Copying DVDs is Easy

Copying DVDs is Easy

The Basics of DVD Copying

The most important aspect of copying DVD's is choosing a program that best suits your needs. There are many available on the market that are easy to use and inexpensive. The first thing to research is a programs ability to be easily understood. The more elaborate a program is designed, the harder it will be to use. Generally, I stick with programs with a one button next step process that is easily understood no matter what level of experience you have with a computer. Secondly, you should have the proper hardware in your computer. Sufficient hardware will make the process of copying much quicker. If your computer is older and lacking adequate memory, you may run into program crashes and 2 hour long copy sessions. Again, do some research and see what other users are saying about the software they use and which hardware they have.Before deciding to copy DVD's, be sure you are the owner of the disc being copied. It is illegal to copy DVD's that you do not own. Once that is established, you may legally copy any disc you own.

Types of DVD Copy Software

After doing some research, you will see many "free" programs offered all over the internet. These programs tend to be easy to use, but some have hidden cost. Be sure to read reviews and be certain they do not contain spy ware or adware. I have personally had good experiences with free copy software, but found they tend to lack some needed options. For instance, you may need to compress a DVD in order for it to fit on a CDR disk. CDR disks are used if you want to copy a DVD to watch on your computer. CDR's are much cheaper in bulk than blank DVD's and can be replaced cheaper if you damage or lose a copied DVD.Some other programs even offer a free trial, which doesn't hurt if you aren't committed to buy.

Why make copies of your DVD's

Making copies ensures your original disks will stay in pristine condition. For example, if you have children who view DVD's in their bebrooms, you know how abused these disk's become. Also, if your traveling you can have copies and not worry about losing them. Basically, you are protecting your initial investment of the DVD you bought.

What Hardware Do I Need?

In order for you to copy DVD's on your computer, you will need a DVD burner. In recent years, most computers now come with a DVD burner. You cannot record DVD's if your drive is only a DVD reader. To determine which kind of drive you have, simply read what is displayed on the cover of your drive. More than likely it will read "DVD R/W". This indicates the drive can read and write a DVD. In other words, it plays and copies DVD's. Another important piece of hardware for this task is memory. The more you have the better. I would suggest a minimum of 1 gigabyte.

by Brandon Mouhot
Keyword : Copying DVDs is Easy

Protecting Data against Power Surges

Protecting Data against Power Surges

It's that time of year again in South Africa, where electricity becomes a gamble. It was this time last year when Cape Town was covered in darkness, at different times, in different stages. This year, hopefully it will not happen, but already in the rural areas it has started.

With continuous power surges, business and individuals are losing money and it's not only the ones that are directly at harm, such as the shops with fridges risk losing produce. Power surges are also causing problems with all companies and individuals that rely on computers. The surge before the electricity blacks out damages the PC, causing the life span of a hard drive to drop.

When the power comes back on, another surge rages through causing further damage. Computer owners are turning to data protection devices to try and control the amount of electricity that is conducted. The device does this by clamping down on the amount of voltage shot through, similar to the workings of a valve system.

The slight catch with these devices is that if the surge exceeds the limit, either the device itself won't be able to handle it, or the voltage will still go through. Businesses that manufacture these devices are now putting on lights so that individuals can see if the device is working or not.

The biggest problem with power surges and computers is the information that gets lost in the process. The surge causes the computer to crash or die completely, causing the system to lose a lot of data. Although more systems are now making it standard to add protection against power surges, it's still a good idea to create backups.

Prevention is usually better then a cure and back-ups are recommended as the best solution. However, with the unpredictability of black outs, generally you can only do this to a certain extent. There will be times when you are right in the middle of something and the electricity will be cut. There are programs that can help with this. They collect the data that hasn't been saved in a cache and keep it until it has been saved.

By doing this, if a power cut happens, once the computer is running again, you can retrieve your data from the cache, without any permanent information being lost. The other option is to invest in a battery operated device. This fits in between the power source and the computer. If the power cuts, there is enough battery power to give you about five to ten minutes, which is more then enough time for you to save what you were doing.

In the worst-case scenario, you will need to take your hard drive to a data recovery specialist, who will be able to find the lost data. It is recommended as soon as you realise there is damage that you don't attempt to recover it yourself, as you might make the situation worse.

Also, unplugging all computers, printers, monitors and everything else after a power cut is also a step in the right direction. When the power comes back on, you at least are able to eliminate one surge from damaging your system.

by Celeste Y
Keyword : Protecting Data against Power Surges