How to Convert Your HD-DVD Discs to Blu-Ray

eldavojohn writes "Are you one of the few who boarded the HD-DVD Titanic ship headed to the bottom of ocean to join BetaMax? Fret no longer, friend, simply convert those and pretend like you never invested in the wrong technology! All you need is a Windows machine with a fast processor, an HD-DVD drive, a Blu-Ray burner, 30GB of free disk space, at least, though 40GB or more is recommended and an internet connection to download the software! Or you can sit and be the crazy guy who continues to argue that HD-DVD is the superior technology whether it's true or not."

Comments

Get a pen

[CRCulver]

This green marker I just bought at an audiophile shop for only a couple of hundred dollars (it was on sale!) is said to not only convert HD-DVD to Blu-Ray, but straighten the bits out so that my Dolby Surround sounds truly true-to-life. Now it's time to try it out.

Re:Get a pen

[llZENll]

I can suggest another awesome upgrade, this $1700 power cable http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=PSPREPC&variation=2.0, upgrade that normal power cable which powers your player and experience true video and audio nirvana, it really does work! Never mind the 500ft of unshielded romex inside your wall, its truley the last 6ft of power cord that does make the difference you will see and hear!

Seriously if I ever see one of these in real life that someone has bought I will bitchslap them.

Re:Get a pen

[NC-17]

Brilliant pebbles. http://machinadynamica.com/machina31.htm

Also, codename turquoise. http://machinadynamica.com/machina34.htm

Yeah... Get out your bitchslapping hand.

Re:Get a pen

[shawb]

60Hz (depending on the power source) hum in audio equipment is quite common, and not actually a sign of a bad ground. Removing the ground pin is the wrong way to fix it.

The hum occurs because of an amplified ground loop. A ground loop is formed when the output of a grounded audio device is passed into an amplifier connected to the same ground. Shielded cabling will then ground the chaises of the signal device and the amplifier together, creating a closed loop between the devices and the electrical earth. This closed loop can then build up a 60hz cycle, I believe through induction with the power mains, but have not found a definitive answer. Normally this cycle is not enough to be electrically significant, except it is passed through an amplifier along with the desired signal. Removing the ground pin from one device will indeed open the circuit, preventing the ground loop from being able to cause a hum.

However, as you surmised, disconnecting the ground from an electrical device can be dangerous. The accepted way to open the circuit is by breaking the ground connection between the amplifier and the signal device, generally at the amplifier rather than the signal source. Doing so will essentially eliminate the effectiveness of the cable shielding, but will also eliminate the loud 60hz hum which is generally much louder than any electrical interference you will find. However, the electrical ground of your electronics will not be compromised, saving the equipment and operator from damage in the case of a malfunction.

Re:Money

[Professor_UNIX]

I'm sorry, but HD-DVD users are just plain outta luck. Next time, join the rest of us and just wait.

That doesn't seem right though. Since you're just purchasing a license to the movie, why can't you mail your HD-DVD discs back to the manufacturer and have them be exchanged for a Blu-Ray copy of the same movie (if available) for a nominal fee (say, $5 plus reasonable shipping and handling)? Perhaps Congress needs to get involved and sort this mess out so HD-DVD users don't get screwed out of their investment... it certainly adversely affects lives more than steroid using baseball players or the war in Iraq. Write your Congressman today and demand an HD-DVD exchange program be setup immediately!!!

Re:Oh is that all

[allawalla]

From newegg.com: HD-DVD drive: US$149.99 Blu-ray DVD burner: US$259.99 Blu-ray DVD: 1xUS$13.99 To a grand total of US$423.97 Being glad that you waited until the format war was over: Priceless

Sony's got you covered!

[Sabz5150]

Convert your HD-DVDs to Blu-Ray for 24.99 each. They'll even throw in a sleek blue case and an insert sheet!

I don't understand why you would even need to

[elrous0]

Why would you need to do this when you presumably already on a HD-DVD player. It's not like your HD-DVD player is going to just turn into a pumpkin at midnight tonight and stop playing your HD-DVD's. And, even if it did ever break, it would be MUCH cheaper and easier to just buy a used HD-DVD player (you can get the Xbox 360 add-on for $130 new) than to go to the huge hassle and expense of converting them to blu-ray.

Who exactly is this article meant for? Some fictional person with a buttload of HD-DVD's but no HD-DVD player or goddamn sense?!?

Re:Money

[thelexx]

Back in the mid-80's, I did just that with some game software when I went from a C64 to an Atari ST. Can't remember if it was Origin or SSI, think it was one of those though. And IIRC, all I had to send them was the front page of the manual. You would probably get laughed at today.

Re:Or

[nomadic]

Or you could just keep your HD DVD player.

That's so crazy it just might work!

Re:Money

[perlchild]

I wish I had mod points for you man. Software used to be sold by gentlemen. Now it's sold by lawyers.