I have the NEC ND 6500 (http://www.nec.co.uk/DVD_RW_ND6500.aspx) DVD+RW in my laptop but i'm confused as to how to make (100% legitimate) copies of DVDs.

Can I do it with only one drive and if so what program is best to use?

Also, which type of blank disk do I use?

You would have to copy the original DVD to your hard drive first, then burn the image on the HD to the blank DVD.

There is free software around that can copy the DVD contents to the HD as a single 'image' file of the whole of the source. This single file can then be written to 1 or more blanks.

joe2812,

What type of DVDs are you looking to copy?

There are many types of programs out there but we need to know what type of DVD it is before we can point you to the right program.

Take Care,

Richard

Well i'm not surew, ive never burnt a DVD before!

Just take your average DVD and make a copy of it which I can watch on tv really... I didn't know there were different types!

joe2812,

There are DVDs that are:

Movies

Games

Data

Music

etc.

Take Care,

Richard

Most DVDs on the market are 5+GB size and will not fit directly onto a blank DVD.

You will need to search for and download DVDShrink (or similar) to rip, strip extras, compress and convert the DVD to fit on a 4.7GB blank DVD using a regular burning software (e.g. Nero)

Double-Layer drives are now available with 8.5GB blank DVDs (cheapest disks I've found are £6 each!!! - Verbatim DVD+R from PC World), but I've heard of problems with them when burning video/movies - "Layer transition may trigger a slight pause" = 20 seconds of blank screen!!!!!!!!!

All of this may prove completely useless if the DVD is using the latest encryption technology to prevent it being copied (or even read) on a PC!!

I'll go along with unclenelli, I use DVD Shrink to copy films to my laptop computer hard drive for watching later, occasionally I burn them to DVD/RW again using DVD shrink to watch at home then erase them when I'm finished with them, its very easy to do.
It basically allows you to strip out the Directors cut, deleted scenes, and foreign languages and all the other stuff no one looks at to fit it onto a DVD.
Heres a 'walkthrough' with a link to the download (its free:D )
http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/mpg/dvdshrink31-main.htm

This one is my favourite though...
http://www.pqdvd.com/watch_dvd_on_pocket_pc.html
It allows me to copy MY DVDs (not Blockbusters or anyone elses)
and fit them onto my Pocket PC for viewing when I'm travelling or bored in work etc. The kids use it for watching their favourite films when we're flying on a carrier with no IFE. The quality is excellent and you'll soon get used to the small screen. The film sizez can be 128Mb (or even smaller) but I think appro 240MB makes for better quality especially with music DVDs. As they are small you can fit about 16 full movies onto one DVD. I have a collection of about 120+ movies on my hard drive divided by category and I just drag and drop one onto my memory card for viwing when I know I've got a quiet day or night shift.
If anyone wants any more info PM me.

I've gone with DVD Shrink (many thanks) and tested it out on my Peter Kay DVD (yes yes, I know i'm the only one here who finds him funny given the current JB thread!).

Ive got rid of the menus and extras, giving me just the film in two folders:

AUDIO_TS (empty folder)
VIDEO_TS (containing .BUP .IFO .VOB)

To burn onto DVD do i just take those two folder across or take the files out and put those on?

Take both folders across

Joe..
I've just gone through exactly the same process as you. (trying to copy dvd's for the first time)

I also used DVDshrink. I didn't bother copying the Audio TS folder, as it was empty. I used the "make dvdvideo" option of NERO, and it works fine.
If you have only copied the main movie, you will find that you can't jump to different episodes of the film.
I also found that my laptop will not play the finished disk, but it works fine in my dvd player.

419

Ah, thats ok then... as soon as i get round to buying some blank DVDs i'll give one a burn.

It's just occurred to me that I did not need to cut the menus etc out as it all fitted on one disk anyway.

Thanks for all the help and other other advice will still be greatly appreciated.

as soon as i get round to buying some blank DVDs i'll give one a burn.

Just bought some today from
here. (http://websell.pipex.com/beta-cgi/tek/scan/st=db/co=yes/sf=category/se=DVD/va=banner_image%3d/va=banner_text%3d.html?id=7bA8HYBV). I visited the shop as it is local, but it gives you an idea what deals are around.

If you have only copied the main movie, you will find that you can't jump to different episodes of the film

If you use dvd 2one you still have chapters.

Even with nero you can put your own chapter points in!

For more on dvd stuff try here dvdrhelp.com (http://www.dvdrhelp.com)