Just a warning regarding using mininova for downloads.
I just got my laptop back after downloading something from there that completely, and i mean COMPLETELY ballsed my machine up.

I'm now $180 lighter

Lesson learnt.

Jazzy

I'm trying to find an easy way to make several copies of DVDs with my home movies so that I can bore my friends. Found that using copy does all sorts of weird things, sometimes it doesn't copy the menu properly, it is there but regardless of the selection it always starts from the first item, other times it seems to combine everything into a single file.

I ended up downloading a trial copy of WinXDVD, they seem to operate under several different names but the websites and IP addresses are the same. Everything seemed to go well until I actually tried to use it, an error message came up saying "Bad Block Detected. Please close program and contact Apollo Software", tried to contact the website, they have two addresses, the first one bounced back very quickly saying their mail box is full, tried the second address but they seem to be ignoring me. I'm glad I only had the trial version and hadn't parted with any money.

might be worth trying a DVD-R rather than RW.
Some players can have problems with this format.

Nero will copy discs well, or Record Now - this may be worth trying.

I also use Nero for copying home DVD's and other non-DRM stuff. It works really well.

I had problems similar to this a year ago. It turned out the CD/DVD-writer part of the drive had shat itself. It played back but wouldn't burn. Also had this issue with a DVD-Recorder. Can you burn a CD of data or something else simple?

My theory is that if you don't use them regularly they seize up.

Flv to avi is pretty interesting (youtube to divx in otherwords) Especially if trying to use "free software"

Yeh, burning CD's is fine mate.

None of this makes any sense to me, and I'm a 36 year old blue collar worker who's sat in front of a bl00dy computer 8 hours a day for the last 17 years.

How the hell techno manufacturers can ever expect a harmony of understanding amongst consumers is beyond me.

I recommended the USB DVD player earlier (soooo easy! ... ) but if I burn a DVD for friends with 'normal' DVD players, then Nero works well for me.

Will burn an AVI / Mpeg file (movie) into a DVD that as good as any DVD player will play in about 90 mins.

Oh and if for yourself, then just ditch the software and go buy a DivX playing DVD player with a USB input. It just makes sense! ... no agg! ...

My player which cost less than $100 will play DivX / XviD / Mpeg4 etc, but has the USB input.

A USB Zip drive for $20 (or whatever) on top and you're sorted for life!

Drag and drop (1 min) and NO burning issues!

Too easy! ...

Anti-virus is your friend

Never had a problem in all the years I have been downloading, just follow "the rules".

1. READ the comments from other users. If there are no comments and there are 4,000+ seeds and it's only been on the tracker for an hour or so then it will be the MPAA or one of it's bitches artificially seeding (aka a honey trap). Example - R5's of Kung Fu Panda and The Love Guru posted during the week etc, both bollocks.
2. Don't download any TV or Film that is uploaded as RAR files. There is no need to RAR a DivX file and it's mostly done to either hide malware (viri, trojan, etc) or require you to visit some dodgy malware installing website.
3. Don't ever execute an EXE that comes with any film or TV show. If the uploader says you need to install something to play the file then WARNING!!
4. If you download cracked applications as well as TV/Films then eventually you will get screwed unless you anti-virus them and/or install them in a virtual machine fist.
5. Stick with well known uploaders (EZTV, aXXo, FXG, etc) and only download if it was uploaded using their account

Good advice! ...

What do you make of this 'Dom Player' crap ?!?!

I'm getting fed up with these type now! ... :curse:

It's NO real drama as I've thankfully got bandwith to waste, but all the same!

A load of tosh I know, but do you know what the score is???

Goood advice I'm sure, but my NOD anti virus didn't do anything for me I'm afraid.

Whats a virtual machine?

Whats MPAA?

I was using VUZE to do the uploading, is that no good, I have never heard of the others mentioned.

Thanks
Jazzys

I guess not. I used "paid for" anti-virus for ten years but now I just use the free AVG AntiVirus and follow basic safe practice when downloading stuff. i.e. I steer clear of breeding grounds like downloading cracked applications or anything from LimeWire.

Think of it as a PC or Mac in a single software file. The file is called an Image and you load it up using a special software application. Then you make the screen fullscreen and it's as if you were on that machine. The VM will have access to the hard disk, network and DVD drives, etc. It's as is you had several machines running at once.

It's used on a commercial scale by large Web Hosting companies who use Virtual Machines to offer you "dedicated servers". They are also used by Software developers who use them to develop and test enterprise scale software.

Moving Picture Association of America. Know your enemy

Vuze is the sponsored name of Azureus, one of the better Torrent software clients. The groups I mentioned are the names of some of the most reliable people who obtain and upload TV and Films. You will find them on MiniNova. As an Example EZTV is one of most reliable sources for all the best US TV shows.

Dare i ask where you download your stuff from, i must admit I have used limewire a lot in the past for music, backups only of course

Jazzys