Use DVDFab Decrypter to rip copy-protected DVDs
Posted by Andy Atkinson on 04/30/06 in Freeware, Software, Tips, Windows
In a previous article, I described how to burn DVDs with DVD Shrink. Some forms of copy protection found on newer DVDs will cause DVD Shrink to produce some confusing errors, which will prohibit users from ripping discs with DVD Shrink. Errors I have seen include “Cyclic Redundancy Error” or “Invalid DVD navigation structure”.
This quick tip describes how to use DVDFab Decrypter with DVD Shrink to burn DVDs with newer forms of copy protection. “DVDFab Decrypter” is a freeware version of “DVDFab Express” (which costs around US $40). I have found this freeware application to be 100% successful at ripping DVDs.
1) Open DVDFab Decrypter
Open DVDFab Decrypter, and you should see the name of your DVD. Notice that by default it will create a DVD folder where the movie files are located. This is fine, you will open this folder with DVD Shrink once the movie is ripped to your hard drive.
The rip will go fairly fast depending on the speed of your computer. On my Windows box it will take 10-20 minutes.
2) Open DVD Shrink
Now open DVD Shrink, and choose “Open Files.” Find the DVD folder under the folder you recently created, and hit OK. From this point on, the burn process will be the same as if you had opened the DVD for ripping in DVD Shrink.
I hope this tip helped you rip copy-protected DVDs successfully.
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Susan | Jun 1, 2006 | Reply
This worked out great! I was able to copy our DVDs to save them from our teething son, who has a bad habit of opening DVD cases and “playing” (chewing is more like it) with them. Thank you for posting this as it has saved our lives (and money!).
Anonymous | Jun 23, 2006 | Reply
This has worked great on all DVD’s until recently. Eventhough it goes through the complete Decryption, I still get the invalid navigation structure error when opening the files into DVD shrink. Do you know of this problem and how to overcome it? The most recent problem came when I tried to backup my copy of Pink Panther 2006.
Anonymous | Jul 12, 2006 | Reply
Hi I have followed your instructions it said it was finished but when I go to shrink it still says cyclic redundancy error any suggestions !! have tried to do it now for three days !
Anonymous | Jul 12, 2006 | Reply
You could try RipIt4Me or DVD43. I have not tried either of these myself. Please post your results.
DJ | Sep 26, 2006 | Reply
if you try the freedvd program that is on the same page as the dvd fab progam is listed. use the freedvd program after the dvd fab program and everything should work perfectly, otherwise you are just dvd shrinking as if it’s directly from the actual dvd.
Mirz | Nov 27, 2006 | Reply
DVDfab worked fine, and dvdshrink, but nero still refused to burn, lost 3 discs :s
Andy Atkinson | Nov 27, 2006 | Reply
What I found was that I couldn’t burn with latest version of Nero (as of September 2006). I had an old OEM copy that came with my Lite-On DVD burner. When I rolled back to the version on the CDs, prior to any online updates, I was able to burn output from DVD Shrink to disc. I read online somewhere that the developer of DVD Shrink now works for Nero. Since they have a competing product, Nero “Recode” I believe, for some reason or another, Nero burning from DVD Shrink was intentionally broke. This may be a rumor, not sure.
Have you tried another burning tool? What version of Nero are you using?
craig | Dec 12, 2006 | Reply
I have read recently that DVDFab can be used as a burning tool. I used Shrink and DVDFab on my movie, but I can not figure out how to burn the movie onto the blank disk.
sithvol | Dec 22, 2006 | Reply
I use DVDFab Decrypter and DVD Shrink all the time, but if I try to copy one of my burned copies….no matter what it is, it always fails, any ideas?
Andy Atkinson | Dec 22, 2006 | Reply
Are you using Nero to make a duplicate data disc? I’ve copied movies that I ripped with ‘Shrink so I know it is possible. The only thing I’ve ever used for burning would be Nero. What version of Nero are you running? The new updates (at least for Fall 2006) broke some integration with DVD Shrink.
Franky Frank | Dec 31, 2006 | Reply
Praise to DVDFab Decrypter!
Been trying the other fixes to back up some of these sony DVDs as well as some older copies I had made with DVDxCopy that never worked with DVD Decrypter or DVD Shrink
This program seems to have solved the problem!
Thanks All
origtopcat | Jan 11, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for the information on how to fix the issues with newer DVD’s i started to think somehting was wrong with my burners until I tried a old dvd and it copied fine… I tried everthing, Decrypter, Shrink, XCopy, DVD Santa…. and DVDFab has solved the problem… my new best friend
Kilo | Jan 23, 2007 | Reply
I use DVD shrink to create a back up copy of ripped DVD’s and it works all the time. Just create a back up and it should work
Muffn Man | Feb 10, 2007 | Reply
When I tryed Nero or DVD Shrink with DVD43 nether would let me burn my DVDs. For “Open Season” I got “Invalid DVD navigation structure”” and for “Cars” I got “Cyclic Redundancy Error”! … but when I tryed DVDFab Decrypter with DVD Shrink it worked!!!! (Now I don’t have to hold my breath when I see junior handling them movies, because I have a back up that only cost the price of the Backup DVDs thanks to this freeware.
Len Kraus | Mar 5, 2007 | Reply
I was having a “PC lock-up” problem with DVDfab after a burn using the VSO internal DVDfab burner. I found the problem was Creative Labs (Sound Blaster) “Disc Detector” program (at start-up boot) causing DVDfab to lock-up my PC because of the Burner drive conflict when changing one DVD for another. Insertion of a DVD would cause the Creative Labs program to tie up the DVD burner.
The solution was to disable the “Disc Detector” program - EVERYTHING works as it should now. DVDfab certainly lives up to it’s name: “FABULOUS.”
VIJAY | Mar 11, 2007 | Reply
Want to take this moment and thank you for your post on how to use dvdfab.It was useful,tried to copy and burn The Davinci Code,with Dvd Decrypter,also tried Dvd Shrink,all the time messages were displayed,redundancy,navigation error and so on. Accidentaly found the above website on delicious.Downloaded the DVDFAB as you mentioned and it worked fine.When I try to use other features it prompted top Platinum 3 software, is this common.Thank again. I copied the dvd and burned it with DVD Decrypter.
Breanna | Mar 15, 2007 | Reply
Hey, I had a whole bunch of new DVD’s. The copywright was so “strong” I couldn’t copy them, then you guys said try DVDFab, well it still gives me errors which I tell it to ignore, but why does it take so long to copy?? like 15 hours or something, I’m running a Windows XP with the latest version of DVDFab?? I don’t have that sort of time!!!
airboi | Apr 16, 2007 | Reply
I read a lot of comments on not being able to Burn Images=dvd copies with NERO, if you have that problem try Alcohol 120% I have never had a dvd I cant burn. At this time though I’m trying to burn Pursuit To Happiness and get DVD NAVAGATION STRUCTURE eror, that is why I’m on this site now.
Anonymous | Apr 20, 2007 | Reply
I recently downloaded DVDFab and it has worked on like 95% of my movies-BUT I recently tried to get a backup of SAW 3 and I saw the strangest error message from shrink after the encoding-I originally thought it was my burner, but I then burned out another 3 DVDs and Shrink worked fine-I would post the whole error message but its huge!!–basically it said “Failed to realloc DVD video files” and then even mentioned “failed drivers from my burner”, etc… This is obviously a bogus code-I’ve noticed Lionsgate loades their dvds w/crap–can u help me??
Anonymous | Jun 10, 2007 | Reply
I use Nero 6 Ultra works great! Try burning at 6X or less! That is probably your issue.
Rickardo | Jun 26, 2007 | Reply
Wow, i hope this works, im trying to put my Pirates of the carabian movie that i just bougt on my ipod, but it wont work… lets try this thing.
Erik | Jun 29, 2007 | Reply
Ripit4me is the best thing since sliced bread. I downloaded the latest versions of this program, dvdshrink, dvddecrypter, fixvts, ifoedit, pgcedit, vobblanker, menushrink and use Nero 7. …and a real good guide found on http://jsoto.posunplugged.com/guides/VobBlanker/adding_menus/index.htm
If you install all this from scratch on a newly installed windows xp version, you should have no problems with any app. Ripit4me works as a charm on all copyprotected dvd’s I came across so far.
The problems i encountered were usually related to old burning software still residing in the registry, corrupted windows drivers, .. if you just reinstalled windows it pays to use a good registry resetting program: look out for NTREGOPT and ERUNT.
Erik | Jun 29, 2007 | Reply
..I use Nero 7.5.1.1