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How to Copy DVD Movies with dvdSanta

dvdSanta is an All-in-One software that lets you copy, create, convert and burn your DVD movies. It can copy 9GB double layer DVD movies into a 4.7GB DVD-R disc, can turn your photos into DVD movies with Hollywood style motion effects, can convert other video formats(avi, wmv, vob, asf, DivX, Mpeg,...) into DVD video, can transfer miniDV camcorder tapes directly to DVD video. dvdSanta is extremely easy to use, fast and powerful.

You need to have a MPEG-2 video decoder installed on your PC so dvdSanta can use it to read DVD video format. You can download and install a Free MPEG-2 decoder. The second thing you need to know is dvdSanta Does NOT Copy CSS encrypted DVD movies or copy protected movies. If you insist that you have the right to backup your own copy protected DVD movies, use the internet to find answers about how to decrypt or rip your DVD movies to your hard disk.

The following instructions assume that you have aready transferred your DVD movies to your hard disk and you want to burn them back to blank DVD-R/RW or DVD+R/RW discs.

So, What's the trick to copy DVD and what can dvdSanta do here?

Most dvd burners can only burn single layer DVD discs, which hold only 4.7GB data each. However, many movies come in double layer DVD discs, which hold 9GB data each. In order to copy the double layer DVD movies, you need to "Shrink" the DVD movies and make them fit on 4.7GB sigle layer DVD discs. Luckyly, you can do it with dvdSanta! If what you want to copy is a 4.7GB single layer DVD movie, you can also use dvdSanta to make an IDENTICAL copy without "Shrinking" your original movie.

Related guides:
How to transfer digital camcorder tapes to DVD movie?
How to Convert XviD to DVD, WMV to DVD?

How to Copy DVD Movies?

Step 1, Rip the DVD movie to your hard disk
If your DVD movie is NOT copy protected, just do the following to copy your dvd movie to the hard disk:

Step 2a, Copy a 9GB double layer DVD movie

Before you run dvdSanta, make sure your DVD burner is Empty, yes, no blank DVD-R/+R disc in your burner now. You will be intructed to insert your blank DVD-R/+R disc later.
Now, Run dvdSanta, and Click on "Video Files to DVD" button:
(If you wamt to copy a 4.7GB single layer DVD movie, please read Step 2b instead.)

then click the "Add Media" button ...

Open the DVD movie's VIDEO_TS folder in your hard disk...

Click the "Create DVD" button...

And this window will appear, wait until it is done...

dvdSanta has done preparing the DVD video, now it's time to burn your disc.

Before you burn the disc, you can use a software DVD player such as PowerDVD to examine the DVD video created by dvdSanta. The DVD video is stored under C:\TempDVD\VIDEO_TS folder.
Now you can insert a blanc DVD-R/+R disc in your DVD burner now and click "Yes" to continue.
If you want to burn this DVD disc later, you can click "No" button now and quit dvdSanta. The DVD video is stored under C:\TempDVD\VIDEO_TS folder. You can burn it later using dvdSanta and follow Step 2b (How to Copy a 4.7GB Single Layer DVD movie)

If you are a using DVD+R/RW disc, just click "Burn!" and wait dvdSanta finish the burning job. If you are using a DVD-R/RW disc, you should select burning speed to 1x,2x,or 4x, then click the "Burn!" button to burn the disc.

And that's it! When the burning is finished, you can play your newly backuped DVD in your DVD player and watch the movie on TV!

Step 2b, Copy a 4.7GB Single Layer DVD movie from your hard disk to a DVD disc
Run dvdSanta, click the "Disc Image or DVD Video folder to DVD" button...

Open the DVD's VIDEO_TS folder in your hard disc, select any file in that folder, than click "Open" to continue...

Now insert a blank DVD-R/+R disc in your DVD burner. If you are a using DVD+R/RW disc, just click "Burn!" and wait dvdSanta finish the burning job. If you are using a DVD-R/RW disc, you should select burning speed to 1x,2x,or 4x, then click the "Burn!" button to burn the disc.

End. When the burning is finished, you can play your newly backuped DVD in your DVD player and watch the movie on TV.