? for computer savvy peeps

[myt1]

I'm trying to de-clutter, and being of the older generation I have a shit ton of DVD's/CD's taking up a lot of shelf and wall space.  I'd like get a 2-3 terabyte+ external hard drive, and put them all on there.  Bodybuilding related as I'd like to be able to open up the wall area occupied by the shelves in the room with all of my home gym equipment.  My questions are:

1) What is a good free DVD ripper program that will rip the content, and that will save them in playable format?
 1b) I have an old laptop from my brother in laws old job, but he wiped out Windows and replaced it with Linux (not familiar with it at all)... will said program work with Linux?

2) Is there any way to directly hook the external hard drive into my smart tv, and just choose to play each stored video off of the tv menu without hooking up a laptop to the hard drive?  *TV has USB, Ethernet, and HDMI ports available and the remote has a "keyboard" on the back to type search saved vids.

3) I have two laptops that have HDMI outs, but the one from my brother in law only has serial and USB.  If I can't directly hook the external hard drive to the TV I'd like to use that laptop as it's just sitting in a closet.  Is there a cable that will convert the laptop's serial or USB ports into an HDMI input on the tv?  Also, the laptop is older so it is not 1080 or 4k, but the TV is 4k.  Will the TV screen display whatever format the DVD was (Blu Ray/4k) or will it display whatever the computer's resolution limitation is once I hit "fn + f4" to switch the display?

4) Any specific brand of external hard drive or cables needed that you'd recommend?

Thanks for any help!

[Conker]

Tldr

[el numero uno]

I lift things up and put them down.

[dseiler]

I'm trying to de-clutter, and being of the older generation I have a shit ton of DVD's/CD's taking up a lot of shelf and wall space.  I'd like get a 2-3 terabyte+ external hard drive, and put them all on there.  Bodybuilding related as I'd like to be able to open up the wall area occupied by the shelves in the room with all of my home gym equipment.  My questions are:

1) What is a good free DVD ripper program that will rip the content, and that will save them in playable format?
 1b) I have an old laptop from my brother in laws old job, but he wiped out Windows and replaced it with Linux (not familiar with it at all)... will said program work with Linux?

2) Is there any way to directly hook the external hard drive into my smart tv, and just choose to play each stored video off of the tv menu without hooking up a laptop to the hard drive?  *TV has USB, Ethernet, and HDMI ports available and the remote has a "keyboard" on the back to type search saved vids.

3) I have two laptops that have HDMI outs, but the one from my brother in law only has serial and USB.  If I can't directly hook the external hard drive to the TV I'd like to use that laptop as it's just sitting in a closet.  Is there a cable that will convert the laptop's serial or USB ports into an HDMI input on the tv?  Also, the laptop is older so it is not 1080 or 4k, but the TV is 4k.  Will the TV screen display whatever format the DVD was (Blu Ray/4k) or will it display whatever the computer's resolution limitation is once I hit "fn + f4" to switch the display?

4) Any specific brand of external hard drive or cables needed that you'd recommend?

Thanks for any help!

Rip them with Handbrake or Virtual DUB and all the files on a NAS server (you want the files to be redundant in case of a crash, so spend the $$)
Get a Firestick and put KODI on it
Point KODI to NAS

There are tons of tutorials on this. It's easier than it sounds.

[myt1]

Tldr

And no fucks were give

[Schnauzer]

Not even worth ripping them and buying the storage space. Everything is on Netflix in high resolution.

[myt1]

Rip them with Handbrake or Virtual DUB and all the files on a NAS server (you want the files to be redundant in case of a crash, so spend the $$)
Get a Firestick and put KODI on it
Point KODI to NAS

There are tons of tutorials on this. It's easier than it sounds.

That is a bit over my head, but I will google for Handbrake and virtual DUB.  Do you feel one is better than the other?  I never looked into Firestick as I thought it was like Chrome Cast which I have, but I'll check that too as it sounds like I'm wrong.

As for the tutorials, can you please post a link to a couple so I know what to search by the titles of them?

BTW, I'm not concerned about a server crash.  All the DVD's will be put into boxes in a closet, so I can always re-rip if the external hard drive takes a dump.  I just want to get rid of the shelving and have the space back, while having the convenience of accessing movies by clicking buttons vs. having them all out to decide what to watch and hassle with a DVD player each time.

Thanks a ton for the response!

[myt1]

Not even worth ripping them and buying the storage space. Everything is on Netflix in high resolution.

I already have the DVD's and the storage from long ago.  I have Amazon Prime, and a library card for movies I don't have. 

Curious as to whether you have Prime?  If so, is having Netflix as well worth it?

[Schnauzer]

I already have the DVD's and the storage from long ago.  I have Amazon Prime, and a library card for movies I don't have.  

Curious as to whether you have Prime?  If so, is having Netflix as well worth it?

I have Netflix and Prime, although I rarely watch Prime because most stuff is on both. I have Amazon Prime already for the two-day shipping and the streaming service comes along with it, otherwise I would only have Netflix. I also have tons of 4k discs because there is no compression when using physical media and I am very picky about picture quality. I have a 75" Sony 4k TV and use an xbox one as a 4k disc player. I got the 2001 A Space Odyssey 4k remaster for a Christmas gift to myself and have been waiting for a night when the family is out so I can watch it in peace .

I buy one or two new 4k movies every week for $20 or $25 each. My wife says buying movies is a waste of money, but if I take my wife and kid to a theater the cost of tickets, popcorn, etc is more than if I wait for the movie to come out on 4k.

I have a lot of movies but I wouldn't even bother to rip them to a hard drive. Technology moves so fast that soon there will be 8k movies and televisions or whatever is next.

 

[Marty Champions]

Nuke em high

[myt1]

I have Netflix and Prime, although I rarely watch Prime because most stuff is on both. I have Amazon Prime already for the two-day shipping and the streaming service comes along with it, otherwise I would only have Netflix. I also have tons of 4k discs because there is no compression when using physical media and I am very picky about picture quality. I have a 75" Sony 4k TV and use an xbox one as a 4k disc player. I got the 2001 A Space Odyssey 4k remaster for a Christmas gift to myself and have been waiting for a night when the family is out so I can watch it in peace .

I buy one or two new 4k movies every week for $20 or $25 each. My wife says buying movies is a waste of money, but if I take my wife and kid to a theater the cost of tickets, popcorn, etc is more than if I wait for the movie to come out on 4k.

I have a lot of movies but I wouldn't even bother to rip them to a hard drive. Technology moves so fast that soon there will be 8k movies and televisions or whatever is next.

 

I got Prime for $49 a year because I went back to finish my degree and got the student rate.  The money I saved on books and shipping for protein and other supps was well worth it.  When they added on movies and music I was stoked, but I've noticed they rarely have anything newer than 2-3+ years old other than their shows.  Sneaky Pete, and the first season of The Tick were pretty good.  Other than that, I think it kinda sucks for movies.  Not sure if I'm going to keep it now that I'll have to pay regular price later this year.  Most places still offer free or very cheap shipping...you just have to wait a few days or a week.  Not a big deal to me.

Does Netflix have movies from the theater sooner than Prime?

I agree with you on the going to the movies thing.  Now that 4k's are so cheap for 60+ inches I don't see the point of the hassle and cost of going to a theater with a bunch of people talking in the background.  Last movie I saw in the theater was the redone "Point Break" in 3D.  Complete pile of shit and waste of time and $.

[Anna Recksiek]

Not even worth ripping them and buying the storage space. Everything is on Netflix in high resolution.

Here is the answer. How much time do you spend watching all these dvds?
It will take forever to transfer all that and you can just pull it up on prime or Netflix and watch.
It's like when people record fireworks - how many times do they watch it? It's a big chunk of time and money that will be wasted...

[Twaddle]

Dude, check out pornhub.  It's all online now.  No need to keep those DVDs.  You're welcome.

[APE907]

WD (Western Digital) or Seagate both offer high capacity 4TB external hard drives that are USB 3.0 compatible for high transfer speeds.  Amazon Prime a 4TB model for about $100.  I believe WD acquired Seagate several years ago.  Both drives are good quality and 4TB is the sweet spot for the price to storage ratio.

[myt1]

WD (Western Digital) or Seagate both offer high capacity 4TB external hard drives that are USB 3.0 compatible for high transfer speeds.  Amazon Prime a 4TB model for about $100.  I believe WD acquired Seagate several years ago.  Both drives are good quality and 4TB is the sweet spot for the price to storage ratio.

Thanks man! I've looked at both.  Two questions I had though about the USB 3.0 thing is that the laptop I want to use is just standard USB, and another one I have is USB 2.0.  Does the fact that the drives are made for USB 3.0 have any impact or just flat out make them incompatible together?  Also, will my standard USB cables that I have a ton of work or do I need a cable that is specifically for 3.0?

[Moontrane]

That is a bit over my head, but I will google for Handbrake and virtual DUB.  Do you feel one is better than the other?  I never looked into Firestick as I thought it was like Chrome Cast which I have, but I'll check that too as it sounds like I'm wrong.

As for the tutorials, can you please post a link to a couple so I know what to search by the titles of them?

BTW, I'm not concerned about a server crash.  All the DVD's will be put into boxes in a closet, so I can always re-rip if the external hard drive takes a dump.  I just want to get rid of the shelving and have the space back, while having the convenience of accessing movies by clicking buttons vs. having them all out to decide what to watch and hassle with a DVD player each time.

Thanks a ton for the response!

I used handbrake, it works well.

After Bladerunner 2049 came out, I was excited to get my kids to first watch my director’s cut
DVD of 1982’s Bladerunner, which I purchased nearly 20 years ago.  To my dismay I couldn’t
read the opening credits – it’s not in HD.  So I spent 2 minutes downloading an HD copy from a
putlocker site.

We just don’t buy DVDs anymore, since most films are available for free. 
I’m sure there are some films you have that are not available online, so rip away.

[myt1]

Dude, check out pornhub.  It's all online now.  No need to keep those DVDs.  You're welcome.

I'm old.  The 4-6 that I still might have are likely in a box somewhere, and are on VHS.   I no longer have a VCR

P.S.- youjizz.com > pornhub.  You're welcome. 

[myt1]

I used handbrake, it works well.

After Bladerunner 2049 came out, I was excited to get my kids to first watch my director’s cut
DVD of 1982’s Bladerunner, which I purchased nearly 20 years ago.  To my dismay I couldn’t
read the opening credits – it’s not in HD.  So I spent 2 minutes downloading an HD copy from a
putlocker site.

We just don’t buy DVDs anymore, since most films are available for free. 
I’m sure there are some films you have that are not available online, so rip away.

What the hell is that?  I'm not tech savvy.  I've heard of torrent sites, but I've heard there's a good chance of getting a virus or malware so I never messed with them.  I don't know which ones there are let alone which ones to trust, and how to avoid getting viruses or caught illegally downloading movies?

[APE907]

Thanks man! I've looked at both.  Two questions I had though about the USB 3.0 thing is that the laptop I want to use is just standard USB, and another one I have is USB 2.0.  Does the fact that the drives are made for USB 3.0 have any impact or just flat out make them incompatible together?  Also, will my standard USB cables that I have a ton of work or do I need a cable that is specifically for 3.0?

USB 3.0 is backwards compatible and will work fine with older computers, you just won’t enjoy the higher speed benefit. No special cables are needed.

[Moontrane]

What the hell is that?  I'm not tech savvy.  I've heard of torrent sites, but I've heard there's a good chance of getting a virus or malware so I never messed with them.  I don't know which ones there are let alone which ones to trust, and how to avoid getting viruses or caught illegally downloading movies?

They aren't torrent sites; they stream films and you can use a free Chrome plug in (video download professional) to download the mp4 file.
I understand your caution, so do what you think is safest. 

[Anna Recksiek]

What the hell is that?  I'm not tech savvy.  I've heard of torrent sites, but I've heard there's a good chance of getting a virus or malware so I never messed with them.  I don't know which ones there are let alone which ones to trust, and how to avoid getting viruses or caught illegally downloading movies?

I have a couple of  firesticks and loaded kodi onto them.
If the firestick gets a virus I'll just wipe it and start over and don't need to risk a computer.
Amazon firestick is like $40