If my PC has a DVD Burner....

[RTRD]

....can I make a copy of a standard movie DVD?

I want to give someone a copy of the disk I rented, just because it been difficult to find on the rental stores...

If the answer is "yes", please provide guidance...

 

[Horney_Senior]

....can I make a copy of a standard movie DVD?

I want to give someone a copy of the disk I rented, just because it been difficult to find on the rental stores...

If the answer is "yes", please provide guidance...

Most DVDs are copy protected. I've heard there is software that can crack it and would love to hear about it.

 

[The Bandit]

Most DVDs are copy protected. I've heard there is software that can crack it and would love to hear about it.

DVD Shrink, or DVD Fab.

 

[jwmorrice]

DVD Shrink is not updated to deal with the latest copy protection procedures. However, it may still work on some of the older dvds. I now use DVDFab and it's great.

jwm

 

[RTRD]

Is this DVDFab

DVD Shrink is not updated to deal with the latest copy protection procedures. However, it may still work on some of the older dvds. I now use DVDFab and it's great.

jwm

...something I have to go into a computer store and buy, or pay for a download? Because at that point I can just buy a copy of the DVD.

Honest...this is a one time deal...and only because she hasn't been able to rent this DVD ANYWHERE...

 

[l69norm]

........... I now use DVDFab and it's great....

Use the DVD-Fab free edition called "DVDFab HD Decrypter":
http://www.dvdfab.com/free.htm

 

[Radio_Shack]

If that all fails just simply grab the movie off torrents and burn it after the download.

I use Azureus client for download.

http://azureus.sourceforge.net/

 

[RTRD]

Ok guys...I owe you...

....that first half (ripping the DVD with the DVDFab software) worked like a charm. Could not have been easier.

Now....what FREE software do I need to create the DVD copy? I ripped the DVD to my hard drive as directed, but now obviously I need to burn the copy.

Appreciate the help so far....sorry for the questions (that might seem inane to some), but while technology is kinda my thing, computers (at least the use of them) really is not....and I have not done this before.

Again...help to date is GREATLY appreciated, as more assistance would be.

 

[RTRD]

Yes...

if you know how to use torrents get nero 6 (less bloatware) off them. otherwise you can get a 30day free trial of nero 9. when your done installing and it asks you about file assoisciations deselect all of them from all the tabs.

http://www.nero.com/eng/downloads-nero9-trial.php

all you have to do is select nero burning rom > dvd video.

copy the files in video_ts over to the dvd. audio_ts is usually empty. burn

...I noticed audio_ts was empty

So...I take it I tell "Nero" (which I actually might have...though perhaps not the latest version) where to find the video_ts folder, and then it takes over from there?


Ok - i just looked, I have "Roxio" and "Real Player"...may have had "Nero" on the old laptop....ok, i am off to download the software...

 

[RTRD]

Its...

You can only use Nero burning rom if the DVD file will fit on a single side (i.e. less that 4.5GB).

....a TV program...actually 4 of them...each 1 hour long....on a single original DVD.

Should that fit on a single side?

I know I have to go buy blank DVDs as well....because blank music CDs will not work, correct? They are only 800mb....

 

[RTRD]

Ugh....

Your source DVD is most likely a dual layer DVD. What is the total file size that DVD Fab put on your hard drive for the DVD?

its 7.36 GB....sounds like I'm in trouble

The question becomes how much quality you are willing to give up.
Most 50 minute Torrents are compressed down to ~400MB (some are ~800Mb) and to me represent "acceptable" quality for non-serious viewing. Maybe a 6:10 (less than VHS) compared to the source material.

Don't care. Seriously. So long as it is watchable (VHS quality? Whatever...) it is good. All she is going to want to do is watch the 4 episodes she has not seen, then trash the DVD.

With Nero Recode you can compress that to a single DVD, burn to a dual-layer DVD (assuming drive support) or spread it out over 2 DVDs. You could put your content on a music DVD, but the compression will certainly degrade the material to the point you won't enjoy it. Also Recode allows you to get rid of any unneeded extras as well as delete the trailing credits which will allow for less compression. It's all pretty easy and well described in the guides.

Yeah, but "Recode" wasn't the free version, right? I downloaded the free version of DVDFab....

At 60% noticeably less detail and colour and you see artifacts (blocks) - at this point it's mediocre (~VHS quality). Anything less that 60% is poor, but could be watched.

So Nero will allow me to compress it down to 4.5 GB so it can fit on a single DVD?

Last point - NO NOT BUY JUNK DVDs. They will degrade and become unwatchable within a year.

It will be watched once, then trashed, more than likely. Remember, I'm only doing this because after going to 3 different video stores, she can't find it for rent. Seems when stores stopped charging late fees, people stopped returning videos...

Sorry to be preachy, but it needs to be said: if you really value the DVD, BUY it and support the original artists.

Would have gladly rented it if it could be found.

Good luck, if you have further questions please feel free to post or PM.

So - will the FREE version of "Nero" allow me to compress the 7.63 MB folder enough to get it onto a single DVD?

Again - to be clear - this is just an act of "I don't know how the season ended!!!" There is no collection, quality is not an issue, etc. Just want to see the last 4 seasoning ending episodes, and can't find it for rent....

On, and BTW - mucho gracias to all....

 

[RTRD]

Ok...

if you know how to use torrents get nero 6 (less bloatware) off them. otherwise you can get a 30day free trial of nero 9. when your done installing and it asks you about file assoisciations deselect all of them from all the tabs.

http://www.nero.com/eng/downloads-nero9-trial.php

all you have to do is select nero burning rom > dvd video.

copy the files in video_ts over to the dvd. audio_ts is usually empty. burn

...I've TWICE tried to download "Nero", and both times was told the file was corrupt when I tried to install it.

Anymore suggestions?

 

[l69norm]

...I've TWICE tried to download "Nero", and both times was told the file was corrupt when I tried to install it...

Also, check the disks that came with your PC or DVD burner. Chances are that your DVD burner came with a free OEM version of Nero (or it might be already installed by your PC manufacturer

Install Nero and then DVD Shrink. Using DVD Shrink, you can either chop your big file into two single layer DVDs (with the same quality) or shrink it into a single layer DVD (with some quality loss). Sometimes I can cut the opening and ending credits off and get it to fit on a single layer DVD without shrinking.

 

[RTRD]

You...

Here's a download for Nero 7.11 Premium. I use 7.10. Let me know if this link doesn't work. It's also available on torrents. http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Tools/Data-CD-DVD-Burning/Nero-7-Premium.shtml

Yes, Nero Recode will compress the 7.36GB to fit on a single layer DVD. Quality will be good enough for what you had in mind (VHS quality).

Recode is part of Nero and the demo version can be downloaded for free. (Link above).

Still buy quality DVDs. I bought a stack of 100 Memorex and I gave up after the first 10 couldn't be used for video. They were okay for data, but I was nervous about using them.

...only included the link for softpedia...and when i download from there, i get no serial number to complete the install process.

This is REALLY more complicated than it should be...lol

 

[RTRD]

Nope....

Also, check the disks that came with your PC or DVD burner. Chances are that your DVD burner came with a free OEM version of Nero (or it might be already installed by your PC manufacturer

Install Nero and then DVD Shrink. Using DVD Shrink, you can either chop your big file into two single layer DVDs (with the same quality) or shrink it into a single layer DVD (with some quality loss). Sometimes I can cut the opening and ending credits off and get it to fit on a single layer DVD without shrinking.

...did not come with it. BUT...i think I have it on the other laptop....I was trying to avoid starting completely over from scratch on the other laptop, but it seems that is what I am going to have to do.

 

[oleman]

Thanks to all who replied. I've got to start burning some dvd's too. There is also a lot of how-to on the Empornium.us forums. Seems people who look at porn also like to burn dvd's. Who'd'a thought?