Regional Formats for DVD

I ordered a DVD from Amazon.co.uk for a Christmas gift (I'm in Florida),
and just realized that it is Region 2 PAL format. My player only plays
Region 1. I know I can just return it, but it's an excellent DVD of
Formula One footage that my husband would love to have.

Are there any companies that convert PAL to NTSC? I used to be able to
have it done with tapes, but I don't know if the PAL to NTSC DVD
conversion is done regularly (or legally).

I do not have a DVD burner on my computer, so there is no way I could do
it myself. Other than finding a brilliant hacker in town, does anyone
know how I could convert this DVD? Thanks--any input appreciated.

Suzanne

"Suzanne" <> wrote in message news:...
| I ordered a DVD from Amazon.co.uk for a Christmas gift (I'm in Florida),
| and just realized that it is Region 2 PAL format. My player only plays
| Region 1. I know I can just return it, but it's an excellent DVD of
| Formula One footage that my husband would love to have.
|
| Are there any companies that convert PAL to NTSC? I used to be able to
| have it done with tapes, but I don't know if the PAL to NTSC DVD
| conversion is done regularly (or legally).
|
| I do not have a DVD burner on my computer, so there is no way I could do
| it myself. Other than finding a brilliant hacker in town, does anyone
| know how I could convert this DVD? Thanks--any input appreciated.

Look for someone who rents East Indian videos. Often they can do the
conversion for you. Asian videos would be another possibility. Blockbuster
won't do it.

N

NSM

<< Are there any companies that convert PAL to NTSC? I used to be able to
have it done with tapes, but I don't know if the PAL to NTSC DVD
conversion is done regularly (or legally). >><BR><BR>


For just about double the price you'd pay to have it converted, you can easily
find a region free player on eBay that should handle the DVD you just
purchased. You'll pay a bit more now, but will have the luxury to order DVDs
from the UK or anywhere else in the world to enjoy in the future.

SoHillsGuy

Is there a R1 NTSC release of the same thing? Check tha first, since any
other route for your situation will be rather expensive.


"Suzanne" <> wrote in message news:...
> I ordered a DVD from Amazon.co.uk for a Christmas gift (I'm in Florida),
> and just realized that it is Region 2 PAL format. My player only plays
> Region 1. I know I can just return it, but it's an excellent DVD of
> Formula One footage that my husband would love to have.
>
> Are there any companies that convert PAL to NTSC? I used to be able to
> have it done with tapes, but I don't know if the PAL to NTSC DVD
> conversion is done regularly (or legally).
>
> I do not have a DVD burner on my computer, so there is no way I could do
> it myself. Other than finding a brilliant hacker in town, does anyone
> know how I could convert this DVD? Thanks--any input appreciated.
>

Biz

On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 19:11:59 -0500, Suzanne <> wrote:

>I ordered a DVD from Amazon.co.uk for a Christmas gift (I'm in Florida),
>and just realized that it is Region 2 PAL format. My player only plays
>Region 1. I know I can just return it, but it's an excellent DVD of
>Formula One footage that my husband would love to have.
>
>Are there any companies that convert PAL to NTSC? I used to be able to
> have it done with tapes, but I don't know if the PAL to NTSC DVD
>conversion is done regularly (or legally).
>
>I do not have a DVD burner on my computer, so there is no way I could do
>it myself. Other than finding a brilliant hacker in town, does anyone
>know how I could convert this DVD? Thanks--any input appreciated.


Depending on the make of your dvd player it may play the disk with
minor conversion. Go to videohelp.com and look up your player. Also
look for information on some of the very cheap players out there. th
Some are under $30 that can be made to work for next to nothing and
that would be much cheaper than paying for a conversion that will
probably look like crap.

fred

On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 19:11:59 -0500, Suzanne <> wrote:

>I ordered a DVD from Amazon.co.uk for a Christmas gift (I'm in Florida),
>and just realized that it is Region 2 PAL format. My player only plays
>Region 1. I know I can just return it, but it's an excellent DVD of
>Formula One footage that my husband would love to have.
>
>Are there any companies that convert PAL to NTSC? I used to be able to
> have it done with tapes, but I don't know if the PAL to NTSC DVD
>conversion is done regularly (or legally).
>
>I do not have a DVD burner on my computer, so there is no way I could do
>it myself. Other than finding a brilliant hacker in town, does anyone
>know how I could convert this DVD? Thanks--any input appreciated.

Depending on the make and model of your DVD player it might be
possible to make it region-free. I did that with mine by a simple
procedure using the remote.

GraB

GraB wrote:
> On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 19:11:59 -0500, Suzanne <> wrote:
>
>
>>I ordered a DVD from Amazon.co.uk for a Christmas gift (I'm in Florida),
>>and just realized that it is Region 2 PAL format. My player only plays
>>Region 1. I know I can just return it, but it's an excellent DVD of
>>Formula One footage that my husband would love to have.
>>
>>Are there any companies that convert PAL to NTSC? I used to be able to
>> have it done with tapes, but I don't know if the PAL to NTSC DVD
>>conversion is done regularly (or legally).
>>
>>I do not have a DVD burner on my computer, so there is no way I could do
>>it myself. Other than finding a brilliant hacker in town, does anyone
>>know how I could convert this DVD? Thanks--any input appreciated.
>
>
> Depending on the make and model of your DVD player it might be
> possible to make it region-free. I did that with mine by a simple
> procedure using the remote.

A database of hackable players is availavle here:
http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks

Another possibility if the original poster has a DVD burner on a
computer is that you could rip the disc and then reburn the DVD. You
will most likely lose quality, but it's simple to do. Instructions on
the process are on the same site at the database.

Nicholas Andrade

GraB wrote:
> On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 19:11:59 -0500, Suzanne <> wrote:
>
>
>>I ordered a DVD from Amazon.co.uk for a Christmas gift (I'm in Florida),
>>and just realized that it is Region 2 PAL format. My player only plays
>>Region 1. I know I can just return it, but it's an excellent DVD of
>>Formula One footage that my husband would love to have.
>>
>>Are there any companies that convert PAL to NTSC? I used to be able to
>> have it done with tapes, but I don't know if the PAL to NTSC DVD
>>conversion is done regularly (or legally).
>>
>>I do not have a DVD burner on my computer, so there is no way I could do
>>it myself. Other than finding a brilliant hacker in town, does anyone
>>know how I could convert this DVD? Thanks--any input appreciated.
>
>
> Depending on the make and model of your DVD player it might be
> possible to make it region-free. I did that with mine by a simple
> procedure using the remote.

I found a forum with a hack for the DVD player (Zenith DVB412). It
involves downloading a zip file, burning a CD and inserting into the DVD
player.

This sounds simple. My question is how safe is it to open a zip file
downloaded from the net? The virus issue? If I then insert the burned CD
into the DVD player and change a setting, am I screwing the player up
permanently? I'm pretty technologically savvy with computers, but DVD
players are an entirely new animal to me. I do not have a DVD burner on
my computer.

Suzanne

On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 19:20:11 -0500, Suzanne <> wrote:

>GraB wrote:
>> On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 19:11:59 -0500, Suzanne <> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I ordered a DVD from Amazon.co.uk for a Christmas gift (I'm in Florida),
>>>and just realized that it is Region 2 PAL format. My player only plays
>>>Region 1. I know I can just return it, but it's an excellent DVD of
>>>Formula One footage that my husband would love to have.
>>>
>>>Are there any companies that convert PAL to NTSC? I used to be able to
>>> have it done with tapes, but I don't know if the PAL to NTSC DVD
>>>conversion is done regularly (or legally).
>>>
>>>I do not have a DVD burner on my computer, so there is no way I could do
>>>it myself. Other than finding a brilliant hacker in town, does anyone
>>>know how I could convert this DVD? Thanks--any input appreciated.
>>
>>
>> Depending on the make and model of your DVD player it might be
>> possible to make it region-free. I did that with mine by a simple
>> procedure using the remote.
>
>I found a forum with a hack for the DVD player (Zenith DVB412). It
>involves downloading a zip file, burning a CD and inserting into the DVD
>player.
>
>This sounds simple. My question is how safe is it to open a zip file
>downloaded from the net? The virus issue? If I then insert the burned CD
>into the DVD player and change a setting, am I screwing the player up
>permanently? I'm pretty technologically savvy with computers, but DVD
>players are an entirely new animal to me. I do not have a DVD burner on
>my computer.

I sincerely hope you are not running a computer, accessing the Net,
etc, with no anti-virus? Normally you are safe if you are downloading
from a reputable site. Scan the zip file after it is downloaded.

GraB

GraB wrote:
> On Wed, 08 Dec 2004 19:20:11 -0500, Suzanne <> wrote:
>
>
>>GraB wrote:
>>
>>>On Tue, 07 Dec 2004 19:11:59 -0500, Suzanne <> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>I ordered a DVD from Amazon.co.uk for a Christmas gift (I'm in Florida),
>>>>and just realized that it is Region 2 PAL format. My player only plays
>>>>Region 1. I know I can just return it, but it's an excellent DVD of
>>>>Formula One footage that my husband would love to have.
>>>>
>>>>Are there any companies that convert PAL to NTSC? I used to be able to
>>>>have it done with tapes, but I don't know if the PAL to NTSC DVD
>>>>conversion is done regularly (or legally).
>>>>
>>>>I do not have a DVD burner on my computer, so there is no way I could do
>>>>it myself. Other than finding a brilliant hacker in town, does anyone
>>>>know how I could convert this DVD? Thanks--any input appreciated.
>>>
>>>
>>>Depending on the make and model of your DVD player it might be
>>>possible to make it region-free. I did that with mine by a simple
>>>procedure using the remote.
>>
>>I found a forum with a hack for the DVD player (Zenith DVB412). It
>>involves downloading a zip file, burning a CD and inserting into the DVD
>>player.
>>
>>This sounds simple. My question is how safe is it to open a zip file
>>downloaded from the net? The virus issue? If I then insert the burned CD
>>into the DVD player and change a setting, am I screwing the player up
>>permanently? I'm pretty technologically savvy with computers, but DVD
>>players are an entirely new animal to me. I do not have a DVD burner on
>>my computer.
>
>
> I sincerely hope you are not running a computer, accessing the Net,
> etc, with no anti-virus? Normally you are safe if you are downloading
> from a reputable site. Scan the zip file after it is downloaded.

Or check the md5sum matches a known-good one.

Nicholas Andrade