Question About DVDs

[JadziaKathryn]

I'm reaching the end of my rope here, so any info would be appreciated. I want to rip my Aussie DVDs and burn them again on zone 1 DVD-Rs. Right now I've converted my laptop to zone 5 but that apparently means I can't watch my American zone 1 DVDs. And I have a limited number of times that I can switch zones so I can't just go back and forth.

Is it possible for DVDs to be protected so they can't be ripped? Or is there some weird thing where I can *play* a DVD from another region, but not rip it? Because I'm trying to rip my Aussie "Doctor Who" DVDs onto my laptop and the programs (I've tried two) say that files either can't be found or can't be read. Yet they can read them to play them.

can't read "data(origEditText)": no such element in array
can't read "data(origEditText)": no such element in array
while executing
"# Compiled -- no source code available
error "called a copy of a compiled script""
(procedure "doFinishEditing" line 1)
invoked from within
"# Compiled -- no source code available
error "called a copy of a compiled script""
(procedure "doEditCell" line 1)
invoked from within
"# Compiled -- no source code available
error "called a copy of a compiled script""
(procedure "tablelist::condEditContainingCell" line 1)
invoked from within
"tablelist::condEditContainingCell $tablelist::W $tablelist::x $tablelist::y"
invoked from within
"if {[winfo exists .base1.tf2.tl.body.lk3,3]} {
foreach {tablelist::W tablelist::x tablelist::y} [tablelist::convEventFields .base1.tf2.tl.body.l..."
(command bound to event)

Should I just start saving for an international DVD player? Do they *make* international DVD players?

[dark_rain]

Yes, they do make them. But those errors are because of bad programming. Try switching to different software and see what happens. Theres also a company that claims to make region free dvd software. http://www.dvd-x-player.com/ I dont know how well it works or if there is a free solution, so do your homework before shelling cash.


This site also has a guide on unlocking your dvd player to make it play anything. As before, I haven't tried this (my xbox will play stuff from any region fine, most wont) and I dont know what it will do. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/dvd-unlock

[TPoptarts]

Well I've never tried a different region DVD but I used to use a DVD ripping program "super DVD ripper" IIRC, which could also rip or more like convert individual VOB files, I used to copy the entire content of the DVD folders to my hard drive so I could return it to the library on time, then use the ripper to rip the VOB files into avi or mpg. Like I said I've never tried it with foreign DVDs so I don't know if it works if you put in a DVD from a different region, maybe it lets you access the folders even if it can't play certain regions, maybe not IDK but since you have your laptop set on region 5 now I guess it should work if you try to copy it to your hard drive

[JadziaKathryn]

Thanks! *scurries off to investigate*

But you know, the trouble is worth it. I am totally hooked on "Doctor Who" now. Can't wait until I can get my hands on the Christmas special... too bad BBC America is so behind.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

When I bought my DVD player/recorder two years ago I made sure I could find it on this site. That allowed me to "unlock" my new DVD player so that it became region-free. Since I have some American and Australian DVDs that was essential.

Hopefully you can find your DVD player on that site. If anything it could help when you buy a new one.