Found an excellent freeware DVD copy tool...

[Djard]

I tried Blaze DVD Pro and several others. I finally bought a copy of DVDFab Platinum to backup my movies. The app works very well about 80% of the time. But then I found an excellent freeware tool set that works 100% of the time, is simple to use, never needs updating, and renders high quality DVD copies. I love it. The included illustrated manual is absolutely foolproof--no missing steps! The download (clean), named "DVDCopyKit," is free at the interesting site below...

http://www.mednetconnection.com/42027.html

Now I'm still looking for an all-in-one tool like MediaInfo for obtaining the details of video content. Unfortunately MediaInfo does not include info about the region code of a DVD file. Presently I have to skip to NeroInfo to determine if the DVD region code is None, All, or 1,2,3 etc. I didn't see anything about region codes in GSpot, either. Can anyone recommend a media information gathering tool, like MediaInfo, but, one that includes detection of the DVD's region code?

[Noahtuck]

Name: DVD Copy Kit (RipIt4Me v1.7, DVDShrink v3.2, DVD Decrypter v3.5)
File: DVD-Copy-Kit.zip (3,391 KB)

Old, been around for many moon's, it's seem's to be missing fixvts in the list of programs , although i did not bother to DL it seeing as i, and prob. most people here, already have them all.
And none of these programs have been updated in oh.... 1-2 years, you can get all of them right here and because of being shut down not being updated, they do not work 100% of the time regardless of what you may think 8)

dvd decrypter, dvdinfopro, and prob. many other programs will tell you the region coding of a dvd video disc.
After being ripped to your HDD region coding is pretty much meaningless.

[HemLok]

The later releases of RipIt4Me incorporated FixVTS into the program, itself. That may be why it isn't listed. The full installer for RipIt4Me contained DVD Shrink & DVD Decrypter so I'm unsure why this is labeled DVD Copy Kit. I guess someone didn't have the full installer so just packaged them together separately.

Sadly, while this software still works there are some discs that it cannot handle and as time passes the list will grow larger.

[Djard]

Thanks for your kind reply. I suppose nothing works all the time, but this kit is the only thing I have used that has NEVER failed; and I have used quite a few programs. I have FixVTS and have not had to use it...yet. The version of RiptIt4Me in the kit is 1.7.1.0, which I understand was the last version. Maybe it does have FixVTS incorporated.

The difference between the download at the site I provided and anywhere else, it seems, is that the included step-by-step guide is UNUSUALLY clear. Folks will be able to follow the instructions without the frustration of contending with typically bad English and missing steps (I guess developers expect us to know what they deem as obvious). I have come to the unmistakable conclusion that computing manuals are written for people who don't need them.

I respectfully disagree that "After being ripped to your HDD, region coding is pretty much meaningless." I lend to friends DVDs sent to me from overseas, and not all DVD players support the PAL format; so before I make a backup copy to lend, I need to know the region code.

The app you recommended requires purchase without certainty of it being compatible with your drive, according to the comments on the page by users of DVDInfoPro. I'll just keep looking.

If v1.7.1.0 of RipIt4Me does not include FixVTS, do you know where I could obtain an update?

[Ai Haibara]

It's supposed to have FixVTS incorporated, at any rate. However, it's still probably a good idea to keep a copy of FixVTS around, anyway. (Not necessarily for use with RipIt4Me, but for anything else that might arise.)

Region coding isn't the same thing as PAL/NTSC coding. Here's a Wikipedia article that might explain region-coding better: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_region_codes
You could theoretically still have a PAL disc even if the region is set to one that doesn't use PAL video.

For FixVTS, I think you can still take a look at VideoHelp's Tools page for it (has the first instance of 'FixVTS' in this post been turned into a link?)

[Djard]

Yes, FixVTS is linked on the page; and I have v1.603. I have only used it once, and it worked fine. VideoHelp.com is a great resource, especially for info by savvy people.

Another tool at the site that I found to be practically a must-have is "Registrar Lite": after uninstalling a program, it lets you search for, group, and safely remove all the keys and values from Windows' registry, in one click. What a contrast to Windows' regedit, which limits you to removing only one item at a time, and you must run Find after each search, which can take hours if removing UVS or QuickTime leftovers. It also let me defrag the registry, which made a noticeable difference in system speed. I don't have to worry about cluttering the registry when trying out new video tools any more. Yay!

[Noahtuck]

I respectfully disagree that "After being ripped to your HDD, region coding is pretty much meaningless." I lend to friends DVDs sent to me from overseas, and not all DVD players support the PAL format; so before I make a backup copy to lend, I need to know the region code.

you can respectfully disagree all you want.. it does not make you correct

What Ai Haibara said...

Now if you would have asked about "video format" & not "region coding" you would have received a correct answer for "video format" but you asked about "region coding" and received a correct answer.
GSPOT will tell you what video format a dvd video is in, by stating the framerate & resolution as will many programs.

Better click that link up in the top left hand corner of the site.... WHAT IS DVD & start reading & maybe browse through the Glossary 8)

[blinky88]

Hi Djard,

Thank you for mentioning "Registrar Lite" when you went to that site, I have just downloaded it. A great pain in my butt is having to remove items from the registry one by one, I hope this tool does what its surposed to do.
I consider this tool a must have.

Thanks again,
Blinky

[Seeker47]

The later releases of RipIt4Me incorporated FixVTS into the program, itself.
Sadly, while this software still works there are some discs that it cannot handle and as time passes the list will grow larger.

Just curious about something, since the top rip tool rec of the last couple years has been Fab Decrypter: does FD (already) do anything similar to what FixVTS took care of ? Or does it not need to ? (And if so, Why ?)

[sikoone]

Pgcedit will let view a dvd's region code as well as let you change it.