Video Questions

                 

1.  Will a Blu-Ray disc play in a DVD player?  A Blu-Ray disc will not play in a DVD player. However, a Blu-Ray player will play DVD, CD and Blu-Ray discs. Blu-Ray discs require their own specific player.

 

2.  I purchased a DVD from another country, it's designated as PAL, Region 2 and I can't get it to play.  Can I play this using my computer disc drive?  In order to play a DVD from a region other than Region 1 (NTSC), which is North America, you need a code free/region free player.  If you attempt to play a Region 2 DVD in your computer your OS will prompt you to change the region code.  I do not recommend you change the region code on your computer because after the 4th or 5th change you will be locked into the last region set and this action cannot be undone.

 

Multi-region, code-free/region free DVD players are available for purchase from multiple manufacturers.  Browse the web for a reputable dealer and name brand company and read the details of the equipment to make sure it is truly code-free.

• Region 1: U.S., U.S. Territories, Canada, and Bermuda.
• Region 2: Japan, Europe, South Africa, and the Middle East, including Egypt.
• Region 3: Southeast Asia, East Asia, including Hong Kong.
• Region 4: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

3.  If I don't want to buy another DVD player how can I watch a DVD from another region?  The best way is to come into the Video Services facility in Firestone Library, all the DVD and VHS players here are code free. 

4.  Converting VHS tape to DVD.  I have VHS tapes with years of family special events recorded on them.  Since I can no longer purchase a VHS player to watch the tapes how can I convert them to DVDs?  If the tape is a non-commercial, not encrypted VHS tape we can show you how to convert the film to a file and save it onto a DVD.  A two-hour tape will take two+ hours to convert and you must remain with the tape the entire time.  Please check our hours as they vary during the summer and holiday breaks.

5.  What is streaming video? Streaming video is content sent in compressed form over the Internet and displayed by the viewer in real time. With streaming video or streaming media, a Web user does not have to wait to download a file to play it. Instead, the media is sent in a continuous stream of data and is played as it arrives.

Important Note:  It is your responsibility to be aware of copyright rules and regulations: unauthorized electronic duplication of all copyrighted materials is prohibited. http://www.princeton.edu/copyright