I hate DVDXCOPY and the two disks!! - use DVD2One
 

Just a bit of flustration here. I used the trial version of DVDXcopy for a bit, burned a few disks in trial mode (it only does like 1 hour of the movie) - then I bought the software. Spent the $99 from the web site and all.

Now here is something they don't tell you. When you backup normal movies - it takes 2 disks. That means for one movie you are now messing around with 2 disks. This sucks. It sucks so much that I am sad I bought the darn software.

This past week I have started to use DVD Decrypter and then another tool called DVD2One.

These two tools are simple to use and then give me a backup that is only on one disk. I also added in COPYTODVD as my burn utility as it works directly with DVD2one (or you can stick with Nero or the like).

DVD2one does lose a minor amount of sharpness, but even in a side by side compairison you almost can not tell the difference. it is such a minor difference.

My suggestion is this. Buy DVD2One and stay away from DVDXcopy.

Especialy if you are backing up movies like me - most of my stuff is for the kids, as they tend to destroy their originals!!!

heres a even easier way use dvdxcopy express it does every thing for you and only uses 1 disc.

i have used the method you describe but prefere express as it saves time and is a lot less hassle.

And if you don't want to bu dvd2one, there is always DVDShrink which is freeware and compresses the movie like dvd2one - although I prefer DVD2One's compression.

I personally love dvd x copy. One of the main features dvds have over vhs is picture quality. I don't mind using 2 discs to keep that quality, especially since I have a HD TV where quality is even more noticable. If you would have researched dvd x copy a little more before you bought it, you would have dicovered that it usually requires 2 dvds. It even says so on their website here

Agree with bighap.

"DVD X Copy" makes perfect copies, and changing discs during a movie is no big deal. If your concern is disc cost, note that CDs, which were very expensive originally, can be had for about 25-50 cents now. DVDs will go the same way.

"DVD X Copy XPRESS" version 2.5 is now available, and it makes good one-disc copies, but does so with some level of degradation. This degraded video is hardly observable on most TV sets, but probably more obvious on HDTV sets.

Is there any downgrading of the sound tracks using this software or any other software or do they just downgrade the image??
do they keep the 5.1 DD tracks??
I was looking at getting the pioneer dvr-105 to backup dvds as friends and kids have a tendency to destroy my best dvd's
Is the 105 the best for this as my standalone dvd player will play -R dvds, there are a lot of dvd writers out , which is the best for what i want to do??
TIA

No, sound is not degraded. Yes, get the 105 or A05. You will be very happy with it.