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DVDs and computers

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HenryGiovanni
  5/15/2019 17:05 EST

Hi All,
I have a problem; maybe someone can help, or at least shed some light.

I brought a FEW VCR tapes with me, and a machine. I plugged it in and the machine went "zzzzt!", some smoke came out, and I put it where it belonged (trash).

I brought a lot more DVDs, and they mostly work just fine, whether on the computer or on the DVD player we brought with us.

However, one day I wanted to watch the movie "300" (Thermopylae), and it went for about 56 minutes and stopped dead. I had my son buy another and my daughter brought it over last month. Watching it tonight (finally!), it stopped at the EXACT SAME SPOT. It is not possible that two copies stop at the EXACT SAME SPOT. There must be something either: A) in the computer, or B) in the actual disks.

I cannot believe that two DVD disks could stop at the EXACT same spot, so I must be missing something.

Any suggestions on how I can finish this movie? Thanks in advance.
Cheers, John.

Sergios
  5/16/2019 01:53 EST

Stream it. Hardware storage is obsolete.

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whidden39
  5/16/2019 04:04 EST

John: that’s a new one. I host classic movie nights during winter time with friends and have a lot of DVDs in different formats. I don’t like streaming for these moments, less reliable, and I can’t often find the movies I want. I don’t own a Blu-ray player; so I avoid buying Blu-ray DVDs. Will buy a Blu-ray player eventually since they play the non-Blu-Ray ones too). I have bought DVDs mostly via Amazon or eBay (US or UK). Formats/regions are noted for where they should play. My DVD player came with the house here in Italy; so won’t play most of my US DVDs. So, the ones that have proper formatting for Europe go into my DVD player. The ones with other formatting go into my laptop connected to my television with an HDMI cable. When I get an order, I test each and note how to play it on the case. Perhaps nothing I said will useful to you since I have never had a DVD stop line that (or two different ones in the same manner). Sounds very sinister to me.

whidden39
  5/16/2019 04:04 EST

John: that’s a new one. I host classic movie nights during winter time with friends and have a lot of DVDs in different formats. I don’t like streaming for these moments, less reliable, and I can’t often find the movies I want. I don’t own a Blu-ray player; so I avoid buying Blu-ray DVDs. Will buy a Blu-ray player eventually since they play the non-Blu-Ray ones too). I have bought DVDs mostly via Amazon or eBay (US or UK). Formats/regions are noted for where they should play. My DVD player came with the house here in Italy; so won’t play most of my US DVDs. So, the ones that have proper formatting for Europe go into my DVD player. The ones with other formatting go into my laptop connected to my television with an HDMI cable. When I get an order, I test each and note how to play it on the case. Perhaps nothing I said will useful to you since I have never had a DVD stop line that (or two different ones in the same manner). Sounds very sinister to me.

almare2
  5/16/2019 09:21 EST

Hi, whidden39, You can get around that problem by buying a portable region 0 player. I bought mine on Amazon. 10.5” screen, plays all formats, present price $69.99, brand DPOWER. You may be able to find something like that in Italy.

almare2
  5/16/2019 09:24 EST

Hi, John, That sounds strange. If you want to get to the bottom of it and have a DVD to MP4 converter program (I use WinX DVD Ripper Platinum), you could try converting the DVD and see if the problem still arises.

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rsetzer99
  5/16/2019 10:10 EST

Dvd players don't cost enough anymore to spend much time trying to pin it down.

HenryGiovanni
  5/16/2019 13:21 EST

Hi retzer99,
True story, but this glitch happens on both the computer and the DVD player, at the same spot. I suspect there is some sort of code (I gotta learn to code!) in the disk, and that, somehow, my computer knows I'm not in the US anymore (it does know this). Or the CIA is secretly recording my reactions when it doesn't work for future "civil protection" actions. Or Goldfinger just wants the cable connections. Or, . . .???
I truly don't watch enough TV or movies to get too far into it. I just wanted to take a break from the practice driving tests for a night. Nuts!
I can always read a book instead, which is what usually happens anyway.
Cheers, John.

HenryGiovanni
  5/16/2019 13:39 EST

Hi Sergios,
I hope things are going well for you up in France.

The problem with streaming is that everyone wants you to have an account. As a general rule, I prefer to not open an account; very few exceptions apply. Next thing you know you are bombarded by ads, or everyone has your personal info (they probably already have it anyway, but still, . . .).

I like to think that "It's hard to make life easy, but easy to make life hard". Having an account for everything falls into that last half of the sentence. Trying to not have accounts everywhere is the first half. I try very hard to remain "internet invisible", or at least difficult to find. Just how it is. I don't want to hear from old girlfriends or high school classmates.

In the end, I don't watch enough TV to care. When the need arises, I just go to the box of movies and pick one out.

HenryGiovanni
  5/16/2019 13:47 EST

Hi Almare2,
I've always thought the best, and easiest, cure for computer problems was "fresh air and gravity". Gotta be on the second story and have a window handy though, or you will think twice about it.

I think that if I'm going to convert anything, it's going to be my life as it is into a life without computer "complications"! I'm not going to try to chase down an elusive problem; I'll just work around it somehow, or do without.

But thanks! Maybe someone else can use that tip. I was dismayed, but it's truly not worth becoming neurotic over a movie, and I refuse to go down that road (unless it's Bond, James Bond!). It's no coincidence that his initials and mine are the same, you know!!!

Cheers, John.

HenryGiovanni
  5/16/2019 14:29 EST

Hi whidden39,
If you host a classic movie night, then I want to move down there! Not that I watch a lot of movies, but it sounds like fun.

The problem I had was on both my laptop and the Blu-Ray player, at the same spot. Very strange. Must be a code in there somewhere, but I'm not going looking for it. Wouldn't know it if I found it anyway! Alas. Life is supposed to be simple. I still want a "word" with that guy who promised that computers would make my life easier and I'd have three-day weekends every week.
Cheers, John.

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foxwhite1
  5/16/2019 14:57 EST

Hey John don’t fret the movie is not that good! ??

HenryGiovanni
  5/16/2019 16:40 EST

Hi Foxwhite1,

"This is madness".

"Madness?
THIS
IS
SPARTA!"
*kicks bad guy over the edge*

And:
"Our arrows will blot out the sun".

"Then we will fight in the shade!"

What's not to like? I love this movie. Just wanted to watch it again.

Cheers, John.

whidden39
  5/17/2019 02:05 EST

Almare2, thanks for region 0 player suggestion. That simplifies everything. .

Sergios
  5/17/2019 02:48 EST

After struggling trying to organize my photo files, reducing duplicates and backing up originals, going from over a hundred thousand to ten thousand and then finding, when everything was done, that I lost many of my originals and still had a bunch of junk, I too want to talk to that guy.

HenryGiovanni
  5/17/2019 08:46 EST

Hi Sergios,
I think he went into hiding when he found out I was looking for him!

He probably doesn't know you are looking for him, too, so it's possible that you'll find him before I do. Let me know if you do.

Cheers, John.

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