Step By Step Guide To Backing Up DVD's

A lot of people think that once they have a DVD burner you can just pop that bad girl in the computer and press a button and you'll have a backup. This is not usually the case. You could spend hours frigging around before you get it to work. So I'll save you the time. I'm not too sure on the legal issues with burning DVD's but I personally have bought about 100 DVD's and rented a ridiculous amount, so I'm not losing any sleep over it. Here is my step to step guide on how to backup DVD's. Did I mention this is a free way of doing it?

Download these 3 programs before you begin - they should all be free

DVDFab HD Decrypter - Download DVDFab HD Decrypte -The "Decryptor"

DVD Shrink - The "Shrinker"

IMG Burn - The "Burner"

EXTRA

J Zip - free Winzip program, only download this if you don't have Winzip

To burn a DVD you will need to do three things.

• Remove any copyright
• Shrink the DVD
• Burn it

It's easier if you break it down to little steps. Lets begin.

Copyrighted - Not For Long

Insert your DVD into the computer and start DVDfab.  Once the main screen pops up, just press start.  This will remove any copyright on the DVD and turns it into a bunch of files.  But you dont' need to know that, just press start.

Your DVD Is Too Big

The DVD's you rent are actually bigger than the recordable ones you buy. They just do this to throw you off I guess. So what you gotta do is first download something that will make the movie smaller. This is called DVD shrink.  Now you need to open up DVD Shrink and go to open files.  Find the folder that was created when you used DVD Fab.  Should be in a folder similair to this : Your  Documents -DVD Fab - Full Disc.  Now here is an important part.  Once you have found the files and they are loaded press Backup DVD.  You will now see this screen.

Notice how I have selected "ISO image".  Now save this file to your desktop so you can find it easily.  This "ISO image" will be your DVD file that will be ready to burn.

Burn That Muther

Open up ImgBurn and press write image file to disc (the image file is what you created in DVD Shrink).  Find the file that you saved on the Desktop.   Insert your recordable DVD and begin.

DVD Advice

Just a word of advice. I have had trouble in the past using cheap DVD's so now I only use Sony and Verbatim. I recommend you do the same. You could also run into trouble if you have an older computer. You want to use negative DVD's as they work in most DVD players.  Also you should delete the files you created burning the DVD.  These files are large and you're eventually going to run out of space.

Be Patient

Sometimes it takes a little messing around to find a system that works for you.  You may just want to buy a program that will do this for you.  But everything I just listed is free so if you're cheap like me, this is the way to go. Use site feedback link if you have any questions or just throw up a comment here.