DVDFab Express is simply the easiest way to copy a DVD movie. Just insert the movie and a blank DVD then press Start. Your entire movie - including menus, trailers and special features - is copied to a single DVD with just one click, and everything happens automatically.

Activation

When you run the program for the 1st time you will see the screen below. If you have already paid for the program and you have your license key please enter it by clicking the button "Enter Register Code...". If you are just trying the program please click the "Free Trial" button.

If you choose option 1 above ("Enter Register Code...") you will see the screen below. You will need to copy the license key from your email and paste it into the field "Register Code".

Running for the 1st time

When DVDFab Express starts for the first time you will see settings window (pictured below).

Through this you are able to change to the settings to suit you.

The temporary directory is where DVDFab will store any temporary files needed while backing up your disc.

If you have a dual layer writer and will be using dual layer DVD recordable discs, tick the "Enable Dual Layer Burning". If you are wanting to use standard 4.7Gb (Single Layer) DVD recordable discs then leave this option unchecked.

The next box labelled "Remove CSS, RC, RCE, Macrovision and UOPs" should be ticked if you want your backups to be completely restriction and protection free, if you want to keep protection on your backups please ensure this box is unchecked.

The final box is RCE region, RCE stands for "Region Code Enhancement", for this to be removed you must ensure this option is set to match the region of the disc you are wanting to backup.

Click "OK" when you have finished and you will be taken to the programs main screen, from here you can choose if you wish to backup the "entire disc" or just the "main movie only".

Backup the complete disc

In most cases you will want to backup the entire disc which will result in a backup being created that contains every menu and extra that the original movie does.
Please Note: Whether you are using "Dual layer burning" or not the process is identical.

Item "1" in the screenshot is the source drive, this will normally be the drive that contains the original movie you are wanting to backup. (If you are wanting to burn DVD files you already have on your computers hard disc, please see the section of this guide labelled "Backing up from your hard disc".

Item "2" is the destination, this is normally your DVD Writer drive unless you have backing up to your hard disc, if this is the case please refer to the section of the guide labelled "Backing up to your hard disc".

Ensure you have "complete disc" selected and click "Start" (labelled 3 in the picture above). The program will now begin to backup your DVD Movie, it is recommended that whilst this is happening that you leave your computer alone.

Before the 1st stage beginning (Reading) you will see the screen below (unless you had a blank disc in your target drive prior to clicking the start button).

Insert a compatible blank DVD disc and wait a few seconds for your drive to recognise the disc. Click "OK". Whilst the program is writing to your disc please leave your computer alone until it has finished.

Once the disc has finished backing up you will see the screen below, congratulations you have just made a backup of your DVD movie!

Backup the main movie only

Item "1" in the screenshot is the source drive, this will normally be the drive that contains the original movie you are wanting to backup. (If you are wanting to burn DVD files you already have on your computers hard disc, please see the section of this guide labelled "backing up from your hard disc"

Item "2" is the destination, this is normally your DVD Writer drive unless you have backing up to your hard disc, if this is the case please refer to the section of the guide labelled "backing up to your hard disc".

Upon selecting the "Main Movie" mode the "Main Movie Options" will become visible. In the 1st box (labelled 3. in the picture above) you must select the main movie, this will always be the longest title you can see. In the screenshot above you can see that we have selected the title that runs for 2 hours, 50 minutes and 15 seconds, the "W" that prefixes the title indicates that this is widescreen.

Next we need to choose what audio streams we want to include on your backup. In the 2nd box (labelled 4. in the picture above) you can see above we can choose from English AC-3/6, French AC-3/2 or English AC-3/2. There are a couple of different types of audio stream that you may find on your DVD disc, AC-3 is typically Dolby Digital, the number after the "/" symbol indicates how many channels this stream has. In the example above you should now be able to tell that the "English AC-3/6" stream is English, Dolby Digital and contains 6 channels (this would be 5.1, which is the best to use if you or anyone that will be playing this backup has a home cinema speaker system).

Occasionally you will have a DTS stream, this is by far the most superior sound quality but can only be used on home cinema systems, speakers built into the television will not be able to play this type of audio stream.

Please Note: If you would like to choose more than one audio stream for your backup you can do so by holding the CTRL (Control) key on your keyboard and clicking each stream you wish to use. When you are happy with the selection release the CTRL key and move on.

Finally we need to choose what subpicture (typically known as subtitles) you wish to include. In the 3rd box (labelled 5. in the screenshot above) you will need to click on the subpictures you wish to keep. Please Note: If you would like to choose more than one subpicture for your backup you can do so by holding the CTRL (Control) key on your keyboard and clicking each subpicture you wish to use. When you are happy with the selection release the CTRL key and move on.

Finally click the start button and the disc will begin reading. If you have a blank DVD in your DVD Writer the writing will begin automatically, if you do not then you will see the screen below.

At this point insert a blank DVD disc into your DVD Writer and wait a few seconds. Press "OK" and the writing will begin. That's it you have now created your DVD backup of just the main movie.

Backing up to and from your computers hard disc

Please Note: If you are backing up from your computer's hard disc, you will need to ensure you choose the VIDEO_TS folder as the source, not the folder you chose to copy the film into. For example if you made a folder in "My Documents" called "Star Wars" and copied your film to that folder, when you come to burn that film onto a disc, you must select the VIDEO_TS folder that is created within the "Star Wars" folder.

Troubleshooting

Almost all errors are caused by conflicting software packages, error 96 and error 304 are the most common, 99% of which can be fixed by removing or disabling any of the software packages you have from the list below.

InterActual Player and PC Friendly - These programs are made by the movie industry to hinder copying. These programs are DVD software viewers that often come on DVD movie discs, and will try to install themselves every time you watch a movie on your computer. Please make sure to NOT let these install.  They are both poor quality players and we suggest you use WinDVD or PowerDVD, both of which can be obtain for free on a trial basis.

Ahead InCD,
Veritas Record Now,
DLA (includes HP DLA)
B's Clip,
DirectCD (component of EasyCDCreator)
InstantRead/InstantWrite
These software packages will load a packet-writing software that will constantly talk to your CD/DVD writer, and can cause a number of issues while trying to write a disc. If you have any of these packet writing software packages you must remove them from your computer system for DVDFab to function correctly.

Spyware (example: Gator, NewDotNet, OfferCompanion) - These programs serve no good purpose and may interfere with the normal operation of the burning software. Download Adaware 6 SE (Personal Edition) from www.lavasoftusa.com ensure you download any and all updates and then set it to do a full system scan, remove any objects it finds.
With adaware you must download any updates available prior to scanning your system, we recommend scanning your system every few days to ensure it remains in optimum running condition.

GoBack - This backup software constantly runs in the background (Terminate and Stay Ready) and may need to be disabled if you experience problems.

McAfee virusscan and Norton AntiVirus - These anti-virus software can cause errors while burning. If you experience problems while burning, you can disable the software temporarily by right clicking on the icon in the lower right side of the task bar. When the burn is complete, the software can be reactivated.

StopZilla and MyStorageGuard - Theses software can hinder required the installation of the software.  If you experience problems installing the software, you may need to temporarily disable the software.

Napster 2.0 - This software includes some basic burning software (made by Roxio) that can cause burning problems if it is running. You will need to close this program completely before trying to use our software.

Easy CD Creator 4.x - Due to the age of this package, it is no longer updated by the authors. There are bugs present in this older system that will cause numerous problems on your machine, not just with our software. Please uninstall completely, and consider either the new 6.x version from Roxio (http://www.roxio.com). The newer version installed without the Packet Writing software (DirectCD/Drag to Disk/InCD) works well with our software.