Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with dvd

How to get my hard drive to recognize other drives.

magnoliasouth — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:22:59 -0800

I have two computer hard drives installed onto one machine, and no CD for the first hard drive. The computer doesn't recognize USB ports nor the DVD drive on one of the hard drives. How can I fix that? To make things easier to understand. I had an older computer whose motherboard went out, we'll call that one hard drive A. I bought a new computer (computer/hard drive B) and installed the A hard drive.

It'll boot fine to the A hard drive, but it's only recognizing the hard drive itself. It cannot connect to the USB port nor the DVD drive.

If I go into Computer Management, there is no listing for USB nor DVD. How exactly would I fix this?

I prefer to use the A hard drive over the B hard drive because naturally all my files/software/etc. are located on that one. Some of that software was purchased online without a CD, so I don't know how to "move" it to another hard drive.

If it matters, both are running XP and both are and were eMachines.

So how do I fix this?

Recommend a hip hop dance instructional dvd.

roaring beast — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:02:19 -0800

I'm looking for an instructional DVD for hip hop/urban dance. Not looking for stuff about breaking or bboying. Not trying to figure out how to dance in clubs. Not trying to perform or anything (like developing routines). Just getting a better feel for the basic coordination of expressing myself through hip hop dance for someone who doesn't have much experience dancing.

Blow my Mind

god particle — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:01:53 -0800

The world (and universe) is an incredible place, as I've learned from awesome series such as Planet Earth and the Universe. What are some other high-quality mindblowing box sets? Or even just a single eye-opening documentary? I just want to watch something and leave with the sensation of, wow, the world is a crazy/amazing place. I'm not looking for pseudoscience pieces such as What the Bleep Do We Know or "issue" documentaries that show how the people on this planet are insane or evil or suffering (though they are interesting). I'm really looking for things about the natural world and universe, such as the Elegant Universe.

Whither online media organizing?

droplet — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:05:28 -0800

Are there any sites out there like the late, sort-of-great Guzzlefish? I adored Guzzlefish. Every time I got a new DVD, mp3 or CD, I popped the info in and along with a comprehensive list of my media collection, I'd get all these great statistics about what I had (apparently, I love anything ever on film, vinyl or electrons by Michael Palin). And then one day - ZOOP!- Guzzlefish was gone. I'd like to find something similar if it's out there, and googling has been of no help. DVD Aficionado is meh. Could the hive mind direct me to something better? Thanks.

Which episodes are on which DVD?

mecran01 — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:20:27 -0800

I watch most of my TeeVee on Netflix. Is there a site somewhere which indicate which episodes are on which DVD in the series? I'd like to know, for example, which DVD in a series contains episodes 7-9. I realize it's possible to guess, but sometimes they change the number of episodes on a disc and throw you off.

Incidentally, I realize this is a banal and fussy question, and that it makes me the online equivalent of one of the bloated future humans in Wall-e.

How do I convert home movies on DVD to .mov files?

Lillitatiana — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:06:26 -0800

How do I convert home movies on DVD to .mov files? A while ago, I had all my family's Super-8 films converted to MiniDV and DVD at a telecine facility. I was trying to capture the MiniDV tapes as files in Final Cut Pro 6 through a JVC MiniDV/VHS recorder when I noticed a burned-in time code on the MiniDV tapes. I tried importing VHS tapes and there was no time code, which makes me think the facility burned in the time code on the MiniDVs themselves, and that it has nothing to do with my FCP settings or my deck. ANYWAY, my question is this: how do I convert files from DVD to QuickTime? The place where I had my Super-8 films transferred also put them on DVDs, and there are no time codes on the DVDs – but the DVDs are encoded. I extracted them a while ago (before I got my deck) via Streamclip (or Mac the Ripper, can't remember), but now I don't know how to convert all the VIDEO_TS to plain ol' Quicktime. The telecine place is closed until August (it's a tiny mom and pop shop), and I wanted to get started on this now as a summer project.

Could you point me to a link where there are step-by-step instructions on how to convert DVD files to QuickTime? Google results yield a wealth of information... all from before 2006. I also realize that detailed instructions on how to rip DVDs might be scarce or iffy, what with copyright laws related to commercial DVDs, etc. But these are only home movies!. Alternatively, if you have any other insight into what might be going on regarding the [seemingly] burned-in time code, I'd appreciate your input. Thanks in advance!

DVD storage solution?

underwater — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:33:59 -0800

Has anyone seen this DVD storage solution? I keep 1000 DVDs in white paper sleeves in 10" x 5" x 5" cardboard boxes from Uline (these fit *perfectly*, BTW). But I want to upgrade to something stand-alone that is wood and looks like a real piece of furniture. Since I want to flip through them, drawers are the only option. Can-am doesn't look good to me and are too deep. This piece seems perfect but I can't find one to look at in person and it's very expensive to ship back if I don't like it. Has anyone seen one of these and if so, would the drawers be suitable for holding DVDs in sleeves and not plastic cases?

Other suggestions of furniture that meet the above criteria are also welcome. But I'm not interested in 1. ripping solutions 2. hanging sleeve solutions 3. boxes that don't look like real furniture or require re-stacking rather than being pull-out drawers.

I have read the other threads about DVD storage but they don't seem to have suggestions about wooden furniture with drawers.

Thanks!

See and/or Buy

cmh0150 — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:03:28 -0800

I want to see an independent film: The Polymath, Or The Life And Opinions Of Samuel R. Delany, Gentleman. While I live in Washington DC metro area and would go if showing nearby, I really would like to purchase this as a DVD. Does anyone know if it is or will be available in DC area or on DVD?

Is there any pointing backing up DVDs if you can download them?

snarfois — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 11:36:54 -0800

Is there any point backing up my DVD collection if I could just download replacements? This is partially practical and partially ethical. Now that I have a toddler about the place (and an unpredictable computer), I've started backing up my DVDs, using Mark Pilgrim's method. At the rate I'm going, it'll take me months, it's tedious, and I'm filling up my hard disk with .img files which I'm too anal to delete.

Part of me is wondering, what's the point? BecauseI reckon I'd be able to find torrents of pretty near everything I own on DVD. Since I've already bought the DVDs in question, I wouldn't feel like I'm doing anything wrong.

What's the balance of opinion around here? Is it more wrong than I suppose? Am I over-optimistic about being able to find most things for download? (Now and in the future?) Am I even running a legal risk?

Am I foolish for not going HD with my new camcorder purchase?

Roach — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:44:30 -0800

Am I foolish for not going HD with my new camcorder purchase? I'm about to upgrade my camcorder. I have been using a Panasonic AGDVX100A for a few years with great success. I love the DVX and was thinking of going with the newest "B." But am I foolish for not going HD? How much new equipment would I need? Is the creation of HD DVDs, particularly using FinalCut Pro and associated programs, an easier process than a couple years back? What am I not considering?

I've searched the archives but it appears it's been at least a year since the last discussion on HD camcorders.

Any input is welcome. Oh, and uses are anything from basic video production for events to indie film making, both documentary and otherwise. Thank you!

Dealing with bad blank DVD-Rs

nanojath — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:10:40 -0800

Problems with DVD-R blank media. Help me parse my solutions. So, I've been burning a lot of data discs to DVD to free up hard drive space on my older G4 iMac. I just burned through a spool of Sony blanks and moved on to a spool of Memorex discs I got a "good deal" on... Immediately started having problems, with an error message I've never seen before (0x80020022) stating that "communication to the disc drive failed." 1 in 5 or less discs will start recording at all and those that do have verification problems. Memorex CD-Rs continue to work just fine in this drive.

I poked around online with this message and saw a lot of opinions fingering the media, with Memorex specifically mentioned. I ran this program and by this list came up with the media id RITEK F1, which that resource describes as being "second class."

Given that the problem started with the media change and the other details above, fingering the media as the culprit is pretty much a slam dunk, right? (If you doubt this assertion, please elaborate) Assuming this, I have a few questions.

1. That "branded" discs are of dubious origin that you can't verify without having some program scope an actual disc in the drive was news to me. Can you suggest a "gold standard" brand of disc that I can buy and be confident of the quality? Price is much less of an object than me not getting incredibly angry and wanting to smash my computer with a giant hammer every time I need to burn a DVD.

2. I'm probably going to need a new computer sooner rather than later, most likely a new iMac. How likely these discs will work any better in a new drive? Basically I'm wondering if I should keep them or call it a loss and get rid of them somehow (I foolishly bought a large stock due to a sale price, after a frustrating day and a half of experiments I have more than 90 of these left, 75 still on their wrapped spindles).

3. Any bright ideas on getting rid of 90+ "second class" blank DVD-Rs? I can't return them at this point. I wouldn't want to sell them or give them away to charity if it's a good chance they will just cause someone a bunch of trouble. Are they destined for the landfill?

A Box Set Box for My Blank DVD Cases?

sjuhawk31 — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:17:56 -0800

Do-it-yourselfers: I'm trying to make my own DVD box set. The part that's missing is the box. To save space on my DVD shelf, I'm trying to get rid of the bulk from some of my TV-on-DVD sets. Specifically...ok, I'll admit it, my full-series collection of "Friends." Those ten seasons take up a ton of room on my shelf. I'm hoping to use 20 dual slimcases or 10 4-in-1 standard-sized cases to consolidate. It would make for a nice box set, except for the fact that I don't have a box to keep the stuff in.

Does anyone know of blank DVD box set boxes? I'd especially like one for the 20 slim cases, since 10 standard-sized cases could stand on their own on the shelf.

Hooligans

chugg — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:40:47 -0800

How can I buy the series DVDs of 'The Real Football Factories' and 'The Real Football Factories: International' in Canada? I've seen a few episodes of this show and wanted to know if there were any for sale on DVD in Canada. There is some for sale on ebay in the UK but I don't know if they will work in my Canadian DVD player.

How do I display 6 slide shows on 6 LCD displays?

MrBobaFett — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:06:43 -0800

We are building a video display wall for our new office and I need to figure out the best way to do it, with out spending too much. The output source are 22 LCD displays, there are 6 of them all showing different slide shows. DVD? PC? Any help would be appreciated. More details of what has been tried are inside. We started with the idea of 6 LCDs hooked up 6 DVD players, with slide show CDs in them. Turns out it's a huge pain in the ass to get computer monitor LCDs (1680x1050) to play an HD (720p or 1080p) video signal. (The method I have been using is an HDMI to DVI cable going into the digital in on the LCD, also the DVD player is a Philips DVP5982)

I had two Acers (AL2216Wbd) from my desktop I used in the prototype which worked and displayed 720p fine. Then I ordered six of the same model to use in the wall and Acer changed something in the manufacturing in the last year so none of them will display 720p or higher, and Acer doesn't want to help unless I am plugging them into a computer.

So I went out and got a Samsung (2253BW) monitor that looks great and I can sent it 1080p video signal, for up to 1 minute. Then the monitor tells me this is not the optimum video mode and turns it self off.

I don't have the time and money to keep getting LCDs and testing them to see if they will work with a DVD player. Also because of budget I am focusing on the $200-300 range.

The other obvious answer would be to use a computer to drive the displays. But I don't want to buy 6 shuttle PCs, I'd rather just get 3 dual head video cards and run all of the monitors off one machine, but I haven't found any slide show software that will display different slide shows at full screen on different displays.

Am I going about this all wrong? I thought I was fairly competent but so far this project is proving otherwise.

What a warm, loving family...

Solomon — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:02:53 -0800

I'm looking for some films/TV shows that revolve around the concept of family, especially the "created family". I loved Buffy. I loved Angel. I really really loved Firefly. I also quite liked Six Feet Under. Fraiser was kind of interesting. But I hated the Soprano's.

What films or TV shows might I like, where the central theme is a group of disparate strangers being lumped together to form a cohesive unit - a "family"?

The outside details (being in a spaceship/fighting monsters/whatever) aren't vitally important. If the shows are available to rent on DVD (in the UK, though I figure that shouldn't be too much of an issue), that would be great too.

My stacks of DVDs are close to Jenga.

soonertbone — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 09:29:45 -0800

Looking for a good, cheap way to store my DVDs. My DVD collection is growing and I need a good way of storing them. I like having the cases on display, so anything involving cabinets or boxes is not what I'm after.

Ideally, I'd like some kind of shelf system that allows me to stack the DVDs horizontally, like books. If I get something like a bookcase, I want the bookcase to not be too deep. If it's deep, then you can't really see the DVDs on the bottom, you know?

I'd like the shelf to be durable, but on the cheaper side, if possible. Wood (or something that looks like wood) is preferred to metal. I've searched for this online, but have only really been able to find big cabinets that cost hundreds of dollars.

I have about 225 DVDs now, and the collection is expanding. Does anybody know of a good place to find furniture like this? I've tried the Container Store in NYC, Bed Bath and Beyond, and various places online that have all been really expensive.

American History via DVD

IndigoJones — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:12:50 -0800

Seeking DVDs for a European to learn American history. Learning Company comes to mind, but your minds are more varied than mine. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Boredbaby filter: Portable DVD player for car

beccaj — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:17:38 -0800

I need recommendations for a DVD player that straps to your headrest. I bought one thru Amazon and recieved it and it didn't have the headrest kit in it!
So I returned it and am going to make a less hasty purchase...
Any suggestions people??

(Possibly unneeded info: I will reluctantly admit here who it is for... my BABY. I swore no TV, etc blah blah blah but this kid HATES the car. I cant go anywhere. Everything is a half hour away from me so a couple times a week I have to just suck it up and go but he screams and cries till he vomits and chokes and then screams some more. He is VERY active and hates to sit still. It never gets better and I am trying to just get to the grocery store. He's 8 months and I tested out Yo Gabba Gabba and he likes it. Singing songs doesn't help, his favorite CD doesn't help. He LOVES being out and about places but I just can't get him there.)

I want to be a human pretzel...

lemonade — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:59:39 -0800

Are there any good yoga/stretching DVDs for increasing flexibility? I'm looking for a DVD with an emphasis on becoming more flexible. Can you recommend a flexibility yoga DVD, or maybe something with stretching for martial artists or dancers? My hips and legs are especially tight, and since I need to work on this anyhow, maybe I can get all the way to the splits!

What software will help make efficient use of DVD space?

mithiirym — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:32:55 -0800

Where can I find free Linux or Windows DVD organizer software to efficiently make the best use of space on discs? I often burn thousands of files onto discs and have to figure out which files to exclude to try to use the most space on each disc so I'm not wasting much so I can--sometimes it'll save me from using an extra disc. I'd much rather have this process be somewhat automated. Does anyone know of any software to help out?

Which Akira should I buy?

phaded — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:08:39 -0800

Which version of Akira should I buy on DVD? I've been looking to get Akira on DVD for quite some time, but there are a few different versions floating around that I've seen, so I'm wondering if someone who knows more about anime than I do can help me decide.

There's the DTS version, the special edition, and the Geneon Signature Series edtion, which I've also seen a deluxe edition of.

Does anyone know which one I should grab? I'm hoping it's either the DTS or the Geneon, as I found a site that's closing both of those out for $5 a piece.

Where Can I Get Disney Movies in Chinese?

rubberkey — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:51:51 -0800

Where can I get Disney movies dubbed in Mandarin? My Chinese teacher had showed us MuLan in Mandarin Chinese with the subtitles when I was in school a few years ago. Surfing youtube has brought up tons of Disney songs dubbed in Mandarin, but I can't seem to find the movies to buy or otherwise anywhere. I've also read that any Disney movie that is dubbed in Chinese is a fake because they don't make them. This doesn't really bother me, but I want to find some to play in the United States dvd players. I also don't know/understand very much about dvd zones but I understand that movies made for China will not play in the U.S.
Also where I can find other shows/ movies for kids in Mandarin that aren't specifically Disney films? (the children are 2 and 5 + myself)
Thanks

Limitless paper in a paperless world

TheSecretDecoderRing — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:33:56 -0800

External cardboard DVD slipcases... what's the point? Not an important question, but...

I don't shop for DVDs too often, but I've noticed that sometimes a DVD will come in a regular snapcase, which itself is enclosed in a cardboard slipcase with virtually the exact same design. The only difference is perhaps a cutout on the slipcase to reveal the UPC on the actual snapcase, and maybe a foil version of the front cover. But with manufacturers phasing out those insert sheets, presumably to cut costs, why the seemingly redundant slipcase?

Not only does it seem a huge waste of paper, but it creates a conundrum for packrats like me who hate to throw out stuff like this, even if the desire to keep them has become less compelling over time. And some of them do look purty upon first sight.

Data + video in one disc

echo target — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:49:26 -0800

Trying to make a multi-mode DVD: video plus data. What tool do I need? I want to make a DVD that will play in an ordinary DVD player, but also contains some data files (independent of the video content) that can be seen when you put the disc in a computer.

I don't need to have autoruns, link to the data content from the disc menus, or anything fancy like that. I just want two types of data accessible by different machines.

The full story: I have video of an educational presentation. During the talk the speaker refers to the handouts. I'd like to have copies of the handouts on the disc so people can view them there or print off new copies if they don't have the hardcopies they got the first time.

Free/open source is best, but I might be willing to spend some money if necessary. Are there any good software tools for this?

Lazy guy doeasnt want to drag each file separately into burning software

buggzzee23 — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:09:07 -0800

I need some help choosing the correct software to burn DVDs of my 40GB mp3 collection. WHat I would like to find is an app which would allow me to just drag the entire directory into the app and it would take care of filtering out the occasional file other than mp3 and would split the directory into DVD sized portions for easy burning. Does such an app exist?