On Mon, 26 Jun 2006 09:34:01 -0400, John Nall wrote:
> I've just purchased a couple of fairly expensive DVD's (one on Yoga 
> 
> techniques and the other on swimming techniques), both of which will 
> be heavily used with a lot of stops, pauses, rewinds, etc. . What I
> would like to do is to copy each one to my hard disk, and have an 
> image stored there, then make a working copy on a DVD-R (my computer 
> has a DVD-RW drive).   If and when the working copy begins to get 
> scratchy or have problems, then I can discard it and make another
> working copy. I expect each of the DVD's to be used a lot. . Problem
> is, I've never done this before and don't know what software to use.
> Anyone have any suggestions?  It can be done under either Windows XP
> or Linux.  The system (Dell system) came with a program that will 
> play a DVD (PowerDVD) but I don't think that it will burn one.  I've 
> googled and there are apparently a lot of commercial packages 
> available, but  there is no substitute for some advice from someone
> who has some hands-on experience. 
>
> And for the cynical among you -- no, I have no desire whatsoever to
> make copies of movies.  We subscribe to NetFlix and that takes good
> care of all movie-watching needs.  :-) .

I recently ran across this same problem myself, wanting to backup a few
precious DVDs and CDs (of which a couple had copy protection). 

You'll need some "copy protection beaking" software such as AnyDVD and
CloneDVD sold by these guys:

http://www.slysoft.com/en/

I can recommend their products, they work well and are worth the money.
They also have a 21 day evaluation period which may get you what you
need for free, but I'm not sure what the limitations on the evaluation
versions are. 

As for being cynical, I believe in Fair Use rights, regardless of what
the MPAA, RIAA and all the other assorted jokers in Hollywood and the
software business say. As a developer, I'm very ant-piracy. BUT... If
you bought it, I believe you have the right to back it up and copy it
for personal use all you want. If the publishers who oppose this idea
had their way they would require a credit card reader on every computer
and make you swipe your card each time you wanted to play/use their
media or software!

Now that's cynical (but probably true) ;-)

Matt Pobursky
Maximum Performance Systems

(Who once worked for a company whose "unoffical" company flag was the
skull 'n crossbones. Also note Slysoft headquarters is located Europe
and I believe used to be located in the Cayman Islands. No coincidence
there.)

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