DVD Area Codes

[Graham Todd]

Is there a way to (for instance) rip a DVD for Rgion 1 and encode it
to play it for Region 2 countries?

I've recently been given a selection of DVDs by a friend whose DVD
player no longer works, and who has moved house and anyway it's (the
player) been left at the local neighbourhood rubbish dump.

However all the DVDs are encoded to Region 1 (USA) whereas I need them
to be playable on a Regional 2 DVD player (UK), although Region 0 (All
Regions) would do just as well.  I am not seeking to break UK law,
which if I understand correctly, allows somebody to copy their own DVDs
(and not one he/she has borrowed, and which might be for a different
Region) and play them in the UK.

I know I can change the Region (if I can find the right codes for it),
but I wondered if its possible to convert the Region when ripping the
DVD, which gets round the step of changing the Region coded into the
DVD player. Or is there some other easy way to accomplish this?

All assistance through this list would be gratefully received, as
would all assistance sent to my personal e-mail address. 

-- Graham Todd