Topic: Copying a DVD

[Clive]

OK I confess that I am very inexperienced in this department.     I have a professionally recorded DVD of a recent wedding that took place in Thailand which cost £100 to purchase.  Unsurprisingly I would like to have copied made, but my son who is usually quite good using Nero etc has failed miserably.  Does anyone have any ideas how I can make or obtain copies?

[Rik]

Unless they've invested in some expensive copy protection, Clive, it should be a straightforward matter of telling Nero to make a copy. What's happening?

[Clive]

I don't know because I don't have Nero installed myself.  But I'll find out and let you know.  I have software called "instantwrite" which has worked for copying CD's in the past so I'll see if it will copy a DVD.  Please bear with me!   

[Rik]

It should be as simple, in Nero, as starting the app, selecting DVD then DVD copy. Should... but then we are talking about computers here.

[Clive]

Thanks Rik.   

[Clive]

Apparently Nero just won't acknowledge it at all.  I've tried using Instant Write which is usually pretty good at copying CDs and DVDs but the wedding DVD just causes my computer to re-boot with some very scary consequences.  I've found a company called DVD Quote http://www.dvdquote.co.uk/quote.php who will do a copy for under a tenner so I think I might give them a try. 

[gmax]

For copy protected dvd's i use "DVDFab Platinum", but for Nero not to acknowledge it sounds strange, Nero should give you a "copy protected" message if it has some sort of "copy protection. You could try "DVD Decrypter", it's a small free DVD ripping program.

[Simon]

I wonder if the original DVD hasn't been finalised, Clive?  Would have thought Nero would still read it though.

[Rik]

The re-boot sounds odd, too, Simon. It sounds like they are using something unpleasant to copy-protect it - maybe a Sony rootkit?

[Clive]

What was so disconcerting is that the screen went completely blank for what seemed an age before the automatic re-boot.  After re-boot the computer ran at a snails pace which suggested that something was hogging the resources for around 10 minutes before it properly woke up again.  If it was anythng to do with finalisation I don't see how it would have played on my DVD player Simon.  Root kits sound very scary Rik.  I think I had better run some malware checks to be on the safe side! 

[Rik]

I would, Clive. I'm probably being over-cautious, but remembering what Sony did to people, it's better to be safe than sorry.

[Clive]

Incidentally, the DVD's are made by Sony. 

[Simon]

Clive, if you go to the bottom of this page, you should find a download for a rootkit scanner / remover.

[Rik]

The make of DVDs won't be the issue, Clive, it sounds much more to do with what someone has put on them.

[Baz]

sorry if this is a daft thing to say, but cant you virus check the DVD that you are trying to copy?

I always do anything I get from someone else.