The Newest Newbie Needs Help

[GARRAND]

I have just started with this Dvd burning stuff. I have been reading as many of these posts as I can, but there is so much information here that my head hurts.
I'am looking for the fastest, easiest method of backing up my dvds. What programs do I need and how long do they take? I read one support article that had me using three programs to burn one disk. ie: DVD Decrypter, DVD shrink, and some kind of virtual dvd drive program. I'am I going to have to do this with each Dvd?
I just bought a Pioneer DVR-108 how long shoud it take to burn one Dvd? I also have a Sony Dvd player. Can I burn on the fly and is it reliable? I have heard that there can be some problems with it.
I have a friend that uses Xcopy which seems to be pretty easy, but Xcopy doesn't put the menu into the burn. It just starts playing the movie right after there backup disclaimer. Is Nero a better way to go? If so which version.
I think thats enough questions for now. Hopefully my simple brain will be able to understand the answers. Type slow for me. Thanks.

[Capmaster]

DVDShrink is a great app for backing up DVDs

You don't need to do anything special with virtual drives. Just rip to a HD folder, then use your burning app to burn your backup.

The media will determine your max. burning time, as will the writer and the current firmware in it.

Approximate burning times:

1X = 1 hour
2X = 1/2 hour
4X = 15-20 minutes
8X = 7 - 9 minutes
16X = 5 minutes.
Your mileage may vary.

No you can't burn on the fly from a reader to a writer. You must use a ripping app which recompresses the DVD to fit on one DVD-5 (4.7GB).

Avoid XCopy like the plague. No real reason to use it, as it's outdated.

Nero is an excellent burning app

Good luck

[edsmith77]

Garrand,
Boy do I know how you feel. But that was many months ago. I am sure it seems to be quite overwhelming for such a seemingly simple minded task of backing up your prized DVDs. It was for me.
One of the best pieces of advice I got was to take advantage of what others had learned and documented. This site has a wealth of information loaded into guides. It is not necessary to read thread after thread and post after post. All one has to do is to carefully review the guides. These guides will get you started down the path of mistakes. Not that this is a bad thing, but in general for most of us mortals making mistakes are how we learn. And after a few weeks (only if you are a slow learner like myself) you would be surprised at how many ways there are of solving the same problem. Each with its own fan club of course.
The point being here is that you will begin to understand the lingo and each of the applications and how they are used and mis-used.
Armed with this knowledge you can now ask pointed and intelligent questions and you will get all kinds of support. Most of it on target and valuable.
It is quite a common occurence on this forum to have first timers looking for the quick solution by providing the barest of information and using terms that just do not compute. For example, which is faster New York or by train? How does one start to answer that one. Once you get past the original question it boils down to their lack of immediate success. Most have a genuine desire to do backups that they are overwhelmed by the volume of guides and approaches and attempt to ask a question without understanding the lingo or applications. However, by spending some time reading and learning from what others have done, most would realize that their problem has already been solved (and more than once). Most cannot seem to grasp that each guide was written to solve a specific problem and often the newbie cannot relate their desire (problem) to one of the guides that has already solved that problem. This lack of knowledge is what causes them to throw up their hands in disgust and ask for the fastest and easiest way to do (whatever).
Unfortunately, no one on this forum has any clue as to what is fastest and easiest for you. Easiest and fastest for me is something else. Thus, it seems important to ask more pointed questions. But without understanding the lingo and the applications and some basic gist as to the steps (found by reading the guides) it is difficult to ask intelligent questions. Around here, unfortunately, asking for the fastest and easiest may get responses like, "buy a second copy", "get someone else to do it for you" or other equally silly replies.

Now lets look at your request.

I'am looking for the fastest, easiest method of backing up my dvds.

Hmm, it would help to know your skill level and computer abilities.

What programs do I need and how long do they take?

Again, one possible answer could be the Decrypter, Shrink route but there are other equally viable options. Each with a different time line.

I just bought a Pioneer DVR-108 how long shoud it take to burn one Dvd?

Depend upon the media you are using and the size of the file you are burning and .. and ... and....

I also have a Sony Dvd player. Can I burn on the fly and is it reliable? I have heard that there can be some problems with it.

Well now, most generally, recording on the fly is only possible with a dedicated DVD recorder. But even that is not totallly correct. I have a program that will record to CD on the fly so long as I do not exceed .....
As you can see there is more to the "what is the fastest and easiest..." question.
Garrand, in order to take the next step, some more information is needed as to your goals, the tools you have at hand and how much money are you willing to part with, etc. So help us help you.