This article outlines an interesting way to backup your HD-DVD's using an Xbox 360 with the HD-DVD add-on and a PC. The author makes use of the fact that the HD-DVD add-on outputs at resolutions of 1080i or 720p over component cable. Using a capture card that is capable of capturing analoge video at HD resolution and a large and speedy hard drive array, you can backup your discs.

One of the key disadvantages of HD-DVD is no convenient way to make back-up copies of the discs. The HD-DVD spec supports what's known as a managed copy, but so far none of the HD-DVD disks I own have this feature. If I want to watch my HD content somewhere other than my Xbox, or if I want to backup my $30 investment, at this point, I have to create my own solution. Until someone starts giving me managed copies, I'm making copies of my HD-DVDs to watch them where I want to using an analog solution. Following the guidelines presented here, you can use an Xbox 360 with the HD-DVD drive and a PC to make copies of HD-DVD movies.

As the image outlines above, you need an HD capture card with analog component inputs. This card captures both the audio and video from the Xbox 360 via the component output cable. Audio will be passed either via the stereo outs on the component cable or via Toslink to your soundcard (the 5.1 Surround option). A four drive array of SATA disks provides enough disk write speed for real time capture of the HD video.

Breaking this down, the requirements for copying HD-DVDs using this method are:
- An Xbox 360 and Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive.
- Tons of fast-write drive space
- HD capture card with component inputs
- Video Capture Software
- Proper cabling
- Video conversion software to output a compressed HD video file

Seems like a good idea in principle. Very expensive to be able to do in reality but then again it depends how much you really want to backup your movie. I think by far most people will wait until the AACS encryption is broken or some kind of work around is found before they try backup their HD discs. I doubt very much that this would lead to piracy of HD films either, I don't think the cost justifies it.