I've always used File Mode (i.e. folder of DVD-Video files like IFO and
VOB) to backup my DVDs instead of a single ISO file. Which do you
guys prefer and why? This is assuming you are archiving or backing up
large collection of DVDs on hard drives.
For me, i use ISOs once the movie is compressed to DVD-5 size. I use anydvd or dvd shrink to compress it, and then store it on the computer as an ISO. The reason i use an ISO is Imgburn, DVD Decryptor, Nero, and most other DVD burning programs can take an ISO and burn it without having to transcode, or analyze it. All the info is there and no other program has to be fired up to put the DVD in a correct format. I use the full file mode for the original rip to hard drive, or if i have a large movie that i will used DVD Rebuilder on. It could work from the disc, but it seems to go faster if i rip it to the harddrive first. I guess its a matter of personal preference. ISOs are easy to burn using Imgburn.
While i don't do much in the way or archiving on my pc, what ones i do have saved on it are also all in ISO format. Same basic reason as Maxburn...overall compatability with ImgBurn and some other programs i use.
Looks like ISO is the the preferred archiving format.
Since ISO files are actually filesystem encodings I
guess you can always convert the ISO file to DVD-Video
folder and vice versa. Buth with ISO you could also
compress the file further.
