Need help with storage

[neonflx]

Ok here is my situation, I am in the military and getting ready to deploy, what I want to do is store all my DVD's into a WD Media Center 250G HD, to be connected to my laptop via usb2 or firewire.

what I need is suggestions on how to store all my dvd's on this drive, I do not just want to back them up to the HD cause it would take a lot of space and I will only be able to fit a minimal amount, what I like to do is maybe convert them to a size which will allow me to store them (about 120) and play them form the external hd, thanks in advace for any suggestions.

[macleod]

convert to divx?

Movie only shrink to 4.3 gig would be:
120 X 4.3gig = 516 gig

or very high divx (2 gig a movie): 120 x 2 gig: 240 gig

[neonflx]

What is the easiest faster way to convert to Divx?

[Soopafresh]

autogk is very good and pretty fast, but it'll still take time to convert to Xvid/DivX...

http://autogk.net/

[neonflx]

Thanks for the info, trying it right now will see how long it takes, thanks.

[macleod]

I've actually never made a divx file. What I would say is to check the tools section for DVD to DIVX makers. I would think that it would be a few hours for each movie to convert.

For "quality", with the correct settings, you cant go wrong with the divx route with the space considerations that you have.

Good luck and stay safe overseas.

[canyon_trek]

I've had great results using DVDDecrypter for ripping films or shows., then using AutoGK to convert them into xvid. Time is a factor though when it comes to converting. My preferences when using AutoGK is to convert films to a size of about 2gb and 30 minute shows into about 175mb or 230mb.

Good luck and stay safe.

[neonflx]

thanks for the great info, I am using AutoGK and tho it takes a while to do just one movie, i think it will work out just fine, thanks.