MetaChat - AskMeCha

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

25 August 2005

AskMeCha I want to make back-up copies of DVDs→[More:]
My kids have a tendency to be slightly tough on things and movies on DVD are no exception. I would love to be able to make copies of the disks and keep the originals filed away so that, when they destroy them, I can reproduce a new copy.

Can anyone recommend a free method of copying these disks?

post by: dg at: 19:32 | 5 comments

What kind of computer do you have? For OS X there's Mac The Ripper, which is a free way to get them off the discs and onto the computer... I don't have a free suggestion for getting them back on to disc though (and I'm assuming you have a DVD burner).

posted by dobbs 25 August | 19:41

DVDBackup and DVDOneX work great in OSX, to rip and shrink to 4.7 Gb, but DVDOneX isn't free

posted by matteo 25 August | 19:49

On Windows, the dead-easiest way (to me) is through DVD Shrink and DVD Decrypter. Run DVD Shrink to download the dvd .iso to your computer. Then use the burning feature of DVD Decrypter to burn it to a DVD-R. You can even set the former app to sync right into the latter.

This should work for the vast majority of DVDs out there. And both programs are easy to use.

If you are using this method and run into any problems, let me know.

posted by selfnoise 25 August | 19:58

I also use DVD Shrink. I am a clueless noob regarding computers and it works great.

posted by LarryC 25 August | 20:02

Obviously, I shold have given more information. WinXP is my OS and yes, I have a DVD burner.

DVD Shrink looks perfect so far. Thanks for the advice. Once again, Google returns way too many results to be useful for this subject and I gave up wading through pages of crap to find a gem.

posted by dg 25 August | 20:22

← I had a great dream (more inside) || Experiencing War. →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN