How to Tell if AnyDVD Will Handle Your DVDs Copy Protection

(Above: What DVD Shrink will look like if AnyDVD cannot remove all the copy protections.)

When using AnyDVD to rip DVDs, you should run DVD Shrink to check if AnyDVD is able to handle all the copy protections on that particular disc. The example above shows Casino Royale (when running AnyDVD in the background with DVD Shrink). AnyDVD version 6.5.8.2 cannot remove all the copy protection on Casino Royale, so DVD Shrink reads multiple bogus video files and subtitles [subpicture]. Click on the screenshot to see it full-res.

Normally a DVD will look like this [see below], when opened in DVD Shrink, showing just a handful of languages, with each audio stream coming in at 100MB or more. The screenshot below was taken after using DVDFab to rip the entire DVD movie to the hard drive (to remove all the copy protections) and then opening the folder in DVD Shrink.

(Below: What DVD Shrink will look like if AnyDVD is removing all the copy protections.)



When AnyDVD can handle all the copy protection schemes on a specific DVD movie, the main DVD Shrink screen will show each language at the correct size and show just a few Subpictures [Subtitles].

Run AnyDVD in the background before opening DVD Shrink.
If the main DVD Shrink screen shows tons of video streams or a bunch of subtitles with 0MB, AnyDVD will not be able to handle the copy protection on that movie. You'll then need to use DVDFab (or another full dvd-ripping program) to get rid of all of the more complex copy protections. There's a free version of DVDFab available. You'll want to get DVDFab HD Decrypter.

Instructions for DVDFab here: How to Copy DVDs with Arccos protection