How to Copy a VCD CD Video With Freeware
By James Red
The VCD format never caught on in America, but it was popular for years in Asia as an alternative to VHS. VCDs can also be burned at home by users looking to preserve videos on disc who don't want to use the DVD format. If you want to copy a VCD movie you own, or a VCD you have already created, it can be done easily without additional software.
Insert the VCD you want to copy into the disc drive of your computer. Stop playback if the disc begins playing.
Open "My Computer" and note the name of the video disc next to the drive letter of your disc drive. Make a folder on the desktop with the same name.
Double-click on the disc icon. Highlight all the files and folders on the disc ("Ctrl" + "A") and copy them ("Ctrl" + "C").
Open the folder you created on your desktop and paste the files from the VCD into that folder ("Ctrl + "P"). Depending on the speed of your system and disc drive, this could take some time.
Remove the VCD from your drive and insert a blank CD-R. Double-click on the disc icon. If a prompt appears asking "How do you want to use this disc?" choose "With a CD/DVD Player" and then select "Next."
Drag the folder you created earlier into the disc drive window, under the "Files Read to Be Written to the Disc" heading. Click "Burn To Disc" under the menu bar and select a burn speed. Click "Next" to being the burning process. After it is complete, the disc will eject and you will have a new copy of your VCD.
Tips
- You can copy a VCD with third-party burning software as well. The important part is keeping the folder and file structure the same during the burning process.
- Some VCDs have copyright protection installed on them. These discs cannot be copied.
Writer Bio
Residing in Pittsburgh, Pa., James Red has been a writer for over 10 years. He has work appearing in various magazines, newsweeklies and popular websites including "Wizard Magazine," "Big Shot" and Bullz-eye.com. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Point Park University and another in film studies from Bowling Green State University.