Recommend Blu-Ray Drive and Ripping Software

[Frank-0-Video]

Greetings ......

NOTE ... See also my 12-02-2025 Update and Thank You -- 11th post in this thread

Currently, I have a Desktop PC with CPU and supporting circuitry dated September2024.

However, the current internal DVD drive dates from before 2020, and I need to replace it with a Blu-Ray drive.

I also need software that will rip both blu-ray's and DVD's. At present, I have DVD Decrypter and Video Byte BD-DVD ripper. The VideoByte app has proven ineffective with certain DVD's. That being said, I can't help but wonder if the current old DVD drive is contributing to some of the difficulties.

I have only a couple of Blu-Ray discs, bought in 2022 or after. The major majority of my DVD's date before 2020.

Seeking recommendations for the best (but not too costly) internal blu-ray drive. As well as ripping software, whatever works with DVD's as well as with blu-ray is wished for.

Below for your reference is a condensed summation of my desktop PC, obtained using Belarc Advisor

Thanx-A-Lotte, Frank-0-Video

O.S. .... Windows 11 Home ... Build 24h2 ... 26100.7171

Processor ..... 3.90 GHZ AMD Ryzen 5 5600G with Radeon Graphics
                384 Kilobyte Prime Memory Cache
                3.00 Megabyte Secondary memory Cache
                16.00 Megabyte tertiary memory cache
                64-Bit Ready
                Multi-Core (6 Total)
                Hyper-threaded (12 total)

Main Circuit
Board ......... ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Prime A520M-K Rev X.ox
                Bus Clock: 100 Mhz
                UEFI: American Megatrends Inc. 3611 09-30-2024

Memory ........ 31.29 of 32 GB Usable ... Max of 128 GB possible
                Slot-1: 16 GB
                Slot-2: 16 GB

Internal
Drive ......... CT2000P2SSd8  2.00 TB SSD

Optical
Drive ......... ATAPI  iHAS124F DVD

SATA 
Controller .... Standard SATA AHC1

Back Panel
USB Ports ..... Two 3.2, Gen-1 (Built-In)
                Two 2.0        (Built-In)
                Four 3.0 (Expansion Card)

The 4-Port USB 3.0 Expansion Card will be
replaced with a 3.2 version.

Virus and
Malware
Protection .... Malwarebytes .. Includes VPN

Video Outputs   HDMI and VGA

[mail2tom]

Seven years ago I bought 2 (external) Mercury Pro 16X Blu-ray, 16X DVD, 48X CD Reader/Writers (USB) from Amazon (currently USD$179). After 100's (and 100's) of writes (and reads) they are both still working great. I use ImgBurn for writing (or Reading) and Xreveal ("donationware" lifetime license version, alternative for AnyDVD) for on-the-fly decrypting Blu-ray and DVD. Add to that BD-Rebuilder for "shrinking" or MakeMKV for straight up "ripping" and that meets all my requirements.

[Alwyn]

To rip DVDs, I use DVDShrink.

To rip Blurays, I use MakeMKV.

[usually_quiet]

I have 3 LG Blu-ray drives that I use for ripping Blu-ray discs with MakeMKV. Two are discontinued models. The newest is an LG WH14NS40 drive, which is still being made. The LG WH14NS40 is installed in an OWC Mercury Pro Enclosure for 5.25" Optical Drives, so I can use it as an external drive. Note that some external drives and drive enclosures don't play nice with MakeMKV

Sadly, Pioneer is out of the optical drive business.

[Alwyn]

Pioneer is out of the optical drive business.

Thanks UQ, my post edited.

[cholla]

Hi Alwyn,
I also like DVDShrink for ripping DVDs.
I do have other software for this as well.
I use either AnyDVD HD or DVDFab Passkey for the decrypter.
All DVDs do not need to be decrypted & DVDShrink will rip those without a decrypter.

For blu ray I usually use DVDFab Passkey for blu ray.
MakeMKV also works. XReveal also works.

@ usually_quiet,
I have one LG WH14NS40 as an internal.
I also have one LG WH16NS40 firmware flashed backward to version 1.02. So it can read & write UHD.
It has to have a Service code NS50 for the flash to work.
It is in an external NexStar enclosure.

[dessieclive]

EaseFab LosslessCopy

[Subtitles]

I have LG Electronics WH16NS40 Blu-Ray internal drive and I am quite happy with it.
I also don't have that many Blu-Ray discs. Mainly Game of Thrones 1-4 and I am not going to buy any more Blu Ray discs. Streaming videos is good enough for me.
As for ripping software, I think other members have given good recommendations.

[pchan]

Pioneer, Samsung and LG have stopped making optical drives. Whatever drives from this 3 brands online are old stock. Just do a search on Amazon for blu-ray drives, Asus and Verbatim will show up. I bought a Asus BW-16D1HT recently. Mfg date : 2025 04 07. Most retail IT shops in my area are already stop selling CD/DVD/BR discs.

[Santiago]

The Mercury Pro External USB 16x External Reader/Writer from OWC Company can rip DVD and Blu-ray Discs.

[Frank-0-Video]

Greetings ....

My thanks to all who have replied so far. I have purchased the Mercury Pro BluRay-DVD unit from Amazon. It is currently due to arrive on Friday Dec 5th, weather, authorities and good drivers permitting.

After the unit arrives, I'll start sampling the various software apps that have been suggested to see which one(s) will perform the best. The key factor is of course the discs that are to be ripped. Certain discs have been toughies with current apps, so hopefully the barriers will be broken at last.

Regarding the various ripper apps that have been suggested, I hope all the downloaded installers are EXE's that can be immediately run without too much hassle. I'd hate to have to go thru GitHub for anything -- it's a little over my head.

BTW-- if it is necessary to purchase a premium or pro version of any suggested ripper app, I'd appreciate most kindly knowing what the cost for each such app upgrade would be.

Finally -- each of use and unyielding ability to pluck out data factors. DVD Decrypter has always been a straight-forward, easy-to-use app. It also has dogged unyielding determination on well-worn discs, as evidenced when I was renting DVDs from BlockBuster some years ago. The app didn't seem to care how many sector-read fails were occurring. It kept on chugging away until the last data bits were successfully read.

Fortunately, I have very few DVD's (many ten or less) that have possible reading issues.

Thanx-A-Lotte, Frank-0-Video

[cholla]

This is a suggestion for dammaged DVDs if those are the ones with "possible reading issues".
It requires a decrypter to be used with it.
DVDFab passkey which is free after trial but has a delay for newly released movies.
or XReveal.
Or if you have it Any DVD or AnyDVD HD as far as I know it can no longer be purchased.

The software is ISOPuzzle.
It does a bit for bit rip & will keep trying as long as you let it.
It doe not always do a complete rip but if any software will it will.
It only does .iso output so you will need a virtual player or a software that will burn an .iso.
The rip will be a DVD9 size.
One of it's features I like is it can be used by multiple optical drives without starting the rip over.
This allows taking the advantage of each drives reading capabilities.

[Frank-0-Video]

This is a suggestion for dammaged DVDs if those are the ones with "possible reading issues".

Thank You -- I would guestimate that about 90% (perhaps even 95%) of my entire DVD collection was purchased before 2020. You and other folks can tell me what that means in terms of ripping.

Thanx-A-Lotte, Frank-0-Video