How to get dvd movie to blank dvd?

[AngieM]

Several guys have put a lot of programs on my computers, but haven't given me very good instructions on how to use them, so I am frustrated, to say the least. I am trying to copy a FULL movie from a DVD to my own blank DVD. I usually use Xilisoft DVD Copy Express, which I LOVE because it's SO easy; however, it doesn't do ALL DVDS, neither does Any DVD always allow all movies to be copied. If I have the following programs, can someone please tell me how to (in SIMPLE terms or direct me to a good starter's guide) get the job done when I can't use DVD Copy Express?
MUCH thanks to anyone who can point me in the right directions. My brain is SO fried trying to find the right info, so please forgive my asking for help getting on the right track... THANKS!
These are the programs I have. I would love to find an EASY "recipe" to do this, then get rid of all other programs:

Any DVD
Clone DVD 2.9.2.1
DVD Shrink 3.2
Instant DVD Recorder
Nero Home
Nero Smart Start
Pinnacle Instant DVD Recorder
Xilisoft AVI to DVD Converter
AnyDVD & HD v.6.5.2…
DVD Decrypter 3
DVD-Cloner VI6.00
Free Rip Pro

[JohnnyBob]

Basically it's a 2-step process:
(1) rip the movie to hard drive
(2) burn it to a DVD

If it's not protected, DVD Shrink should work fine to rip it to hard drive. You don't have to use the shrinking features.

If it's protected then you'll have to use an appropriate ripper. Most older movies can be ripped with DVD Shrink, however newer movies may require software such as AnyDVD or DVDFab. If you're looking for free software try DVDFab HD Decrypter.

Use ImgBurn (freeware) to burn.

[AngieM]

Thanks, JB, your response looks VERY helpful. I will try this tomorrow because tonight my other PC is VERY frozen and I am devastating because it looks like I'm going to lose all my files (!!)
Thanks for all the links and replying so quickly, very much appreciated.

[guns1inger]

If you are letting "several guys" install crap all over your machine I am not surprised it is not in a working state.

Most of what they have installed is either crap, illegally cracked, or shareware that will soon expire.

I agree with JohnnBob's advice - DVDFab DVD Decryper for ripping, DVD Shrink if you need to squeeze it down to fit, and Imgburn to burn to a new disc. The rest is just a waste of space unless you really feel the need to pay for them.

[AngieM]

Trust me... I learned the hard way that you are VERY right, GSlinger !!! There will be no more of that. I've never allowed anyone to touch my computer before and I never will again. Your help is also much appreciated. I did get my PC back up by starting in Safe Mode and doing a restore- didn't lose any files either (!!) Now that I'm too exhausted to think, I will try all suggestions here tomorrow.

[AngieM]

One more thing, please: I downloaded DVDFab and ImgBurn from the links in this thread, but when I tried to run them, my Norton (in red warning letters) told me to not use them until more is known about these downloads. Think it's okay to just use 'em anyway? That's how my computer crashed last night, downloading suggested programs. And please bear with naive questions as I am just learning this. I've been using Xilisoft DVD Copy Express, an amazingly easy program to copy movies to DVD. However, there are a few of the newer, protected movies that even it cannot copy. I say go for it and use these newly downloaded programs; what do you guys think?

[JohnnyBob]

IMHO, it's OK to use them. Almost everyone on these forums has downloaded and installed them. So I don't believe they contain anything bad.

[hech54]

my Norton (in red warning letters) told me to not use them until more is known about these downloads.

Friends don't let friends use Norton. Once you get your video program preferences straightened out...get rid of Norton.
If you downloaded programs from links here in VideoHelp...you are fine.

[JohnnyBob]

I suggest you ignore hech's offbeat comments. Best to keep it simple...

Norton is fine, and was just being cautious with its warning. If Norton is working OK otherwise, keep it!

[MOVIEGEEK]

I agree with Heck54, ditch Norton and use Avast Free AV.
While you're at it download SuperAntiSpyware and MalwareBytes to make sure your PC is clean.

[AngieM]

Okay, you guys, I downloaded Imgburn and when I tried to burn a movie I had on my hd, it said it couldn't do it because the file was too big. I thought that's why I had to use Shrink DVD first. Now I really am confused... please hang in there with me 'til I get it right, that would be nice.

[JohnnyBob]

[Forget about hech and geek, they're off onto their own little OT sidetrips somewhere.]

How big is the movie that you want to burn to a DVD? Rightclick it in Windows Explorer and select Properties.

You can get 4,464 MB (4.35 GB) maximum onto an ordinary single layer DVD. If it's more than that, you have several options:
(1) use a DL DVD
(2) shrink to fit onto a single layer DVD
(3) split it, to burn onto 2 single layer DVDs

You will find advocates of all these methods. I prefer and use method (1). If you select this method you'll need to buy some DL (double/dual layer) discs. I recommend Verbatim 8.5GB 8X DVD+R DL 30 Packs Cake Box Disc Model 96542 from Newegg. Most other brands of DL discs (such as you may find at Walmart, Kmart, etc) are very unreliable.

DVD Shrink can perform the size reduction required in method (2). The quality suffers somewhat but it's still pretty good if you don't shrink it a lot. There's other software that can supposedly do a better shrinking job but I've always been happy with DVD Shrink.

Other software is required to perform method (3), and I'm not familiar with it. I've never used that method so someone else would have to advise you in that regard.

[ricoman]

The easiest way with the software you have is to use CloneDVD2. AnyDVD will rip in the background while CloneDVD writes to your HD and a DVD. It's a one step process, just start up CloneDVD, pick your source DVD drive, choose a folder to rip to and drive to burn to (choose DVD5 or DVD9), click go and go. That's it.

[AngieM]

JB, it's 6.70GB and it's in a folder on my desktop. The DL disks are VERY expensive, though. How do I shrink it with Shrink DVD from the desktop? Any quick step-by-steps? Because I've been trying and nada.

[guns1inger]

Start DVD Shrink, then Open DVD from Files (or similar - don't have it on this machine), then browse to the video_ts folder. If you only want to back up the movie, click Re-Author and drag the main movie title from the right to the left hand pane, then hit backup. Choose either ISO or folder for output, and let Shrink do it's thing. When it is done, use Imgburn to burn the results.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Just select Open Files in DVDShrink

[AngieM]

If I don't get it after all this, I just better give it up. I have printed ALL comments/responses to my initial question and will follow along. I have to repeat a huge THANK YOU to all of you here, especially JohnnyBob for the terrific links and Gunslinger for the step-by-steps... every comment is helpful and I promise to not come back here trying to pick your brains again, even if I still can't get it. I'm VERY happy to have all these notes and mucho thanks for your patience!!!

[JohnnyBob]

JB, it's 6.70GB and it's in a folder on my desktop. The DL disks are VERY expensive, though. How do I shrink it with Shrink DVD from the desktop? Any quick step-by-steps? Because I've been trying and nada.

That's a fairly tall order but I'll try. Herebelow is a quick & dirty set of instructions to do what you want to do, leaving out some of the less important details. You can probably fill in the gaps via intuition, or google and read some of the how-to guides. I seem to recall getting started at http://www.dvdshrink.org/

open the Edit menu > Preferences...
Preferences tab: select DVD-5 (4.7GB) from the dropdown list; uncheck box for "Run analysis and backup in low priority mode..."
File I/O tab: uncheck box for "Enable burning with Nero"
click OK

click the Open Files menu button
navigate and find the movie folder that you want to copy (on your desktop, you said)
click OK

If you did the above correctly, DVD Shrink will go to work for a minute or two then present you with complete details about the movie. You can edit various things if you wish. Whenever you're ready, click the Backup! menu button. That will bring up the Backup DVD box which has several tabs, including the following...

Target Device tab: Select backup target > Hard Disk Folder; Select target folder for DVD output files > enter the desired location or click Browse
Quality Settings tab: select some better quality compression options if you wish, but that's not required and they slow down the process
click OK

DVD Shrink will go to work and compress the movie. That usually takes several minutes, at least. It can take an hour or more if the highest quality compression options were selected. You will find the result in the target folder location you designated above. It should then be ready to burn with ImgBurn...

[hech54]

I suggest you ignore hech's offbeat comments. Best to keep it simple...

You're right "Captain Helpful"....let's keep it simple now that AngieM has chosen DVDShrink as her preferred video software.
A picture is worth a thousand words....so how about a DVDShrink GUIDE created by the "creator" of DVDShrink(MRBass)?

Or won't your ego allow you to do that JohnnyBob?


Here is the DVDShrink guide AngieM.
http://www.mrbass.org/dvdshrink/

I think your main sticking point with it right now might be that you haven't
yet realized that in order to shrink the movie that is presently on your desktop...you will now need to have TWO instances
of that movie on your desktop(or computer). The original one....and the new "shrunk" version. Then you will need to burn the second "shrunk" version to a blank DVD.
Once that is done and you've tested the DVD in your player....you simple delete the two movies from your computer.

[kookie2000]

Here is the way I do it... without fail!

First off, keep and use your Nero Home program... BTW Nero SmartStart is just a shortcut to a multitude of applications that come with Nero Home, thus SmartStart is part of Nero Home... Great Program!!!

2nd, download DVDFAB HD Decrypter, install and run any updates available.

1.) Run DVD FAB HD Decrypter and rip the DVD to a Folder (name the folder by the name of the movie so it is easily found again when needed in steps 2 and 3)

2.) Run Nero Recode and this will put the DVD back in the proper form and "shrink" it to a DVD5 form DVD9 (in this step you may make adjustments to the video quality, cutting out previews and/or the title screen, cutting out sound formats or subtitles for foreign languages, etc). Sometimes after cutting the fat, you don't need to cut back the video quality of the "Main Movie"... this is the part of the disc that is the actual movie and not extras, ie. interviews of actors or director commentary.(these two are part of my "etc" from list in above sentence.

3.) Run Nero Burning Rom or (if yours came as oem version bundled with a piece of hardware you purchased) Nero Express(it will do the same job). This will burn the movie to disc and is self explanitory. I just suggest to give it 2 passes(preview, buffer run, burn run) and to burn at a slow rate , like: 4x.

How To: Open Folder (VIDEO_TS, ignore AUDIO_TS)

Wish you luck.

P.S. the advantage of Nero over DVDShrink is that you can have whatever audio settings you want and not just the option of 5.1 or 2 speaker. Although you may be limited on the number of characters you may use to name the newly recoded DVD volume when using Nero Burning Rom or Nero Express.

[lordsmurf]

MOVIEGEEK and hech54 are long-time respected members here, known for giving great advice. Norton is a problem. Having an unclean computer is also a potential problem. The advice is not "OT" at all.

DVD Decrypter still rips probably 95% of all DVDs. And then DVD Shrink works with any clean ISO or VIDEO_TS folder source. There's another guide here, too: Copy DVDs with DVD Shrink

Good luck, AngieM.

[JohnnyBob]

Sorry Angie but they (the querulous & unfriendly bunch, now including the lord of know-it-all) won't keep it simple for you. As you can see there are different viewpoints and ways of doing the same thing. Let us know how you make out and someone will help as needed...

[fritzi93]

I have to say it:

A screwed up computer is a real problem. Not being able to backup a particular movie is a mere inconvenience. I would put some effort into solving the former. You've gotten some good advice on that.

Good luck.

[lordsmurf]

... says the person who basically just started with video.

You should have tried DVD burning, copying and authoring back in 2001-2003.
DVD Decrypter + DVD Shrink = 2 programs. If that's "too hard", then quit altogether.



fritzi, where'd your post come from? My response was not intended as a reply to yours.

[classfour]

Did Hech ever reallize that a Terapin VCD recorder was designed around CD-Audio discs? Just curious.

BTW: I have an original Terapin owner's manual in my possession - so I know the answer.

Angie - use DVDFabdecrypter. get DVDShrink from Mr Bass (a hero), and the guide for how to use it.

If shrink is set up correctly, you can burn direct with imgburn.

Make certain the drive is DL if going over 4.3 GB, or shrink it down.

Always, and I MEAN Always - use TY, JVC or Verbatim media (DL or not). Crap media = bad burns.

Don't be in a rush: my 24X burner burns (at my choice) at 12X. I pay attention to scans and playback - I hate wasting a disc.

[hech54]

Did Hech ever reallize that a Terapin VCD recorder was designed around CD-Audio discs? Just curious.

BTW: I have an original Terapin owner's manual in my possession - so I know the answer.

Are you the guy who bought my red Terapin that I sold on Ebay 1000 years ago? I told you it was starting to act up on me.

I have no idea what this has to do with this thread but I'll play along.

[ricoman]

Poor Angie, this is probably the first time she's seen the kind of in-fighting when you get a few opinionated "experts" who disagree. Sometimes it can be pretty amusing other times it can get ugly. Being a newb, she's probably more confused than ever because of all the different advice. Again, I would suggest the simplest thing to do is just use CloneDVD2 that she already has on her computer. Click "Copy DVD Titles" > choose the files on your desktop (or wherever you ripped it to) or the DVD drive with the original disc (movie only, it's usually the 1st and largest file, works best because it compresses the least), make sure that DVD5 is chosen at the bottom of the screen, click Next > keep 1 audio track and 1 subtitle track, click Next > Type in the movie name for the volume label and a folder/directory for the temp files (leave the delete temp files unchecked, if the burn is bad just choose copy existing files to burn again rather than having to do the processing over again, it cuts the time in 1/4. You can also make multiple copies that way), then click "Go". That is it, period. You have a DVD in approx. 20 min. I recommend burning at 12x for just about all media except DL, then 6x for best results. And ONLY use TY or Verb disc, everything else is unreliable at best and garbage at worst. Good luck. If you don't like my suggestions you can try everyone elses 2 and 3 part solutions rather than my one click.

[hech54]

a few opinionated "experts" who disagree.

Oh great.....one more.

[ricoman]

a few opinionated "experts" who disagree.

Oh great.....one more.

No slights intended, just a little ribbing. KISS is my motto. But, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong... (now the floodgates open up, an invitation, I 'm sure, many will not be able to pass up).

[Noahtuck]

a few opinionated "experts" who disagree.

I know you're not referring to Billy Bob