Write DVD Data
Windows Vista and Windows 7 have a Data DVD Writing capability built in. Just insert a blank DVD, go to Start menu > Computer, double click your DVD, choose “With a CD/DVD Player” and click next, and then drag and drop whatever files you want to Write into the window. You can also select any files in a given folder and click the “Write” button on the toolbar to Write selected files. If you are using an earlier version of Windows or prefer to use a more comprehensive program here are a few suggestions:
1. CDBurnerXP (free)
2. BurnaAware Free (free)
3. Nero Burning ROM (free trial) and Free in a retail box with DVD Writer
4. Super DVD Creator (free trial)
A typical procedure to Write a Data DVD with these programs is:
1. Insert a blank DVD into your DVD Writer, launch the program and choose to Write DVD a “Data DVD”.
2. Add the files and folders you’d like to Write. Just make sure you don’t exceed the amount of available space on a DVD. There should be an indicator telling you this.
3. Set any options that might be offered, like Writing speed. If unsure, leave everything as is.
4. Click Write DVD, and wait for it to finish.
Write a Multimedia DVD
If you simply want to Write music, photos or movies to watch on your TV then Writing a Data DVD as described above may be enough, provided that you have a relatively modern DVD player that supports MP3, DivX, JPEG and similar file formats. Simply Write your desired photos, music and video files, preferrably separating them in logical folders.
If you want to Write a proper Video DVD with a menu you can often choose a “Video DVD” option in the above mentioned DVD Writing programs. If you, however, want to Write a custom DVD with professional features like a title and a DVD menu you could use one of the DVD authoring tools such as these:
1. DVD Styler (free)
2. DVD Flick (free)
3. Roxio VideoLab (free trial)
4. Nero Video (free trial)
5. DVD Lab (free trial)
6. Womble EasyDVD (free trial)
Copying and Writing a Commercial DVD
Copying any ordinary DVD should be easy by using any of the above mentioned DVD Writing software, and choosing a “Copy DVD” option. If the DVD is copy protected with Digital Rights Management (DRM) it may have to be decoded before it can be copied. Some of the mentioned general DVD Writing software might be able to do that so they are worth a try. Otherwise, DVD rippers and decrypters such as these could do the job:
1. DVD Shrink which can also be used to shrink DVD9 to DVD5
2. DVDFab HD Decrypter
3. Magic DVD Ripper
If these don’t work you can use DVD43 which runs in the background and automatically decrypts DVDs as they are loaded into the system so other ordinary DVD Writing programs can copy it.
Once you rip a DVD you can Write it to a blank DVD, which effectively makes a copy.
Note that bypassing copy protection is illegal in some countries, or may be legal only to make copies for personal use.
