Well since you have a DVD-R you will want to purchase -R disks. Any brand will do, I have had good luck with memorex, usually good quality and not too expensive.

DVD Shrink is a good program to rip your dvds with and is actually a free program. Allows full features and will let you choose what you want to copy and not copy. As far as a good reference for how to and everything check out www.dvdrhelp.com

good luck
--Spy