The Truth about DVD Decrypter
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What is DVD Decrypter?
DVD Decrypter is a free DVD imaging and ripping application developed by Lightning UK!. DVD Decrypter was designed to remove region codes and most importantly the film industry’s standard encryption code Content Scrambling System (CSS).
Last updated in March 2005, and in June 2005 Lightning UK! was forced to remove DVD Decrypter and shut down its website. Because DVD Decrypter provided the ability to remove CSS encryptions, DVD Decrypter was deemed, by the courts, illegal software because it violated the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Although the DVD Decrypter software is no longer updated, DVD Decrypter is still available online through mirror sites. However, it is technically illegal.
How DVD Decrypter Works
***DVD Decrypter cannot burn ripped DVD files. To burn a copy of your DVD you have use separate DVD burning software.***
Ripping-
When you insert a DVD into your DVD drive, DVD Decrypter locates your DVD and the files located on the DVD. The files are displayed as IFO, VOB and BUP files.
After you select the main movie files, usually the largest files on the disk and select the “decrypt” button, DVD Decrypter will begin to rip your movie files to your hard drive.
Imaging-
For those with a little more technical savvy, disc imaging is another way to rip a DVD by creating a replica image of your DVD on the hard drive.
DVD Decrypter locates a DVD in your disc drive, then creates a single ISO file image on your hard drive that helps you avoid dealing with all the messy IFO or VOB files. DVD Decrypter does not compress the image; however, usually resulting in an extremely large file.
DVD Decrypter’s Fall from Grace.
DVD Decrypter has many positive things going for it, namely it’s free. Some other positives include the ability to break common encryption codes and it is versatile enough to rip or image a complete DVD.
Unfortunately, as most of us know, free usually comes with a price. DVD Decrypter is not a user friendly piece of software and novice users can quickly become frustrated and discouraged. And with the introduction of new software, operating systems and encryption codes, DVD Decrypter is quickly becoming outdated.
DVD Decrypter may work fine for your average computer geek, but to the rest of the world it is a complicated piece of software that is useless if you don’t already know what you are doing. To the average user the long list of files with nondescript titles is intimidating and confusing.
Even if you manage to figure out which files to rip, you’ll need an additional piece of software to compress your DVD movie. You can still burn your movies without compression, but you’ll need to buy DVD-9 discs, which are usually more expensive, and make sure your burner can write to a Dual Layer disc.
After you manage to get your files squared away on your hard drive you may need to install a separate piece of DVD burning software to complete the job. Even if your computer has a DVD burner, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can use it without the appropriate software installed first.
You don’t have to install additional burner software if you have Windows Visa. However, there is no guarantee that DVD Decrypter will work with Vista since DVD Decrypter had stopped development long before Vista existed.
Luckily not all DVD copying is this complicated. If you want to backup your favorite DVDs using a simple and intuitive process see TopTenREVIEWS review of DVD Copy Software. They may not be free, but what you spend on software you’ll save in headaches.
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