DVD-ROM and Spotlight

I don't think this is a iDVD problem, but thought this forum is still the best place to look for some help.
Just finished an iDVD project. I've got a slideshow built in Photo-to-Movie and iMovieHD, and am using iDVD '08 to encode & burn, along with two other short movies. The kick is that I'm adding about 1000 jpegs or so to the DVD-ROM portion. The finished disk plays fine on my DVD player and PS3, and even a Dell laptop, but when put back into the mac that burned it the playback is horrible...at least for 5-10 minutes or more. And the culprit seem to be SPOTLIGHT indexing all those jpegs. If I wait 'tilt he drive activity stops (but that is quite awhile) it plays fine, even from the start or main menu. Or if I add the disk to the privacy preference in spotlight, it plays fine too.
So, question 1.....is there anything I can do to the DVD-ROM portion that would either stop the spotlight indexing or make it much much faster? I'm making a bunch of these for other people, and though most aren't Mac users, it is annoying that it doesn't "just work."
And question 2......am I crazy or shouldn't Apple be able to tell that If I launch DVD player that indexing should be paused in any case? Seems like a defect in the DVD player app if you ask me.....it should be able to delay indexing.
Question 3....is there something else I'm missing?
Thanks
jb

I'm wondering if is possible to address the timing of when indexing takes place through preferences.
If so, this might be another option. (not sure if this option is only available for actual hard drive/s or alternate volumes as well).
I'm sure you are also aware of apple's FB thru iDvd's Menu in order to make suggestions for improvements to this software as well. (launch iDvd and from the Top Menu scroll down to "Provide iDvd Feedback".
Try the following if you haven't already (uncheck applications in hope that DVD Player will not undergo indexing automatically as soon as a dvd is inserted). Note: I haven't yet tried this myself so I have no idea if it will actually work or not.
Click Here
Message was edited by: SDMacuser

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> Here's one note on PC/DVD-Video hybred production
>
>
http://www.directorforum.de/showthread.php?t=53380
Wahey!!! That's me!!! Crikey I don't remember posting to that
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big studios
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head] the Matrix trilogy are produced in this way.
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That is only partially correct at best.
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PowerMac G5 doesn't work anymore simply due to a DVD-ROM drive removal!

Hello, here's what's happened (I'll write using the "present" because I'm not English).
This happened about two days ago:
I need to read an Ultra ATA hard disk, so I power off the Mac.
I remove the SuperDrive DVD-ROM and I connect the hard disk in its place (I already made this with other ATA hard disks in past and it always was OK).
I close the Mac.
I try to start: nothing! The light on the power-on button of the Screen (Apple Cinema Display 20" plastic) and the light on the power-on button of the Mac case starts flashing 3 times (then stop, than other three times, etc...).
So I power off. I change the jumper configuration of the hard disk, like the Super Drive. I try again: NOTHING. Always three-times flashing the lights.
So I power off. I re-install the DVD drive, close the Mac again and restart it.
SURPRISE: the same symptom! The computer doesn't start and always makes the three-times flashing lights...
So I tried totally removing the DVD drive, and restarting it without it: nothing: same symptom.
Unfortunately I made these attempts forgetting to disconnect the power cable of the Mac!
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I try lots of combinations... nothing, always same symptom.
Finally, I disconnect the power cord again, I re-install all the RAM modules, an I try to reset the CMOS: I remove the Motherboard battery for some seconds.
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I go in System Info, and I see that it doesn't recognize two of the 6 RAM modules: just 4. The slots of the other 2 not recognized DIMM modules seems empty, but there is the ram!
So I power off the Mac Again. I disconnect the power cord.
I change the RAM modules positions. I try again: nothing! Again the three-times flashing lights symptom, and always black screen again.
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After lots of attempts (also changing again the RAM positions, trying to remember how it was when it worked...)... nothing.
I power off the Mac.
After about an hour, I simply try to power on it... IT WORKED!!!
I used it too... went on Internet, etc... Finished working, I powered it off and went to bed.
The day after, I tried to power it on... nothing! Always three times flashing lights...
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What do you think? how is this possible?
If the CPU or the Motherboard or the RAM too got broken... simply it NEVER should run... on the contrary two times it worked very well!... with a broken Motherboard or CPU??? ...mmmm... so strange....
If the RAM got broken... how is this possible? 6 ram modules burned together??? It seems so absurd... (in past there were 8 RAM modules... one or two got broken... so I removed them and it worked again... but not 6 !!!!).
Any opinion?
Any practical advice?
Prevision of costs?
Thank you!!!
Message was edited by: ununpentium

Hi Wolfman I have an update of the situation.
We tried moving the RAM modules again... and at one point it worked! With just 2 RAM modules.
But at the green screen (with the gray apple darker) it blocked.
So we removed the two RAM modules and installed other two modules: it worked again! These two last modules are 512 MB each.
So we restarted the system pressing "c" with the OSX DVD in the drive, and it worked! I used System diagnostic OSX utility and it found the 2 ram modules, but of 256 MB each instead of 512 !!! How is this possible? (if they were broken OK, but detect just half of its size seems so strange...).
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We used DISK UTILITY to test the internal boot hard disk and it gave me an error (verify disk).
The Disk utility was unable to repair the disk.
Another damage!
I remember that in the past attempts it booted once (not three times flashing) and stopped at the grey screen... (I think: maybe due to the boot hard disk error!).
Unfortunately this external bootable firewire disk has got some problem and it sometimes blocks itself emitting a "clic".
So I powered the mac off and connected another newer firewire lacie bootable hard disk. I connected it in the FW800 port. I rebooted and... surprise: three times flashing light again!!!
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So after several attempts with RAM, cmos reset, firmware reset (power it up holding the power on button for some seconds), etc... I got it working again...
So this time I rebooted it pressing "c" and I initialized the internal hard disk using the OSX DVD as boot drive...
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I tried to reboot again (with no "c" or "alt" pressing, hoping the internal boot hard disk working again): nothing!
THREE TIMES FLASHING LIGHT AGAIN!!! No way to solve the problem now... always flashing...
What is happening here??? I don't understand! I use computers (instable DOS/Windows computers mainly!!!) form about 18 years... never seen a so strange behaviour!!!
We'll try to gather money to replace the RAM, before thinking to a Logic Board replacement...
Your opinion?
Thanks!

Getting Ripped DVD Video and Audio Into Encore

Do you have previously authored DVDs that need rework? Do you want to add menus with greater impact and functionality? Do you want to add some additional program or supplemental material? Does a client want their product demo DVD to be updated to reflect the capabilities of the new and improved version, but the source files no longer exist? Using Adobe Encore DVD and a freeware utility called DVD Decrypter (DVDD), you can accomplish this quickly and easily.
Disclaimer: I do not support the illegal copying and/or distribution of copyrighted works. The authors and distributors of the software I use have made it clear that they do not support illegal copying. This guide is intended solely to assist you in ripping and copying DVD video to which you have the legal rights. Any use of this guide to infringe the copyright of someone else’s intellectual property is prohibited.
This guide is based on Adobe Encore DVD 1.5.1 and DVD Decrypter version 3.5.4.0. Let’s Begin!
Place the DVD to be ripped in your DVD drive and launch DVDD. If you have more than one drive (e.g., a DVD-ROM and a DVD burner) make sure the one with the disc is selected in the Source dropdown list in the main program window. Now we need to set up DVDD to extract video in a way that is “Encore friendly”. This is the toughest part of the whole exercise. Click on the Tools menu item and choose “Settings…”.
Settings
General Tab: You can leave these set at their defaults if you like. Personally, I specify a custom Default Destination. I put my ripped video assets all in one place anyway, and having a default destination means I have one less thing to do when I rip a DVD.
IFO Mode Tab: Make sure that “Select Main Movie PGC” and “Enable Stream Processing” are checked. “Uncheck Suspect Cells” is probably a good default safety check. If your hard disks are formatted as NTFS, set File Splitting to “None”. I leave “Copy IFO File” checked with the default sub-items checked. Make sure that “Patch M2V Timecode” is unchecked. The items in the Create Additional Files section are purely optional. The author of DVDD has been kind enough to list which programs need which files; notice that Encore DVD isn’t listed as needing any of these extra files. I do keep the “Stream Information” box checked. DVDD generates very informative file names, but I like to keep “Include PGC Number” under File Names checked. Be advised you will get some lengthy file names after DVDD is finished ripping.
Stream Processing Tab: Since we enabled stream processing in the IFO Mode tab, we need to tell DVDD how to process those streams. To save yourself time and confusion later, check the “Convert PCM to WAV” box. Earlier versions of Encore required a Demuxed audio stream and a Raw video stream. Encore 1.5.1 can accept either type of video stream (Raw or Demuxed) but it does still require a Demuxed audio stream. However, I still recommend using Raw video and Demuxed audio, if only because it seems to be somewhat faster to process in DVDD. This workflow is also backward-compatible with earlier versions of Encore.
So let’s set up the Stream Processing tab now. In the Demux box, enter “0x8? 0xA? 0xC?”. This ensures that all audio streams in the selected PGC, whether AC3, PCM or MPEG will be set to Demux. In the Raw box, enter “0xE0”. This ensures that the video from the selected PGC will be set to Raw.
Additional Notes about the Stream Processing Tab:
1. For those of you asking the question, “What the heck is a PGC?” it’s just DVD-speak for the titles in a DVD project. And I’m not talking about the opening or end credits, either; I’m talking about the titles that result, for example, from the timelines you create in an Encore DVD project. There is a subtle difference between a PGC and a VTS (title set), but that's not important right now.
2. Happily, recent versions of DVDD create a WAV file after ripping that will import directly into Encore. Versions prior to 3.2.0.0 would create a WAV file that had to be imported to, and exported from, a sound editing program like Adobe Audition, Goldwave or SoundForge before Encore would recognize it.
Events Tab: For convenience sake, I recommend setting “Set Program Mode” in the Startup section to “IFO”. That way, whenever you launch DVDD, it will look familiar to you. You may safely ignore all of the other tabs in the Settings dialog.
Ripping
1.Under the Input Tab of the main program window, select the PGC you want to rip. You can only do one at a time.
2.Switch to the Stream Processing Tab. Verify that Enable Stream Processing is checked.
3.Check or uncheck any or all of the video and audio streams that are listed. Highlight each one to verify that all audio streams are set to Demux and the video stream is set to Raw.
4.If you didn’t select Default Destination in the General Settings Tab, then you need to tell DVDD where to put the ripped files now.
5.Click on the big DVD-to-Disk icon.
6.DVDD will announce, quite loudly, when it has finished. At that point you can rename the files or import them as is into Encore.
I hope you find this guide useful and that it helps you get the most out of your investment in Adobe Encore DVD.
Guide © Jeff Bellune 2005

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Good evening all.
I bought a new design Mac Mini 3 days ago. Today I decided to re-install the OS and found the following :-
1. The DVD drive makes a horrendous vibrating noise like an out of balance washing machine.
2. The usual method of booting from DVD ROM is to turn it on whilst holding the C key down. Mine just freezes to a white screen. This is reproducible every time. This boot method method has always worked for my iMac.
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regards
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I installed Grand Theft Auto 4 when I booted into Windows XP Pro and the Super Drive Went To all sorts of Speeds, but Know Vibration. *It's a random thing, or maybe these superdrive are very sensitive to imperfectly made Discs.* *I have a Late 2006 iMac 17" which is very sensitive to an HP Printer Install disc which vibrated like crazy. But with ALMOST every other disc I throw at it, it burns and spins just fine and quietly.* _It's like putting Regular 87 Octane Fuel into a Lamborghini, it will run terribly unless you put the good stuff/ Higher octane fuel in it._
Luckily or me, *I have a MacBook Air SuperDrive. These Drives do work on all the new Minis*. SO because of that, I'm not going to rush out for a repair right now. Unless I know in advanced that I will be in the same area of the Apple Store ( 25 miles Away / 50 miles round trip) ).
Message was edited by: Christian Rosario

DVD ROMS Ejecting after start up.

System Configuration:
CPU: 2.5 Ghz P4
Motherboard: Motherboard- MSI 865PE Neo2-V (V Class)
Chipset 865PE + ICH5 Chipset base
RAM: 500 Mb
Video Card: ATI Radeon 9200 SE
Operating System: Windows XP home edition
Nb. Two DVD drives connected master & slave on IDE2
I have an unusual situation. Please help. I have run out of ideas.
Dilemma
1. I boot up my system.
2. I click to enter my desktop environment (3 other users share this PC).
3. My system starts to load my processes.
4. While loading the processes my DVD drive door(s) shoots out in the open position. Sometimes both shoot out together and sometimes only one.
5. If I go into my windows explorer, I notice that the drive letters for the two drives are missing. I then have to reload them by using “my computer” management area. If I do not do this my applications will tell me that no drive exists. I have a DVD ROM and a DVD RW.
Other observations:
The drives never go missing in device manager. The drives only go missing in windows explorer if the DVD doors open. Sometime the doors may stay shut and everything is well. Sometimes the problem is frequent and sometimes it seems to have gone away.
Been there done that:
1.   I unloaded all DVD burner software
2.   I changed the IDE ribbon cable
3.   I unloaded the CD/DVD drivers and rebooted
4.   I disconnected one DVD at a time and rebooted.
5.   I checked for viruses using Norton 2005 (with latest definitions)
6.   I checked my application/disc integrity using Norton Win Doctor
7.    I Joined this forum for help

Update:
10.   I swapped around the cables going to the IDE ports on the motherboard. Switched ROMS to IDE 1 and switched HD to IDE 2
11.   I dismounted the virtual drive in CD Anywhere manager.
Problem disappears after I “only” completely remove cd Anywhere:
I completely removed the cd Anywhere software. Also using cdacleaner.exe and removing the registry entries as instructed by the supplier. The problem did not return.
Stop the clock –solution found.
I have an application called CD Anywhere that starts up at the beginning of loading. Only after I disabled this process that the problem with the DVD drives ejecting was resolved. I contacted the supplier about the problem and they furnished me with a fix, so far so good, everything is working fine. If you are wondering what CD Anywhere is, it’s a virtual drive software for convenient loading of CD images without the hassle of physically loading the original cd. Its supplied by a company called Vcom.

Format iMac from external dvd-rom

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I need to re-install Leopard & would like to know, is it possible to connect my other iMac & use it's DVD-ROM drive to re-install Leopard?

blimpmedia wrote:
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I don't know if these people ship to your country, but they have reasonably-priced parts:
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They also have step-by-step instructions for a number of replacement operations:
http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repair/Installing-iMac-Intel-20-Inch-EMC-2105-and-21 18-Optical-Drive-Replacement/1090/1
WARNING: An iMac can be a little tricky to work on. For example, there are some parts that have to be coated with heat grease during assembly. Another thought: that disk drive is probably not specific to Apple. If you can find a competent computer repair shop, you could refer them to those repair instructions and let them do the replacement.

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