What's that Windows DVD ripping program you folks on here were recommending a few months back? I simply want to rip some DVDs to a hard drive, I'm not interested in transcoding or anything like that.

I thought I'd find it by Googling "site:empegbbs.com dvd rip" but no such luck. What did I do wrong?

I'm a fan of DVDShrink. I think you should be able to still find it on the web. Let me know if you're not, and I'll see if I still have the install file.

DVDShrink is also what I've been using. I didn't have any problem downloading it from the official site about 2 months ago.

DVDFab+ Gold or Platinum. Excellent software.

I use CloneDVD and AnyDVD from www.slysoft.com.

AnyDVD can make an image or allow you to just copy the files. CloneDVD gives you a bunch of other options.

Thanks for all the help.

I'm currently ripping my first DVD with DVD Shrink. It was easy to find with Google but a PITA to find, well I actually never found the link to download, from the 'official' website!

Hopefully my needs are fairly simple as this goes. I'll make some effort to get along with this freebie but if DVD Shrink doesn't work out then I'll take a look at DVDFab+ and CloneDVD.

Thanks again.

That's because the guy got shut down, and that's why I keep a copy of the install file on hand (fortunately it still works despite not being updated in at least a year, possibly two or three). Sorry, I tried to imply in my initial post that it would not be easy to find.

It fails on certain antiripping protection techniques. If your DVD doesn't use those techniques then it'll work.

That's true. In those cases, though, I've had some luck using DVD Decrypter first, and if there's no desire to compress the disc, that program is occasionally enough.

DVD Decrypter also fails sometimes I found - that maybe somewhat DVD drive related though.

I use another program called RipIt4Me which detects the dodgy sectors etc they use days. Then it passes a Protected Sector List to DVD Decrypter.

And if neither of those work, DVDFab will, which Mark already suggested.

When it fails for this reason, will that be apparent to me at the ripping stage?

You made that clear enough and I wasn't complaining at you. While Googling for DVD Shrink I noticed some warnings about maliciously hacked copies doing the rounds. For this reason I persevered with DVD Shrink's website repeatedly going from forum post -> FAQ -> useless download page <repeat many times>!

Yeah. It'll stop with an error.