Best way to backup DVD collection

Insurance is by far the best way for a large collection of DVD's

3 years ago -- my place was broken into while I was away on vacation --
altogether the stolen property was over 17,000 dollars, which include nearly
200 DVD.

I had the catalogued in a spreadsheet -- I now use DVD Profiler and other
tools including digital camera and picture to catalogue my property and I
maintain proper insurance

my insurance company came to a good settlement with me as I had original
boxes and receipts for much of my stuff and a complet list of what was taken

I now have nearly 400 DVD's and I do have several ripped to a media server
for network playback -- but in this instance had I had the server back then
it would have been gone too.


"PurpleJesus" wrote in message
om...
"I-zheet M'drurz" wrote in message
...
42 wrote:
Andrew and Helen Novotski wrote:
Hi there,

After recently having a bunch of DVDs stolen from my
place,
I've decided that I want to back up my entire
collection.
Luckily the ones that were taken were easily
replaceable, but I
realized I'd be really depressed if some of my rarer
and
favorite movies were lost or damaged somehow.

My question is, what is the best way to back them up?
I'm
pricing DVD burners at the moment. From what I can
tell,
software is the big question though. I know DVD X Copy
is the
big name, but they're getting sued and can't include
the
decryption code in the package anymore. What's the most
effective and cost-effective alternative?


I have several 100's of DVDs. The man hours alone in
backing
them up would be a colossal waste of time. Not to
mention that
if the originals got stolen (who is going to steal
backup dvds?)
and all i had left were the backups that would still be
unacceptable to me.

Buy insurance.

APPLAUSE

You would applause.


If you have irreplaceable DVDs that you are that
concerned about
then back those up or buy 2 copies and store one
'elsewhere'.

But backing up an entire DVD collection of any
significant size
is a silly waste of time. Fire flood earthquake and
theft will
still consume the originals and possibly the backups at
the same
time unless you were planning to spring for external
secured
storage facilities... which is simply nuts for a dvd
collection.

This post rather reminds me of the stuff you see in
PS2/Gamecube/XBOX groups asking for help on 'backing up
all your
game discs'... in these cases its nearly invariably
someone
looking for advice on the best way to pirate said game
discs but
who thinks they're being clever by asking to 'legally
back them
up'. If you fall into this category... get a life.

I don't usually do "Yeah, what he said" posts, but damb
it...

*MORE* APPLAUSE

Go read this and keep clapping:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/ptech/0....ap/index.html

Is insurance going to cover that? I can't believe you
people actually suggest home owners insurance to cover DVDs.
That's absurd.




--
TP / Network Man __________________________________
If u want the races for free,
somebody has to pay for it. ($1 Earl)

What is more important, teaching kids the proper way to handle something fragile,
or that you can make illegal copies of stuff to replace the orginals that you didn't handle carefully ?

Actually, though am not not into the home game consoles, it is valid
for them to want to back up their game disks. These are easily
damaged. Especially when kids are handling them.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

What is more important, teaching kids the proper
way to handle something fragile, or that you can
make illegal copies of stuff to replace the orginals
that you didn't handle carefully ?

The above question is couched in terms that don't allow for a proper answer.
The fact is it is not illegal to make an archival copy of your own media.
There's another issue here as well though. It is becoming apparent that CDs
and DVDs are not as indestructible as we were first led to believe. The
thin layer of aluminum can easily become pitted after a few years, rendering
the media all but unreadable. This can happen because the DVD is improperly
handled but that's not the only problem. The coating material on the
printed side of the disc is not always of uniform thickness. Often times it
is thin enough that normal use wears it through within a few years. For
these reasons it would probably be wise to make archival copies of media you
don't want to lose, especially anything that is out of print and not widely
circulated.

The above is not intended to mean that you shouldn't insure your collection.
Get it covered but also back it up if it's irreplaceable. You might even
consider making a backup and using it while keeping the original of anything
precious in a sealed, light proof container.

Alarm and Home Automation System FAQ
http://www.bass-home.com/faq/masterfaq/faq.htm

Regards,
Robert

=============================
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=============================

Robert L. Bass wrote:
What is more important, teaching kids the proper
way to handle something fragile, or that you can
make illegal copies of stuff to replace the orginals
that you didn't handle carefully ?


The above question is couched in terms that don't allow for a proper answer.
The fact is it is not illegal to make an archival copy of your own media.
There's another issue here as well though. It is becoming apparent that CDs
and DVDs are not as indestructible as we were first led to believe. The
thin layer of aluminum can easily become pitted after a few years, rendering
the media all but unreadable. This can happen because the DVD is improperly
handled but that's not the only problem. The coating material on the
printed side of the disc is not always of uniform thickness. Often times it
is thin enough that normal use wears it through within a few years. For
these reasons it would probably be wise to make archival copies of media you
don't want to lose, especially anything that is out of print and not widely
circulated.

Same argument applies to books. Should we all be typing them into
computers and reading them off screens or photocopying them to preserve
the precious bio-degradable paper? Or should we just deal with the fact
that the medium is fragile and plan to replace them after years of use.

Nothing else we buy lasts forever... why does it offend so many people
that their dvds are no exception. VHS wore out, vinyl records wore out,
cassettes and 8-tracks wore out... it wasn't the end of the world
then... its not the end of the world now.

The above is not intended to mean that you shouldn't insure your collection.
Get it covered but also back it up if it's irreplaceable. You might even
consider making a backup and using it while keeping the original of anything
precious in a sealed, light proof container.

If its *irreplaceable* sure. But if its 14.99 at the video store, just
buy another one.... its cheaper than the sealed light proof
containers... and its not vulnerable to fire and theft either.

"Steven Toney" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Insurance is by far the best way for a large collection of DVD's

3 years ago -- my place was broken into while I was away on vacation --
altogether the stolen property was over 17,000 dollars, which include
nearly
200 DVD.

I had the catalogued in a spreadsheet -- I now use DVD Profiler and other
tools including digital camera and picture to catalogue my property and I
maintain proper insurance

my insurance company came to a good settlement with me as I had original
boxes and receipts for much of my stuff and a complet list of what was
taken

I now have nearly 400 DVD's and I do have several ripped to a media server
for network playback -- but in this instance had I had the server back
then
it would have been gone too.


it does help to have things in order. insurance companies arent exactly
'helpful'.

i take a video camera and every 2-3 years i go through the whole house, open
all the drawers, empty all the boxes, and take a video inventory. stick it
in the safe deposit box at the bank in case of fire. it really doesnt take
that long, and you will be surprised what you find! all that stuff you
thought was lost.

sure it will be a pain to go through later, but you have proof of everything
and will get something for it. and if everything is gone you wont have much
else to do for a while except sift through the tape.

i also keep the receipts to the more expensive items in there also.

randy

Robert L. Bass wrote:


What is more important, teaching kids the proper
way to handle something fragile, or that you can
make illegal copies of stuff to replace the orginals
that you didn't handle carefully ?

The above question is couched in terms that don't allow for a proper answer.
The fact is it is not illegal to make an archival copy of your own media.

Actually the law regarding digital copies of encrypted material is not nearly
so clear, but making it a parenting or teaching issue is disingenous. There
are very valid reasons to want a backup. Since I've had a car CD player I
seldom if ever bring original CDs into the car -- I like to keep my collection
as pristine as possible even handled properly there is much more opportunity
for jewel case damage, fading, and disc scratches in the car. With blank discs
costing a dime, I'll do a quick copy of the CD for car use -- perfectly legal
and legitimate.

Get it covered but also back it up if it's irreplaceable.

This is the best advice. Also, nobody seems to have noticed that the original
scenario wasn't a fire or flood but a few DVDs that managed to disappear. In
those cases insurance is not the answer, even if they are out of print -- a
backup is invaluable then.

JGM

42 wrote in message news:l%[email protected]
Darren Harris wrote:
42 wrote in message news:7[email protected]

Andrew and Helen Novotski wrote:

Hi there,

After recently having a bunch of DVDs stolen from my place, I've
decided that I want to back up my entire collection. Luckily the
ones that were taken were easily replaceable, but I realized I'd be
really depressed if some of my rarer and favorite movies were lost
or damaged somehow.

My question is, what is the best way to back them up? I'm pricing
DVD burners at the moment. From what I can tell, software is the
big question though. I know DVD X Copy is the big name, but they're
getting sued and can't include the decryption code in the package
anymore. What's the most effective and cost-effective alternative?


I have several 100's of DVDs. The man hours alone in backing them up
would be a colossal waste of time. Not to mention that if the originals
got stolen (who is going to steal backup dvds?) and all i had left were
the backups that would still be unacceptable to me.

Buy insurance.

If you have irreplaceable DVDs that you are that concerned about then
back those up or buy 2 copies and store one 'elsewhere'.

But backing up an entire DVD collection of any significant size is a
silly waste of time. Fire flood earthquake and theft will still consume
the originals and possibly the backups at the same time unless you were
planning to spring for external secured storage facilities... which is
simply nuts for a dvd collection.

This post rather reminds me of the stuff you see in PS2/Gamecube/XBOX
groups asking for help on 'backing up all your game discs'... in these
cases its nearly invariably someone looking for advice on the best way
to pirate said game discs but who thinks they're being clever by asking
to 'legally back them up'. If you fall into this category... get a life.


Actually, though am not not into the home game consoles, it is valid
for them to want to back up their game disks. These are easily
damaged. Especially when kids are handling them.

While backing ones games is 'legitimate' after a fasion, the people
asking on usenet are very rarely interested in anything resembling
legitimate.

That's not the point. And I'm not willing to give up my right to back
up what is mine because someone else is into piracy.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, Neew York.

42 wrote in message news:X%[email protected]
Robert L. Bass wrote:
What is more important, teaching kids the proper
way to handle something fragile, or that you can
make illegal copies of stuff to replace the orginals
that you didn't handle carefully ?


The above question is couched in terms that don't allow for a proper answer.
The fact is it is not illegal to make an archival copy of your own media.
There's another issue here as well though. It is becoming apparent that CDs
and DVDs are not as indestructible as we were first led to believe. The
thin layer of aluminum can easily become pitted after a few years, rendering
the media all but unreadable. This can happen because the DVD is improperly
handled but that's not the only problem. The coating material on the
printed side of the disc is not always of uniform thickness. Often times it
is thin enough that normal use wears it through within a few years. For
these reasons it would probably be wise to make archival copies of media you
don't want to lose, especially anything that is out of print and not widely
circulated.

Same argument applies to books. Should we all be typing them into
computers and reading them off screens or photocopying them to preserve
the precious bio-degradable paper? Or should we just deal with the fact
that the medium is fragile and plan to replace them after years of use.

Nothing else we buy lasts forever... why does it offend so many people
that their dvds are no exception. VHS wore out, vinyl records wore out,
cassettes and 8-tracks wore out... it wasn't the end of the world
then... its not the end of the world now.

The same argument does not apply to books. I've never worn out a book.
Books are more durable. I would not have to read a book as many times
as I'd play a game disk. Books don't degrade over time like DVDs and
CDs. The fragility of DVDs and CDs makes them more valuable and prime
candidates for backing up.

The above is not intended to mean that you shouldn't insure your collection.
Get it covered but also back it up if it's irreplaceable. You might even
consider making a backup and using it while keeping the original of anything
precious in a sealed, light proof container.

If its *irreplaceable* sure. But if its 14.99 at the video store, just
buy another one.... its cheaper than the sealed light proof
containers... and its not vulnerable to fire and theft either.

Or nuclear explosions. What's your point? The odds of losing two of
something is a lot less than losing one. And why spend another $14.99
on something that you already purchased? That is, if you could find it
again. And it makes no sense to say that it is cheaper than
light-proof containers. The number of DVDs you can put in a container
would be a lot more valuable than the container itself.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

Darren Harris wrote:
42 wrote in message news:X%[email protected]

Robert L. Bass wrote:

What is more important, teaching kids the proper
way to handle something fragile, or that you can
make illegal copies of stuff to replace the orginals
that you didn't handle carefully ?


The above question is couched in terms that don't allow for a proper answer.
The fact is it is not illegal to make an archival copy of your own media.
There's another issue here as well though. It is becoming apparent that CDs
and DVDs are not as indestructible as we were first led to believe. The
thin layer of aluminum can easily become pitted after a few years, rendering
the media all but unreadable. This can happen because the DVD is improperly
handled but that's not the only problem. The coating material on the
printed side of the disc is not always of uniform thickness. Often times it
is thin enough that normal use wears it through within a few years. For
these reasons it would probably be wise to make archival copies of media you
don't want to lose, especially anything that is out of print and not widely
circulated.

Same argument applies to books. Should we all be typing them into
computers and reading them off screens or photocopying them to preserve
the precious bio-degradable paper? Or should we just deal with the fact
that the medium is fragile and plan to replace them after years of use.

Nothing else we buy lasts forever... why does it offend so many people
that their dvds are no exception. VHS wore out, vinyl records wore out,
cassettes and 8-tracks wore out... it wasn't the end of the world
then... its not the end of the world now.


The same argument does not apply to books. I've never worn out a book.

Then you didn't have a normal normal healthy childhood, you've never
taken a book to the beach, owned dogs... etc.

Books are more durable. I would not have to read a book as many times
as I'd play a game disk. Books don't degrade over time like DVDs and
CDs.

Apparently you don't read books either. They fade under light, yellow
and dry with age, and disintegrate with moisture...

The fragility of DVDs and CDs makes them more valuable and prime
candidates for backing up.

No. They are 'prime candidates for backing up' by virtue of the fact
that it is 'easy'. You'd back up your books, paintings, and your living
room furniture if it were as easy.


The above is not intended to mean that you shouldn't insure your collection.
Get it covered but also back it up if it's irreplaceable. You might even
consider making a backup and using it while keeping the original of anything
precious in a sealed, light proof container.

If its *irreplaceable* sure. But if its 14.99 at the video store, just
buy another one.... its cheaper than the sealed light proof
containers... and its not vulnerable to fire and theft either.


Or nuclear explosions. What's your point?

Theives and Fires and Floods don't sort through your stuff only taking
one of any item... and they're quite a bit more common than nukes.

The odds of losing two of
something is a lot less than losing one.

Not if they're in the same physical building. Then the odds are only
modestly less.

And why spend another $14.99
on something that you already purchased?

1) By the time that time rolls around DVD++ will be out, and I'll be
'upgrading' my collection anyways.

2) 3 times out of 4 I'd probably rather spend that 14.99 on something
new rather than replace what I lost anyways...

That is, if you could find it
again. And it makes no sense to say that it is cheaper than
light-proof containers. The number of DVDs you can put in a container
would be a lot more valuable than the container itself.

Oh, I thought we were putting them in containers that were a little more
durable than plastic bins. But yeah... even so... 'good' containers
aren't *that* expensive... but after you add up the cost of containers,
blanks, and the time blown doing it...

42 wrote in news:[email protected]:

1) By the time that time rolls around DVD++ will be out, and I'll be
'upgrading' my collection anyways.

2) 3 times out of 4 I'd probably rather spend that 14.99 on something
new rather than replace what I lost anyways...

No big deal but, "anyways" is not a word.