As I think it is known and as seen in another article, there are several programs to copy DVD to PC, save backup copies on the computer and burn them to other DVDs. The difficulties come when the DVD is protected by the person who produced it and when you want to copy a DVD9 using a normal burner.
After reading a thousand guides to create backup copies for original DVDs, you are confused by the amount of software and possibilities that always have something missing for a user who does not want to waste time and wants easy things.
I then propose 2 alternative procedures which should ensure the copying of any DVD, protected or as large as you want, to a hard disk or to a normal 4.7 GB DVD.
The most useful free program to compress a DVD9 into a normal DVD5 (4.7 GB) that can be copied from any burner, is DVD Shrink (no longer updated for 10 years), the only truly free one.
Let's try to renew the package of programs to be installed on the computer to make copies of DVDs, even protected ones and, possibly, also by compressing them into DVD5 discs .
1) First solution : download and install the free DVD43 program (runs only on Windows 7 and XP 32bit) to copy the contents of a protected DVD onto the hard disk .
When the installation finishes you are asked to restart your PC.
DVD43 starts in the background and stands out with an icon near the clock.
To disable the automatic start use a program like Autoruns or with the Windows msconfig tool.
Insert the DVD to be copied into the player and DVD43 begins to look for the encryption or protection keys (the system tray icon will appear as a smiley face)
When the icon turns green, browse the DVD directory and copy the VIDEO_TS folder from the DVD to your computer's hard disk .
There may be other directories such as AUDIO_TS, but they are files that can also be ignored.
Once copying to the hard drive is complete, you can watch the film on your PC from the VLC media player by going to the Media menu -> Open folder - choose the VIDEO_TS folder.
The video will be complete with menus and extra functions.
To convert the files saved on your computer into an ISO image you can use the free ImgBurn program with the option " Create image files from files / folders ", selecting the VIDEO_TS folder.
As already explained, an ISO image can be opened on the computer if you want to keep it, or you can burn it on a new disc always with ImgBurn.
DVD43 works in most cases but may not be able to pass the most recent protections.
However, it is the best free program to decrypt a protected DVD and copy it to the hard disk.
From the DVD43 website you can also download a plugin to remove protections from DVDs, which works with the paid 1 Click DVD Copy program.
DVD43 is compatible with Nero Recode or Roxio DVD Copy to copy DVD9 to 4.7 GB DVD5.
2) Second solution : for those with 64-bit Windows and as an alternative program to make a backup copy of a protected DVD you can use DVDFab which also allows you to compress DVD9 so that you can burn it to a normal 4.7 GB DVD .
With DVDFab you can convert DVDs to ISO images which can then be burned onto normal DVDs .
Even DVDFab, after installation, requires restarting the computer.
DVDFab removes copy protection and allows you to bring the contents of the disc to your computer.
It is an Italian but paid program that can only be used for free for thirty days.
Fortunately, the part of the program that serves the purpose is free and does not expire.
The first time you run it, a welcome screen appears that lists the various components at expiration and from which you can see that the last one, HD Decrypter, does not expire.
After starting DVDFab, insert the DVD into the drive and click Next .
Select the region and give the OK saying not to ask again.
DVDFab starts a scan of the disc after which you can start making the backup copy.
Before starting the ripping, you have to press the green button at the top to enter the options menu.
In the window, select DVD to DVD from the left panel and as the default destination, select DVD Folder .
The default setting is DVD burner which allows you to clone a DVD to a blank DVD but it is a function that, after 30 days, it can no longer be used.
Unfortunately, the choice to set the compression function for a 4.7 GB DVD5, I think it is possible only for 30 days, then only the DVD9 option will be selectable.
Exit the settings and, under the DVD to DVD menu, select Full Disc .
From the screen on the right, put the check on " Copy DVD video ".
Click on the Start button to start the "ripping" process, ie conversion and copy.
The contents of the DVD have been copied to a folder located in the path Documents \ DVDFab \ (this path can be changed from the options).
In the folder there are all the files of the DVD that has been copied to the computer's hard disk.
As explained for DVD43, you can watch the film by opening the VIDEO_TS folder with VLC player, you can create the ISO file of the VIDEO_TS folder so that you can keep it in a single file or burn it on a blank disc with ImgBurn.
At the end, after the creation of the ISO file, you can delete the VOB files and folders of the DVD copied to the DVDFab folder.
Other solutions for viewing DVDs on your computer can be found on the page of programs to convert DVD to AVI or MP4 .
AnyDVD is another excellent program that works with protected DVDs, but it is paid.
