Greetings,
This post is not so much a question as a solution I accidentally discovered.
I rip my DVDs to a large capacity network attached storage device (TS-859Pro) so I can play my DVDs through my Mediagate HD800 just like the disc is in a standalone player using just the files. I ripped some of my legally purchased DVDs without compression or copy protection legally for my personal use, then put my original DVDs disks in storage. It's great to grab my remote and choose any of my DVDs without hunting for the disc and inserting it into a standalone player. Changing disks is just as easy with the remote control and it works just like the DVD is in a stand alone player menus features subs and all!
I ran into a problem with a couple of retail DVDs that my PC would not recognize the media in the drive (error stated there was no disk in the drive). Example: Stargate - The Ark Of Truth. After several days searching for a solution and nothing worked I learned that my disk had a copy protection called ProtectDVD (?) that made it impossible for the PC to 'see' the disk, therefore could not copy, rip, play...nothing. Yet this disk works perfectly in my standalone player. Disk was clean, etc, etc.. I am an advanced pc user and built all my systems myself from scratch.
The solution was very simple. I hooked up my external USB2.0 DVD burner to my USB2.0 hub and VIOLA'! There it was! I then used DVDfab to copy files and it plays perfectly now.
I don't understand the nuts and bolts of why this happens; something to do with copy protection 'talking' to the Windows registry and denying access to the disk. I tried other PCs, other drives, everything under the sun. This is only conjecture, but I am guessing that by using the USB hub there is a broken link from the burner to the registry that prevents the copy protection in the disk from stopping the PC seeing the disk.
If anyone knows about this problem I would appreciate some feedback. Suffice to say I am glad it is working now, but I am a left brain tech-head and I -need- to know why it works this way ;-) Most of you guys know what I mean. This solution may have already been adressed somewhere and if so please forgive my duplication. If not just pay me (just kidding!)
ps, if this is not allowed with DRM laws i would appreciate someone pointing this out to me so I can comply. I don't want to break any laws.
Supposedly, AnyDVD removes it.
"Protect DVD" has been around for a few years.
Quote:AnyDVD v6 Features:
Removes "Protect DVD-Video" copy protection.
DVDs with this protection can be played on Windows MCE 2005 with Windows Media player or Zoom Player.
