Problems changing region on dvd copy

[Twan]

Hi,

My in-laws bought a touristy-type DVD when they were in Portugal. Despite assurances from the store they bought it from that it would play here, it has region restrictions on the disc.

I thought I'd be able to easily copy it to a DVD-R and make the disc region free using DVD Shrink and Nero, but it's not working. I've selected the "region free" setting and have also tried just setting it to Region 1 when it's about to burn the disc, but when I put the DVD-R in my regular Sony DVD player, it still complains that there are region restrictions.

I have the latest version of DVD Shrink, and am using the latest Nero OEM version 6.xx (came with my Pioneer drive, and I updated it to the latest version on Nero's site).

Any ideas as to why the burned DVD still seems to have region restrictions on it? Oddly (or perhaps not?) the original DVD and both copies play fine on my computer.

[dusty550]

Read this: http://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=221928 It may or may not work on your dvd player thou. Try it if your willing to use another dvd-r.

Also i forgot to mention but what software (if any) are you using the rip this dvd to your hard drive?

[smirnoff]

its likely a pal dvd.

there are two main standards..ntsc (this side of the water) and pal (east side of the water).

dvd players are mostly made to play one type depending on which area your in.

removeing the region code does not change the type of dvd it is.

fortunaly there is a easy way in most cases to get around this (takes 5 min to do).

http://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=221928

very easy to do and most players will then play the dvd.

this works becuase the pal ntsc restriction is do in 90% or the players becuase of the firmware they put on it and not the hardware.

just there way of makeing more money.

[smirnoff]

lol..great minds and all that.

[Law]

If its the case of PAL versus NTSC , isnt there a setting in dvd shrink to switch from one to the other?

[Law]

ok, nevermind, it doesnt.

[Twan]

Thanks for the responses. I didn't think about the PAL/NTSC issue... looks like there's no easy way to covert it, but I'll give smirnoff's suggestion a shot.

[Wingnut31]

You can buy a DVD player that will play both PAL & NTSC for $100 or so if you think you will be seeing more PAL discs.

[Wingnut31]

or put in your computer and use ifoedit to check if it is PAL, if it turns out to be NTSC rip to your harddrive and use ifoedit to make it region free and then use Shrink on it.

[smirnoff]

pal is becoming more popular since its a better standard.