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Question

Burned DVD won't play in Dodge Caravan

Mar 11, 2015 12:03AM PDT

Hi,
so I had an .mp4 video that I converted to DVD (.VOB format) using Aimersoft DVD Creator. I then tried burning it to a DVD. I could play this disk on my computer and also on my standard home DVD player and both work, but it would not work in the van (says chapter 1 and no time or anything). I then tried burning the VIDEO_TS folder to disk using imgburn and I get the same problem. I have a previously burned DVD that works in the van, I just don't know what program they used.
Any ideas (could it be the brand of DVD?) I tried writing at the slowest speed as well. We are going to Florida in 2 days and I don't want to have to re-convert all the movies if this is just a burning issue.

Thanks,
Rob

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Some players won't play recorded media.
Mar 11, 2015 12:16AM PDT

So here's the drill. Do not use DVD-RW or DVD+RW media. Let's just forget those.

I try DVD+R and DVD-R and never copy folders like you noted. I used a DVD creation tool like DVD FLICK because only masochists and tech heads make folders and hand craft Video DVDs. Some get upset at that but for me I've hand crafted enough to know that it's not worth it to me.

Again, some players don't support recorded media or is very picky about the + or - DVD media.
A link in case you need to catch up on that at https://www.google.com/#q=dvd+plus+or+minus

There are folk that tell you plus or minus doesn't matter and then you run into players that won't touch one or the other.
Bob

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Thanks for the reply
Mar 11, 2015 2:17AM PDT

I appreciate the reply. I guess I forgot to say that I used a DVD-R disk, so that isn't the issue. Like I said I had converted the .mp4 to DVD (.VOB) in a Video_TS folder because I didn't have any blank disks at the time. Then I tried burning with imgburn (which I heard is good) and it works on my home dvd player, but not in the van. I'm going to try buying a different brand of disks tonight to see if that helps, but was hoping I was just missing something.

thanks,
Rob

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You did most of it right in my opinion.
Mar 11, 2015 2:26AM PDT

However to test the media for correct format (folders, etc.) I have to use my oldest DVD player as the new one is a smart one with WiFi and more. Too smart! If I use DVD FLICK I don't have to do that test.

Yes, you tried DVD-R (check!) and you reduced burn speed (good move!) but you need to try DVD + R next (see the plus sign?)

YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS COMPLAINT! See:
https://www.google.com/#q=dodge+caravan+won%27t+play+recorded+video+site:dodgeforum.com

Bob

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Oh, i see
Mar 11, 2015 2:40AM PDT

I get what you're saying now about the DVD+R. The two burned movies that I have that work (have no idea what program i used as it was a few years back) in the van are both on Verbatim DVD-R discs and work fine, so I know the DVD-R type work. I was just using a different brand this time (ONN). I guess i can try DVDflick tonight and see if that works. I just wanted to see if there was a way i could use the already created VIDEO_TS folder that was created with Aimersoft instead of have to re-convert all the movies again before burning.

Thanks agian for the replies,
Rob

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I found this...
Mar 11, 2015 4:35AM PDT

So I looked at one of the DVD's that I previously burned and does work in the van. It was a movie that was in .AVI format when I got it and then I used windows DVD maker to put it on a DVD-R that works. So I'm wondering if the whole issue is the fact that I converted an .MP4 to DVD and then burned it on the same type of DVD. Tonight im going to try converting the .MP4 to .AVI first and then burning it with windows DVD maker as that has worked before. Weird though that I couldn't get the van DVD player to read the DVD formatted disk when it was converted from an .MP4, didn't think that would matter since the orginals in both scenarios are being CONVERTED to the same DVD format, albeit using different programs......

Thanks for all the replies,
Rob

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Finally...
Mar 12, 2015 1:02AM PDT

So here is the FINAL update thankfully. I got home and tried different DVD's that I just purchased with the .VOB files using IMGburn to burn DVD...still nothing. So then I converted one of my .MP4 files to .AVI and burned it with windows DVD maker and success. However it took over 2.5 hours to do both of those things, so I wasn't going to do that. Someone had mentioned FREEMAKE, so I downloaded and inputted the .MP$ file and burned as a DVD, 30 minutes later I had a burned disc and...it works in the van. So weird because the .VOB files look the same as with the other process, just wouldn't work.
Thanks for all the replies, very good advice here.

Cheers,
Rob

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Thanks for that.
Mar 12, 2015 1:06AM PDT

I've used DVD flick for such for years. It sounds like some sort of encoding issue or DVD authoring issue. I know folk that desperately try to avoid the encoding run (2.5 hours for your PC) but it continues to be something I set my old render PC to work on and come back later.
Bob