USB 3.0 WD External Drive - Movies Don't Play

Perhaps some of you guys that use the external TB drives to put movies onto can help out with a problem my brother is having. He bought a WD My Book WDBACW0030HBK-01 and transferred TS video files ripped using DVD Shrink 3.2 to it. He can see the files if he opens the drive in windows explorer, but they won't play.

The external drive uses USB 3.0 and his computer has a 2.0 port. Does this cause viewing issues? He also tried using his son's computer that does have a 3.0 usb port, and they still won't play.

I had him fetch a newer USB driver for his Win7 OS and it didn't help.

The movies do play when saved to and activated on his internal drives, so I'm not thinking it's a player issue but maybe he needs a different one for an external drive? He's considering a pci-e 3.0 USB card, but I'm not convinced that the USB port is the issue.

Anyone have some suggestions here?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bec

Perhaps some of you guys that use the external TB drives to put movies onto can help out with a problem my brother is having. He bought a WD My Book WDBACW0030HBK-01 and transferred TS video files ripped using DVD Shrink 3.2 to it. He can see the files if he opens the drive in windows explorer, but they won't play.

The external drive uses USB 3.0 and his computer has a 2.0 port. Does this cause viewing issues? He also tried using his son's computer that does have a 3.0 usb port, and they still won't play.

I had him fetch a newer USB driver for his Win7 OS and it didn't help.

The movies do play when saved to and activated on his internal drives, so I'm not thinking it's a player issue but maybe he needs a different one for an external drive? He's considering a pci-e 3.0 USB card, but I'm not convinced that the USB port is the issue.

Anyone have some suggestions here?

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not sure if he's trying to "play" the movies into a home theater system or trying to make "hard copies" of the movies that are in the "black box" ( you really need to talk him out of buying WESTERN DIGITAL! ) , let's say after buying your MANUEL FERRARA dvd's you want to make "hard copies" of the disc's , some computers don't recognize the "black box" so it's easier moving the "movie folder" from the "black box" to the "desktop" and copying from there.

I'm guesing to "play" the movie's it's the same principal using a good quality "player" and USB port to T.V

there's probably hardware/software out there that does what I just said , just view this as a "quick fix!" :)

- jim

p.s - don't let anyone at GWW know that I buy "straight porn!" , it would ruin my reputation here as a GAY! - LOL

Attachment 5051

Just a note: the TS files are just VOB files.

And Jim -- you've lost me with your reply.

By black box do you mean the new WD external drive? As to playing the videos once he has copied them to the new drive, I think he's just testing them and trying to watch them on his computer monitor, as he hasn't mentioned hooking anything up to the TV. The drive full of movies was/is a gift to his son and daughter in law. My bro is a big user of RedBox video rentals, so that would be my first guess on how he obtained an original DVD in the first place.

(and yeah, I do need to talk to him about buying WD- LOL Though he may have a clue now since these movies play just fine on his internal Seagate!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bec

Just a note: the TS files are just VOB files.

And Jim -- you've lost me with your reply.

By black box do you mean the new WD external drive? As to playing the videos once he has copied them to the new drive, I think he's just testing them and trying to watch them on his computer monitor, as he hasn't mentioned hooking anything up to the TV. The drive full of movies was/is a gift to his son and daughter in law. My bro is a big user of RedBox video rentals, so that would be my first guess on how he obtained an original DVD in the first place.

(and yeah, I do need to talk to him about buying WD- LOL Though he may have a clue now since these movies play just fine on his internal Seagate!)

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yes , the "external" and/or device that contains those illegal KAZAA music/movie downloads! - LOL

my computer also has problems "reading" some "externals" so I have to move the file(s) to the computer and then work with it there.

- jim

So you're saying the WD is only good for storage and his son will have to transfer all the files to his internal hard drive to actually watch them?

Bec,

Maybe it is because I am tired..but what FORMAT are these videos that cannot be read on the external drive (btw..I have to disagree with the put downs of WD..never really ever had a problem with them...have 3 I've been using for a couple of years now).

So, they are just hooking this up to their tv via usb/hdmi inputs? Then the TV can't read them, or is it some other device than a tv?

I know mkv formats are very popular but they really have immense problems with many devices as far as their compatibility. In the early days, you could forget about this format with say Roku in the early days...all had to be something like mp4..but they have definitely got a handle on that with version 3 of Roku that's out now. Anyhow..just trying to get clarification. Thanks!

They will not play using his computer and monitor. Videos are housed on the external WD drive via a 3.0 USB cable between computer and WD drive. The situation has nothing to do with hdmi or a tv or a movie theatre, etc etc. The same videos are also on an internal drive and they work fine. Switch to trying to play the ones on the external and nadda.

He isn't editing anything, he just wants to find out why they won't play.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bec

So you're saying the WD is only good for storage and his son will have to transfer all the files to his internal hard drive to actually watch them?

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unless he can find "compatible" hardware/software that allows the computer to communicate with the external that might be what he has to do.

for myself movies/music stored on "externals" have to be moved to the computer for the programs I use to "see" , it's a shame once I've "manipulated" it on the computer I have no problems sending it back! :)

I guess I could have just said yes! , WD is only good for storage! - LOL

- jim

I haven't read through this thread from first word to last, but just putting a VIDEO_TS folder on a DVD doesn't necessarily make it auto run in a DVD player.

I use Toast to burn DVDs with a VIDEO_TS folder, to sell to my happy customers. if I recall, the Toast Copy UDF-ROM option sets a bit on the DVD disc, that allows for the auto run/play.

I don't use Finder to copy a VIDEO_TS folder to a blank.

That and I don't believe one should be doing any fiddling with the VIDEO_TS files. Some of the files are the brains of how the DVD will play, including menus and what the remote functions will do.

And RIPping might be thwarted by copy protection.

Ok..so I take it he ripped them from dvds. Ok, now I can see why it plays on the internal drives as probably all the correct folders are t here. But, if I understood one of the first posts in this string, he's trying to play ts files? When you rip a dvd, the actual video files to play are the VOB files. Make sense?

If you copy a VIDEO_TS folder to a blank DVD (drag and drop copy), and put the disc in the computer drive and use a DVD player App to open it, it (probably) will play (if there is no copy protection, and if none of the files have been damaged).

But (probably) not in a DVD player appliance - usually referred to as a DVD Set Top Box. Those machines need to have DVD diss with a bit set on them for auto run/play.And that bit is set by a burning App such as Toast.

There's no button to press on the DVD machine or remote to force it to play a VIDEO_TS folder without that bit set.

Also the .IFO (info) and .BUP (back up) files must not be missing nor damaged by copy protection, or RIPping or compression techniques, etc. Some DVD authoring Apps add .lay files, which actually can cause a DVD not to play correctly!! So in the example below, authored by DVD Studio Pro, I have to take them out before burning a copy with Toast for a customer.

2_HOTTIES_MASON_SCOTT_STEVEN_JAY.layout
VIDEO_TS.BUP
VIDEO_TS.IFO
VIDEO_TS.VOB
VOB_DATA.LAY
VTS_01_0.BUP
VTS_01_0.IFO
VTS_01_0.VOB
VTS_01_1.VOB
VTS_02_0.BUP
VTS_02_0.IFO
VTS_02_0.VOB
VTS_02_1.VOB
VTS_03_0.BUP
VTS_03_0.IFO
VTS_03_0.VOB
VTS_03_1.VOB
VTS_04_0.BUP
VTS_04_0.IFO
VTS_04_0.VOB
VTS_04_1.VOB
VTS_05_0.BUP
VTS_05_0.IFO
VTS_05_0.VOB
VTS_05_1.VOB
VTS_05_2.VOB
VTS_05_3.VOB


VIDEO_TS

On a DVD disc, DVD movie files are stored in the VIDEO_TS folder. There is also an AUDIO_TS folder, this is where DVD-Audio would be stored, but usually the folder is empty.

The TS stands for "title set" and is part of DVD structure. The before mentioned VIDEO_TS folder will hold all the pertinent information such as Informaton (IFO) and any backup (BUP) files that are necessary for the DVD to even be read.


IFO

In video editing, IFO normally refers to a file on DVD-Video disc and stands for InFOrmation.

While the main content of DVD-Video disc are the VOB files which contain the actual MPEG-2 audio, video and subtitle streams, the IFO files provide information for DVD player where DVD-Video disc's chapters start, where certain audio tracks are located, etc..


VOB files are Video Objects. They also contain audio.

http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/3...it-is-playable

He did not put the ripped dvd files to another dvd disc.

He ripped the dvd and saved it to the internal drive, where they play just fine.

He bought the WD external drive and copied them to it. Files on external drive will not play if clicked on.

TS is VOB.

It is always hard to do tech Support remotely, but I would first question how he copied the "files".

He should have copied - dragged and dropped - the VIDEO_TS folder, not individual files within - to maintain the integrity of the file system structure.

The IFO files refer to the other files in the VIDEO_TS folder/directory, so bad copying makes the paths in the IFO files faulty.

VOB files are .mp* files. They usually can play individually with video player Apps. Like QuickTime, Toast, I don't do Windows, so I don't know the names of free WIN video apps...

There's multiple VOB files, because they are 1GB each (1024MB). Something could have gone wrong with the copying and the WIN 1024MB file limit, if the new drive wasn't formatted properly.

These observations are only about elementary file copying, not about anything specific to DVDs.

Here's the current status:

"MP3 will play. MPEG2 and MPEG4 will play. I tried reformatting the hard drive. It will not play VOB files."

So what should he try next?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bec

Here's the current status:

"MP3 will play. MPEG2 and MPEG4 will play. I tried reformatting the hard drive. It will not play VOB files."

So what should he try next?

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I've sent you a PM on this question. ( interpreted: It was too difficult for me to exlain "hanging" without putting a rope around my neck and pulling the lever! - LOL )

- jim

On OSX Mavericks, clicking on a VOB file launches MPDG Streamclip. Open With QuickTime also works.

On WIN, the registry might not be set to understand what App to use to play a VOB file.

Try Opening the VOB from within a video player App. Try QuickTime and others.

At that point, there might be a problem with the filesystem, the vers of WIN being used.

But double-clicking on a file to launch an App, vs launching an App and then Open > a file, can result in different outcomes.

That's strange...Vob files are in mpg2 format and mpeg files are windows native files...that shoul dwork...I've played vob files in windows media player and VLC with no problem. I know this will be a pain..but what exactly is happening (or not happening as the case may be?)

Yes, I'm still wondering if he's double-clicking on the files and no App is launching, or if he has the player running, and tries to O)pen the VOB, and what error the Player reports.

Most Apps give some kind of error message when files are not readable.