audio_ts and video_ts folders

No. AUDIO_TS is there just for compatibility for old players.

VIDEO_TS has the (duh) video files.

thanks for the reply

so audio_ts has no files, and the video_ts has all the files which include audio and video.

i guess it is the .vob which has the data because that is what i click on to get the dvd to play, is that correct?

what about the others, .ifo and .bup?

audio_ts is for DVD Audio discs. The IFO stores information such as title, language and subtitle indentification. The BUP is a backup of the IFO in case it is gets corrupted (scratches mainly).

Right, and to play a DVD on your computer, open the VIDEO_TS.IFO file using either Media Player Classic, Nero ShowTime, or a software DVD Player (such as PowerDVD, WinDVD, etc.) Note that Windows Media Player can NOT open IFO files, so you need another program for that. Or you could burn the files in VIDEO MODE to a DVD-/+RW disc and play that.

thanks for the replies guys

so one does not open the .vob file but the .ifo file
i thought it woudl be the .vob since it is the biggest of the files

have a look at jmet's guide here
http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?t=54219

you can play the vobs seperately, but if you want the whole dvd to play from start to end, use the method in the link.

Yes, that is because the VOB contains the video. However, just playing a VOB will not give you the navigation, like menus, chapters, etc. That's why you open VIDEO_TS.IFO.

Hope that clears that up :)

--EDIT--
The LT. is fast today :-D