Backing Up Dvds To Hard Drive

[flotsam]

Hi,

I would like to back up my DVDs to my laptop or an external hard drive and be able to watch them from there when I am on the go and to have the back up. I have Windows 7 on my laptop. Can anyone recommend software for that? Also, any general advice about the process is appreciated.

Thanks,

Flotsam

[overhaul38]

I use Fengto DVD fab platinum. I believe the latest version is 7.

The software is very easy to use. Put your DVD in your drive and open the

program. Select the file you want to save the movie in and press start.

You can use the same program to burn the movie back to a DVD.

[lomatopo]

You might consider re-encoding the DVD's to a single AVI file which will reduce the overall file size, and reduce the quality, but these might be positives given the display characteristics and storage capacity of the notebook? DVD's are quite large: 4 to 8 Gb so can take up a lot of room.

I haven't done this in a while but I used to use freeware called Auto Gordian Knot with success.

If the DVD is encrypted then you'll have to decrypt it first. DVDdecrypter can do that for you.

[dave_boo]

Or use handbrake. Works great and allows you to convert to ipod friendly or near original quality (at 1/4 the original size).

Alternatively you could use your burning software to create *.iso and mount them as dvd drives.

[astral]

All my DVD's are now in .avi(xvid) format, near original quality but a much more managable size.

iSofter DVDripper does the job for me. http://www.isofter.com/

[flotsam]

Thanks everyone. I'll look into these.

[innerspace]

Or use handbrake. Works great and allows you to convert to ipod friendly or near original quality (at 1/4 the original size).

Another vote for handbrake, great software, free and legal.

[Pib]

Ain't technology great...we use to backup our hard drives to DVD; now we backup our DVD's to hard drive.

[MKAsok]

DVDFab HD Decrypter