RipIt4Me Guide - A freeware utility that helps you backup your copy protected DVDs

RipIt4Me Version 1.6.7.0

A super easy way to backup your protected DVDs!

This program is a freeware utility that helps you backup your copy protected DVDs.

Recently released DVDs are now very often equipped with stronger copy protections - such as ARccOS™ and RipGuard DVD - that programs like DVD Shrink or DVD Decrypter have problems handling.

With the help of RipIt4Me, ripping these DVDs will be a very easy task. The program is fully automated and the wizard will guide you through all the necessary steps involved. If you prefer, there is also a true "1-Click" mode that will perform all the involved steps automatically for you.

The current version is 1.6.7.0 and you can download the program from the RipIt4Me Download Page.

How the program works

RipIt4Me uses DVD Decrypter as a ripping engine and FixVTS to clean the ripped files.

It shouldn't take you much more time for you to use this method than if you had used DVD Decrypter on its own.

In short:

What's new in the latest version?

Acknowledgements

A big "thank you" to all the people that are involved in this project - you know who you are.

This Guide

This guide is divided into four sections:

1. Installation

2. Running RipIt4Me

Note 1: Don't have any on-the-fly decrypting tools, such as DVD43, DVD Region+CSS Free or AnyDVD running in the background while you use RipIt4Me and while you rip the DVD with DVD Decrypter.

Note 2: If you have auto play activated or that the inserted DVD automatically starts another application - turn off that feature before you run RipIt4Me. It will only create problems for you. You can read in this guide - Turn Off the CD-ROM Auto run - how you do this.

Note 3: RipIt4Me will change some of your default settings in DVD Decrypter to assure that they are the best ones when ripping protected DVDs. The changed settings should not cause any problems for you when you rip other DVDs. The original settings are restored immediately after the rip. See FAQ 27.

Note 4: Your screen setting should be set to 1024 x 768 and above for best performance.

Note 5: Got a problem? Read the FAQs first and then try the Forum.

1. Installation

These programs needs to be installed on your computer:

All programs that need to be installed are freeware.

DVD Decrypter version 3.5.4.0

If you don't have the final version 3.5.4.0 of DVD Decrypter installed - download and install it first. You can download it here.
DVD Shrink version 3.2

Optional installation. Used to verify the final result of the ripping and cleaning phases. You can download DVD Shrink here.

FixVTS version 1.6.0.3

FixVTS is used in the cleaning phase. With the help of this program, you can clean the mess created by the ARccOS or RipGuard protection. If you don't do this cleaning, you could end up with an error when you try to open the files in DVD Shrink.

If you don't have this program installed, you can download it from the FixVTS homepage. The latest version is 1.6.0.3.

The first time RipIt4Me runs, it will ask you to locate FixVTS.exe. RipIt4Me will remember that location from then on. (It is suggested that you install it into C:\Program Files\RipIt4Me which is the default folder)

If your version of FixVTS is not current, RipIt4Me will notify you.

When you press the "Yes" button, RipIt4Me will open FixVTS's home page so you can download the latest version. It will also open up the folder where you have saved your current version of FixVTS.

All you need to do now, is unzip the downloaded FixVTS version and save FixVTS.exe into the folder (just overwrite the existing version)
RipIt4Me

How to install RipIt4Me:
1. Create an empty folder anywhere on your hard disk. I strongly suggest "C:\Program Files\ripit4me".
2. Save the downloaded RipIt4Me.exe file in the folder you created in step 1.
  
  If you don't have an extracting/unzip program for .zip files, you can use this freeware program:
3. When RipIt4Me has an update available, it will notify you. Download the update, unzip it and drag the EXE into your RipIt4Me folder (which will be opened for you), overwriting the existing RipIt4Me.exe file. See also section 3.1.1 of this guide.
Note: The easiest way to properly install and configure the up-to-date versions of RipIt4Me and FixVTS is to run the RipIt4Me installer. Click here to download.

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2.1 Wizard Mode

Start RipIt4Me.

You will then see the main screen of the program:
Insert the original DVD in your DVD reader/burner.

Keep the DVD inserted during the whole run with this program.
Press the button to start the process.

section 1

Step 1 - Pick Drive, Target Folder and Ripping Mode

RipIt4Me will give you information about the DVD's size, the main title, whether it is episodic or not and other information which can help you make a decision about your ripping mode.
1. Change your ripping mode (if desired).
  
  You have four ways of ripping the DVD. Your default mode, as specified in the Preferences will already be selected. You can select a different mode for this rip via the dropdown box.
  - Full DVD
    
    This will rip the whole DVD in file mode. You will have a video folder with IFO, BUP and VOB files on your hard disk.
  - Movie only
    
    This will only rip the main movie for you. The rip will be similar in structure to the output of a DVD Shrink re-authored DVD and, if it fits on a DVD-5, will be able to be burned without further user interaction.
    
    You should not use this option on episodic discs, as only the largest titleset on the disc will be ripped, and you will therefore not rip the other episodes.
    
    In this mode, you also have the option to set the default audio/subtitle streams as shown below.
    
    Select the audio and subtitle streams you wish to play when the DVD starts. To actually turn the desired subtitle stream on, you must tick the "enabled" box. In the diagram, English 2 channel Dolby (AC3) audio and Dutch subtitles will be played.
    
    If you are going to use DVD Shrink (or some other shrinking program), you can ignore this setting and set the streams in that program. However, if you intend to burn immediately, you may wish to set the audio and subtitle stream to be played. This can be especially useful if you need to set a subtitle stream that appears when foreign languages are spoken on the movie.
    - Note: Selecting a default stream does not strip the unselected streams from the VOBs.
  - Movie and Menus only
    
    This will rip the VTS containing the main movie (again, be careful on episodic DVDs) and all the menus, while blanking all the other VTSs. This is especially useful if you want to retain the menus for accessing chapters/subtitles etc, but don't want to keep extras/previews etc.
    - Note: In both Movie Only and Movie+Menus modes, if your DVD has both a widescreen and a fullscreen version, RipIt4Me will give you the option as to which version you wish to rip as shown below. In Movie only mode, you may also select the audio and subtitle streams you wish to be played by default (see above).
  - ISO Mode
    
    This will rip the whole DVD to an ISO file. This is useful if you want to do a 1:1 copy of the original DVD, particularly DVDs that are not ARccOS or Ripguard protected. All you need to do is rip to an ISO file and then burn that ISO file to a blank disc.
    
    RipIt4Me will tell you in the lower portion of the above window if your DVD is a single- or dual-layer disc.
    
    It is strongly suggested to use ImgBurn to burn your DVDs. Simply double click the MDS file created with the rip to burn the ISO with ImgBurn.
    
    For ARccOS or RipGuard DVD protected DVDs, you should not try to open the ISO in DVD Shrink for processing - it will give you odd results as no file cleaning has been done. If you want to use DVD Shrink or another processing program before burning, use one of the other ripping options.
2. Select the DVD drive to rip from.
  
  Change the suggested drive, if necessary.
3. Select the target directory for your rip.
  
  If you have enabled the preference to "Create target directory from DVD label", this field will already be filled in. You may simply click "Next" to accept the suggestion.
  
  Alternatively, you may type in a different path in the "Target" edit box or browse to a directory where you want to save the ripped files.
  
  If you type in a new path in the edit box for a directory that is not yet created on the hard disk, RipIt4Me will create that folder for you automatically.
  - Note: If you get a "Couldn't create target rip directory" message, please refer to this FAQ.
  When you have selected the directory press the 'OK' button.
4. Now press the button to go to the next step.

Step 2 - Create PSL file

This file is needed to tell DVD Decrypter how it should rip your DVD.
1. Press the button to start the creation of the PSL2 file.

Step 3 - Rip with PSL file
1. Press the button to start the ripping.
  
  DVD Decrypter will now be launched automatically by the wizard.
  
  If everything worked properly, DVD Decrypter will report that it has imported the RipIt4Me.psl file.
2. Press the 'OK' button.
3. Press this icon to start the ripping.
  
  DVD Decrypter will now rip the files to your hard disk.

Step 3b - Cleanup IFOs

See section 3.2 of this guide for a discussion on each of the options.
1. Press the 'Do it!' button.
  - Note: If you see this window, you might have a dirty, damaged or scratched DVD (or even a bad pressing).
    
    You should select the option "Yes" and then try to clean the disc and then perform a new run with RipIt4Me.
    
    After you have cleaned the disc, re-insert it and then press the "OK" button. RipIt4Me will try to rip the remaining files again. If it succeeds in doing so, it will continue with the remaining steps. If not, you will end up with this error message:
    
    If RipIt4Me has detected a damaged disk and you still decide to perform the cleanup by selecting "No" above, it is highly advisable to burn the DVD to a RW disc first to see if you can find any playback problems. The most likely problem in such a case would be a missing part of the video.

Step 4 - Cleanup VOBs with FixVTS

Click Process with FixVTS. FixVTS will process all titlesets to correct the structure of the DVD so it will open in DVD Shrink. If you have unchecked "Always run FixVTS on full DVD" in the preferences, FixVTS will only run those titles that need to be cleaned, making the process considerably faster.

You can always do a test to see if the DVD will open up in DVD Shrink first. If it does, there should be no need to run FixVTS.

For a discussion on what the two options do, see section 3.4 of this guide.

Press the button.
- Note: The first time you use RipIt4Me, it may ask you for the location of your installed FixVTS program.
  
  Browse to the location and double click on the FixVTS.exe file.
Step 5 - Jump To Menu

This function will by-pass all the junk that leads up to the first valid menu (that is, the first menu that has buttons), so that when you insert your DVD, it will jump straight to that menu. Most of the time, you will be in the main menu, but sometimes, you may encounter a language section menu.

Simply click . The following screen will appear:

Clicking "Yes" will insert various commands in the IFO files to replicate precisely the DVD's structure at the first menu that has workable buttons. The main RipIt4Me window will tell you when this is complete (should take only a second or so).

You can test the output in a software player. If you don't like it, the process is completely reversible. Simply copy the IFO files from the "PreSkipToMenuBackup" folder back into the target rip folder.
- Important note: In order for this function to work properly, it is very important to set your virtual player up before using this function. See section 3.1.8 of this guide.
- This function is not available in movie only mode (since there are no menus), nor is it available in ISO mode (since an ISO is read only and no processing takes place after the rip).
- On rare occasions, this function will not work, due to the structure of the DVD (if the first menu is actually in a title and is not the entry point of the title).
Step 6 - Open with DVD Shrink

This is the final step of the wizard and can be used simply to test that all is well or to start the shriking process.

Press the button.

If you have not yet run FixVTS and the DVD has protected cells, this message will appear, warning you to run FixVTS first.

After FixVTS has completed its work, the files will be opened in DVD Shrink.

Press the button.

If you have enabled the setting "Save logs after rip" in the RipIt4Me Preferences window, the DVD Decrypter.log, the RipIt4Me.log and the temporary files will now be moved out of the VIDEO_TS folder to a conveniently named folder in your RipIt4Me application data folder.

You can read more about this function and how to change it in section 3.1.6 of this guide.

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2.2 1-Click Mode

Start RipIt4Me.

You will then see the main screen of the program:
Insert the original DVD in your DVD reader/burner.

Keep the DVD inserted during the whole process.
Press the button to start the process.

section 1

Step 1 - Pick Drive, Target Folder, Ripping Mode (and Jump to Menu)

RipIt4Me will give you information about the DVD's size, the main title, whether it is episodic or not and other information which can help you make a decision about your ripping mode.
1. Change your ripping mode (if desired).
  
  You have four ways of ripping the DVD. Your default mode, as specified in the Preferences will already be selected. You can select a different mode for this rip via the dropdown box.
  - Full DVD
  - Movie + Menus only
  - Movie only
  - ISO Mode
  These options are explained in more detail here.
2. FixVTS settings.
  
  For a discussion on what the options for FixVTS will do, see section 3.4 of this guide. In general, it is a good idea to leave all 3 boxes ticked.
3. Select the DVD drive to rip from.
  
  Change the suggested drive, if necessary.
4. Select the target directory for your rip.
  
  If you have enabled the preference to "Create target directory from DVD label", this field will already be filled in. You may simply click "Next" to accept the suggestion.
  
  Alternatively, you may type in a different path in the "Target" edit box or browse to a directory where you want to save the ripped files.
  
  If you type in a new path in the edit box for a directory that is not yet created on the hard disk, RipIt4Me will create that folder for you automatically.
  - Note: If you get a "Couldn't create target rip directory" message, please refer to this FAQ.
  When you have selected the directory press the 'OK' button.
5. Optional - Make DVD jump to menu upon insertion.
  
  Decide whether you wish for the DVD to start at the first valid menu (skipping all the junk that plays beforehand).
  
  If you want to use this feature, setup your Player Settings in the preferences first. See section 3.1.8
6. Now press the button to start the process.
  
  This will start DVD Decrypter and the ripping process automatically and finally it will launch DVD Shrink for you.
  - Note: If you select a directory that is not empty - RipIt4Me will alert you about that with a pop-up window and ask you if you want to overwrite the existing files in the directory.
Step 2 - Save the logs

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3. Preferences

Normally, you shouldn't need to change any of the default settings. If you don't know what to do, leave them as they are.

You can always reset the settings to default by pressing the "Defaults" button.

However, you should ensure your Player Settings are set if you wish to use the Jump to Menu feature.

3.1 General options

3.2 Advanced options

In an ARccOS DVD, it is always necessary to remove the junk from the IFO files, but it's not always necessary to remove the bad sectors from the VOB files.

So long as the ARccOS references are removed from the IFOs, this material will show up as unreferenced in DVD Shrink, which should be sufficient to enable you to make a copy of your DVD.

If you do decide to clean the VOBs, FixVTS has to physically move sectors from one place to another on the same hard disk and that takes a little time - so it's faster not to have to remove anything from the VOBs. Of course, the "cleanest" and safest rip is to remove all the junk - this will save you space and lower your compression.

It is recommended that you use FixVTS on all your ARccOS and Ripguard protected DVDs.

4. Tools menu

The Tools menu allows you to easily access up to 24 of your favorite DVD programs which accept command line input. In addition, you can quickly open the last target rip folder used, in order to examine the files.

4.1 Setting up a new tool

To setup a new tool, simply click 'Tools' → Setup Tools. Then click 'Add tool', type in the program's name in the 'Tool name' box and either type in, or navigate to, the program's executable file in the 'Tool path' box. Click OK to complete or Add tool to add another tool.

4.2 Using the tools

Once your rip is complete, you may open the rip folder by clicking Tools → Open target folder.

You may also open the ripped DVD in your favourite editing program by clicking Tools → 'Program Name'. The DVD will open in that program (providing the program accepts command line input).

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