Capture VHS onto DVD (copy protection)

[Karlchen]

Hi,
I am trying to put my old VHS movies onto DVD to save them from further decay. I am in the "PAL world".
I am using the DVD HP Movie maker and have some trouble with the copy protection of the VHS. Now I hope, that I don't violate any forum rules, but capturing your own commercial VHS onto DVD and trying to go around the protection is not illegal..or is it?
When I am trying to go via the video input I get the message, that the VHS is copy protected.
When I use the "normal input" (like hooking up a TV cable) I get a black line on the screen.
Could a different software help be the answer? I read about many other programs in the forum, but I wanted to find out first, if the copy protection might be problem that I will also encounter with other applications.

Thanks for any help guys!!!

[mbaker_jr]

Please provide more details about your method, especially regarding your analog capture device and the software that you are using to capture the video.

I had a similar problem trying to capture macrovision protected signals from VHS with an ATI All-In-Wonder card and was able to resolve it using the macrovision hacks available at www.lordsmurf.com.

[Karlchen]

Hi mbaker_jr,

thanks for your reply. I have to gather these information. I am posting for a buddy of mine who has only limited access to the internet. As soon as I know the answers I will include them. I thought that there might have been a general solution for the copy protection of VHS. I will check the lordsmurf page and see what he says.

Thanks so far.

[SatStorm]

From today, 12 March 2004, unfortunatelly almost any action of our hobby is illegal in Europe.

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/business/legal/0,39020651,39148199,00.htm

Is it ethical?
This is another question.

But in short terms, we Europeans don't have any more the right to do any kind of convertion, by law!
USA has something called "Fair Use". This isn't even an issue for us in E.U.
Convert anything to DVD-R, and you are illegal...

[Karlchen]

Thanks for the info SatStorm,

Luckily my buddy sits on the Maldives, therefore I think that the officials there could care less.
However, that is good to know for me, since I am not as lucky as he is...

Thanx again.