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How do I backup to DVD? How can I copy video DVDs?

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Summary: Backing up to DVD is easy with a backup program or a DVD burner. Copying a video DVD, however, requires a different tool, and may be illegal.

How do I backup to DVD? How can I copy video DVDs?

DVDs have become great backup media. With capacities of nearly 5 gigabytes on a single disk you can place a LOT of data on one. Doing so needn't be difficult but there are a few options.

Copying video DVDs on the other hand may not be that easy.

Chances are your DVD writer included software with it to be able to burn not only DVDs but CDs as well. That's always the best place to start. (If your drive did not include software, I've had good luck with Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator.) I use these types of packages to copy files I've selected onto CD-R, DVD-R, and DVD+R media.

Windows XP itself also has burning software included. With XP you can treat some types of media - most notably "RW" media - as if they were just another drive by simply copying files to it.

Important: while we're talking about formats, it's important to note that the "+" and "-" in the DVD media types is significant. DVD-R and DVD+R are two different standards. Most DVD writers will work with one or the other, but not both. The same goes for DVD-RW and DVD+RW. Make sure you get the right kind of media for your drive.

Now then, about copying those video DVDs.

As much as I hate to say it, I've always viewed the claims of copying software very skeptically. The fact is that the movie industry has taken many steps to prevent piracy, and it wouldn't surprise me if the claims made for the ability to copy video DVDs weren't blown out of proportion. I'd be fairly shocked if there was a package that could legally copy a commercially produced DVD. I definitely understand that there are legitimate needs for making a personal, backup copy of a DVD you own, I'm just not currently aware of a working legal solution.

So my recommendation is this: get the backup scenario working. This will validate that your drive fundamentally works and that you have the correct type of media. Then you can try the DVD copying packages. I'd be interested in hearing which ones actually work, if any.

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Recent Comments

I would like to burn my video tapes to dvd's as the video tapes take up a lot of room and are at risk to get damaged. Can you tell me how to do it.
I have been using a computer for 3 years noe and am 80 years old so would appreciate simple directions

Posted by: Margaret Franks at January 6, 2007 12:17 AM

don't ask leo.... he says backing up a copyrighted dvd is illegal. If he REALLY knew.. he'd know it's only illegal if you don't own a copy first

Posted by: scartooth at February 5, 2007 06:55 AM

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

It is illegal. It's stupid that it's illegal, but it is illegal.

According to the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act), decrypting
protected, encrypted content is illegal. It doesn't mater the purpose,
the act itself is illegal. (It may be that even owning software that can
perform that act is illegal, but I could be wrong on that count.)

Copy protected DVD's are actually encrypted, and thus subject to this
law.

This is in the U.S., by the way, so other parts of the planet may
differ. By and large they are the same, though.

- - -Leo
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.6 (MingW32)

iD8DBQFFx2G5CMEe9B/8oqERAoWBAJ488SLfpRpgx6+hOmmpf8SSofV7OACfWkeQ
obqyQbkjDl30yl818SfYGfI=
=OJ2L
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Posted by: Leo Notenboom at February 5, 2007 08:57 AM

Try using one of the top programs listed at www.dvdxcopyreviews.com

Posted by: Gary at March 18, 2007 07:00 PM

Leo;
I have been using DVD burning software package call CloneDVD and AnyDVD (there used in conjunction) and have not had a DVD that I couldn't copy perfectly. You can download them from the website www.slysoft.com. There is a free 21 day trial version and after that I think it cost me $40.00 for the full version. All security is stripped from the DVD automatically before burning. Haven't had a failure in over a year. Try it out.

Posted by: Jim S. at March 22, 2007 02:04 PM

First off ANYONE using OR STILL USING the DVDx OR DVDneXtCopy are getting TOTALLY ripped off! You EASILY NEED TWO programs as mentioned by a user above.
1: SlySoft AnyDVD (Newest Version) - And if you CANNOT get it, "Patched" pay the MEASLY $40.00, WELL wrth it since DVD Decryptor NO LONGER Exists/Works. This program COMPLETLY get's rid of the Copywrite protection on whatever DVD that you are "Ripping". And as for the second program that you MUST download is called...

2: CloneDVD.

You're ALL GOOD To Go!

Posted by: Chris Connors at May 13, 2007 10:23 AM

Hi, my wedding video will be on a DVD and I'm wondering if it'll be easy for me to make additional copies of the DVD, or if I should just let my videographer make the copies for me (he wants to charge me $35 for each copy) - does this sound like a reasonable charge, or should I go elsewhere or do it on my own?

Posted by: Lara at May 14, 2007 11:55 AM

Just as an FYI - to get CloneDVD and AnyDVD is 101.60USD from SlySoft. I might have considered 40.00, but more than a bennie is too much.

Posted by: Jeff at January 2, 2008 11:46 AM

Hi folks,
Just a reminder, as leo has said and we will restate- .. any dvd or video that is done by a 3rd party that has either paid cash monies of anytype .. for services.. such as recording parties,weddings.. so on is also copyrighted via the Company or parties that performed the video at time of engagment. This is even if you paid for copies. You paid for a specific amount or defined type of copies. Making any type of copy of this type of item would violate a contract and allow the buyer to be sued for breech of contract and copyright violations... anytype of movie dvd would fall under the same standards of copyright violations.. just not from services rendered

Posted by: Seasonal at April 14, 2008 02:54 PM

in regard to this comment be Seasonal:
"any dvd or video that is done by a 3rd party .... is also copyrighted via the Company or parties that performed the video.....Making any type of copy of this type of item would violate a contract and allow the buyer to be sued for breech of contract and copyright violations... "

that may all be well and true, but i guarantee you this, if some dude videotaped my wedding, and then sold me the DVD, and then sued me after I made a copy, that dude would get his ass kicked so hard, and so often that he would never think of being such an ass again.
Sue me for making a copy of my own wedding video?
I dont think so...
otherwise you are getting a serious beat-down, thats for sure.

Aside from the charge for assaulting him, you would also lose the copyright case. As silly as it sounds, the wedding videographer does indeed have copyright on the materials he produces, and could sue you for making a copy. This has been true for still wedding photography as well. Whether it's bad form or "right" or not is kinda beside the point. Copyright is copyright.

-Leo

Posted by: Mystery2 at August 21, 2008 12:46 PM

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