How do I watch a DVD without a DVD

Hey guys,
No I am not going to mass copy DVD's or do anything illegal. I was just wondering how I can put a DVD video on my computer so I can watch it anytime without having the DVD. I dont know where to start because using regular programs, it says the disk is copy-protected. My neighboor somehow does it with his DVD's in case he loses one.

Any help?

 

You need the following programs:
DVDFab Decrypter
DVD Shrink
Daemon Tools
DVD player program (I recommend VLC player)

1 Install the programs
2 Use DVDFab decrypter to decode the disk
3 Use DVD Shrink to 'open the files' and you have a two options, make an ISO image of the disk with the full DVD or you can reauthor the title to save HD space. I recommend the latter. Make sure it creates the ISO
4 Run Daemon Tools. Select how many virtual Drives you want. Once it is running in the bottom right toolbar, click on a drive and load the image
5 Run the DVD ISO using your DVD player program

 

Note that for most DVDs (those that it works on), DVDDecrypter includes a .iso rip format, which you can bypass the DVD Shrink step with if you don't care about the DVD's size.

 

Try out #1DVD Ripper ( http://www.dvdtox.com/)

Allows you to decode a DVD and convert it into a file that will play using DivX, WMP or most other DVD players. No need for multiple steps.

This program does cost money, but you can download it and try it out for free.

 

Anyone know if iso plays on standard DVD players? What media file should I burn movie files in so it plays on regular DVD players?

 

ISO is an image of the entire CD/DVD. You'd have to burn it back to a disk, but as long as the DVD player supported the media (i.e., DVD-R, DVD+R, etc..), it should be an identical copy, provided, of course, the DVD you ripped fits on the DVD+/-R that you're burning to (that's what DVDShrink is for).

"Note that for most DVDs (those that it works on), DVDDecrypter includes a .iso rip format, which you can bypass the DVD Shrink step with if you don't care about the DVD's size."

If you use DVDDecrypter to rip an ISO, you'll need some virtual drive software to mount the image if you want to play it from the HD. These trick the OS into thinking there is another CD/DVD drive in the PC, and 'opening' (mounting) the ISO would appear to the OS as if you inserted a real disk. Nero includes ImageDrive, or DaemanTools(sp?) is another option. DVDDecrypter can also rip to a Video_TS directory, which I think you can play directly with most DVD Player software, eliminating the need for the Virtual Drive.

 

Wow thanks for the information guys. I am somewhat familiar with this process for CD's by using Alcohol 120%. Would the iso image mount to an alcohol virtual drive?

Daemon tools is basically the same thing.

I tried burning a disk using alcohol but it said there would be hours and hours remaining. How long should it take using my 8X dvd drive in my acer8200 to burn an ISO?

 

Yes you can use Alcohol 120% to mount ISO files.
Tim

 

Ask your neighbor?

 

Neighboors=evil


lol

 

I made the files with DVDFab and then tried to open them with DVD Shrink but it said they contained invalid information and so it closed.

Is it possible to just use DVD Shrink to make an ISO from the disk without using dvd fab?

 

update! It is letting me make an ISO for the disk which I can then mount using Alcohol 120%, but the file size it going to be over 4GB. How do I make it smaller?

 

This is really all overkill. If you just want a copy on your hard drive you can just rip it with DVDfabdecrypter and play it with Media Player Classic.

No need to shrink it unless you need room or have spare time and why bother making an *.iso?

You can just run the Video_TS.ifo file and it'll play like it's a DVD. I've also streamed movies this way it to my XBOX Media Center which also has no problem recognizind the .ifo files...

As far as making a back up; at this point you can choose "copy entire dvd video" in Nero and import the ripped files. It'll recode (shrink) and burn it to disk...

-or-

You can shrink the movie with DVD Shrink and burn it to disk...

I've found Nero to work better but it has no reauthor option.

 

Well I only have 35GB on my document partition on my hard drive, so I dont want to fill it up with only 9 full sized movies. I have "Road Trip" which is great quality and its only 300MB. I want it like that.
Maybe in AVI format or something.

 

OK, that wasn't what you asked for...

 

yeah i know im constantly changing my mind.