How to burn/play a dvd

[ztoolfanh]

Sorry in advance but I am very new to downloading dvd boots. I just recently downloaded a video and I am trying to burn and view on my dvd player. After I downloaded, I burned everything in the VIDEO_TS folder on to the blank dvd by dragging and dropping and burn. I put it in my dvd player and it gives me a weird menu and I cant get out of the menu or play the video. What am I doing wrong? Thanks. I am using mac if that helps.

[lintoni]

Not sure about the specifics of mac, but generally, dvds have two folders - VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS (which is normally empty - unless you're making a DVD-A). You need to add the whole VIDEO_TS folder, including the folder, not just the contents. Some software has a burn dvd option which will create the folders required, and you can then drag and drop the contents of the folder into the appropriate folder.

If your software doesn't have a create/burn dvd option, burn as data disc dragging the whole VIDEO_TS folder and creating an empty AUDIO_TS folder and dragging that into your project and burn as a data disc.

You may find better/more specific mac advice by searching the technobabble forum

http://www.thetradersden.org/forums/search.php?searchid=8417864

[ztoolfanh]

This only came with the VIDEO_TS folder and checksum.md5. I'll try again dragging the whole VIDEO_TS folder.

[lintoni]

This only came with the VIDEO_TS folder and checksum.md5. I'll try again dragging the whole VIDEO_TS folder.

That's normal practise - as I said the AUDIO_TS folder is normally empty, so isn't included. But create an empty one and drag that into your project as well. If you want to keep the md5 and any info file, you can also create an EXTRAS_TS folder and drag them into that, but it isn't necessary for the dvd structure.

[daddyray]

get the freeware Burn for mac.

set it to data
set it to dvd (udf)

drag only the VIDEO_TS file into the app
insert disc and burn away....

once you see the pane for Burn this will all be pretty obvious...every once in a while a file set will simply not burn happily.

also get VLC (at VLC.org) but make sure it fits your OS.....that app will play most everything on your computer.

Or get Toast (not free) and burn anything easily

OR get dvd imager (free) and make a disc image of the VIDEO_TS folder..then open disc Utility and burn the .img file through that..that is still available on Lion BTW

[daddyray]

feel free to pm if you'd like more or better help. I struggled with this stuff when I first got here

[lintoni]

^^^
Yay! Helpful mac man! But isn't it all meant to be intuitive with macs?

[daddyray]

well this torrent stuff is pretty odd IMHO.....once it is in hand it is very easy to manage.

[ztoolfanh]

All right, I got it solved kind of. I can play it on my pc but not on my mac or dvd player. Suggestions? Thanks daddyray and lintoni.

[ztoolfanh]

Would this have anything to do with it being PAL?

[daddyray]

as I said in my PM region is critical as well. region free DVD players are not costly though.