DVD ripping problems - help needed

I have several questions regarding ripping a DVD.
Shall be very much grateful if anyone can provide some help.

Thanks a lot in advance!

Questions
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Yesterday I ripped a DVD for the first time using "DVD Decrypter" www.dvddecrypter.com
There were 4 main vob files in the DVD. However, after ripping, I found that in 3 of those files, there was no sound while playing the vob file (ripped).
Then I ripped it again but this time by each chapter on the DVD. In this case I got several small (650 MB) sized vob files but all of them with good picture and sound quality.

Now my questions are:

1. Why ripping by chapter produced desired result while by file did not? Is it the problem with ripping program?

2. In VCD, I can simply copy the DAT file to hard disk and it will play without any problem. In DVD, is it sufficient to just copy the VOB file? Or I must use a decrypter program?

3. The ripped VOB files take huge space on hard disk. Is there any free program which can convert DVD VOB files to VCD DAT files? I understand that I shall lose quality, but that is acceptable to me.

4. If the original DVD is meant for Region 2 (say) only, after ripping, can I burn it on any region code?

Thanks again.

The Easiest way for a noob would be to first:

Get Nero 6 w/ Nero Recode... (download the demos from neros website and then get a serial...Legally :bigyello: )

Install, And Install the Image Drive (unless you have Daemon tools / alcohol 120%)

Now the only problem with nero is that it wont recode CSS protected dvd's thats where dvd decryptor comes in.

Create an image of the dvd with dvd decryptor (iso)

now mount that image in the image drive (or a virtrual drive)

Now open Nero Recode and select "Copy Entire DVD to DVD"

Click "Import DVD" and browse to the image drive.

Remove the options that you dont need... subtitles extra features almost everything other than the movie if you want the highest quality possible.

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For example i did Kill Bill vol 2 w/ this method to show a friend...

I removed everything except the main tiitle, no menus nothing.

I burnt it onto a dvd 5 (4.7gig dvd) and it only needed to compress the movie to ~95%.

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After it recodes (took 40min in my case, but has taken up to 2h) burn it to dvd and enjoy your backup knowing that your orginal is locked up safe some where. :D

will need that when I get my dvd burner fixed. right now, its the stand alone one that I am using.

1) Is there any freeware available?

2) Can I rip to a VCD instead of a DVD?

Why would you want to rip DVD to a VCD?

BTW I use DVD Shrink to backup my DVD's. Decrypts, shrinks it to fit a single layer DVD (no noticable quality changes to me), removes region coding, and will use the Nero engine to burn a copy.

I dont have a DVD writer. Thats the reason, I want to rip it to a VCD.

oh ok

I tried SuperDVD Ripper. It does a decent job, but the files created are not equal in size. It created two avi files. If I write an AVI file to a CD, I should be able to play it in my DVD player.