1. # use the program xine-check to determine whether your cd/dvd software (e.g., mplayer, ogle, xine,...) is configured optimally:

   xine-check 
   

2. # enable dma for your dvd player:

   sudo hdparm -d1 -X34 /dev/dvd 
   

   If you are satisfied with this setting, consider appending its specification to /etc/init.d/bootmisc.sh:

   echo hdparm -d1 -X34 /dev/dvd|sudo bash -c "cat >> /etc/init.d/bootmisc.sh" 
   

3. # the program k3b, part of the kde tools, provides a very nice user interface for writing cds and dvds:

   k3b
   

4. # how to write bootable cd/dvd images to cd/dvd using linux: here
5. # create an exact copy of the information on a cd/dvd to your hard disk:

   sudo umount /dev/cdrom;sudo dd if=/dev/cdrom of=/tmp/image.iso conv=noerror 
   

6. # how to burn a DVD-Video under Linux with mkisofs and dvdrecord

"In Christianity neither morality nor religion come into contact with reality
at any point."
-- Friedrich Nietzsche