How to stream to a TV, a DVD copied file-by-file to HDD?

[marlinman]

I spent about a week during our Winter copying my DVD collection (~300 discs) to a 3Tb HDD. By 'copying' I mean transferring each disc's VIDEO_TS folder to the hard drive. Good times...

Anyway, I'm used to simply dropping a VIDEO_TS folder onto VLC and having the disc's main screen appear. I've just got my first-ever(!) flat screen TV and would like to stream DVD content to it via e.g. WMP. Unfortunately, I've yet to find a way to coax WMP into opening a DVD backed-up in this way.

I've tried 'AllShare' by Samsung (maker of the TV) but this only seems to allow each .VOB file to be streamed separately. I also gave 'TVMOBiLi' a go but doesn't look like this can do what I need either.

Appreciate any advice!

 

[Claudius-07]

You've lost me here. First, how are you connected to your flat screen TV? Is it your computer that is connected directly or do you have something else that you wish to play the movies from?
Do you care for an interface?
I have hundreds of DVD's and BR movies ripped to my hardrive. I access it via software I installed called XBMC (xbmc.org), runs on Windows, Mac, etc. If you have a folder with inside a ripped DVD structure like VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS, it plays the folder with all the menus etc. Is that what you mean?

If are using a Samgung tv etc that has the AllShare, not sure. Are you trying to share via DLNA and hoping the Samgung device that supports it sees the VIDEO_TS as a movie rather than a file?

 

[bobdole369]

xbmc does this with ease. As does tversity and pretty much anything that will support windows installed codecs. media player classic will play with ease too. http://mpc-hc.sourceforge.net/
You just need to have an mpeg-2 codec installed on the system. I won't be getting into that.

Maybe an easier solution is to just buy a kaleidescape and cajole your installer into burning your video_ts folders and re-importing them?

http://www.kaleidescape.com

 

[marlinman]

Are you trying to share via DLNA and hoping the Samgung device that supports it sees the VIDEO_TS as a movie rather than a file?

Yeah, DLNA - that's the one! Windows Media Player allows me to stream e.g. .avis to my TV via the 'Play to...' command, and I'd like to be able to do the same with my copied VIDEO_TS dirs.

 

[Blintok]

Have you considered just getting a stand alone media player?
There are many to chose from. WDTVLIVE, Asus O!Play, D-Link Boxee Box
and so on.
I use a WDtvlive that is connected to my Win7 computer network via a cat5e cable.
Will play the files you mention. I also have a WD Elements 1.5T external drive hooked
up to the live player via USB. I play more transient (watch once or twice and throw away) from the computer and keep more permanent movies on the elements drive.

 

[Gintaras]

Have you considered just getting a stand alone media player?
There are many to chose from. WDTVLIVE, Asus O!Play, D-Link Boxee Box
and so on.
I use a WDtvlive that is connected to my Win7 computer network via a cat5e cable.
Will play the files you mention. I also have a WD Elements 1.5T external drive hooked
up to the live player via USB. I play more transient (watch once or twice and throw away) from the computer and keep more permanent movies on the elements drive.

Best suggestion so far...I do myself same, just I have Argosy Media Player that supports most 2T HDD. My Media Player connected to TV via Yamaha receiver with HDMI and picture is very good....
With USB wireless adapter, I can watch any videos directly from my desktop or laptop - TS folders, MKV, 264H files...And files from any PC to Media Player can be transferred wirelessly...

 

[marlinman]

I can't afford any new hardware right now, sadly. I have found that by right-clicking on a VIDEO_TS.IFO file in Windows Explorer, I can open the DVD in WMP as I do in VLC (can't believe I've only now realised this). However, on doing this the 'Play to...' button is greyed out! Very frustrating...