It is real easy, just takes some time and about a $35 software investment. You can use it 10 times for free before paying.
Here are the directions:
1. Using the software found here:
http://www.share2.com/dvdripper/ I convert a DVD to a VCD (MPEG-1) and save it to my local hard-drive with "Infinite" selected for size so that the software doesn't break the file into parts. A 2 hour 15 min movie was about 1.6GB if I recall correctly and about 4 hrs to encode (Little hint - start encoding before going to bed, it will be done when you wake up).
2. Using Windows Movie Maker 2.0 that comes free with Windows XP, I import the video of the movie I want to make. Make sure that you uncheck the box on the bottom left "Open File" menu (Sorry I can't recall at the moment what it's called). Unchecking that box doesn't let WMM2.0 break the movie into different smaller files for individual editing. Leaving it checked makes it take 10-15 minutes to import a movie rather than about 20 seconds. Drag the video to the "timeline" at the bottom of the screen, then save your movie. When you save it, choose "show more options" and it will let you choose different encoding types. I always choose "Movie for Pocket PC (Fullscreen) - 218kps" and then it takes about 1hr to save a movie. That 1.6GB movie is now about 215MB (I may be slightly wrong here, I'm trying to do this from memory).
So that's it! In two simple steps and only 5 hrs (On an Athlon XP2200+, 512MB DDR333, 60GB IBM 7200RPM 2MB cache, Lite-on 16x DVD) I have full length films that can be played on Windows Media Player.
I cant take credit for them though, I found them in
this thread .
You can also search the forums for DVD ripper and find a few threads on the topic that suggest some other methods.
Good Luck