Basic Computer requirements when copying DVDs

[tac7]

Could anyone please advise on the basic requirements when making DVD back-up copies on a computer? (my only experience has been burning DVDs on a stand-alone unit so far).
I have a spare computer - 550 MHz P3, 125 RAM, Win98se, 20 Gig partitioned HDD and would be using it for that purpose only.
Other than having to purchase a DVD burner, are these resources enough to be able to do this? How big a partition do I have to create, so there is enough room for the files when burning DVDs - is 9 Gig enough? Thanks for any feedback!

[budz]

You'll need a additional hard drive because 20 gbs is not enough. A DVD9 is about 8 gbs. I'd also add more RAM. The CPU speed is slow so it'll take awhile for even using DVD SHRINK to compress the video files. It can be done but the process will be slow. Just my 2 cents!

[bits]

Your not even close on the system so forget it!

You will need at least 10-12GB HD space.
Decrypting and copying to HD is the only part that your system could handle albeit very slowly!
The real problem is the transcoding/re-encoding of the decrypted file so that it will fit on a DVD. Commercial DVDs can hold much larger file sizes that the DVDs we write too. This file reduction process is very cpu intensive and a 550 p3 ain't even close!

[ROF]

Your not even close on the system so forget it!

You will need at least 10-12GB HD space.
Decrypting and copying to HD is the only part that your system could handle albeit very slowly!
The real problem is the transcoding/re-encoding of the decrypted file so that it will fit on a DVD. Commercial DVDs can hold much larger file sizes that the DVDs we write too. This file reduction process is very cpu intensive and a 550 p3 ain't even close!

All this only holds true if you want to degrade your video by using something like DVD Shrink to fit a DVD9 on a DVD5 (not recommended for quality backups). However you will need at least 9GB of space to rip a DVD. If I were you I'd find a small 80GB drive and some more RAM before continuing.

I have an old 450mhz I use for DVD Buring/Network Burning and it works fine, however it has a 120GB local hard drive and 1GB of 133mhz RAM. It takes no longer to rip a disc with this machine as it does with my more modern system (see my profile) but if you plan to shrink be prepared for hours worth of processing.

[whitejremiah]

also, kinda as a little side note, you would likely have to restrict your burning speed.....just on basis that your processor is a little towards the iffy side for burning at say 16x speed or anything like that.....20gb hdd space is TECHNECALLY enough, however like everyone else said, it's gonna be pushing it pretty far...and bits, please PLEASE learn what your talking about before you say stuff like what you said...his pc should work just fine for the actual ripping of the dvd, and there ARE in fact dual layer discs out (not sure where you live, but i know everywhere else in the world they have been available for a long time) my only real gripe with that setup you got going there, though, is the fact that your processor is lacking....well and you would have to delete everything IMMEDIATELY after your done with it....

[ROF]

It will burn at the full 16x without issue. I'd definitely recommend more RAM and you might want to find someone who has a 20-40GB HDD lying around they could sell/loan you.

[tac7]

Thanks for everyone's replies.

Provided I get a second or bigger HHD, and perhaps more RAM, would the OS Win98se be compatible with programs like DVDShrink or DVDDecrypter? Thanks again.

[guns1inger]

You can check out compatability for yourself in the tools section. Be aware though that using win98 will restrict you to file mode operations in most cases as you won't be able to create ISOs larger than 4gb. It means copying DL discs to DL using DVD Decrypter's ISO -> Read, ISO -> Write is not an option.






Edited for clarification of DL to DL copying.

[dcsos]

The only real issue is you could not RIP in stream mode.
This is because WIN 98 resides on a hard drive formatted using
FAT 32.
This mereley means that you cannot make a single file larger than 4GB (3.99gb)

Making such a file is never necessary in DVD backup
however, If you extract the movie from a DVD in the stream mode (to re autthor it) you may generate a file larger than 4 gb. Trying to make a file this large would cause DECRYPTER to crash.

Otherwise, your system is fine