Best "parent friendly" windows program to convert home made DVD to digital file / mp4

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timmmay

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#191800 17-Feb-2016 07:29

My father in law got a DVD from his granddaughter, he wants to get it onto the computer so he can share it with the rest of the family. Can anyone recommend a really easy to use piece of free software that will convert this DVD to digital files, ideally mp4?

I know I can use Google, but I'd have to install the software and check it out before I can recommend it, so I was hoping someone already knew of a good piece of software.

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#1493575 17-Feb-2016 08:07

If you can't find anything suitable, use Teamviewer

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#1493602 17-Feb-2016 08:16

Handbrake is reasonably straightforward as long as you ignore all the extra settings, the defaults should be fine.

A lot of the free apps I've seen come bundled with malware, which is a pity as some of them are actually very good (e.g. "Freemake"), so be careful.

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timmmay

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#1493610 17-Feb-2016 08:20

I already use TeamViewer, I have access to all my families computers. Really want something simple they can install and hit "go". There are no doubt dozens of programs, I just want one someone has used before and can recommend.

Handbrake isn't particularly user friendly, and I didn't know it would look at a DVD directly - but I guess it will for home made DVDs. Vidcoder is a slightly more user friendly version. XMedia Recode looks powerful, but complex.

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#1493611 17-Feb-2016 08:20

I use handbrake. But grandparents getting it to work ... hmm ...

timmmay

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#1493612 17-Feb-2016 08:21

FreeMake looks like it has potential...

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#1493613 17-Feb-2016 08:21

I used to use DVD shrink a lot can't remember if it outputs mp4

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#1493615 17-Feb-2016 08:25

joker97:

I use handbrake. But grandparents getting it to work ... hmm ...

I am a Grand Parent, I use Handbrake and I don't dribble.

My Father in law is a great grandparent and he uses Handbrake and Photoshop and Word..... and does not dribble

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

timmmay

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#1493616 17-Feb-2016 08:25

Yeah, that's an option. Is it parent friendly?

Dratsab

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#1493617 17-Feb-2016 08:26

WinX DVD will output to .mp4 and is extremely easy to use.

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#1493619 17-Feb-2016 08:26

MikeB4:

I am a Grand Parent, I use Handbrake and I don't dribble.

Some are better than others. My parents in law can use computers for basic stuff fine, but nothing too complex. I could explain handbrake, but I don't want to. I just want something low hassle for them.

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#1493630 17-Feb-2016 08:27

Dratsab:

WinX DVD will output to .mp4 and is extremely easy to use.

Thanks, but I doubt they'd want to pay for this, and there is reasonable free software.

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Dratsab

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#1493634 17-Feb-2016 08:34

I'm in Tawa, so don't think I'm too far away from you. I could do the conversion for you if you like...

timmmay

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#1493635 17-Feb-2016 08:37

Dratsab:

I'm in Tawa, so don't think I'm too far away from you. I could do the conversion for you if you like...

Thanks, but I'm looking for software for my parents in law who are in England. It's trivially easy for me, but maybe not for them.

I've sent them the suggestion to try FreeMake for now, so I'll see how that goes.

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#1493648 17-Feb-2016 09:03

handbrake is really easy -- -just 'choose' folder when handbrake asks on startup, click on the dvd drive in the file dialog, add all titles, then go.....

They might have to set the output directly in preferences.

But, easy with my experience, some people do not even know the diff between a left/right mouse button so i guess coming from that angle it is not easy.

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#1493747 17-Feb-2016 10:29

If the grandparents are in uk then the region coding problem may come up..

Handbrake cant rip/encode DVDs with differing region codes from memory.

(Ubuntu version doesn't care)

If its a one off, get them to send you the DVD then you could rip it and stick it on a blank dvd or USB stick (or stick it on the cloud)

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