Topic: DVD Burner

[Simon]

I'm thinking once again of getting a DVD Burner.  I was looking at this this Sony, which isn't the cheapest, but I think would have good build quality, and it's one of the few which are +RW and -RW compatible.  The price isn't bad as well.  What do you think?

[Adept]

Go on Simon, You know you want to

[Robotochan]

I've always hated the fronts of Sony Drives, why can't they make a nice flat front instead of the stupid dome one?

[Simon]

I've gone for it.  It was about £1 cheaper at Watford, but their delivery times are not very good lately.  At least I know it will be here by Thursday.  

All I need to do now is decide what software to use.  I'll only be using it for backing up purposes, of course.  

[Robotochan]

I'll be wanting those pirate copies by friday the Simon  

[Simon]

 Not me, mate.  I wouldn't copy movies, as pirating causes untold damage to the film industry.  Unless, of course, it's for my own personal use.  I suppose if I hired a DVD and didn't get a chance to watch it, due to unforseen circumstances, I wouldn't feel too bad about copying it to watch at a later date, but I think even that is still technically illegal.  

[Rodders]

So you won't be using it very much then, Simon.  

[Simon]

Well, obviously I'll need to test it fully.  

[Sandra]

The main problem with making a backup copy of a DVD is that most films on a dvd are around 9 gig whereas the current size of recordable dvds are 4.7 gig max  
I believe that you cant get around this problem by dropping the extra bits, like the subtitles and extra languages and different view angle bits, from the original dvd but this means its not as straightforward as bunging the original dvd in your dvd drive and a writeable dvd in the dvd writer and getting an exact copy a few minutes later like you can do with an audio cd  

[Dack]

Usual packages to use:

1. DVD decryptor. This will read the original disc in and strip the naughty CSS protection off it. You will of course need a LOT of space on your NTFS formatted hard drive. (Especially if you use the file option and select "all files")

2. DVD2ONE. This will take a DVD-9 disc layout and shrink it down to a DVD-5 disc that you will then be able to write out. (Another program that does the same is "Instant Copy")

3. Nero. To write the newly fitting set of files out to your DVD-R.

You could, of course, just use dvd decryptor to extract the film and leave off all the extras and that usually will fit on a disc.

Or so I am reliably informed.

[Simon]

Thanks Dack, will look into those.

[Lona]

Simon, put me first in the queue and I won't report you to trading standards.

[Simon]

[Reno]

well man how bout this. You iron out the details on the best progs and steps to copy a dvd that satisfies you the best and post them here. Meaning as when the drives themselves get to a reasonable enough price for my lazy self you would have finished all the grunt work on the actual copying.

[Simon]

I will share any information I legally can, Bob.