Playing/Copying Region 2 DVDs in U.S.?

[cissp]

I have been wanting to purchase a DVD copy of the 70s mini-series, "Rich Man, Poor Man", but so far have only found it available in Europe as a Region 2 DVD version. What are my options in viewing Region 2 DVDs? Are there DVD players available that play multiple regions, and if so, what are your recommendations? As an alternative to buying another DVD player, would it be possible to purchase the Region 2 version of this DVD movie, and convert what I copy to NTSC/Region 1?

Thanks,
Chuck

[hoxlund]

if you can get a hold of it, you can use dvdshrink to rip it to hard drive, in the process removing the region setting on the disc

then just burn it for your personal backup copy

[pranav81]

I know that PowerDVD can play DVD's from other regions.


::Pranav::

[Boba_Fett]

if you can get a hold of it, you can use dvdshrink to rip it to hard drive, in the process removing the region setting on the disc

then just burn it for your personal backup copy

Removing the region protection is one thing, but conveting the actual movie from PAL (PAL will not play correctly on 99% of US TVs) to NTSC is far more complicated. pranav81, If you haven't done so already, I'd try a looking at a few tutorials and asking a few questions on the forums of http://www.dvdrhelp.com. You're kind of in the same position I'm in right now... I have a few PAL tapes that I need to be converted into NTSC

[pranav81]

Well,I was only saying in terms of playing the DVD from the drive and not ripping it.PowerDVD also has region protection for only 5 times after which it also gets locked to the last region used.
I dont know about DVD shrink because I dont have a DVD burner yet.



::Pranav::

[burninfool]

You will need a multisystem TV and player to view PAL VHS/DVD in NTSC land.
www.mindlogic.com/Prod_MSTV.shtml

Here's a simple conversion guide:
1.Use DVDShrink(free) to rip,make region free and transcode(if needed).
2.Use IFOEdit(free) to trick DVD player using THIS GUIDE.

[hoxlund]

I dont know about DVD shrink because I dont have a DVD burner yet.

i don't know if your allowed on these forums without one.. j/k

[pranav81]

I dont know about DVD shrink because I dont have a DVD burner yet.

i don't know if you allowed on these forums without one.. j/k

Well,I will get one when the site change's it's logo and URL's to dvdrlabs.com officially.


::Pranav::

[XXXXX]

I dont know about DVD shrink because I dont have a DVD burner yet.

i don't know if you allowed on these forums without one.. j/k

Well,I will get one when the site change's it's logo and URL's to dvdrlabs.com officially.


::Pranav::

Touché!

[Inertia]

Region code restrictions are easily removed, either through reencoding of the DVD or a hacked DVD player. On the other hand as Boba_Fett alluded, playback of an uncoverted PAL source through a NTSC television can be a major problem.

The Philips DVP-642 Hack can make this popular DVD player region-free. It has a built in PAL to NTSC converter that will allow viewing region 2 PAL DVD's directly through a NTSC TV set. I have seen one report that the viewing quality through this conversion may not be optimal as the conversion process has only 2 MB of memory available. Even so, most users seem very happy with this player, and it has outstanding capabilities for its price. It plays both DVD+/-R/RW, in other words all common DVD recordable formats, MP3, and MPEG 4. Playable MPEG 4 formats include DivX 3, 4, 5 and XviD.

See a number of User Comments Here.

This player is currently sellling for about $70 at Target, CompUSA, Walmart and other stores. Best Buy has it on line for $75.

[MediumRare]

Hi Inertia!
Great to see you back - it's been a long time! I hope you'll share your well founded and very helpful insights with us more often again!

G

[Inertia]

Hi, MediumRare

Thanks for the kind words.

Just visiting.

[Spazmogen]

http://www.ormsby.ca/spazmogen/PAL_to_NTSC/

is my PAL <-> NTSC guide using Nero Vision 2. All with out ever loosing the DVD quality we expect.

It came about after messing with AVSynth for a week or so and getting less than stellar results.


Just remember 1 thing: going from PAL (25fps) to NTSC (29.97fps) is going to cause a slight stutter effect. I've found the video still watchable though. Suddenly, there's nearly 5 frames a second more, than there was in the PAL edition.

AMAZON UK sells lots of multi-region DVD players. I don't know if you can get them where you live though. Just make sure to get one that can output NTSC from a PAL disc on the fly.

Or just do what I did: flash my DVD+RW drive with an Auto-reset firmware, rip the Region 2 PAL disc and use my guide above.