How do I ... Watch ripped DVDs on an Xbox 360

by Shawn Morton | Mar 29, 2007 3:32:00 PM

Tags: Game players, Consumer electronics, Digital media, Shawn Morton, VOB, VOB2MPEG, MCE, MCE box, Xbox 360, Microsoft Xbox, DVD

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Takeaway: Shawn Morton shows you how to get your favorite DVDs onto your Media Center Edition Windows box so that you can stream them to your Xbox 360.

This article was originally published on sMoRTy71.com. It is being republished on TechRepublic by permission from Shawn Morton. A downloadable PDF version of this article is also available.

One of the coolest features of the Xbox 360 is the ability to stream media, especially video, from a Windows Media Center 2005 PC (MCE). So, I figured I would share a quick how-to for putting your favorite DVDs onto your MCE box so that you can stream them to your Xbox 360.

First, here is the software that you will need (the first two of which are free):

DVD Decrypter
VOB2MPEG
Windows Media Center 2005

Note: This how-to presumes that you have the XBOX 360 and the Media Center PC configured to share media files before you start.

The process

Once you have the software installed and a DVD in your MCE box's drive, here is how you get the DVD to your PC's hard drive:

Note: The red numbers on the screenshots correspond with the steps in the process.

Open DVD Decrypter and set it to "File" mode by selecting "Mode" then "File." (See Figure A)

Figure A

Step 1

Configure DVD Decrypter to create a single VOB by selecting "Tools" then "Settings" then the "File Mode" tab. In the right side of the "File Mode" tab, change the File Splitting menu to "None." This will create a single VOB file which will make it easier when you use VOB2MPEG later. (See Figure B)

Figure B

Step 2

Select the directory where you want to store the VOB files in the "Destination" section of the interface
Click the DVD-arrow-hard drive icon at the bottom to start the process which will take between 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of the disc and the speed of your machine. (See Figure C)

Figure C

Steps 3 and 4

After ripping the DVD as a single VOB, here is how you convert it to an MPEG (since the Xbox 360 won't stream VOB files):

Open VOB2MPEG (Figure D)

Figure D

Step 1 -- VOB2MPEG

Select the directory where your ripped VOB file is stored.
Select the directory where you want to save your soon-to-be-created MPEG file. Choose any of the directories that you are currently sharing between the MCE box and the Xbox 360. This way, you won't have to change any settings on the console or the MCE box in order to watch your new file.
Press "Start".

After about 10-15 minutes, your MPEG file will be ready. You will probably want to delete the original VOB file to save hard drive space.

Now, just got to the Media Center menu (on either your Xbox 360 or your MCE box) and select My Videos. You should see your new file in the folder with the rest of your video files. That's it!

Although CSS decryption software is legal in most countries, its legal status in the US is in doubt. This guide does not sanction the illegal use of CSS decryption software in the United States. Readers who are subject to US law must agree to limit the application of the techniques in this guide to unencrypted or lawfully accessible discs only.

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