New Panasonic E80 DVD Recorder/DVR Question

[alsays]

I just got this DVD Recorder/DVR for Christmas and I've been trying to make copies of all my kids DVD's so we don't have to replace them so often and though some work fine, I'm running into so many that are copy protected. Is there anyway around this?

[bluntman72]

You can't backup commerical DVDs on this machine.

[alsays]

Actually what I've been doing is hooking up another DVD player to the Panasonic and recording it to the harddrive and then transferring it to DVD...but like I said earlier, I have run into a few problems with some DVD's. Not all but some and they are all commercial DVD's.

[alsays]

So I guess there isn't anything I can do about this? If I were to get a DVD writer for my computer is there a way to get around the copy protection issues that way?

[macleod]

there are a few ways around this. There is a product (Sima), which removes the copy protection. another solution would be to purchase a DVD player than can have the macrovision, etc. disabled and then record to the panny (the apex 1100W for example).

Another possible way (although longer and more of a pain in the butt, but thinking out of the box) would be to put the dvd in your computer dvd player (if you have one) and convert it to CVD or some other format that will play on your dvd player. Then play the CVD and record on the panny.

I believe there is a website that has been referenced on this forum that is a listing of dvd's that do not have either macrovision or CSS on them. You can see which of your dvd's would be OK.

ps. You will/may have the same problems with commercial VHS that you want to convert to DVD.

[handyguy]

I just use a macro free dvd player, e.g. Apex 1500 & input in the panasonic. Also search the forum as there are lots of topics on this.