There are many legitimate reasons you might want to make a copy of a DVD, and thankfully with a Windows PC, you're in good stead for some great software to make it as painless as possible.
Here's what you should get.
DVD Cloner
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One of the big positives about DVD Cloner is speed. It only takes around half an hour to copy a full disc.
From Top Ten Reviews:
This program has topped our review of DVD copy software for more than a decade, and for good reason. It has every tool and feature we look for in the best DVD copy software, including two copy modes: Express and Expert. Express allows you to start the copy process with minimal effort, while Expert gives you all the fine-tuning tools you need to get the exact copy you want.
Besides speed and ease of use, DVD Cloner can make perfect copies of scratched DVDs. Bringing what you thought was damaged forever back to life like new.
MakeMKV
This little piece of software has been around for a long time, and it's still highly regarded as one of the best ways to copy from a DVD disc.
From Lifehacker:
The app's strong suits are that it's fast, super easy, and cross-platform (the Linux version is available in the forums.) Plus, the app preserves all of the source disc's information, including tracks, chapters, HD audio, menus, and so on.
MakeMKV is still in beta, which means all features, including Blu-Ray ripping, are free. Premium features will apparently be charged for at some point, but who knows when that'll be. Until then it's free, and it's a very handy tool to take everything off a DVD for you. The only downside is that if you're putting it onto another DVD, you'll need something else to do the burning.
Handbrake
A classic piece of software that can be used in conjunction with something like MakeMKV to perform a full DVD copy.
Again, from Lifehacker:
Handbrake is our favorite video encoder for a reason: it's simple, easy to use, easy to install, and offers a wealth of tweaking options to get the best possible file as a result.
Like MakeMKV, Handbrake is best used as part of a 1-2 punch in copying your DVDs. When it comes to encoding video files though, few would argue that Handbrake is still one of the best around. It's powerful and makes use of multi-core CPUs to speed up the process.
It's also free and open source. Can't say fairer than that.
Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate
Wondershare's Video Converter is a one-stop shop for converting and recording DVDs. It's free to try, but the full paid version is jam-packed.
From PC World:
Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate is easy, competent, and fast. There's a free demo (albeit one with watermarks) so give it a whirl—it might just suit your style.
You can't use it to rip commercial DVDs anymore, but you can still burn your own discs from digital video files. Despite being packed with features, it's easy to get to grips with. And with a free trial, there's no reason not to give it a look.
