iMac DVD Player app not recognizing burned DVD video copy

idreamofgenee wrote:

In 2012 a friend made a video DVD-R of my husband telling his life story. Now that my husband is deceased, I want to make a copy for his son and daughter. When I put the original DVD in the disk player plugged in to my iMac, the video starts right up. I have copied the original files to a folder on my hard drive and successfully burned a DVD-RW which the iMac then verified. However, I am unable to play the video from the disk copy. There are two folders on the original DVD: AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS. There are no files contained in the AUDIO_TS. There are nine files in the VIDEO_TS: VIDEO_TS.BUP, VIDEO_TS.IFO, VIDEO_TS.VOB, VTS_01_0.BUP, VTS_01_0.IFO, VTS_01_0.VOB, VTS_01_1.VOB VTS_01_2.VOB, VTS_01_3.VOB. Why doesn't my DVD Player app recognize the duplicate DVD? I will be grateful for any help!!!!!

It sounds like you copied the contents of the original home video DVD by dragging the individual folders and files to your hard drive, then burning DVDs from those loose folders and files.

I would suggest not doing that. Instead, use Disk Utility to create a disk image from the original DVD, using the type "DVD/CD master". After you have that image, use the Finder to burn copies of it to send to your son and daughter.

Create a disk image using Disk Utility on Mac - Apple Support

Store information on CD and DVD discs on Mac - Apple Support

Put the original DVD disk in the optical drive.

Go to the Desktop and go to the Finder ➙ File menu and select Create New Burn Folder.

You can rename the Burn Folder to the Original DVD disk or whatever you'd like. I did it to the original disk.

Next drag the TS_AUDIO and TS_VIDEO folders to the burn folder.

Then go to Finder ➙ File and select Burn to Disc.

In the window that comes up name the disk and set the speed. I like to use the slowest speed possible when burning DVDs as that gives a better end product, more time over each point for the laser to burn it's hole.

If Apple's DVD Player won't recognize it try VLC Media Player which is free or Movist or Movist Pro which are subscription based. I use VLC and it works fine for me.

Note: I'm on a Mac Mini M4 running Tahoe 25.5.1.

Also do not use DVD-RW discs because they are not the quality needed for quality video DVDs.

Use a top brand, like Memorex Verbatin or Taiyo Yuden. Also burn at the slowest speed possible as that will ensure the best possible video DVD.

 OT 

if it was me then I would use the free program called handbrake to import the dvd as a well newer media format and take it from there

idreamofgenee wrote:

I will definitely check it out. Thank you for your help!

I highly recommend you either make the image file as suggested by @Servant of Cats, or using Handbrake to make an all digital version.....or both even. Then keep them on your computer and make sure they are backed up with the rest of your data. There are advantages to having both.

Unfortunately burned CDs & DVDs can become corrupt over time, plus DVD drives/players may become difficult to find at some point. I would hate to see you lose those precious memories.

I hope they help you to solve your problem. 👍

 OT 

idreamofgenee wrote:

Very explicit instructions. Thank you! I realize now my problem is never having edited videos before. I am learning a lot. Thanks again!

 OT