[abandhev]

Hi, got the 404, mainly to play our music, on holiday. Also to use as external H/D to back up our photos.
Now we know that it plays videos too we'd like to put some on there.
Windows media Player, won't rip DVDs, like it does with cds, so being very untechnical - how do we get them onto the player?
We also bought the docking adaptor, but this only came with a usb cable, and power cord.
Thanks.

[mimlloyd]

I recently acquired an Archos AV500 and wondered about the same thing. Someone on this forum posted instructions for the best way to get DVDs onto his Archos without any outlay. I use his method which is straightforward to do. Someone else posted an alternative way to do it, but I wanted it to be simple and it works for me. You could also just play the DVD on your DVD recorder and attach your Archos so that it records it in real time, but this just ties up your recorder/tv!

I also don't bother using Windows Media Player to synch files to the Archos. I've changed the setting for my Archos for my PC to see it as a Hard Drive instead of a device. When connected to the PC I can simply drag and drop files between the two. These are the instructions for transferring DVDs - based on the AV500, but I'm sure you'll be able to adapt for the 404:

Step 1. Download DVD Shrink.

Step 2. Download Pocket Divx Encoder (the latest version supports the AV500).

Step 3. Open your dvd with DVD shrink.

Step 4. When DVD Shrink has finished analysing click on re-author. Then click on the main movie and drag this to the left to the DVD structure box. Then click backup! on the top row. You can then select where the file is saved.

Step 5. When DVD Shrink has finished backup close the program.

Step 6. Open Pocket Divx Encoder and click on Advanced Options and then on Select your device. Select Archos and then scroll to the AV500 and select.

Step 6a. In Pocket Divx Encoder click on the files to encode and select VTS_01_1.

Step 7. Select the audio, usually stream 128 (english) and apply.

Step 8. At 3-output options (avi files) the main default settings will give a good result on the Archos and an acceptable result for tv playback. The only setting that you need to change is output dimensions. By changing these dimensions it will convert only the widescreen picture which will allow you to display a widescreen picture on the Archos or maximise the picture to show a zoomed 16:9 picture. Click on change and then you will see the dvd being played back on a graphic of the Archos. Use the grey arrow buttons bleow the screen to crop the black borders top and bottomand to the side. As you crop you will see a blue border, so crop until you can only see the widescreen picture. When your happy click Apply.

Step 9. Click on Encode now, then wait for the encoding to finish and transfer the resulting avi file to your Archos.

I hope this helps!

Oh, BTW someone posted after these instructions were given saying that their film was split into 5 files. I haven't had this problem, but to stop this in DVD Shrink you have to go into Edit -Preferences, then under the Output Files tab select VOB Files into 1GB chunks.

Also, re picture quality change the resolution to 2500kb/s (i.e maximum) in the 'contextual settings' in Video Corder

fairUse wizard works ok but the free version limits the output file to 700mb.

[abandhev]

Thanks for that - thought of doing it in real time from DVD playe, but the supplied leads are only usb complatible. I'll try your suggestion.

[abandhev]

mimlloyd - thanks for the detailed instructions! Got down to end of step 5 brilliantly, no problems at all. Now having trouble with Pocket Divx Encoder. We've downloaded it Ok, but when I try to install it, keep getting this error message: CE Applimanager not found Please re-install Active Sync. We have absolutely no idea what this means, as we've not uninstalled anything, and the DVD Shrink program installed fine!
When we couldn't get this to work, we tried using Windows media player. We can get the video to play in this, but can't get it to transfer to the library.
Can someone help us to do either of these options, so we can get it onto the Archos?
Thanks again.

[mimlloyd]

Originally Posted by abandhev

Now having trouble with Pocket Divx Encoder. We've downloaded it Ok, but when I try to install it, keep getting this error message: CE Applimanager not found Please re-install Active Sync.

I think this means that you've selected the wrong device when installing the program. If you selected the Archos option this might be why. As you use the PC to encode the DVDs, install the program again selecting the PC option.

[mimlloyd]

Just had another thought. I had a similar error message when trying to run another problem a few months ago. It was because I needed to update/install DirectX. Someone told me that Pocket Recorder needs at least version 9 of DirectX to run. Perhaps it's this?

[FrankS]

If you don't mind spending £18, then I use this http://www.pqdvd.com/watch_dvd_on_pocket_pc.html
works with DivX as well is very simple to use and lets you control the quality.

Once you've encoded your video to an .avi file it's very easy to copy across to your archos, I find having my archos set as an external hard drive much more flexible than using it as a windows media device

[abandhev]

Thanks for all the advice, we used the FairUse Wizard in the end, and it took ages, but worked fine.

[mimlloyd]

Glad you got it sorted. I'll keep a note of that program in case I have problems. Since I got my Archos, EVERYTHING has not been straightforward to do! The instructions that came with it are very confusing to say the least. It's only been by posting on this forum that I know how to connect/download/encode properly.