Convert old VHS movie to DVD

[sanray19]

I own an old VHS movie I believe is protected (Macrovision?). I understand such protection applies only for tape to tape copying not tape to digital? This movie was never produced in a DVD format. I know there are several hardware configurations and digital cards available to accomplish this task. However, as I review most of them there seems to be problems of one sort or another. Does anyone have any advice of how I can approach this task most successfully? FYI - I am quite new to video conversion so simple would be best!!
I am using a Dell 430 Desktop computer with 4GB RAM running Windows 7 Ultimate.
Thanks, In advance, for any help provided.

[DB83]

How do you know it is protected ?

Many commercial VHS simply were not.

[sanray19]

I purchased the VHS tape of the 1955 movie from a collector in England who had one of the last tapes. Following are quotes from his correspondence. "I do have a VHS copy from the original widescreen, that was shown in the theater in 1955. It cannot be copied for it is protected with Macrovision Piracy protection. It plays fine on US VCR's. The movie is professionally done by a studio with a nice graphic cover in a plastic VHS case, and the sound and color is very good for a 54 year old movie."

[DB83]

A UK PAL tape would not 'play fine on US VCR's'

So I wonder whether he had a NTSC tape which he could not copy simply due to that fact - not having the knowledge to recognise it. An NTSC tape WILL play on UK machines bit is somewhat harder to copy on UK systems.

The tape plays ok on your system ? If it does and you have a standard VCR then it is not PAL.The quickest way to determine copy protection is to try and do a copy with a dvd recorder. That will immediately spit when it sees copy protection. And if you only have one tape to copy that is the simplest way to do it - if it can be copied in that way.

[sanray19]

The VHS tape does play in my standard Panasonic tape player. My question is how do I connect my VHS tape player to my DVD play/record disc drive installed in my computer to determine if protection does indeed exist?

[DB83]

The VHS tape does play in my standard Panasonic tape player. My question is how do I connect my VHS tape player to my DVD play/record disc drive installed in my computer to determine if protection does indeed exist?

So you do have a NTSC tape.

You can not connect a VCR to a computer-based dvd drive. I was referring to a stand-alone dvd-recorder.

If you do not have one, maybe you know someone who can help you there.

Beyond that, you will have to obtain a capture device. Best one step at a time rather than invest in hardware to overcome the copy protection that you might not have needed.

[CSULB71]

If you have access to a camcorder with composite video input (yellow RCA plug), try to record the output from your VCR -- if the VHS tape is copy protected, the camcorder will not let you record it.

[sanray19]

I do not have access to a camcorder. I have been looking at video capture devices assuming the old Macrovision protection would not be effective in the conversion process. Most individual reviews of each are confusing and do not convey a lot of confidence. Does anyone have a recommendation of a good video capture device for my conversion task? I assume that if a conversion is successful then I am faced with the problem of how to record the digitized information stored on my computer to a DVD that would be playable in a normal DVD player? I have a Windows 7 operating system and use DVDFab8 software for creating DVD's.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
P.S. Is there a reliable service that anyone could recommend for accomplishing this task? I hate to release my original VHS tape but perhaps this would be my best option since this would probably be a one time need. This is a 1955 tape and I'm confident that any copyrights have expired.