.par Files
 

Within my Movies folder is a PAR folder, which contains a whole load of files with names the same as the projects I have compressed for DVD, but ending .m2v.par . There are described as DSP MPEG Parse Information. I assume that they contain the data picked up during the encoding first pass and used for the second pass, but do I need to keep these files?

Cheers,

Nick

The .par suffix appears to be for files associated with content downloaded through something like a Usenet site, perhaps a movie rental download service or through a DVR device - and are part of a file structure system intended to ensure the integrity of the file through the download process. As I understand it, if a glitch in the download process resulted in an incomplete download of your media file, then the .par file seems as though it is intended to help fill in the missing gaps to complete the file as opposed to having to start the process over again. (At least that is what it sounds like to me.)

My guess is that if the files you ended up working with stand as their own independent and complete files, you are probably safe to trash the .par files. But take that advise with a grain of salt - I am only guessing on this.

-Jon