Tech: Legal DVD Copying Help please

Subject: Tech: Legal DVD Copying Help please
From: Abuwood
Date: 19 May 06 - 07:04 AM

I have a fab DVD of the Cookley sing which I would like to share but can't work out how to do it. Can anyone recommend some software or freeware for writing, I've got the hardware and several programmes but can't seem to get anything to write - they probably think I am trying to pirate something but this was taken from a freinds video camera.

Subject: RE: Tech: Legal DVD Copying Help please
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 May 06 - 11:01 AM

DVD Shrink is the program. There are many instances when it is perfectly permissable to copy a DVD, despite the fear that manufacturers try to put in your heart. Here is a link. It seems they've been able to come forward lately, you used to have to visit an offshore site to download in some instances.

If your DVD to copy is the same size as the standard single-layer writable DVD then it will leave it as is. If it is larger then it will shrink it. Re-Author is a very useful feature. If the difference between copying at 100% or shrinking it is the extra features, then you can take them out. Also extra language tracks, etc. Without that stuff the film just starts playing. Also, once you tell the program to copy your disk, you get a dialog box where you can choose the region. Region free doesn't play so well in my DVD player at home, so I deselect that box then choose Region 1 (where we are).

Put the disk to copy in the drive, and dismiss the dialog box that pops up and asks how you want to play it. Start (if you haven't already) DVD Shrink and open your disk and it will run a little "preview" of the disk contents so it knows what to offer you as far as copying and authoring. After you make your choices on what to keep (and you can preview things to be sure they're want you want to keep or not) then start the copy. If you're shrinking something to copy it is a good idea to let it analyse the disk first so it is a smoother reduction. It takes a little while. Once it is on the hard drive then it pops out the original disk and asks for the blank.

I have Nero burning software in my computer so I've never hit a glitch, but it was my understanding when I started using this that it requires Nero to work best, though you never actually see a Nero program. And you can get a cheap or free Nero burner if you check around, I think.

This program works because it is all transferred to files on the hard drive and processed, it isn't a direct copy. And it goes without saying (but I'll say it anyway) that this program is intended for personal use. I use this program in order to keep my original DVD in good shape and I can play the copy or let the kids take it to a friend's house for the weekend and know they're not losing my film. I love just starting the moving and not having to wade through all of the menu junk and previews, so there are some I've copied just to get rid of all of that crap. Making these copies is just the same is when you're copying your CDs to carry around so if you lose it you haven't lost your original. If you're sharing a DVD among a number of people I think it is probably best to keep a copy and pass around the original, so it doesn't appear that you're benefiting from making multiple copies of a DVD. If you get my drift.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Legal DVD Copying Help please
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 May 06 - 12:14 PM

proof-read! "I love just starting the movie . . ."

Subject: RE: Tech: Legal DVD Copying Help please
From: Abuwood
Date: 22 May 06 - 05:45 AM

Job Done!
Many thanks for your help.