Backup DVD-9 to DVD±R with Free Software

This is one good path to follow if you don't have any DVD software utilities at all.

Updated: 8th August 2004 (based on hembo's guide)
Scope of this guide: To copy any DVD9 to one DVD±R(W) with all the contents or the 'main movie' only.
Hard disc space needed: 20 Gbyte when backing up a movie on 1 DVD9.

Tools used:

DVD Decrypter 3.2.2.3
DVD Shink 3.2 (note: if your drive is not NTFS you must use 3.2 or later)

Download and install both of the above.

Setting up DVD Shrink:

Click on the Edit menu and then on Preferences...
In the DVD Shrink Preferences window which opens, click on the File I/O tab
As this guide only uses freeware, make sure that the Enable burning with Nero option is UNCHECKED
Click the OK button

Ripping:
Start DVD Decrypter
Ensure you're in 'File' mode by pressing the 'F' key or selecting it via the 'Mode' option in the menu at the top
If, for some reason, all files are not selected, press <Ctrl-A> to select ALL the files
Make a note of the destination folder, for example 'C:\NAME_OF_DVD\VIDEO_TS'
Click the [DVD-image] button to start DVD Decrypter, this will take anything from 10 minutes and up, depending on your computer and DVD drive speed
When it is finished, close DVD Decrypter

Re-authoring / Shrinking:
Start DVD Shrink
Click the [OPEN FILES] button on the main toolbar
Navigate to C:\NAME_OF_DVD\VIDEO_TS, select VIDEO_TS.IFO and click [OPEN], this will take a few minutes while DVD shrink analyzes the DVD.

When the analysis has finished, you will see the entire structure of the decrypted DVD files.

Jump to step 16 to backup the entire DVD, (like an episodic or series DVD like Friends or Simpsons), instead of just the 'main movie', and then adjust the compression for the extras and menus in order to leave more room for the main title.
Click the [RE-AUTHOR] button on the main toolbar and the DVD Browser tab should be active; if not, click on it
Click and hold on 'Title 1' and drag it to the left-hand pane, under DVD
If your movie is greater than 4.35GB then the movie is automatically compressed as you can see if you click on the 'Compression Settings' tab. Here you can deselect audio tracks and subtitles you don't want in order to minimize the compression of the video.
Insert a blank DVD±R(W) into your DVD-burner
Click the [BACKUP] button on the main toolbar
Select ISO Image file and burn with DVD Decrypter as your target device
Select an appropriate target file/folder for DVD Shrink to output to, for example 'C:\NEW_DVD.ISO'
If your movie is greater than 4.35GB, then you can CHECK the 'Perform deep analysis' option on the Quality Settings tab to enhance the video quality. If it's not, there's no need to compress and you can't select that option.
Click [OK]. If your movie is greater than 4.35GB it will take about 20 - 40 minutes depending on the length of the movie, and the complexity of the mpeg. Otherwise it will only take a few minutes.
Once DVD Shrink has finished reauthoring and/or compressing, DVD Decrypter will automatically launch and burn the image to DVD without any user intervention
When you have checked and are happy with the new DVD, you can delete the 'C:\NAME_OF_DVD' folder, the 'C:\NEW_DVD' folder (if it exists) and the 'C:\NAME_OF_DVD.ISO' file