A DVD disc can contain different types of information recorded in completely different ways. These optical media are used today to distribute multimedia recordings and store files of any format. DVDs can also be burned to the standards used for creating music CDs, and also have several copy protection options. All of these factors force you to use different methods of copying the contents of a DVD to your computer.
Instructions
Step 1
Use the usual file manager of your operating system as a tool if the optical disk is used for backing up or transferring files. In this case, the storage structure and file formats on it have no peculiarities. On Windows, the file manager (Explorer) starts automatically when a DVD is inserted into the drive. Select in its window all the necessary objects of the source disk and press the key combination Ctrl + C so that the operating system remembers the list of the copied one. Then go to the drive and folder on your computer where you want to put the information, and press the key combination Ctrl + V (paste command). After that, the process of duplicating the DVD-disc starts.
Step 2
The procedure for copying the original disc will not differ from the one described in the first step, even if the data on it is recorded in DVD format and without using any protection system. If there is protection, then you will have to use programs that are more adapted to work with optical disks than a regular file manager. For example, it can be the Slysoft CloneDVD application or Slysoft AnyDVD, DVD Mate, DVD Decrypter, etc. The sequence of actions when using them is different, but the general principle is the same - in the program forms you need to specify the source disk and the storage location, and the rest of the application will do on one's own.
Step 3
Use software to create and mount disc images if you want to use virtual copies of the original DVD saved on your computer. Such programs, in addition to copying information, record in a special format and all the details of its placement on an optical disc, and then they can do the opposite procedure - reproduce an exact copy of the original virtually or burn it to an empty DVD disc. The most popular applications of this type today are Alcohol 120%, Daemon Tools, Nero Burning ROM. When using these programs, the general principle of action is also the same: specify the source disk and the location to save its image, and the program will do the rest. For example, in the Daemon Tools application, click on the "Create disk image" button, in the dialog that opens, make sure that the value in the "Drive" field points to the desired DVD drive and, if necessary, change the save address in the "Output image" field. In addition, here you can check the "Compress image data" checkbox if you want to save some space on the hard drive. After pressing the "Start" button, the process itself begins, which may take several hours - the duration depends on the amount of information on the disc and the speed of its reading in your DVD drive.
