Do you use DVD43 and Handbrake to convert DVD content to a format suitable for viewing on your iPod? If so, you might encountered a Handbrake hang when you tried to convert an unencrypted DVD. Try as you might to kill the DVD43 and Handbrake process, both keep on running. And while you can still use your computer, Handbrake is stuck and the only way to “unstick it” is to power off your computer. Is it possible to avoid this problem?

Details of the DVD43 hang

Start DVD43 and then insert an unencrypted DVD. Watch the DVD43 system tray icon and you’ll notice that it never informs you it’s scanning the drive. Hover over the system tray icon with your mouse and the typical pop-up menu doesn’t appear. At this point it’s clear, DVD43 is stuck. My guess is that DVD43 is trying to scan the drive for encrypted data and since it’s not finding any, it just keeps on looking: it’s caught in an infinite loop.

Bring up Task Manager and try to “End Process.” Nothing. Bring up Task Manager again and try to “End Process Tree.” Again, nothing. Completely frustrated, try to restart Windows. Once again, nothing. Now you have no choice but to power recycle your machine. What a hassle, but how can you avoid this problem?

Avoiding a DVD43 hang is all about launch order

First, be logical about your DVD content.

• If someone gives you a DVD with personally filmed material, it’s highly unlikely the DVD is encryption and you have no need to start DVD43.
• If you’re working with commercial DVD material, then it’s likely it has encryption and you’ll need to start DVD43.
• Finally, if you’re working with a commercial DVD, but the content is educational or obscure, encryption may or may not be exist and this is the “gray area” that can cause problems.

When working in the “gray area” of encrypted DVD content, launch Handbrake first and try to read the DVD contents as you normally would:

1. The Source section click Browse
2. Nagivate to your DVD drive and select the VIDEO_TS folder and click OK
3. Sit back and wait for HandBrake to read the DVD contents

If Handbrake seems to be taking longer than normal (time varies depending on your computer hardware), bring up the Task Manager and select to “End Process” for Handbrake and you’ll get this error message:

The message indicates that “No Title(s)” were found. Now you know, the DVD is encrypted and you need to start DVD43. Of course, if Handbrake quickly read the DVD, you have no need to kill its process and the DVD is unencrypted and you DON’T need to start DVD43.

The work around isn’t the most elegant solution, but it does it the job and prevents you from having to hard reboot your machine.

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Filed under: How-To & Tech Tips