Hi Grace - You seem to have it pretty well sussed. Copying DVD's (from your own collection, of course) requires two stages. First is the 'decryption'.....the files on a purchased DVD are encrypted for copyrighting so you need software which will remove the encryption....a decrypter! Unfortunately, the best decrypter (AnyDVD) is shareware but there are a couple of good free alternatives. 'DVD43' is genuine freeware and very easy to use....in fact, there is no user input at all, no configuration...just install and each time a DVD is inserted into the drive it works away in the background. The second choice is DVDFab Decrypter. This is actually a crippled (less features) version of their shareware.....I believe it is still free but there seems to be some confusion among the freeware sites, i.e. some list it as freeware and others as shareware. It is probably a better product than DVD43 but is also slightly more difficult to use. Here are links for both:

http://www.dvd43.com/
http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Too ... pter.shtml

The second part of the equation is compression. Purchased DVD movies are recorded on dual layer discs and when we copy them we are attempting to get the same size files onto a single layer disc, so we need software to compress the files so they fit. Fortunately there is an exceptional freeware available for this..DVDShrink. It's been around a while and has a stellar reputation. There is a bit of a learning curve involved but I am expert in its use and would be more than happy to offer any help/advice. Get DVDShrink from here:

http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video ... shrink.cfm
The download button is in the green box off to the right.

cheers......JIM

It's not free, but I love [url=http://esd.element5.com/product.html?productid=300101281&cookies=1&affiliateid=200036005:2miyj3gg]DVDFab[/url:2miyj3gg]. It takes care of the entire operation (decryption, recoding, burning) and allows conversion to other formats. It's quick, does a good job encoding, and is updated often.

I know Jim. I was just expanding on the AnyDVD, DVD43, DVDfab Decrypter thingy, just a little off topic.

Dave & MB - Perhaps one of you guys could clear up the confusion over DVDFab for me....please. Some sites categorise it as freeware and others shareware. There was a time when it [i:2f2vqmfb]was [/i:2f2vqmfb]free, then a period where you could download a trial version of the commercial product which would revert to a free crippled version when the trial period expired. What is the current status??
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/DV ... 32478833/1 This popular site lists DVDFab as freeware, most of the others as shareware. Is that possibly because the entry on Fileforum is outdated (although it is dated 22nd January, 2009)?

BTW: I do agree entirely that the best products for this operation [i:2f2vqmfb]are [/i:2f2vqmfb] the commercial offerings. Although I do still use DVDShrink for compression and ripping, I have AnyDVD for decryption...the point you both make about keeping up to date with current encryption methods is a very valid one and only the commercial products do that. However, bearing in mind that Grace did specifically request advice on [i:2f2vqmfb]freeware[/i:2f2vqmfb]....DVD43 [i:2f2vqmfb]is[/i:2f2vqmfb] a viable freeware alternative, especially for someone like Grace who wishes to back up her existing collection (assuming it wouldn't contain any very recent movies). Most of this was covered in my original post.

Thanks for the input guys,
JIM.

Hey MB - Thanks for the quick response. I am assuming then, the free (older) versions would not include ways and means for overcoming the latest protections?

You [i:14fmapsc]are[/i:14fmapsc] a tease MB if the above is true, what do yo mean by..."they are keeping up with times". Is that a reference to the commercial version only?

thanks again,
JIM.