have been trying to copy a number of dvds using dvd shrink but as soon as i hit backup all i get is the hour glass for a few seconds and then shrink closes, have been successfully using dvd shrink for months without any problems, have tried reinstalling, any ideas?
What DVDs are you trying to backup? DVD Shrink can't handle a lot of the newer releases because of copy protection, making Shrink shut down. You'll need to use AnyDVD in the background or rip the disc first with DVDFab Decrypter.
backing up cold mountain, house of sand and fog and donnie darko directors cut none of which have worked, have just downloaded dvdfab... and am currently trying it out.
This is more than likely a copy protection issue. DVD Shrink hasn't been updated for a long time and will not be, because of this, shrink alone can't handle the newer copy protection techniques placed on some of the newly released DVDs so you'll either get an error or it will simply quite on you.
Keeping it free:
Download a free ripper/decrypter called DVDFab decrypter and use it to rip the video files to your HDD, once it's done you should have a VIDEO_TS folder on your HDD, run DVD Shrink and use it to open the files, click on the open files tab and browse to where the VIDEO_TS folder is located and choose it, shrink will open/import the files and should be able to proceed as usual from that point.
The other option is to use AnyDVD, its a driver that runs in the backround to crack the encryption and help shrink produce a backup. It's free for 21 days, if interested, check it out here;