DVD Burner.

[tomcat]

My new laptop has a DVD burner. Is it possible to make backup copies of my movie dvd's? If so, what software would you recommend?

I don't know who else to ask....you guys are the only ones I trust.

Thanks

Tomcat

[Donnie]

Tom-
many newer DVD movies have copy protection on the disc...however many do not! You will need a program that "rips" DVD's and converts them to a "suitable" format. Then you burn the ripped copy back to the new discs. My son had a program that would convert DVD files to avi's which allowed me to move them onto my laptop and watch them anytime I want. If the boys get restless on our cross country trips, they pull open the laptop and watch a movie or two. No need for handling or carrying the discs.

Here is a link that you may find useful!

http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/114

[Rick]

I would suggest CloneDVD2

http://www.elby.ch/products/clone_dvd/

One thing I like about it is that you can remove things like French subtitles while making your copy.

[fred4now]

I use DVD Decryptor and DVD Shrink. They were free downloads. I have yet to find a DVD I couldn't rip, even different regions. There is more work in this than most realise. The storebought DVD will store more than the writeable ones, so you need to shrink the movie also. Depending on the length it might be up to 50%, but the quality is still good. It also works just for copying onto laptop for temp use like Donnie said.

[keith026]

go with DVD Decryptor and DVD shrink like fred said. i've been using this for a couple years and it works great, it's not a simple 1 step process, but it produces great backups.

[tomcat]

Is DVD -R the correct disk to record to and play on a dvd player?

[Rick]

Either should work ok in your burner.

Make sure that your DVD player will play both.

[HBee]

Tomcat,

I strongly agree that DVD Decrypter and DVD shrink ver 3.2 are the way to go. With the exception of some Sony releases this combination is a winner. I have used these two pieces of software for close to a year with great success.

As Fredf4now mentioned, DVD Shrink enables you to shrink a dual layer studio release to fit on single layer media. An added bonus is you can easily 're-edit' a DVD to remove all of those pesky previews and other advertising and have just the movie without any 'shrinkage'.

Both products are free on the internet, but DVD Decrypter is under pressure form the British government to shut down.

Your choice of DVD+ or DVD- media will be driven by your DVD burner. (I can only use the DVD+)

If you need any assistance in backing up your movies, contact me off line.


Happy backing up

Herman

[fred4now]

I can also only use the + type. In your computer device manager it will say either dvd-rw or dvd+rw, just use the matching type.

I also don't record the french or spanish subtitles, it is nice to be able to choose.

[Donnie]

Heads up for anyone following this thread.....(found this on the internet)...

This software is no longer available, this page is stored for archival puposes only.

On 24th of November, 2005, Macrovision Europe contacted AfterDawn.com, notifying us that they have acquired full rights to the DVD Decrypter software and have changed its licensing terms. Effective immediately, they have decided to withdraw all distribution rights from all third party companies, including AfterDawn.com. Thus, distributing DVD Decrypter is now as illegal as it would be to distribute cracked copies of Windows operating system or pirated copies of games.

In other words....you better find it quick if you wanna use it....at least for free.

[HBee]

Heads up for anyone following this thread.....(found this on the internet)...

This software is no longer available, this page is stored for archival puposes only.

On 24th of November, 2005, Macrovision Europe contacted AfterDawn.com, notifying us that they have acquired full rights to the DVD Decrypter software and have changed its licensing terms. Effective immediately, they have decided to withdraw all distribution rights from all third party companies, including AfterDawn.com. Thus, distributing DVD Decrypter is now as illegal as it would be to distribute cracked copies of Windows operating system or pirated copies of games.

In other words....you better find it quick if you wanna use it....at least for free.


Here is a good link as of Sunday night. http://www.free-codecs.com/DVD_Decrypter_download.htm

If all else fails, I think I can find a copy for HTRers

Herman

[tomcat]

DVD deCrypter seems very necessary as I have not found any commercial software including Clonedvd2 that will copy protected movies. I had trouble figuring out where to go after the dvd decrypter finished....clonedvd2 worked very well after that.

[Paladin]

Here's another site I got DVD Decriptor off of yesterday. While supply lasts !

http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/1011845169/1

[tomcat]

You guys are great!
Now if you wanted to copy a video file of a race like they have at bris, how is that done?

[qhrick]

You guys are great!
Now if you wanted to copy a video file of a race like they have at bris, how is that done?

1) camcoder it right off screen

2) MUCH preferred. Use ATI radeon video card w/TV/video out
- configure card in "full theater mode"
- connect vcr to video out on video card, connect cable to a video in input on vcr, be sure vcr has that connected video in selected for input
- bring up replay and press record on vcr

[Rick]

Camtasia.

But it probably cost more than the video card. :)

[tomcat]

qhrick....is there not a way to save a race that is being played on the internet?

[qhrick]

qhrick....is there not a way to save a race that is being played on the internet?

not sure I understand, I suggested 2 methods and Ricks suggested a 3rd

beyond that, you might google something like " record windows media player" or "record streaming video"

[Donnie]

I recently installed a TV tuner card in my system and I believe one of the setup options is to record from any video source....I am currently more interested in recording our favorite programs from TV than anything else. The point is the card supports more than one signal option and I believe that digital from the computer (probably any media playing program) is one of those options. This then becomes another work-around for copy protected movies.

If anyone has been thinking of this option, I highly recommend it! My computer is now a TiVo! It can do EVERYTHING a TiVo does. Make sure your system has the "giddy-up" to support it!

[tomcat]

so, Donnie, is it working? Is the card expensive?

[tomcat]

Qhrick, I thank you for the help. I am now able to back up a dvd thanks to you guys. It just kind of fun to learn about all the new things we can do.

[Donnie]

Tom-
the "TiVo" part of it is definitely working! I record my son's favorite cartoons when he is at school and then he can watch them after his chores...best past...all you have to do is click on the option "Always record this show". So whenever that show is on, my computer jumps right in and records it. SuSu and I only watch 2 TV shows on a regular basis, and now we never have to worry about stopping what we are doing to watch them. And you never have to set it every week....one click does it all. When watching live TV you can rewind at anytime for instant replays and continue on once you are done watching the replays.
I have not checked about setting it up for "computer" recordings, but will check the manual this weekend!

[Donnie]

ohhhhh....It cost about $80. You just snap it into an expansion slot, hook up the cable from the cable TV and install the software. Done.

Am planning on recording the replays show from PRM next year. One click at the beginning of the season will get them all. They always had it on around midnight or so.....too late for me!!! :rolleyes:

[tomcat]

That's really interesting. We have the dish network tivo that Linda is able to record Oprah and watch at a different time. The downer is not being able to store on disk or computer the files on that Tivo.