Backing up from DVD player to DVD Recorder

[jkassner]

Extreme newbie with question. Can I hook up a DVD player to my Panasonic DMR-E80H and back up my DVD's in the same manner as I have backed up my VHS tapes?

[andystar351]

Basically the answer is yes.
However there are a few drawbacks(like most dvd film titles use dual layered discs double the size of a dvdrw) and a little ground work to be done before you start.
I am also a newbie and have used this forum extensivley over the last week or so, i will try to answer your question to the best of my knowledge at this time (please also read the more experienced peoples posts aswell as they have sorted out quite a few problems for me already.
The first step is to look at the dvd you are trying to "backup" if it is an origional (shop purchased) dvd disc you will need to get around its copy protection encoding by entering a code on your dvd players remote to disable the Macrovision(look under the hack section and do a search for your particular machine for the macrovision code)This done you must then hook up your dvd player to the dvdr in the same way as you did for the vcr (if you have already backed up vcr tapes this should be a straight swap one unit for the other). It should really be as simple as that but in my experience it rarely is that easy. Try the above steps first and if you have no joy, re post your question detailing the problems you are experiencing and im sure the very helpful folks on this board will be able to help you further as they have so kindly done for me.

[andystar351]

sorry ignor and remove this (posted twice in error) only read the first one

[hudsonf]

If I understand you correctly you want to play the movie on your player and record with the Panisonic?Yes this can be done if the dvds are not copy protected. If they are protected you will need something to remove the copy protection. Doing it that way you will lose the menus and chapters of the original dvd. Best way would be to rip to your computer with DVD Decrypter or DVD Shrink.

[andystar351]

Good point made there, but not all of us have a dvd burner on thier pc, i think this is the point that the origional post was trying to make.
Of course the best results are to be seen using the computer and burning software, but this is sometimes not possible or unfeasible to a few who just want to make a back up copy or just to watch a dvd quality film once in a while (i hate menus anyway lol). As the first post was unclear about this matter, i will now shut up and leave before i dig a hole big enough for all of us to fall into.