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My dvd player takes DVD-r's. So I copied some old family movies that were on VHS tapes to the DVD-R. But when I gave a copy to my brother, he could not play it on his DVD player nor on his computer. It won't play on my computer either. I had downloaded VLC because someone told me that it would play any kind of media. But, alas to no avail. Does anyone know how I can copy the DVD onto my computer and then re-record it on a DVD+R?

You can copy it with DVD Decrypter to your computer, and then burn it with Nero or Imgburn.

This topic should really be in the "General VLC media player discussion" (or "VLC media player for Windows" if you are running Windows).

However, how are you playing the DVD-Video in VLC? If you go to "File >> Open Disc...", try both the "DVD (menus)" and "DVD" options. Since it is a home-made DVD-Video it is unlikely to have copy-protection, so you could try going to "File >> Open Directory..." and selecting the "VIDEO_TS" folder insider the DVD also.

Does anyone know how I can copy the DVD onto my computer and then re-record it on a DVD+R?

As joseph5 said, DVD Decryter in File mode ("Mode >> File") should make a exact copy of the Files on the DVD-Video. You could then use e.g. InfraRecorder to record it to a new DVD.

Alternatively, DVD Shrink can copy the contents of a DVD-Video and save it as an *.iso (image file) file, which could then be written to a disc using e.g. InfraRecorder, ImgBurn or DVD Decrypter.

Cheers, Arite.