Changing Regions on my Laptop to Play DVD's

[SouthNZoneFan]

Hiya,

Here is my problem. I am living abroad and want to watch movies from here, but my wife bought me the Sienfield DVD set (region 1) and my laptop is set to region 2.

I went to watch it the other day and I got this pop up message that stated that I can change it if I like, but once I change it to region 1 I cannot change it back to region 2 or any other region EVER. Even if I reinstall XP!!!

Is there a work around or another FREE program I can use to avoid this problem? I want to watch both regions!!!

 

[NavyVet]

I don't know of any free "legal" program, but I did a quick check in the registry and there is a region code setting. I imagine you can edit this back and forth as necessary, although I am not 100% sure this will work. Mine is currently set with the 0x00000001 bit, yours should be 0x00000002? If you're not familiar with the registry:

Start
Run
Regedit
Edit tab, Findtab, enter DefaultDVDRegion

I of course would recommend download a registry saver program before making any changes.

 

[SouthNZoneFan]

I don't know of any free "legal" program, but I did a quick check in the registry and there is a region code setting. I imagine you can edit this back and forth as necessary, although I am not 100% sure this will work. Mine is currently set with the 0x00000001 bit, yours should be 0x00000002? If you're not familiar with the registry:

Start
Run
Regedit
Edit tab, Findtab, enter DefaultDVDRegion

I of course would recommend download a registry saver program before making any changes.

I actually cannot change the region any more times or else it sticks. And then there goes my ability to watch region two dvd's.... I found that work around but I still get the little pop up box telling me that I cannot undo it....Thanks for the info though...Keep it coming...

 

[Chaz]

I don't know of any free ways but Sly Soft has a program called AnyDVD that will play DVDs from any region.

$40 isn't too bad.

http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvd.html

 

[Dback Jon]

What genius made DVD regions?

 

[jerryp]

What genius made DVD regions?

The MPAA?