Transferring (BBC) DVDs to HDD

With a number of upcoming flights looming close I thought it would be nice to pop a few episodes of the Blue Planet onto HDD to while away the tedium of travel.

I have tried dragging and dropping the entire contents of a DVD into a folder on my laptop HDD without being able to play the tranferred programs. A quick 'google' revealed that its not a simple as that and that BBC DVD's have some pretty slick security to prevent what I am attempting. This research also took me into areas of 'computer babble' where I fear to tread...

Has anyone here already invented this wheel and can help me with a dummies guide?

Thanks in advance. Tim

If you use a mac than I suggest two options (both freeware):

1) Mac the Ripper - to copy entire DVD with menues etc. - fast but takes a lot of space,

2) Handbrake - to copy selected titels without menues - slower, but uses less space - plenty of formats to choose.

Hi Andrzej,

Thanks but I have a PC....

How about taking the actual disks in little paper CD/DVD sleeves...

Dive safe

DeanB

Hi Dean,

Yes, a good suggestion except that the little 10" Dell is not equipped with an internal DVD drive. I am lothe to take the external DVD as I carry a couple of 2.5" HDD's in enclosures for backup and the power consumption of the external drive will seriously prejudice the Dell, even with its six cell battery.

Hi Andrzej,

 

Thanks but I have a PC....

I use AnyDVD + Handbrake with excellent results. AnyDvd will unlock any DVD transparently, and Handbrake re-encodes the DVD into an MPG movie file of any size, resolution, or quality that you chose. The advantage of this combo is that it is just a one step process and super simple.

Dave

Thanks Dave, that sounds really cool especially with the space saving of MPG. Can I ask you whether you have actually run this software on BBC disks as I understand they have some pretty slick copywrite protection?

BTW. I don't condone copywrite infringement at all. I own the original DVDs and only wish to copy them to HDD for personal and short-term use.

Tim, search for a program called DVD Decrypter which is able to bypass DVD copyright and allows you to rip the folders and files or create full ISO copies** Although I believe the developer has ceased work on this program due to legal issues so it may not work with the newer BBC copyright protection...

You might want to check some programs in the link below.

http://download.cnet.com/windows/dvd-software/?tag=ltcol;nav

you might be able to find all freeware and step by step guides on this site

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdbackup

If you go with AnyDVD, here is a helpful tutorial...

http://www.adubvideo.net/how-to/how-to-rip...ray-with-anydvd

** (disclaimer: pls check with your country's copyright laws... blah blah blah...).

edit: added wikipedia link to DVD Decrypter and tutorial on copying DVD with AnyDVD (BTW, this program is not cheap...!)

You can download and use AnyDVD for a free trial period, and Handbrake is freeware. I would just suggest that you give it a try.

I mostly use this to copy my wife's workout DVDs to Mpg files that she can use on her dvd-less notebook, and the occasional movie or tv series DVD that I want to watch on my Zune during travel. All fair use in my book. I've only run into one DVD that could not be fully ripped, and the AnyDvd developers update the software constantly to include new copy protection formats. I've been fairly impressed with the qaulity and non-interference with other software, so I recommend it with confidence.

Dave

Thanks Dave, that sounds really cool especially with the space saving of MPG. Can I ask you whether you have actually run this software on BBC disks as I understand they have some pretty slick copywrite protection?

 

BTW. I don't condone copywrite infringement at all. I own the original DVDs and only wish to copy them to HDD for personal and short-term use.

DVDFab's HD Decrypter. Free to use the basic module that just rips the disk to your hard drive. There is a for-pay part that will do other tricks, but IMO, the paid portions aren't needed for the basic purposes under discussion, so enjoy the free download and ignore it when it expires, because the free part continues working just fine.

Then use Handbrake (PC version) to convert and compress. Also 100% free.

Simple as pie. Takes 5-15 min to rip the DVD, depending on your drive's speed, and 1-4 hours to convert the DVD (main feature only) to a single easy playback file for playback on your netbook.

I have most of my DVD collection already converted using this process, so I can stream them to an AppleTV in the bedroom, so for my last 14 hour flight I just copied a bunch of movies over the network onto my little netbook, and had a blast the whole trip.

Great information, gratefully received. Thanks chaps.