DVD playing

[fluffykeith]

Sorry for this probably very simple question but I am lost in the sea of possibilities and have no compass!!!

I have a few DVDs that I play a lot and want to put them on the hard disk so I can then play them using PVRX2.

I can get an iso or dvd image (vob files etc) to the hard disk by copying / transcoding to DVD5 or whatever, I guess ultimately its down to image size and what plays it.
I have previosly been converrting them to MPG which is OK for a few but nice to get get the menu for the others.

Now I don't know what to use to play these images in PVRX2. What are the usual/preferred/reliable methods. The built in DVD only seems to access the DVD drive not the hard disk, so I guess I need a plugin or virtual DVD tool.

Whats the best approach?

cheers

Keith

[sub]

I just rip the DVDs to the hard drive in file mode using DVD Decryptor, retaining the VIDEO_TS/AUDIO_TS directory structure, then browse to them in the Video Library and play them from there.

[LAGuy]

I do the same, only with DVD43 and DVD Shrink. Works great.

[fluffykeith]

oh right - I didn't realise that I could pick them up in the video library. So does the whole menu structure work?

I'll give it a try.

Thanks

Keith

[sub]

So does the whole menu structure work?

Yes.

[fluffykeith]

Thanks for the info - I have DVDShrink but I am looking at DVDDycrypter as I think it may be more flexible for selecting only the bits I want however can you tell me if it can compress the DVD to a custom amount. DVDShrink has custom compression as a %age bar and estimated file size.

cheers

Keith

[sub]

No, I dont think it does any shrinking.

[fluffykeith]

Thanks for the info.

I just created a DVD shrinked copy and it works really well and easy to do too.