How to Copy a DVD Onto a USB
Copying DVDs onto a USB drive is a relatively simple process. It can be a convenient way to back up your movies or bring them with you while away from home or when you don't have access to your personal computer or DVD collection. In only a few steps, you can be on your way to enjoying movies and TV shows anywhere you have access to a computer.
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Instructions
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Ripping a DVD
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1
Download DVD ripping software, such as Ashampoo Burning Studio Free, Acala DVD Ripper Professional or MediaMonkey Standard (see Resources). This software is designed to "rip" the content off of a disc onto your computer. These programs are fairly easy to find and typically free. Each program is different, so follow the installation instructions provided.
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2
Insert a DVD into DVD-ROM. Run the DVD ripping software. Choose the file format, size and quality of the exported movie file you want. Ripping a movie can take anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour, depending on your processor speed, how much RAM your computer has, what version of USB you have and how quickly your DVD drive reads.
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3
Play back the movie file on your computer to make sure that it works properly. That means skipping through the movie to the end to ensure that the entire movie was copied. Look for glitches and errors that might manifest themselves as audio or video dropouts, frame skipping or pixelated images. If this has occurred, you may need to adjust the settings and repeat Step 2.
Copying Files to a USB Drive
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4
Plug in the USB drive (also known as a thumb drive or stick drive). If this is the first time plugging in the USB drive, wait for Windows to automatically install the correct driver.
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5
Copy the file to the USB drive. In Windows, open the movie file and select "Save As." From this menu, you can change the location where the filed is saved. Choose the USB drive as the location and click "Save." If you have a Mac, simply drag the movie file's icon onto the USB drive's icon on your desktop.
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6
Play back the file to make sure that it works properly. Open the USB drive's contents on your computer and click the movie file icon. If it plays back normally, you can proceed to the next step. If not, you may need to copy the file again.
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7
Unplug the USB drive and if possible, test it on another computer to ensure compatibility. Sometimes a copied movie file can work perfectly on your computer and not work at all on another.
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Tips & Warnings
Export movie files in .mp4 format if you're concerned about preserving space on your USB drive.
Close all other programs before starting the ripping process, which is very memory intensive. Running other programs could make the process go slower or increase the likelihood of glitches or failure.
Don't rip DVDs that are copy-protected or that you don't personally own. There is a lot of debate in the movie industry as to whether ripping DVDs to keep copies on your computer is legal, but it is generally thought that making a copy for your own use is permissible.
References
Resources
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