Hey folks-- I just got a dvd region-2 PAL 3-dvd set and am trying to change it to NSTC, but when i put it into dvd shrink first to try and download the files, to then run them through the dvd PAL-NTSC program (forget the name, but it works well), dvd shrink said i had to change the DRIVE's region specification, and that i could only do this a total of four times. yet other times i've put PAL films in from region 6 and had no problems, nor had i ever seen this message when doing so. so my question is, What does this mean? Do I only have 4 total times to ever do this, or if i delete dvd shrink and reload it again, would it give me 4 more times (as i'll be going between this PAL 3-DVD set and regular american region-1 films), or does dvd shrink, or changing the dvd drive's region code (whatever that means) permanently alter my dvd-drive? seems unlikely, but wionder if any of you have come across this particular message before. thanks
mixwell: If I understand what you are trying to do, convert a PAL movie to NTSC, I would not change your drive. What you need to do is rip the movie to your hard drive. Once it is ripped to your hard drive run it through VOB Blanker. You will select the IFO file, then right click on it and select video properties. In the dialog box that pops up just select NTSC format. I have done this several times recently and it has worked well. Choose an output folder for VOB Blanker to send the new files to, I would recommend something like "(movie)NTSC files". Once that is done, run the NTSC files through shrink and burn. That should do the trick.
no, no, i get that. you missed my point. when i TRY to download this one before sending it through vob-blanker, dvd shrink says, well, what i said above--that i only have 4 chances to CHANGE the region ON MY DRIVE, which i'd never heard of before nor run into problems with. also, the vob-blanked version is NOT purely fine and NTSC--it looks all green and square-binary-blotchy when i run it through dvd shrink after i have vob-blanked it. never had trhis nor any other problem on any other PAL-region 6 discs i was transfroming to NTSC. only on this region-2 PAL disc set. i was asking about that as-of-before unheard of dvd shrink message about it needing to change the DRIVE'S region coding, and whether i cold delete dvd shrink and reload again (which i've often done) and get another four chances. any help on this from anyone who's had a similar message from dvd shrink?
You are correct. I do not understand how you would "download" files with DVD Shrink. I have not had any experience with Shrink asking to change my drive's region code. I have converted Region 2 PAL's to NTSC. As for changing the drive, I would not recommend it. It is my understanding that the number of changes is controlled by the drive itself and not the software that you may use to change it. So, to answer your question, I do not think uninstalling Shrink would make any difference with the number of times you can change your drive. Yes, you only have 4 times to change the region code of your drive. My point is that it will not do you any good if you want to change the files themselves to NTSC.
Hello. I assume ripping to the HDD was meant by the term download. Region protection comes in two flavors, hardware and software. DVD Shrink, DVD Decrypter, AnyDVD, and the other programs handle the software side of the RPC protection. The hardware side is another matter. You need to remove the RPC protection from your drive (i.e., make it region-free) by flashing modified firmware. For most people this isn't an issue because they are watching DVDs from the same region that they set their drive to initially. What is the brand and model of your burner and we'll try to point you to the modified firmware if it exists?
thanks guys after DVD shrink does a 1-minute test run-through of the dvd film, DVD shrink downloads the info from the DVD disc onto your hard drive, which is what i mean by "download," to take from one place or media and install in another. i have a Lite-On drive? i think so you mean the DRIVE changes and after 4 changes i could never set it back? that doesn't sound right. there must be a way to change it back and forth, no? how could it physically never be changed again after the 4th time? explain, please. anyway, i am at the stage now where i have run the dvd through fabdecrypter to remove the region-2 code, then through DVD shrink to separate the episodes, and then ran each one separately through vob blanker, and then will run them each once again through dvd shrink to get them ready for nero. the last time i tried to vob-blank and PAL-NTSC the episodes all together, the NTSC-ing didn't take. Maybe this time it will; i'll know once i run them through DVD shrink and then see, by pulling up the files on vob-blanker, if the NTSC changeover stuck. thanks TONS, guys
There are 5 user changes only. There are 5 manufacturer/factory changes as well iirc. Essentially this was done to prevent people living in other regions from getting access to DVDs from other regions that may still be in theatrical release in their region. All DVD players, whether on PCs or standalones, are supposed to have this RPC protection built-in. As I noted before, there is RPC protection on both the hardware and software. If you have a Lite-On drive, you can make it region-free by running this utility: http://dhc014.rpc1.org/LtnRPC/ If you fire up almost any DVD backup program, the name and model of your drive will be displayed in one the device selection menus.
thanks, laddy, that explains the rationale and the reality very well. i'll try and run the program, though i really doubt i will change it once i get this 3-DVD set region-2 code to transfer, as i never saw the DVD shrink page-comment-warning before. mixwell
Yes it's true that your drive will "stick" on a particular region. You can download firmware to make most drives "region free" which will eliminate that problem all together. If you can get the model # from your drive we can probably find the firmware for you. We will probably look here for the specific firmware: http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_result.php?kaj=1&isces You can also use a program just for this like DVD Region+CSS Free: http://www.dvdidle.com/dvd-region-free.htm I would just go with a firmware change though. Here is some detailed info from Doom9: http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/rpc1.htm Edit: I see laddyboy found the RPC utility for your Lite-on drive!! I'd go with that.
so laddy, do i install that and then run it--is it pretty easy to figure out? will it automatically hook-up to the drive and control it?
Yes just download the program. I believe it's an executable so just run it. If you have a Lite-On drive it should be able to find it and will then ask permission to do its thing.
