:39:42 PM

alright, new question

I've sucessfully decrypted and shrunk a DVD, or so I think. DVD Shrink 3.2 gave me an output of two folders, one Video_TS and one Audio_TS. The Audio_TS shows no content when I view it, while the Video_TS contains various .BUP and .VOB files. I'm attempting to use DVD Decrypter to burn to these to a blank DVD-R, but the program seems to not recognize the files. Suggestions? Am I going about this the wrong way?

10/27/2006 6:01:27 PM

i don't know about DVD Decrypter, but in Nero you create a new "dvd video" and just add the *_TS folders. probably something similar in Decrypter

10/27/2006 6:32:24 PM

what ^ said

the audio_ts folder is useless (a throwback to older dvds, i THINK...too lazy to google it)

10/27/2006 6:33:14 PM

Quote :

"but I'm not sure if the burner that came on my T60 is compatible"

depends on how old it is... probably not though

10/30/2006 8:14:12 PM

A 25-pack of DVDR DLs at BestBuy is going to run you $60
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7739566&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat65200050024&id=1140392779154

A 25-pack of DVDR DLs at TigerDirect is going to run you $37
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1516458&Sku=M200-1098

And you'll actually get customer service at TigerDirect.

10/31/2006 12:08:42 AM

or you can just get any number of DVD-DL packs

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2010100071+1087508108&Subcategory=71&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

From newegg and not have to deal with the shittyness at Tigerdirect or Compusa.

10/31/2006 12:54:02 AM

^im not necessarily sure about this.

10/31/2006 1:19:41 AM

^about what? his last 5 words? he's exactly right on all accounts in that regard.

10/31/2006 1:38:08 AM

^^im not necessarily sure about him.

10/31/2006 9:06:59 AM

He's morbidly wrong about comp usa. Fact.

10/31/2006 12:36:55 PM

while i can attest to the fact that most people that work at compusa know more about computers than the average joe, they are in no-way experts, and in most cases only provide the quickest solution (or easiest), not necessarily the best or most affordable solution.

just because you're 18 and work at compusa, doesn't mean your a computer expert, nor does it mean that your one experience of working there mean that it encompasses everyone's experience at compusa

Quote :

"He's morbidly wrong about comp usa. Fact. In my opinion."

[Edited on October 31, 2006 at 12:48 PM. Reason : /]

10/31/2006 12:47:21 PM

Hey I'm sorry if I offended you in any way. But if I notice err in one's post, I have to do my job and jump in there to correct it immediately. I'm a representative of my company even when I'm not working. So when one is misleading others about us, I have to fix it.
He was totaly wrong, that's not my opinion. I only deal in fact. His post was 100% subjective. Thus rendering him wrong by default. It's also grossly misleading. I can't stand for that. I just can't.

[Edited on October 31, 2006 at 1:05 PM. Reason : .]

10/31/2006 1:03:45 PM

How was I totally wrong?

I've dealt with two associates at Compusa in 10 years that knew what they were talking about. The ORIGINAL employees, when they opened their doors in Greensboro and Raleigh were so much more qualified than the current crews, it's laughable.

They used to actually have technical interviews for employment, but all that went away when corporate decided they could lower costs by hiring 18 year old kids who would work for 15-20% less. Most of the original regional management either left the company or moved into other areas of company when this happened, circa 1996-97 if my memory serves.

How do I know this? I knew a couple of the original regional managers, they were very active in the Triad Computer Club at the time and very outspoken about how upper management was washing the ideology of the company down the shitter.


You want objectivity:

http://www.bizrate.com/ratings_guide/merchant_detail__mid--98.html

175000 ratings, 6.8/10 for knowledgable staff spanning the last 7 years.

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1912.html

one of the lowest ratings on resellerratings.com, a HIGHLY respected site.

[Edited on October 31, 2006 at 1:35 PM. Reason : .]

10/31/2006 1:34:09 PM

dude, Earl, take some classes on basic reasoning...

statements like this are laughable, you can't be serious can you?

Quote :

"He was totaly wrong, that's not my opinion. I only deal in fact. His post was 100% subjective. Thus rendering him wrong by default."

Quote :

"I'm a representative of my company even when I'm not working. So when one is misleading others about us, I have to fix it."

i understand this, but this does not make your opinion of CompUSA fact and his opinion wrong "by default".

[Edited on October 31, 2006 at 2:53 PM. Reason : .]

10/31/2006 2:48:26 PM

Quote :

"From newegg and not have to deal with the shittyness at Tigerdirect or Compusa. "

Is this NOT an example of one imposing subjective biased opinions' amongst others?

Quote :

"I've dealt with two associates at Compusa in 10 years that knew what they were talking about"

So have I. They work there now, and they would totaly disagree with you.

Quote :

"were so much more qualified than the current crews, it's laughable."

Yet another biased misleading opinion shared by ONE individual.

Quote :

"but this does not make your opinion of CompUSA fact and his opinion wrong "by default". "

Listen pal, I work there!! So my opinion is wayy more credible than a "customer" who had a bad experience. No,I'm not biased but I refuse to allow someone to run us "in the dirt". I apologize if I came off the wrong way or if I startled anyone, that is not my intention. But if I have more knowledge than him about certain things, he just needs to be aware of it and deal with it. The world is not coming to an end.

10/31/2006 3:22:21 PM

again your reasoning skills have failed you...

Quote :

"Listen pal, I work there!! So my opinion is wayy more credible than a "customer" who had a bad experience."

one part does not represent the whole... sorry, just because there may be 10 competent people in the company does not mean it represents a majority of the company...

i'm not trying to throw mud, but i am trying to open your eyes that the world is a lot bigger than just you.

[Edited on October 31, 2006 at 5:18 PM. Reason : .]

10/31/2006 5:17:31 PM

honestly, what has CompUSA done for you that makes you so damn loyal? it's a corporate-run retail chain, there is nothing glamorous about working there! and you're definitely not going to garner any respect in the IT industry bragging about and defending a store such as CompUSA. giving your loyalty to that store when talking to us is the equivalent of giving loyalty to your McDonald's job when talking to a chef at a 5-star restaurant.

your reasoning is horrible. keep your mouth shut and learn before your speak about that which you do not know.

by default.

10/31/2006 6:55:08 PM

hmmm.... this reminds me of that sports talk thread about that guy who manages that restaurant bragging about stuff.... that is all I have to say about that

11/1/2006 12:02:30 PM

Quote :

"Listen pal, I work there!! So my opinion is wayy more credible than a "customer" who had a bad experience. No,I'm not biased but I refuse to allow someone to run us "in the dirt". I apologize if I came off the wrong way or if I startled anyone, that is not my intention. But if I have more knowledge than him about certain things, he just needs to be aware of it and deal with it. The world is not coming to an end. "

And I have known upper level management there who knows the qualifications of hundreds of employees like yourself. Hence, I am not just a "customer" who had a bad experience.

In fact, I have had few bad experiences there, mainly because I know what I need when I walk in and don't have to bother with the staff.

11/1/2006 1:46:26 PM

I do not wish to start up a piece of beef with you man. But sometimes you just don't know what you're talking about. And this is one of those cases. Fact. Now that's all I have to say about that.

11/1/2006 3:23:44 PM

It's not a fact, its your personal opinion.

See I posted 175,000 ratings that SUPPORT my position.

You have done no such thing.

11/1/2006 3:34:57 PM

Stop throwing your dad-gom tandrums. The reality is, you're TRYING to tell me about a place that I work at. So you're already in the wrong there.

It's both a matter of my opinion vs yours. I work there, so my opinion victors yours.

[Edited on November 1, 2006 at 3:54 PM. Reason : .]

11/1/2006 3:48:46 PM

i think what Earl is saying is:

"I work there, so my opinion is fact."

11/1/2006 4:02:52 PM

^^you've also been a speaker of the english language for years, yet i would imagine ESL kids know that victor isn't a verb.

11/1/2006 4:08:55 PM

Quote :

"Stop throwing your dad-gom tandrums. The reality is, you're TRYING to tell me about a place that I work at. So you're already in the wrong there. It's both a matter of my opinion vs yours. I work there, so my opinion victors yours."

And if you had the reading comprehension of a five year old, you would know I KNOW people who work ABOVE you in YOUR company, who agree with me.

So by your own logic, my opinion "victors" yours.

11/1/2006 4:11:52 PM

I can't see this thread anymore due to all teh e-penis flying around in here

11/1/2006 4:21:06 PM

Quote :

"So by your own logic, my opinion "victors" yours."

pwned. by default

11/1/2006 4:49:02 PM

^^^I think you're going out on a limb there.

11/1/2006 8:38:08 PM

jesus christ could this thread get any more offtopic.... wait wait, yes it can... cue the nakkie pics....

11/2/2006 9:35:59 AM