media encoder shuts down

Rubi wrote:

> I am having a devil of a time trying to convert a dvd that I own, any of
> them to a wmv file. I have been told a million times that windows media
> encoder will do this function, however everytime I begin the process and
> get to the apply button it shuts down *very frustrated at this point* I
> am trying to convert dvd's to .wmv to put on my daughter's new mix max
> she will be getting for Christmas. I am using ripit4me then
> dvddecrypter then dvd shrink3.2 i have gotten directions and settings
> several times and the encoder just continuously shuts down everytime I
> try to encode the .vob files help help help

First, the Windows Media Encoder does not seem to be able to convert
DVD VOB files to anything. Help information supplied with the encoder
states:

"Using Windows Media Encoder, you can source from files with .wma,
..wmv, .asf, .avi, .wav, .mpg, .mp3, .bmp, and .jpg file name
extensions. (Sourcing from a file with a .mpg file name extension
requires a compatible MPEG-2 decoder on the encoding computer.)."

When working on DVD files, I first rip the DVD to the HD. But if the
DVD is copy protected, you can not do this. Yes, I have heard about the
programs you mentioned and found this on the web:

"RipIt4Me 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. Programs like DVD
Shrink or DVD Decrypter cannot handle these types of discs."

Distributing such programs is illegal in many countries. Use of them by
individuals for backup copies for their own use only is a somewhat gray
area and has been established as illegal in some countries, legal in
others, and undetermined in yet others. I believe DVD Decrypter came
out of England, and the owner was given a court order to shut down his
site and not continue development quite a time back. The DVD makers
keep changing their encryption around, so many such programs do not
work on new releases. A few pay ones distributed out of countries where
they are not illegal apparently have to send users updates, sometimes
up to every week or two, to keep up.Since I am in the US, I can not
encourage anyone to use such programs or give you references to ones
that are kept up to date, if any.

But assuming you have an unprotected DVD and have it ripped to your
hard drive, you need to convert those VOB files to .wmv, or whatever.
There are pay programs that will let you select a portion of a VOB file
and then convert it directly to any of several other formats such as
..wmv or .rm video files. Some of these programs may have free trials.
One such program may be named something like DVDZip, but you will have
to search Google to be certain, find any others, and find out if they
do not use decrypting, if decrypting is illegal where you live.