** LAST-CHANCE MOTEL **
JT45:
Please read this. Do what it says, and you'll be a happy camper.
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Hello, JT45 !
This is a text file which I've made up in advance. It will show you what to do with DVDShrink, so that you will have the proper files to BURN with whatever burning software you use. (I myself use "Nero Express")
I understand that you have a printer. I *strongly* suggest you print these instructions out, so that you can follow them one-at-a-time.
Others will use DVDShrink in other ways, but (below) is the way * I * would use the program if I were you.
What I've typed below looks very complicated, BUT it takes far less time to actually DO the stuff, than it takes me to type the stuff out.
Let's begin.
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* SET A FEW PARAMETERS UP IN DVDSHRINK *
* Run DVDShrink.
* Maximize your screen image. (For some reason, DVDShrink starts up in 'midsize' mode; I don't know why.) Click the 'maximize' button <a rectangle> on the upper-right portion of your screen in order to make DVDShrink Fill Your Screen.
* On the upper-left hand side you will see the word "Edit". Click it.
* In the drop-down menu, click "Preferences".
* You will see a text-selection box with three choices in it. Click the 'down' arrow to see them. The choices are:
[DVD-5 (4.7GB)] -- [DVD-9 (8.5GB)] - and - [Custom]. Choose "DVD-5 (4.7GB)" This simply means that you are going to be using a common, single-layer blank disc to burn you movie. (Or one of your rewriteable discs).
* Below that, under "User Preferences", you will see 3 choices.
* MAKE SURE there is a checkmark in
the box next to "Automatically open VIDEO_TS subfolders."
* Make sure the other two boxes have no checkmark in them.
* Up above, you will see a tab marked, "File I/O". Click it.
* Make sure that the box next to "Enable burning with Nero" does NOT have a check mark in it. You can leave the other 3 boxes *with* the check mark in them, as-is.
* Click "OK".
Alright, we are now set to go .......................
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* LOAD-IN THE DVDFAB FILES YOU MADE SO THAT DVDSHRINK CAN COMPRESS THEM *
This is going to be tricky, because you chose to use "My Documents" as the place to rip-&-store your files, but it's still do-able. You will have to be patient. Also, I *think* you are using Windows XP - I am using Windows-2000, SO, there may be slight differences, I don't know. You may have to experiment.
* Up above, click on "Open Files"
* Click the [+] Box next to your C:\ Drive (if you have more than one hard disc)
* Click the [+] Box next to "Documents And Settings"
* There are two boxes here. One Is "All Users" and the other is a Name. (Or Names). I myself use the "Mike" name. You will have to choose another.
* Click the [+] Box next to "FullDisc" (The free version of DVDFab *always* rips your Full Disc's contents).
* Click the [+} Box next to your (ripped) Disc Title's Name. (DVDFab always creates a folder with your disc title's name).
* Click the {+} Box next to "VIDEO_TS". Just click it *once*, don't use a double-click.
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OK! (WheW!) - Sit back and watch the some neat stuff happen as DVDShrink does a "Quick Analysis" of your files. You will see your life flash before your eyes, as the Whole Movie zips through from-start-to-end. You will also see a bar graph move to the right. This whole process should only take a few seconds. (Maybe, under 30 seconds).
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After the screen settles down to a stop, do this:
--- (* Go very slowly here *) ---
* On the Upper Left of your screen, click "Backup!"
* In the upper text box, choose "Hard Disc Folder"
* Click the "Browse" button below the lower text box.
NOW, you must once again find your "My Documents" Folder. In summary, sequentially click on :
"My Computer / (Your C:\Drive) / Documents and Settings / <Your Name> / My Documents / DVDFab -- STOP HERE.
* Don't click on the [+} Box next to "FullDisc" -- rather -- click on the "FullDisc" name *itself*. The name will become highlighted in blue, and you will see an icon of a open folder.
* Click "OK"
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* Click the Tab, "Quality Settings"
* Put a checkmark in the Box, "Perform deep analysis before backup to improve quality."
* Below that, put a checkmark in the Box, "Compress video with high quality adaptive error compensation".
* Choose, "Sharp (default)
* Click "OK".
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* Put a checkmark in the Box, "[ ] Create VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS subfolders".
Are you insanely confused yet, JT45? We're done now! :-D
* Click the 'OK' Box, and then crack open a few well-deserved beers, because DVDShrink is going to be busy for a while. It is now compressing your DVD. (I'm going to have a few beers *myself* after typing all this stuff out! (I was running DVDShrink as I typed these instructions.)
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