How to Copy a DVD Disk

DVD recorders come in an array of styles and sizes, with different features.

Making a copy of a DVD requires a computer with a DVD burner and compatible software or a dedicated DVD recorder with onboard hard drive. You can also copy DVDs with either of these components connected to a standard DVD player. If you have a less expensive DVD recorder that is not equipped with a hard drive for storing digital information, you'll also need a separate DVD player for playback of the disc to be copied.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with DVD burner DVD recorder with built-in hard drive. Stand-alone DVD recorder and a separate DVD player or computer Audio/video connecting cables

Instructions

Making DVD Copies

1. Insert the DVD to be copied into the DVD recorder or computer.

2. Launch the copying software that comes with your particular machine.

3. Select "Rip" or "Copy DVD" and launch the copying process to the computer or DVD recorder hard drive.

4. Remove the pre-recorded DVD and replace with a blank, recordable DVD.

5. Launch the copying and recording software.

6. Locate the DVD program information that has been copied onto your hard drive and select it.

7. Add the selected program to the field for tracks and programs to be burned.

8. Start the burn/record process to copy the program from the hard drive to the recordable DVD.

9. Check the disc copy to ensure the program has been copied successfully.

10. Delete the DVD program from your hard drive to free up computer space or make room on the hard drive of your DVD recorder.

11. For stand-alone DVD recorders with no internal hard drive, connect the recorder either to a computer equipped with a DVD player or a standard DVD player.

12. Connect the components by plugging the yellow RCA video cable from the source DVD player (which you will be copying from) to the video input jack on the DVD recorder.

13. Connect the black (left channel) and red (right channel) audio cables to their corresponding inputs on the DVD recorder.

14. Place the DVD to be copied in the DVD player and a recordable disc in the DVD recorder.

15. Depress the playback button on the DVD player and launch the recording on the DVD recorder.

Tips & Warnings

• DVDs require a tremendous amount of storage space, 4 gigabytes or more, so if you are using a computer to burn copies, check your hard drive to be sure you have sufficient free space. Save money by purchasing large spindles of blank, recordable DVDs rather than one or only a few at a time. Take advantage of sales and rebates to get even better value on blank disks.

• Creating copies of copyrighted material is illegal.

References

• DVD copying resources