Zone 2 DVDs in PAL format in US

[Brillig]

Hi there,

It's a pretty general question, but I figured I run it by you guys too just to make sure I'm not missing anything.
I was sent a couple of DVDs with audio books on them from the UK. I'm in the states, so there is the obvious compatability issue but I have to have these ripped asap. Is the conversion really as simple as changing the drive to zone 2 and ripping them, or is there something better, different or wrong with that?

Thanks!

Brillig

[Zeitgeist]

Google for e.g. "region free"

[morgie]

You mention that these DVD's are audio books, so no picture, I'm not sure if region settings will affect audio DVD? I don't think they do - someone may be able to correct me or back me up here.

Just on the subject of this, SlySoft's "AnyDVD" is really handy application to have - it will remove any region settings (without you having to make a change to your hardware) or other known protection from DVD's and CD's. For more info. or to download/buy check their website. They also offer "Clone DVD" to do just that, much like "DVD Shrink". Anyway, good luck with it.

[mg]

Regions are only relevant for commercial (pressed) DVD-Video. It doesn't matter for other data content. If it's really DVD-Video Region 2 then the easiest way is to get an (additional) external USB drive if you don't want to change the internal drive's region (you can only do that 4 times on M a t s u s h i t a drives -- for others like LiteOn there are tools to reset it).

[mg]

Just on the subject of this, SlySoft's "AnyDVD" is really handy application to have - it will remove any region settings (without you having to make a change to your hardware) or other known protection from DVD's and CD's.

Remember that on a M a t s u s h i t a drive you still have to change the region so that it matches for reading the original. But when you read it, it appears to be region free (i.e. all your copies will be region free and you can use any copy software because the DVD appears unencrypted to it). However, the best feature (IMHO) of AnyDVD is that it re-enables skipping of studio logos and changing languages and subtitles during playback of an original DVD (without having to make a copy first).

[Brillig]

Well, I got them to work. . on my wife's Acer running XP home. My R31 didn't regognize the discs, and the OS (XP Pro) said its not recognized by widows. The DVDs must be using a technology not built into mine.

Oh well, I'm going to order a Z60m next week.That should take care of this problem!

Thanks guys!

[mg]

Older ThinkPads cannot read DVD+R.