Backing up DVD's

[Olly]

Can anyone help me in my quest to copy my dvd's to disc using a cd writer and where i would need to begin ie...what software, how many discs etc. This would be a great help to me - i'm getting on a bit you know!!!!

[q3arenakman]

well, i hate to say it but dvd to cd would be one heck of a mission!
BUT ... it may somehow be possible.. if its a data dvd... video DVD's then... well... you might be able to get a DVD Ripper program that will split it into 6 or so parts.. and spawn them across cds,
but well.. if it doesnt work thats 6 coasters...

[Wayniac]

From the info you've given I think you're trying to copy films?

OK, DVD is encoded in the MPEG-2 format.This format - even though it's a compressed one - requires heaps of space to store a typcial film, usually over 4 GB worth.

Since a typical cd-r disc can only hold 700MB of data, something's got to give if you intend to put your film on one of these discs: quality. The only way to get your film onto 1 or two cd-r discs is to convert the MPEG-2 format into the MPEG-1 or VideoCD format (VCD). Doing this requires large amounts of space and a fast computer, since your computer will "rip" every single frame of the film and convert it to VCD so that it takes up less space.

Most new DVD players these days will play VCD discs.

The alternative to MPEG-1 is the new MPEG-IV format, but I don't know enough about this format at the moment as regards what results you'll get or whether it will play in a domestic DVD player.

####://www.ultimateresourcesite.com/dvdripping/main.htm

####://www4.tomshardware.com/video/01q1/010223/index.html

[Mr. B.]

Before you convert your dvd video stream into a vcd ##### your dvd player's manual!! Not every dvd player can read vcd's (video cd's) although most can as far as I know. If your dvd player supports svcd's (super videos cd's) you should convert the dvd video to an svcd-file because it has a much better quality. In any case you usually need at least two cd-r's to back up one dvd movie.

Another alternative is the DivX-Format (which is a ripped version of MPEG4). DivX-compressed video files take up less space and have a pretty good quality. The only problem is that you can only watch these videos on your computer. There's no dvd player so far that can read cd-r's which contain DivX-compressed files.

[Wayniac]

Just wanted to say thanks Mr. B for your info - much appreciated.

Now..I wonder how many YEARS it would take this Cyrix system of mine to convert my DVD's!!

~ :-) ~