May 25, 2004

12:15 PM

I have both a DVD-ROM drive and a DVD-R drive in my Wintel computer. I am interested in making backup copies of some of the (copy-protected) DVDs I own. Up to now I have been tusing DVDShrink to trim down disks where necessary, and then using the IMGTool/DVD Decryptor combo to make the ISO/burn it. So in all that's a 2-step process, each step of which takes upwards of an hour. Is there a (hopefully free) software solution out there that I can set up, go to bed, and when I come down for breakfast, the disk in the top drawer is a copy of the one in the bottom drawer?
posted by luser to (4 comments total)

If you install Nero, DVD Shrink can recompress and burn the DVD all in one step.
posted by zztzed at 12:32 PM on May 25, 2004

While I only have one drive, I do know that DVDShrink can use the Nero burning engine to burn the new, shrunk DVD for you. Nero has a free fully-functional demo version you can try before you buy. Nero isn't cheap, though; they want $69 for it. I've seen good deals on OEM versions on SlickDeals and FatWallet, but caveat emptor.

(um... what zztzed said)
posted by zsazsa at 12:35 PM on May 25, 2004

I second installing Nero. I got a copy thankfully with my DVD burner. It takes me all of 40 to 90 minutes to rip/encode/burn the dvd. Of course, I have a machine dedicated to burning dvd's because I kept getting errors like mad when I shared the machine.
posted by thebwit at 7:14 PM on May 25, 2004

If you install Nero, DVD Shrink can recompress and burn the DVD all in one step.

Almost. This is the setup I use but it still has a 3-minute "analyze disc" phase at the start. Then the rip/encode/burn is all one click. It's damn close to one click. But actually, it's two.
posted by scarabic at 12:34 AM on May 26, 2004