Dr MadCow's Articles Web Portal V3.60

Article Properties

Article Title: How do I copy a DVD movie onto my hard drive?

Article Author: Daryl Quenet
Article Category: Audio & Video
Times Read: 8420
Date: 2004-01-16 20:00:00
Pages: 1

There are several programs available to copy DVD Video files to your hard drive. I personally use DVD Decrypter & SmartRipper. I generally always use DVD Decrypter because I prefer its interface and overall speed. I've also noticed that SmartRipper has issues with some DVDs that contain both encrypted and non encrypted files. SmartRipper also has an issue with files on the DVD being locked until you open your favorite dvd software and start the movie playing. Links to any software mentioned in an article can always be found in the Links Archive. The directions enclosed below are for personal backups of purchased DVDs (nothing worse then having the original scratched).

I generally always copy the entire DVD onto my computer (it is possible to rip the movie without the menus). The only requirements to copy a DVD to your hard drive is having between 3 - 9.4 Gbs free (DVD Content depending), and a DVD Rom.

Steps:
1. Insert DVD into DVD drive.
2. Close any autorun programs (ie DVD software, DVD interactive software etc).
3. Open DVD Decrypter.

4. Click on the Mode drop down menu, and select File (or just type F in the program).
5. Under Source select the DVD drive containing the disc.
6. Under Destination select the folder you wish to place the movie in. The best way usually to do this is to use the same hard drive each time and select a default destination path. The advantage is that each time you place a DVD in the drive it automatically uses the DVD title for the directory (some DVDs use DVD Video as the default Volume though so you might have to do it manual once or twice). It also creates the VIDEO_TS directory for you (this makes other operations later easier). To select a default destination Click on Tools (drop down) then settings. In settings under the General tab select Semi automatic under Default Destinations. Next select the folder chooser imediately below and select a drive, or a directory you want all the DVDs to go in. You may wish to reselect the Drive under Source in the main window to auto generate the new directory name. On a side note if you generate it manually make sure the directory is in ALL CAPS, if not and your planning to ifoedit later it'll stall and ask you to rename it mid process.