On Mon, 2006-06-26 at 09:34 -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.  :-)

Depending on the country you are in what you are thinking of doing may
be technically illegal.

That said, I personally believe that fair use just makes sense, and the
attempts by the music ang movie people to curb it is both completely
insane and not practical.

The piece of software you are looking for is DVD Shrink. It's main
purpose in life is to backup DVDs to 4.7GB single layer DVD-Rs, but if
you set it to 8.5GB DVD it will do a straight copy to the HD, letting
you play from the hard drive or burn it to a dual layer DVD.

It's free, very quick, and VERY easy to use.

TTYL

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