Moving DVDs to my apple Desktop

[kwk285]

I need your help.

I have several DVDs that I have purchased over the years. I like to put them on my computer so I can watch them on my Iphone when I travel.

Recently, I purchased a new Imac. I would like to put a couple of my movies on to my Itunes. When I had a PC I used Handbreak and DVD43. It worked well.

When I went to put those programs on my computer I saw that there is a 32 and a 64MB program and one for PCP. What are the differences between the three? It looks like dvd43 isn't available for apples.

When I run the disk through handbrake it says my computer doesn't have VLC. When I download the program. My computer says it can't find VLC.


Help. What am I doing wrong? Also, is there an easier way to put my DVDs on to my Apple computer into my Itunes?

 

[soapbox]

I need your help.

I have several DVDs that I have purchased over the years. I like to put them on my computer so I can watch them on my Iphone when I travel.

Recently, I purchased a new Imac. I would like to put a couple of my movies on to my Itunes. When I had a PC I used Handbreak and DVD43. It worked well.

When I went to put those programs on my computer I saw that there is a 32 and a 64MB program and one for PCP. What are the differences between the three? It looks like dvd43 isn't available for apples.

When I run the disk through handbrake it says my computer doesn't have VLC. When I download the program. My computer says it can't find VLC.


Help. What am I doing wrong? Also, is there an easier way to put my DVDs on to my Apple computer into my Itunes?

OK, let's see:

• Downloading VLC isn't the full process; double-click on the .dmg file to mount it as a "virtual hard drive", then drag the program to the Applications folder.
• Handbrake 64-bit has had some problems and not a lot of performance gains as yet. I seem to recall they fixed the problems but you had to use a specific version of VLC. Stick to the 32-bit version for now.
• The hands-down best program for ripping DVDs is RipIt. I paid for it. It's worth it. Once it does its work, you can use Handbrake on the DVD image files.
• Be sure to use the iPhone-specific settings in Handbrake if you want an iPhone-compatible movie file.
• Once you create the iPhone and iPad and Mac/iTunes-friendly transcoded movie files, you can delete the DVD images.
• It may be necessary to download FFMPEG and libdvdcss too, but I don't think so. Try the above and see if it works, then get back to us if it doesn't.

 

[KarthVader]

OK, let's see:

• Downloading VLC isn't the full process; double-click on the .dmg file to mount it as a "virtual hard drive", then drag the program to the Applications folder.
• Handbrake 64-bit has had some problems and not a lot of performance gains as yet. I seem to recall they fixed the problems but you had to use a specific version of VLC. Stick to the 32-bit version for now.
• The hands-down best program for ripping DVDs is RipIt. I paid for it. It's worth it. Once it does its work, you can use Handbrake on the DVD image files.
• Be sure to use the iPhone-specific settings in Handbrake if you want an iPhone-compatible movie file.
• Once you create the iPhone and iPad and Mac/iTunes-friendly transcoded movie files, you can delete the DVD images.
• It may be necessary to download FFMPEG and libdvdcss too, but I don't think so. Try the above and see if it works, then get back to us if it doesn't.

+1 Perfect directions

If you still have problems, check out a mac forum (google iMac forum or ripping DVD to iMac)

 

[kwk285]

OK, let's see:

• Downloading VLC isn't the full process; double-click on the .dmg file to mount it as a "virtual hard drive", then drag the program to the Applications folder.
• Handbrake 64-bit has had some problems and not a lot of performance gains as yet. I seem to recall they fixed the problems but you had to use a specific version of VLC. Stick to the 32-bit version for now.
• The hands-down best program for ripping DVDs is RipIt. I paid for it. It's worth it. Once it does its work, you can use Handbrake on the DVD image files.
• Be sure to use the iPhone-specific settings in Handbrake if you want an iPhone-compatible movie file.
• Once you create the iPhone and iPad and Mac/iTunes-friendly transcoded movie files, you can delete the DVD images.
• It may be necessary to download FFMPEG and libdvdcss too, but I don't think so. Try the above and see if it works, then get back to us if it doesn't.

What is a .dmg and how do I find it? Right now on my tool tray I have the handbrake icon with a 64 on it the VLC icon in the shape of an orange and white cone.

I have been debating paying for a program but from what I have read and heard from others is that they work about as well as the free programs.

 

[KarthVader]

The vlc.dmg file should be on your desktop or downloads folder.

If you can't find it:

click on finder (bluish happy face on the dock)

go to the search bar (top right corner)

search for vlc.dmg

EDIT: .dmg is equivalent to .exe on Windows PCs. It's just the name of the file.

 

[falkor27]

.dmg is equivalent to .exe on Windows PCs. It's just the name of the file.

That's not quite true. A .dmg (Disk iMaGe) is not an EXEcutable, it's a container. The equivalent would be closer to .app—though that's still a container for the executable package.

It sounds like he has them both installed already, but he's running into the issue soapbox mentioned with the 64-bit not working yet. I had the same problem on my MBP.

The problem is discussed in this thread at the handbrake forum; the solution is to use the 32-bit versions of the software.

EDIT: Oops, forgot the link: http://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13210

 

[KarthVader]

That's not quite true. A .dmg (Disk iMaGe) is not an EXEcutable, it's a container. The equivalent would be closer to .app—though that's still a container for the executable package.

It sounds like he has them both installed already, but he's running into the issue soapbox mentioned with the 64-bit not working yet. I had the same problem on my MBP.

The problem is discussed in this thread at the handbrake forum; the solution is to use the 32-bit versions of the software.

EDIT: Oops, forgot the link: http://forum.handbrake.fr/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13210

Sorry. You're absolutely right. I was just trying to put .dmg in perspective for the OP, even though it wasn't the best comparison.

 

[Agent8426]

I don't have any advice, as I use a PC, but ripping DVDs and getting them onto an iphone/touch is supprisingly tricky. If Apple sold movies I'd think there was some kind of conspiracy....oh wait.

With that said, ripping CD's and putting them on an iphone is supprising easy.

 

[falkor27]

I just set it up again in my MPB—the newest version of VLC is stable in 64-bit.

Version 1.1.0 at videolan.org

 

[falkor27]

Sorry. You're absolutely right. I was just trying to put .dmg in perspective for the OP, even though it wasn't the best comparison.

I just didn't want anyone to think that double-clicking the .dmg was supposed to install or run the program.

 

[kwk285]

So took off Handbrake64 and put on handbrake32. I am still having the same problem with the VLC error message.

Is there another good free program other than hand brake and VLC?

 

[soapbox]

So took off Handbrake64 and put on handbrake32. I am still having the same problem with the VLC error message.

Is there another good free program other than hand brake and VLC?

You need VLC and libdvdcss installed. Have you ever seen a screen shot like this one? Did you copy VLC to the Applications folder from the mounted (virtual drive) .dmg file?