New to this burning dvd's

I am totally new to this burning dvds. But seems like a good investment. I bought my computer from a computer shop.Its used but i only paid 300 bucks for it and he told me i can burn dvds on it. I have Nero but am having trouble with it. all i want to do is copy my dvds so my originallys dont get scratched and messed up and stuff. i will tell you all i have on my computer, it is as follows: Nero 6 Express,Nero OEM, Nero StartSmart. Now I have tried numerous times to copy a dvd and most of the time, a "video plug-in" is needed will pop up. Now one time, i did burn a copy of a dvd and it went to my hard drive as a video-ts thing. but it burn on to a dvd. Please ask for any info you need to help me. i am sure plenty of people have had this problem. Any help would be deeply,deeply appriciated.

 

The VIDEO_TS thing is the same thing that's on your DVD discs. Inside that folder are the files that are in DVD compliant format.
To properly copy and burn DVDs please read the giudes.
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/673257

 

ok i tried to make a video cd. is that the same as a dvd? i am kinda lost.

 

i downloaded Nero Recode and wont let me copy the dvd because it says it is copy protected. Sugeestions?

 

Why have you not read the link I provided you?

 

i have and i am still lost. please help me. i got dvd shrink and IMGBurn.And i still cant make a dvd. IMGBurn says error no refrence position found. what does that mean?

 

Nero is not on the list of DVD rippers.
Use DVDFab. There is a free ripper.

 

will that let me copy a dvd that dvdshrink put in my computer?

 

DvdFab will rip the files to your hard drive, from there you can use dvd shrink to compress the files to fit on a blank dvd. From there, you use either Nero or Imgburn to complete the burning process.

All of this was meticulously outlined in the link Dialysis gave you earlier.

 

you know what, never mind. this is more trouble than its worth. id rather just buy the damn dvd's and if the get old and scratched...o well. i was trying my best to do this, but i cant i guess. i guess i just need someone to chat me throgh it or something. but o well. Sorry to have wasted everyones time. Thanks though.

 

To me this makes no sense.
What we type here will also be in the guides. Either way, you have to read it.
Step 1.
Rip the files to your HDD with DVDFab HD Decrypter.
http://www.dvdfab.com/free.htm
At this point in time, totally forget about Nero.

 

Ok done. Now i use ImgBurn to burn the dvd from my hard drive to a dvd blank disk?

 

No.
Now you open the folder with DVD Shrink to see if the files will fit in the discs you have.

 

ok i have it in dvd shrink and is "encoding" now.

 

Good.
When it's finished, you can use this guide to burn the files to a good quality DVD blank with ImgBurn.
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=4632

 

ok problem. i did everything the instructions said, but the image with folders and disk is gray and wont let me build the dvd. bottom left hand corner says "device not ready(no refrence position found) what does this mean?

 

It means that you do not have a DVD burner.
Your drive can read DVDs but cannot write DVDs.

 

well that sucks. i bought this laptop from a computer guy and he said i could burn dvd's. is there a way to fix this?

 

You need to purchase a DVD burner.
What is the make and model number of your laptop?
What is the make and model number of your DVD drive?
ImgBurn can tell you about the drive.

 

HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4243N is that what u need to know?