Greek DVDs in American DVD players

[Fatsa]

When I went to Greece this past summer, I brought my sister back some children's DVDs so her kids can learn Greek words, like colors, numbers, animals, etc. The problem is that her DVD player doesn't recognize these DVDs. I know when I was in Greece in 94, American VHS tapes wouldn't play in Greek/European VCRs because of the electricity differences. My cousin had a switch on the back of his VCR so he could play American VHS tapes. My sister says she doesn't have any kind of button on the back of her DVD player. I can't imagine that this would be the case with DVDs because CDs and DVDs that I brought back from Greece play in my computer's CD/DVD player. Does anyone know what's going on?

[StratosP]

Originally Posted by Fatsa
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 15 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

When I went to Greece this past summer, I brought my sister back some children's DVDs so her kids can learn Greek words, like colors, numbers, animals, etc. The problem is that her DVD player doesn't recognize these DVDs. I know when I was in Greece in 94, American VHS tapes wouldn't play in Greek/European VCRs because of the electricity differences. My cousin had a switch on the back of his VCR so he could play American VHS tapes. My sister says she doesn't have any kind of button on the back of her DVD player. I can't imagine that this would be the case with DVDs because CDs and DVDs that I brought back from Greece play in my computer's CD/DVD player. Does anyone know what's going on?

I think it has to do with the regional codes.

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 15 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Greece is region 2
USA is region 1

DVD Regional Codes range from 1-6. Some DVD's can be ALL regions. meaning no matter what region the DVD should work..
This is most likely your problem.

[Prokomenos]

Originally Posted by StratosP
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 15 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I think it has to do with the regional codes.

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 15 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Greece is region 2
USA is region 1

DVD Regional Codes range from 1-6. Some DVD's can be ALL regions. meaning no matter what region the DVD should work..
This is most likely your problem.

Exactly like Stratos said Fatsa...

[really]

Fatsa, you need to have a Region 2 DVD player. You can buy those in Greek stores online.

I heard that there is no difference if you play the DVD on the computer, however, it looks like some computers even differentiate the regions now. This is all an attempt to reduce piracy.

[Napalm]

DVD players that come with computers are all regions. At least with my computer's DVD player.

You can "crack" your DVD player to play all regions. It often requires you to push a sequence of buttons on the remote. It varies by both DVD brand and model. Really old DVD players might need more complicated ways to work.

Another reason a DVD may not work is that it might be the Double sized 8+ gig sized discs and some DVD players may not read them.

[really]

I read somewhere that if you make a copy of your DVD, it erases the region and then you can play it on your DVD player. Don't know if it is true, my question is how could your computer make a copy if it cannot even read it to start with?

All these regions are really bothersome, I mean if someone wants to cheat, they cheat, how can the region coding stop that? I wonder why they have not invented something yet for DVDs that are like those CDs that you cannot copy.

The thing is it is OK to make Region 2 DVDs but why don't they also make Region 1 DVDs (of the same thing) if they sell in North America?

[Napalm]

I read somewhere that if you make a copy of your DVD, it erases the region and then you can play it on your DVD player.

I think that depends on teh software you use. If you use a software that does a pure DVD to DVD copy then it is effectively taking the IMAGE of one disc and burning it on the next. If you are using a burn software and created a DVD file in the VOB format (the tradition file format of DVD players) it will give you burn options among them is the region setting which nobody in their right mind will change to anything but all regions. If you are creating a "new" DVD, you don't even need to use the standard VOB format, if your player can read computer files you can burn the computer formatted files like mpeg, avi, etc onto a disc which will fit more files on the disc.

how could your computer make a copy if it cannot even read it to start with?

All regions is read put not viewed to you. A computer can burn a direct image of a dvd onto another without the computer being able to understand the DVD. THis is how people can burn discs of other computer systems to one another. WHat you can not do is use PHYSICALLY different media discs that are not playable period on your DVD. FOr example a CDR cannot read DVD discs. High density burned DVD discs cannot be read on older DVDs. ALso you cannot play files that are readable to your system but may not have software reasons to play. Your player might read the file and not know how to play it.

The thing is it is OK to make Region 2 DVDs but why don't they also make Region 1 DVDs (of the same thing) if they sell in North America?

I think there are tons of little details to these rules. For example i notice that cheap no-name movies sold at stores often are on all regions. I notice that asian stores are allowed to sell asian region DVDs without legal issues.
Another thing is that in Canada you can make products that are not legal here. For example there were car radar companies in Canada making radars for American companies that were not legal in Canada to be sold.

[really]

Thanks for your explanations, Napalm. Yes, I notice that we have different kinds of DVD discs too, this is all so complicated.

Why wouldn't the Asian stores be allowed to sell Asian region DVDs in Canada if they are not stolen? It is the same thing like Greek stores selling Region 2 DVDs here, no?

I bought some Bruce Lee DVDs a while ago in a Chinatown and I could not play them on my DVD player, I don't know why, I was so disappointed. Maybe it is an Asian region. At least I have the collection in videos.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 15 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


---------- Post added at 05:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:31 PM ----------

Maybe you can help me with this, Napalm. The Bruce Lee DVD is HDVD-9 and under the HDVD there is the word Video. Do you know if this is an Asian region, is that why I can't watch it? (sigh) Such a nice picture of Bruce Lee on the DVD.

[Napalm]

That's a DVD9 which is higher density IIRC, double that of regular DVDs. My old DVD player don't play those either, i have to watch them on computer.
I personally don't use a DVD player much these days, i have a computer hooked up to the TV so i can watch the videos off the computer DVD player or off the hard drive if it is in computer format.

[really]

Thanks for the info, Napalm. Now I found out there are higher density DVDs, double layer DVDs, etc. Hever paid attention to those things before, next time I buy blank or recorded DVDs, would have to buy the right kind.