Reply #3: It's not complete media software but for just burning backup CDs and DVDs I like .. [View All]

[Fumesucker]

CDBurnerXP..

http://cdburnerxp.se/

For playing DVDs the best I've found is K-Multimedia Player, it has nice accessible controls for brightness, contrast and so forth both hardware and software based.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-Multimedia_Player

Since I'm almost always broke I'm biased toward free stuff, I'm sure there are better programs out there but these are what I've found that work for me and don't cost anything.

In order to copy protected DVDs you will need something like Alcohol52%, another freebie that will let you make ISO files from protected DVDs.. This is not a no brainer type of thing to do though, it does take a little knowledge.

http://www.free-downloads.net/programs/Alcohol_52__Free_Edition

You will need to find out what sort of copy protection there is on the DVDs, for that use Protection ID.. also a freebie.

http://pid.gamecopyworld.com/

Edited for clarity.