We had planned to buy, and either send a DVD about San Francisco (a travelogue) to our relatives in Germany who will be visiting here, or give it to them when they depart for home.

I just found out through the Border's book store site, that DVD's are divided into world regions, numbered 1-6, and that they can only be viewed in their countrys specifc region number.

ie: US and Canada, etc. is Region 1, Europe etc. is Region 2, and so on.

Each DVD should be marked with the region number on the outside.

Nina

I know that VHS tapes can be converted. If the DVD is that important to you, I would suggest seeing if you can find someone to convert it for you.

DVD’s usually consist of 2 regions 1 – 2

If you have a multi region DVD player, you can play DVD’s from anywhere.

Some DVD players can be self-converted into multi regional.

Hi Nina66, I knew that there was a difference amongst DVD's but did not know that the US/Canada is Region 1 and Europe is Region 2. I just checked a DVD I have, it says Region 1.

Nina, if a DVD shows region 2 I assume that would include Italy?

Thanks for the good information.

I just checked my instruction book..my DVD player plays Region 1 DVD's only.
Thank you again Nina66 for this thread..it is always good to find out what is what, lol! Best regards.

LoveItaly

This is the link you require.

Click on he link; scroll down until you come to the manufactures name

Click on the manufactures name, and look for your make.

Click on your make, and follow these very simple instructions.

On successful completion, you will have a multi regional DVD

Sorry, I forgot the link

www.dvd365.net

AreYouSure, thank you!!! It is sort of late here but I will get back to the website you posted here..and if I can't figure it out I will have my very computer savy grandson do this. Thank you again! Best regards.

Nina66 - if your relatives in Germany purchased their DVD player in Europe, there is a good chance that it will be multi-system and they could play your DVD. Fall-back option would be a computer - my kids have watched both Region 1 and Region 2 movies on their laptops.

After 5 years of living overseas with just a US (Region 1) DVD player....we finally bought a multi-system player. Now we can buy movies when we travel and don't have to wait to be back in the US to buy movies.

Also - just for an FYI...Region 1 movies are also referred to as NTSC and Region 2 movies as PAL.

And - this system also tends to apply to video-type games (XBox, Playstation, etc).

Thanks, now this makes sense.

And thank you LoveItaly, you put such a nice slant on all of your responses.

Nina