Problems with Sony DVD's on HTPC ( 2 Views )

1. I have run into two movies recently that I cannot play on my computer. They were both by Sony Pictures: the new Zorro, and the Cave. I can get the menus to come up fine, but I can't watch the movie. I can't rip it properly with Decrypter or Shrink. I tried playing it in VLC, Nero Showtime, Windows Media Player and in Meedio with no luck. I don't have a standalone DVD player anymore, so I couldn't check to see if the discs were faulty, however, everything but the actual film itself worked so the discs should be in fine condition.
   
   Does anyone know of some new scheme that Sony might be using to prevent movies from being played or copied? I know there was a huge hullaballoo with their CD's, but I hadn't heard anything about their DVDs.
   
   Thanks.
   
   
   (zeynep, Niue)


2. try dvdfab decyptor. There is a free version that ripped zorro for me just fine.
   
   
   (mehmet, Israel)


3. Take the discs back to the store and get a refund. Tell them you don't want crappy copy protection schemes on the stuff you've actually bought. If they try giving you crap about returning open merchandise, be firm - they don't work as advertised and I think every state has consumer protection laws which you could mention to them. If they still won't refund you, BBB and your state attorney general should be more than happy to help you out.
   
   In the meantime, dvdfab seems to be keeping up to speed with the latest schemes like this. The forums at doom9.org and cdfreaks.com should also be able to help you out.
   
   
   
   (olic, India)


4. I would be curious to see if they are advertised to play on a PC. I dislike copy protection as much as the next guy, but most copy protection does not interfere with the product being used as it was intended. Buying a CD or DVD gives you rights to that media in your hand, not the right to the content on that media.
   
   
   sits back and waits for the flaming fun of copy protection debate :D
   
   
   (bora, Guinea-Bissau)


5. Quote:

   Originally Posted by IDversusEGO I would be curious to see if they are advertised to play on a PC. I dislike copy protection as much as the next guy, but most copy protection does not interfere with the product being used as it was intended. Buying a CD or DVD gives you rights to that media in your hand, not the right to the content on that media. sits back and waits for the flaming fun of copy protection debate :D

   I imagine the boxes have the dvd-video logo on them, which means they should work with any device capable which also has the dvd-video logo (such as WinDVD.) I'd say this was 'using as intended.' The OP said he couldn't get the discs to play, then tried to back them up. It sounds like there's something wrong on his system, but the fact that other dvds play fine and these don't makes me suspect it's the copy-protection stuff triggering that issue.
   
   
   
   (murat, Trinidad and Tobago)


6. The discs were rentals, and I was only trying to watch them. One was from Hollywood video, the other was from Netflix. Neither had visible scratches. When I couldn't get them to play, I tried ripping them (albeit with two programs that are no longer updated) to see if I could then play them. No dice. Since both are returned, I can't do any immediate testing with alternate programs. I shouldn't have to use programs of questionable legality to simply watch a DVD on my computer. I may try renting them again to see if I really did get bad discs, however I really think it was a decoding problem. The menus were just fine, but as soon as I played the movie, either from start or at randomly selected scenes, the computer would hang up. It is quite the mystery. I refuse to buy a standalone after I have spent so much time and money getting this HTPC running. I may just have to boycott purchasing or renting Sony movies. Or maybe turn to bittorrent. I rent/buy movies to watch at home in the way I want. If DRM issues come up so that I cannot, then I will just have to find a way around. THEY ARE FORCING MY HAND!!!!! :mad:
   
   
   (duygu, Sri Lanka)


7. if it was DRM, you shouldn't have been able to play the menus even. I must have missed that part. when you tried ripping them, what happenned?
   
   
   (muzehher, Yemen)


8. Probably arrcos/puppetlock
   
   Damn Sony :mad:
   
   AnyDVD ftw ;)
   
   
   (Yavuz, Switzerland)


9. DVD Fab Decrypter --> VOB Blanker --> DVD Shrink --> Menu EDIT FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   
   that combination will anihilate any retarted protection, prohibited BS, stupid warnings, etc.
   
   all you will have in the end is Menu + Movie (at good quality 85%+)
   
   
   (emrah, Tajikistan)


10. Quote:

    Originally Posted by tazman4 Probably arrcos/puppetlock Damn Sony :mad: AnyDVD ftw ;)

    best 30 bucks i ever spent
    
    well execpt that nite in korea
    
    
    (onur, Cyprus)


11. Id, that is the weird thing. Menus, previews, etc. had no problems. It was just the main movie that couldn't be played or ripped. When trying to rip with Shrink, it couldn't finish the analysis even. I don't remember the error message. With Decrypter, it ripped crazy fast. Usually things rip at 8x for me, but these two discs went at something like 23x. I tried playing the files that I ripped with the same results as trying to play the DVDs. Menus etc, worked fine, but the movie wouldn't play.
    
    I found a different way to watch the Cave, and it was horrible. Not worth the trouble. I haven't tried again with Zorro. The next time I run into a Sony disc that gives me the problems, I'll try some of your suggestions to see if it really was a drm type issue. If it isn't drm related, would changing codecs possibly help?
    
    
    (özlem, Antarctica)


12. The Mask of Zorro didn't rip using DVD Decrypter or DVD Shrink for me. That's when I discovered DVD Fab Decrypter.
    
    
    (deniznur , Bolivia)


13. Another recommendation for AnyDVD. It works great at removing all copy protection and they upodate like crazy. If something doesn't work usually you can wait a few days and a new version of anydvd will be out that will make it work. That and the fact it works on bypassing the friggin Macrovision component res limits has helped alot of the systems I have setup for friends who only have component to the tv.
    
    
    (halil, Botswana)

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