FairUse Wizard 2 Free

Martin Brinkmann
Mar 15, 2008
Updated • Apr 12, 2012
Software, Windows
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Fair Use Wizard [link, via Download Squad] is an easy to use DVD ripper that is provided as a free and commercial version. The free version has some limitations like a maximum target file size of 700 Megabytes or no multi core support but it does work pretty well nevertheless. The author is offering the full version of FairUse Wizard for free on his homepage which gives you all the advanced features of it.

Three other features that are only in the commercial version of FairUse Wizard are mentioned on his homepage: quality encoding modes, the possibility to remove unnecessary elements of the DVD and encoding profiles for a variety of devices like the iPhone or Apple TV that guarantee best quality. Installation is a breeze, after installing the main program you are asked if you want to install a toolbar. I would suggest to say no to this installation unless you want to try it out.

The main benefit of the software is that you can create DVD rips either from DVD or by selecting an DVD Iso image from the hard drive with just a few clicks that are heavily optimized. No need to fiddle around with performance and quality settings, it's all there already and the defaults are working fine.

And there is still the possibility to use your own settings if you like and know what you are doing. FairUse Wizard 2 can not rip copy protected DVDs which is a severe limitation. The author suggests to use DVD Decrypter to create an ISO image of your DVD.

FairUse Wizard 2.9 Converts DVDs to AVI for PC Storage and Viewing
DVDs are bulky and inconvenient in the current trend of technology. We can easily alter their format and store them in a condensed format on hard drives or removable media. You can essentially compile your DVD library into a single file as AVI files and pack away the hard-copies in the attic. If your computer has a large capacity internal hard drive of 500GB-2TB, they can be stored there easily. If not, removable media can store a DVD collection as well. External hard drives are great for this. Nonetheless, you will still need a convenient way to convert your DVDs into AVI format. FairUse Wizard is a decent solution. There is a free version and a commercial version. The focus of this article is on the free version.

The major difference between the versions is that the free version creates a 700MB file maximum, while the commercial version can create up to 1400MB files. AVI files are fairly compact and it simply depends on your needs. The codecs used are DivX, Xvid and h.264. Copy-protected discs will sometimes pose limitations, but experience has shown that this is only with the latest copy-protection.

Download and install FairUse Wizard 2.9 from the following link:

To make things easier, during the installation, choose to create a desktop or tray icon for easy access.

When the program opens, you will see a new project screen. Here you will name the project and choose the input, etc. Select “Create a new Project” to begin. You will probably want the name of the DVD to be the name of the project. Feel free to give it any name you desire. Select the folder for the output AVI file by either typing in the correct path or clicking the Browse button to identify the path. Here, the example is the movie Four Rooms so the name is “Four Rooms” and the output folder is C:\Users\Public\Videos\Sample\Videos. Insert your DVD into your optical drive.

You will have the options of XviD and x264 as codecs. You can select the “Two pass” option for better resolution and quality. Note that this option will take significantly longer than a single pass. You will see in following examples that the default for English subtitles was left checked. If you do not want subtitles, change the dropdown list to a single dash (-). The subtitles are important for the hearing-impaired so this is an option to consider if necessary. If you want to include all additions to any DVD such as director’s cuts and extra footage, select “Full auto mode”, otherwise leave this unchecked. Click Next to proceed.

Choose the drive containing the DVD and then select the language. The conversion will begin with indexing and continue through several steps until it has converted to video. When the video conversion is complete, you will see it like this:

It will then go through audio encoding and the resulting AVI file will be contained in the destination folder specified in the beginning.

A great deal of mess will be left behind in terms of temporary files. Browse the output directory and delete the temporary files after every conversion or your hard drive space will eclipse rapidly.

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Comments

  1. Anonymous said on March 9, 2023 at 1:52 pm
    Reply

    Does it come back after every “moment” update?

  2. Baloney said on March 9, 2023 at 2:23 pm
    Reply

    Yeah right.. Like this is going to stop defender from running =) This is comedy gold right here.

  3. Anonymous said on March 9, 2023 at 3:25 pm
    Reply

    no ‘about the author’ paragraph?

  4. Gregory said on March 9, 2023 at 4:19 pm
    Reply

    For permanent disable defender is if removed complete from system no just change permission folder.

    Just this is joke.

  5. moi said on March 9, 2023 at 5:57 pm
    Reply

    simpler, load Autoruns (SysInternals)
    – filter “Defender”
    – untag all entries
    – reboot
    nothing has changed since my 1st modification years ago

  6. John G. said on March 9, 2023 at 6:32 pm
    Reply

    I wouldn’t disable Defender imho, it has too many hidden roots inside Windows itself. One time I tried to uninstall it using brute force scripts and then the Onedrive feature stopped working definitely. A reinstallation was needed and since those times I prefer to maintain Defender untouched. It’s a better method to install another antivirus and it will disable Defender in a safer and easier mode (e.g., Avast is the best in this way, and also Panda Cloud Free is good too).

    1. Tweakmaster said on September 29, 2023 at 9:57 am
      Reply

      U are just * [Editor: removed] thats the problem ;p first of all u shall always debloat windows u shall have max 65 services with your drivers for pc and windows own servs. You didnt know what that script did

  7. boris said on March 10, 2023 at 12:19 am
    Reply

    You can not stop defender from running in background or remove it without some penalty. All you can do is to limit telemetry.

    1. TelV said on March 10, 2023 at 4:52 pm
      Reply

      @borts,

      It’s probably Smartscreen which is preventing WD from being disabled. Get rid of that and the problem should be solved: https://thegeekpage.com/disable-windows-defender-smartscreen/#How_to_disable_the_Windows_Defender_SmartScreen_via_Local_Group_Policy_Editor

  8. hoho said on March 10, 2023 at 1:47 pm
    Reply

    Remove Windows and go for Linux.

    1. basingstoke said on March 10, 2023 at 2:51 pm
      Reply

      Linux sucks dude. Besides it’s not comparable to Windows, these OSes are in different classes entirely.

      1. Derp said on March 10, 2023 at 4:36 pm
        Reply

        I use Linux as my daily driver. It’s far more stable than Windows. When’s the last time you used Linux, 2010?

      2. Bromosexual said on March 11, 2023 at 2:04 am
        Reply

        @basingstoke

        You’re right, dude. Bro, linux is just a bunch of code that starts before the OS, dude. Brobrodude, that shit ain’t even got emojis, dudebrodudeman! Dudebro, it’s no way near as cool as Windows with its hardcoded abilities to make money off the user, bro. Yo brodude man, you’re the coolest dude ever man, bro. Dude.

      3. basingstoke said on August 16, 2023 at 7:20 pm
        Reply

        Lol what? Windows 7 doesn’t come with any Emojis

  9. TelV said on March 10, 2023 at 4:46 pm
    Reply

    Download Autoruns and remove the checkmark from Windows Defender. It doesn’t remove it, but it will never run. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns

  10. Simon said on March 10, 2023 at 8:37 pm
    Reply

    Just use “Defender Control”:
    https://www.sordum.org/9480/defender-control-v2-1/comment-page-1/#comments

    Per this video,
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLIjr7FyxZ8
    it also works on Windows 11 too…

  11. Someone said on March 10, 2023 at 9:26 pm
    Reply

    Win Defender, is completly the most succesful free-built in antivirus of Microsoft. Really nice product. Saved my ass a lot of times. Has updated malware database, completly strong defence
    from whatever smart screen disables. Or if you want better and more upgrated (paid) program,
    you can go further. But defender is always on your side.

  12. CalixtoWVR1 said on March 10, 2023 at 10:03 pm
    Reply

    Why would one disable Windows (or Microsoft) Defender in the first place?. I consider this to be playing with fire big time. Everybody knows that if one is using another A-V, Defender will be disabled on its own and won’t be in one’s way.

  13. Ed D said on March 10, 2023 at 11:09 pm
    Reply

    Why would I want to disable Windows Defender in the first place? It’s a great anti virus in my opinion. Been using it since Windows 8 and and never had a problem or a virus. Why mess with a good thing, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

  14. owl said on August 17, 2023 at 1:57 am
    Reply

    How a ridiculous article!
    I am thoroughly stunned.

    Why Should You Disable First-Party Windows Defender?
    I can only think that it is “malice or perversely intention (want you to buy a third-party AV where you can expect a back margin)” to guide invalidation without showing the premise.
    No sane company will use third-party closed source programs (such as AV).

    As I thought, “Ghacks Technology News” seems to be coming to downfall.

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