I Never Thought Making a Backup of your DVDs can be such a Hassle...

[KhoiFather]

I thought I would be able to just pop in a blank DVD+R in the DVDRW drive and pop in the DVD movie in the DVD drive and hit record. How come I can't just do that? It's so annoying and the articles at DVDRHELP.com is kind of confusing because I have to use so many programs which annoys me. Anybody have any useful tips to help me?

 

[DurocShark]

DVD Xcopy is pretty good for ease of use.

The separate programs are better IMHO because you have more control over what gets torn out, and you don't get the stupid DVDXcopy splash screen. But that may be the way for you to go.

The biggest problem with backing up DVDs is that your blank media hold less than an original DVD. So you end up having to chop some stuff out.

 

[Lucky]

http://www.dvdxcopy.com/

 

[dman]

Latest Version of DVDShrink is quite easy to use. I think it even burns dvd's but I use nero for that part.

The DVDRHelp forums are good, but, it's still a PITA and a bit of a learning curve to understand what needs to be done so you can keep the highest quality and most data possible in the process.

 

[murphy55d]

Yeah, DVDXcopy xpress is literally about 4 clicks, and you can come back in 40 mins to a burned DVD. Quality is pretty good, a tad pricier than free, though.

 

[Gravity]

The biggest problem with backing up DVDs is that your blank media hold less than an original DVD. So you end up having to chop some stuff out.

I don't get that. Why can't we get the same blank media that the big companies use to burn dvds?

 

[StageLeft]

This is why I can hardly be bothered to "backup" things now. Anti-piracy measures are just enough that I can't be bothered. I still download MP3s like a maniac though.

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: Gravity

The biggest problem with backing up DVDs is that your blank media hold less than an original DVD. So you end up having to chop some stuff out.

I don't get that. Why can't we get the same blank media that the big companies use to burn dvds?

They don't get 'blank' media, it's pressed in special duplicators... I think, like commercial CD's. They aren't burned like consumers do. In addition, Commercial DVD's (many) have dual layers. There's a technical limitation on burners (and/or media) at this time preventing them from offering that option. (There's also the dual side dual layer option, not sure if any commercial dvd's are available with that though, never seen one, and I think marketing wise they are happier saying 'dual discs' than 'one double sided dual layer disc').

There's also the option of dual sided media but for most discs that's not an issue, if you have to flip sides you could just burn another dvd since you have to change it in the player anyway. Probably better with 2 discs anyway, there are cdchangers but none that flip sides automatically to my knowledge.

Anyway, it seems like copy protection but I think it's more a cost and availability of technology limitation.

I haven't done any research lately so some of my info above may be wrong or outdated.

 

[murphy55d]

Originally posted by: Gravity

The biggest problem with backing up DVDs is that your blank media hold less than an original DVD. So you end up having to chop some stuff out.

I don't get that. Why can't we get the same blank media that the big companies use to burn dvds?

Retail DVDs are on dual-layer discs. As of right now, there are no consumer-level burners which can burn to a dual-layer DVD. So even if we had the discs, theyd be useless.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: DurocShark
DVD Xcopy is pretty good for ease of use.

The separate programs are better IMHO because you have more control over what gets torn out, and you don't get the stupid DVDXcopy splash screen. But that may be the way for you to go.

The biggest problem with backing up DVDs is that your blank media hold less than an original DVD. So you end up having to chop some stuff out.

You can take out the DVDXCopy warning in about 3 clicks using IFOEdit. It takes all of 2 seconds to delete that intro and save the IFO file. It's awesome.

Remember DVDXCopy is different from DVDXCopy Xpress. Xpress takes all of 4 clicks but copies only the movie (using 1 DVD). DVDXCopy uses 2 disc and the entire movie.

 

[CraigRT]

it's not a hassle, it's easy

DVD shink + Nero 6

pwnage!

 

[MustISO]

It's so easy it's rediculous. Granted the dual layer discs will make it easier but for now, it's very simple especially if you just want to keep the movie (not the extras).

 

[royaldank]

DVDShrink. Free and the best program I've used to copy a DVD.

 

[KhoiFather]

The only problem with DVD X Copy is that it doesn't copy protected DVDs which really sucks. Anyway to get around it?

 

[TheToOTaLL]

DVD Decrypter + Pinnacle InstantCopy. It takes a little longer than DVD X Copy, but I'm much more impressed with the quality vs the ease.

 

[GoodToGo]

Originally posted by: TheToOTaLL
DVD Decrypter + Pinnacle InstantCopy. It takes a little longer than DVD X Copy, but I'm much more impressed with the quality vs the ease.

Ding Ding Ding, exact same combination used by me, maybe we should introduce the OP to CCE. You probably have no idea how much simpler it has gotten.

 

[777php]

I've tried DVD Decrypter and I found the quality to be less than that of DVDShrink.

For me DVD Shrink and Nero 6 make the ultimate combination.

 

[KhoiFather]

I'm really have a hard time with Nero 6 here. I used DVD Shrink and it made all these files. I opened up Nero 6, picked NeroVision, and Make a New Movie, for some odd reason when I put all the files in the box, it only put the audio files there, where do I put the video files?

 

[faZZter]

I think DVD decrypter just removes the macrovision protection, it doesn't compress the files or change them. At least that is all I used it for. I don't see how that could affect the quality of the video.

Lately I've been using DVD shrink though, which removes the copy protection and shrinks (compressses) the video....which is awesome and it's free!

 

[KhoiFather]

Yah