Where should a computer illiterate guy start

[zach619]

Hi, I just bought a new Dell laptop and it came with a dvd burner. I would like to back up my library af kids movies beacuse if you have any (kids) you know they dont last long. I have read about "dvd shrink" and "dvd decrypter" to tell you the truth I dont have the first clue about where to start. My computer came with Roxio and from what im told it is kind of useless. Can someone point me in the right direction please it is all very confusing. Also if I do need to download any of siad programs do i need to worry about them infecting and screwing up my new computer. Any help is greatly appriciated.

Very Resectfully Zach.

[Soopafresh]

Hi zach, are you capturing stuff off of a Camcorder onto your laptop? Or do you already have DVDs of your kids and you want to make copies?

[redwudz]

I would recommend you start with our F.A.Q. to the lower left on this page. For specific operations, we also have guides to the upper left.

But for just backing up your DVDs, DVDFab Hd Decrypter, DVD Shrink and ImgBurn is a good combination and all freeware. If you follow those links to the tool pages for those programs, you will also see guides for the programs listed to the bottom of their page.

And welcome to our forums.

[zach619]

Well soopafresh, Im actually trying to back up there store bought flix. I just dont know where to start. Sorry if I was not specific. With those links you suggested redwudz do I need to worry about screwing up my new computer with some crazy virus or are they pretty safe. Also if I do download and just go through the steps will I be able to start backing up?


Thanks for the welcome

V.R. Zach

[filmboss80]

Zach, I was in the same boat as you, needing safety backups due to the kids (and the wife wasn't very gentle with the discs either). Building on the post by Redwudz, you have 3 stages: 1) Ripping the original DVD to your computer's harddrive with DVDFab HD Decrypter (the best free tool for copy-protected discs. 2) Getting the movie (the one you ripped to hard drive) to fit on a 4.7Gb DVD disc with DVDShrink (which has a "reauthor" mode to enable you to pull off extras you don't need). 3) Burning your backup DVD with ImgBurn (far superior to Roxio). All of these programs can be downloaded from the Tools section of this site -- and they are perfectly safe (or they wouldn't be on this site). There are tutorials to guide you through each step.

One other thing -- don't skimp on blank discs. Buy Taiyo Yuden or Verbatim DVDs to do your burning.

Have fun.

[zach619]

Filmboss, thank you for the very informative reply. Just one question the reauthor function on shrink to pull off extras? Im not sure what to pull off and what to leave. I have never done this so maybe as i play around with it I will figure it out hugh? If you have any more advice please share the grasshopper is listening. Thanks man.


V.R. Zach

[redwudz]

As long as you have the original DVDs, I would just Shrink the main movie over to the new discs. I doubt the kids would be interested in the extras anyway. In reauthor mode, grab the main movie and slide it over to the left frame and you are mostly done. You can preview it to make sure you have the right track.

I just select English, no subtitles, no extras, AC3 5.1 audio in the preferences, and often the movie will fit a 4.37GB DVD-5 with no shrinkage and the quality will be the same as the original. The AC3 Dolby will play back as stereo if there is no surround amp plugged in.

There are guides for Shrink, but it's a easy program to use.

[HmNtr]

Hey Zach, welcome to the forum...you will get many varied opinions here about what works for one and what works for another, but being the father of two little boys (1 1/2 & 2 1/2 years old), I know what you mean about wanting to save the movie collection, because my two boys live for their Elmo and Disney movies! lol

I use AnyDVD to rip the movie onto my hard drive. It's very simple to use, and is always being updated. It's not free, but it is worth the price, about $55 USD.

I then use DVD Shrink to take out all the extra languages and such, I then use ImgBurn to burn the movies for the kids to watch so that the originals are always in mint condition.

It is still my honest opinion that this is the easiest and most reliable way to make backups of all your movies.

[zach619]

Thank you all so much for all of your input. My life is so busy I havent had a chance to try any of these programs yet but i will very soon. I did wnt to thank everyone that replied to me, you all have been very helpfull and man what an awsome forum. YOU GUYS ROCK.


V.R. Zach

[redwudz]

You're welcome.

If you end up getting a camcorder to archive your kids doings, (Great when they're teenagers and you want a bit of 'blackmail'. ) you can come back for some more advanced information.

[HmNtr]

lmao @ redwudz! I am gonna go out on a limb here and say that you have given lots of advice over the years on how to get a 'blackmail video' of kids together for the parents, am I right?! LOL