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.