There is a program Alcohol 120 which permits you to make a copy of a
DVD to your hard disk. This copy can then be mounted as a virtual
DVD player and your program will use it just like it was a real DVD.
This leaves your original DVD safe, unused. Also, the reading of
the virtual DVD on the hard disk is a lot faster than a real DVD.

I believe the program is shareware.

Goran

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.  :-)
> .
> John
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