How to copy a DVD to another DVD with only one drive (3 ways)

Learn how to copy a DVD to another blank DVD on a PC with only one drive.

Copying DVDs

If you don't want to risk damaging your favorite DVDs, then it's a good idea to make copies of your DVDs, store the originals in cases, and only use the copies.

In order to duplicate a DVD, you'll need a computer with a DVD burner and a blank DVD.

ImgBurn

ImgBurn website

Warning! This software may offer unnecessary software during its installation. So, pay attention during the installation and decline any offers.

1. Insert the DVD you want to copy into the DVD burner drive of your computer.

2. Open ImgBurn.

3. Click on Create image file from disc.

ImgBurn Create image file from disc option

4. In the Source section, you make sure that the DVD burner drive of your computer is selected.

5. In the Destination section, you can see and change the location on your computer where ImgBurn will save the image file.

ImgBurn Source and Destination settings

To change the location, you click on the folder icon located next to the location, select a location, and then click on the Save button.

Don't forget the location because you'll need the image file later.

6. When you're ready, you click on the “disc → file” (read) button at the bottom of ImgBurn.

ImgBurn Read button

ImgBurn will now create an image file from your DVD.

7. When ImgBurn is finished, you take out your DVD and insert a blank DVD into the DVD burner drive of your computer.

8. Click on Mode located in the top menu of ImgBurn, and then click on Write.

ImgBurn Write mode

9. In the Source section located in the top left corner, you click on the folder icon.

ImgBurn Browse for a file button

A “Open” window will appear.

10. Go to the location on your computer where the image file is stored that you created earlier.

11. Select the .iso file (e.g., Movie.iso).

12. Click on the Open button.

Open image file in ImgBurn

13. In the Destination section, you make sure that the DVD burner drive of your computer is selected.

14. When you're ready, you click on the “file → disc” (write) button at the bottom of ImgBurn.

Destination setting and Write button in ImgBurn

ImgBurn will now burn the copy of your DVD to your blank DVD.

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free is a free program for burning and copying CDs and DVDs and other disc-related tasks.

This program's user-friendly interface, menu, and step-by-step wizard will help you achieve your disc-related tasks, easily and quickly.

You can visit the product page for more information about the program and to download the program.

Visit product page

1. Insert the DVD you want to copy into the DVD burner drive of your computer.

2. Open Ashampoo Burning Studio Free.

3. In the left menu, you click on Copy Disc.

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free Copy Disc option

Ashampoo will now check your DVD.

4. Click on the Next button located in the bottom right corner of Ashampoo Burning Studio Free.

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free Next button

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free will now read and analyze your DVD.

5. When the reading is completed successfully, you click on the Next button located in the bottom right corner.

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free Reading completed successfully message Ashampoo Burning Studio Free Next button

Your computer will now eject your disc.

6. Take out your disc and insert a blank DVD into the DVD burner drive of your computer.

Ashampoo will now check your blank disc.

7. Now you will have the following “write” options located at the bottom left:

  • Simulate this will simulate the recording before burning (this will double the time, use for testing)
  • Verify to verify written files and folders after recording (the content of the DVD will be compared with the original files)
  • Format to format the DVD (if not checked, the DVD will only be formatted if necessary)
Ashampoo Burning Studio Free DVD write settings

8. At Speed located in the bottom right corner, you can select a burning speed. The maximum speed you can select depends on the capacity of the DVD burner of your PC and the capacity of the DVD.

9. You can also select the number of copies. This option is for people who want to burn more copies of the DVD.

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free burn speed and number of copies options

10. When you're ready, you click on the Write DVD button located in the bottom right corner.

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free Write DVD button

Ashampoo Burning Studio Free will now burn the copy of your DVD to your blank DVD.

CDBurnerXP

CDBurnerXP website

1. Insert the DVD you want to copy into the DVD burner drive of your computer.

2. Open CDBurnerXP.

3. Double-click on Copy or grab disc.

CDBurnerXP Copy or grab disc mode

A “Copy Disc” window will appear.

4. In the Source section, at Device, you make sure the DVD burner drive of your computer is selected.

5. In the Target section, at Device, you make sure the DVD burner drive of your computer is selected.

6. In the Target section, next to Device, you also have the option to select a burning speed. The maximum speed you can select depends on the capacity of the DVD burner of your computer and the capacity of the DVD.

7. You can also enter the number of copies. This option is for people who want to burn more copies of the DVD.

8. When you're ready, you click on the Copy disc button at the bottom right of the “Copy Disc” window.

CDBurnerXP Copy Disc window

CDBurnerXP will now extract the content of your DVD, and when it's finished, it will eject your DVD.

9. Take out your DVD and insert a blank DVD into the DVD burner drive of your computer.

CDBurnerXP will now burn the copy of your DVD to your blank DVD.