Also some DVDs contain both the 4:3 and the 16:9 version of the movie. Maybe the 4:3 is the first thing on the .ifo file. If you want to make sure that you are convertiong the correct thing then rip the .vob files and then try to play them in WinDVD or PowerDVD and see if they play 4:3 or 16:9.
I always use 4:3 when encoding, even 16:9 movies. I mean, the selection is not exactly made based on the format of the movie. Read the FAQs to get an idea on this. When the movie is 16:9, encoding it on 4:3 will produce the "egghead effect". However, when viewed on a 16:9 TV, the picture will be stretched to the correct proportions. When viewing it on a 4:3 TV, you can press the (16:9) button (all 4:3 TV nowadays have this feature) and you will again get the correct proportions. --hyperspaced
To answer the main question, it's a simple error somewhere. Most likely when the IFO was created it got tagged the wrong way. If you know for certain it's the opposite then just manually change it. hyperspaced be careful of blanket statements. I have never seen a TV with a 4:3/16:9 switch. I think it depends on where you live. In the US I have never seen that option. More often the encoding of a 16:9 movie as 4:3 is for people that have widescreen TV's. If you want to learn more about this method do a search. Personally I just encode it as it suppose to be as I do not own a widescreen TV and this does not interest me. Mark
It is a blanket statement when you don't qualify your statement with something like "In my area of Europe this option is available" as it is not here in the US or I would guess in Canada as well since they use the same system as we do. Can you be certain England, France, Sweden, China, Japan, Canada et all have this option? Keep this in mind since we have visitors from all over the world. Telling somebody to do something that will only work with a set like yours that is only available where you are is not the best way to go. All I ask is that you keep in mind the worldly nature of this forum and qualify your statements or say "if you have this option" so assumptions are not made. Some people may take your word that they have this option and after they encode find out they do not. Mark