How to Copy-Protect Personal DVDs

Personal DVDs may be copy protected with a CD/DVD security software utility. Two methods are currently available to copy-protect a CD or DVD. The first method is by using software to imprint a physical mark, referred to as a watermark, on the disk during the burning procedure. The second and less expensive method requires software to encrypt the CD/DVD data to a "premaster" of the disk. CD/DVD copy protection applications use one of these two methods or may combine approaches for increased security. A few low-cost CD/DVD encryption utility options are available for download on the Web. CrypKey and CDShield SE both encrypt the CD or DVD data to prevent unauthorized copying.

  1. Download and install one of the disc security applications like CD Shield or CrypKey
  2. Insert the DVD with personal data into the computer.
  3. Right-click on the Windows "Start" button and select "Explore" from the menu. Windows Explorer will launch.
  4. Navigate to the DVD in the DVD drive and expand the drive folder to view all subfolders and files.
  5. Select all folders and files on the DVD and right-click on the selected file group.
  6. Click "Copy" from the context menu. All folders and files on the DVD are copied to the computer's clipboard.
  7. Right-click on the computer's desktop, and select "New" from the context menu.
  8. Select "New Folder." A new folder will be created on the desktop.
  9. Click the New Folder name and type a new folder name for the DVD project.
  10. Double-click the new folder to open it.
  11. Right-click inside the right pane of the new folder window and select "Paste" from the context menu. All folders and files on the clipboard will be copied into the new DVD project folder.
  12. Open the archiving utility application (WinRar, WinZip) and click "New" from the top navigation bar.
  13. Select the option to create an .exe file (a self-extracting executable). A File Navigation window will open.
  14. Navigate to and select all folders and files in the DVD project folder.
  15. Click "OK" to load all files into the archive and create the .exe file. Be sure to save the .exe file in the DVD project folder.
  16. Delete all folders and files in the DVD project folder except for the .exe file.
  17. Open the CD/DVD copy-protect utility program and click "Add Files."
  18. Navigate to and select the .exe file in the DVD project folder. Click "OK."
  19. Click "Options" from the top navigation bar.
  20. Check the checkbox in front of one of three levels of protection for the DVD data in the "Level of Protection" section of the Options page. The "Stealth" option will simply kill the copy process with no messages or warnings. "Message Error" will provide the user with an error message when attempting to copy data. The "CD Key Request" option will require the user to enter a CD key, or passcode, to copy DVD data. If the latter option is chosen, a passcode dialog box will appear. Enter an alpha-numeric combination of characters into the input box to create a CD key.
  21. Click "OK" to secure the .exe file in the DVD project folder.
  22. Burn all files in the DVD project folder to a blank DVD.
  23. Test the DVD for copy protection by attempting to copy data from the copy-protected DVD onto a hard drive.

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