Okay... This seems to be another one for you, Olli. Perhaps you've got some idea as I don't.

Instead of running a third attempt with DVD Decrypter, I took AnyDVD and Nero Recode 2. AnyDVD was set to PUO removal, Recode as well. I did an on-the-fly copy of The Last Samurai as described above: Main movie only, no menus, German audio only and forced German subtitles. The copy process created a .nrg image which I loaded into VirtualCD 6.0.0.6 to play it with Nero ShowTime (which is basically PowerDVD 6).

What to say? German forced subtitles were copied and shown as desired. I presume that the forced subtitles problem is not an AnyDVD problem (as it worked with Nero Recode 2), but comes from CloneDVD2 and the DVD menu disabled while copying. What do you think, Olli? I remind your own tests you described above.

I think I will stick to the solution Nero Recode 2/AnyDVD as it does de-CSS on the fly, so I will save time compared to first copying the DVD to HD with DVD Decrypter.

Additionally, I don't see the need to buy CloneDVD2 as well as I am already an registered owner of Nero. Both programs do exactly the same, speed, quality and features are similar, even if splitting of an DVD-9 to two DVD-5 is a little bit easier with CloneDVD2.

Unfortunately both CloneDVD2 and Nero Recode 2 are not able to split a DVD-9 to two DVD-5 with preserving the menu structure on both disks. For this, DVDFab Platinum would be neccessary, but I don't think I will buy an additional program to provide a solution I only use two or three times a year. Maybe this would be a good feature for future versions of CloneDVD2/Nero Recode 2.

Thanks again for all the help.

> What to say? German forced subtitles were copied and shown as desired. I presume that the forced subtitles problem is not an AnyDVD problem (as it worked with Nero Recode 2), but comes from CloneDVD2 and the DVD menu disabled while copying. What do you think, Olli? I remind your own tests you described above. <

This is very well possible. I will investigate further.

> Unfortunately both CloneDVD2 and Nero Recode 2 are not able to split a DVD-9 to two DVD-5 with preserving the menu structure on both disks. <

Well, this is not true. IMHO CloneDVD shines in this discipline, it can split movies nicely and can keep the menues and scene selections at the same time...

I did not find that option then. All I know that one is able to split the movie at a certain point and going back and "swap" cutting points after recoding the first part for recoding the second part. AFAIK menu is not preserved on the second part.

Menu is preserved on both parts. (It is not, if you disabled the "keep menu" checkbox, of course).
If you hit "play" in the menu of the second part, the movie will start at the second part... well, that was obvious. Chapter selections work as well.

Oh, I see. That's not too bad, I think Recode 2 doesn't offer any feature like this. Well, if I'm in need of copying a DVD-9 to two DVD-5, I will come back to CloneDVD2 for another trial period. Until then, I'll keep my money in my pocket and I'll stick with AnyDVD and Nero Recode 2. Fits my needs and doesn't cost much.

I am one of those whose backup did not show the alien language in the bar scene. However I did not include the menu in my backup either. Is this significant? Based on the testing that Olli did later I would say it is possible that CloneDVD missed a trick by not checking the menu for this sort of thing before transcoding the movie. Perhaps a feature for future versions..?


That is something that I'd like to know too. What are the PUOs in each for etc....

I also think that leaving the menu out when copying a DVD is responsible for the forced subs not working. After the testing Olli and me did, I can't imagine another reason for that.

Well, I'm guessing, but like the names say: The first PUOs are defined in the IFO, thus refer to all VOBs connected with this IFO. The second PUOs are for single VOBs only. Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong.