DVD Regions

[AZZenny]

I searched the forum and this was last asked in 2005 here, with disappointing answers.

I want to get a couple foreign movies that are not available in region 1 format yet, if ever, only in region 'PAL 2' - Neither of my home DVD players accepts that, and I'm not sure where to check whether my newer computers will.

One seller store on EBay says 'all' computers will play regions 1 and 2, but before I blow $50 on a couple of DVDs, how can I determine if MY computers (Win XP) will play them without being forever limited to just one or the other?

 

[SirStefan32]

To do it on a PC, try this:

Download remote selector. (http://remoteselector.com/download.htm)
Click on remselec22.exe, go to CONTROL tab, select ENABLED, and it should give you a REGION FREE option.

Hopefully, that will work.


Otherwise, you have to google the exact model of your DVD player along with "region free" or something like that. Most (if not all) dvd players have a certain sequence of buttons you have to push which will allow you to play a different region dvd.

 

[nathan]

Your simplest solution is just to change the region code on your dvd drive to R2 and then change it back to R1. If this is going to be a one time thing, this is the easiest way to play the DVDs you want to order.

I've never had occasion to play a non-R1 DVD, but I know there are software ways to play (or at the very least decrypt) the DVD without having to change your region code. If what Stefan listed doesn't work, alternatives should be easy to find.

Final option is to patch the firmware to make your drive region free.
1) Go to Control Panel->Device Manager->CD/DVD-ROM Drives and see what the model number of your drive is
2) Go to http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_search.php and see if they have patched firmware for your drive.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

To do it on a PC, try this:

Download remote selector. (http://remoteselector.com/download.htm)
Click on remselec22.exe, go to CONTROL tab, select ENABLED, and it should give you a REGION FREE option.

Hopefully, that will work.


Otherwise, you have to google the exact model of your DVD player along with "region free" or something like that. Most (if not all) dvd players have a certain sequence of buttons you have to push which will allow you to play a different region dvd.

Even then, some players do not have the ability to make the NTSC/PAL conversion that it looks like you will need in order to watch some of the movies that you want.

Honestly, a lot of the cheaper chinese built DVD players are region free and do have NTSC/PAL conversion. That may be a route that you want to go. Not all PC DVD drives can be "region hacked."

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Your simplest solution is just to change the region code on your dvd drive to R2 and then change it back to R1. If this is going to be a one time thing, this is the easiest way to play the DVDs you want to order.

I've never had occasion to play a non-R1 DVD, but I know there are software ways to play (or at the very least decrypt) the DVD without having to change your region code. If what Stefan listed doesn't work, alternatives should be easy to find.

Final option is to patch the firmware to make your drive region free.
1) Go to Control Panel->Device Manager->CD/DVD-ROM Drives and see what the model number of your drive is
2) Go to http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_search.php and see if they have patched firmware for your drive.

That is usually ok, but most drives limit the amount of times you can switch back and forth, before they get locked into that specific region. Pioneers for example allow the switching of regions 5 times, before it will get locked on whichever reason you select next. Like Stefen and yourself have mentioned before, there are firmware hacks that you can do to remove the "locking" feature, not all players have a hack.

 

[AZZenny]

Thanks -- What a pain the butt! It's set the R 1 and has 4 changes left. I have to ask -- why do they have different regions, since it's not exactly affecting bootlegging or anything, and why NOT make all DVD players region-free?

I suppose I could install two DVD players on the computer I was going to watch them on -- one for each region. Any reason the software won't accept that?

 

[AZZenny]

Now I find this:

Recently, the Motion Picture Association of American (MPAA) has developed a new system called RCE (Regional Code Enhancing) which will be included on almost all new region 1 DVD releases. This new technology was created to prevent consumers with Code free DVD players from watching DVD discs purchased in North America. From now on, most region 1 DVD discs will be including this technology. As such, you may find in the future that some DVD discs bought in the United States will not work on your Code free DVD player. Currently, there is no word on whether or not this technology will be included on other regions.

Apparently the idea is to let Hollywood control the regional release of DVDs, since they are often timed for strategic sales purposes. Looks like a dedicated R2 DVD-player is necessary. Plus I didn't realize that the DVD player has to have a PAL/NTSC converter, in order to play on our televisions, which not all cheap, code-free players (or 'modified' players) have.

This seems exceptionally unfair since it's purely a marketing ploy.

 

[Ollie]

http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers

Search for your home dvd player in that page, you'll find if there's some region code hack. Or look into the forum.

Thanks -- What a pain the butt! It's set the R 1 and has 4 changes left. I have to ask -- why do they have different regions, since it's not exactly affecting bootlegging or anything, and why NOT make all DVD players region-free?

Greed ! Most theater releases aren't simultaneous, retail DVD releases vary by country, DVD prices are well... pretty different... and studios want to be able to sell exclusive distribution rights zone by zone or country by country.

By the way, the RCE is pretty old news (circa 2000 I would say). Any post-2000 zone free player would pass through it.

 

[AZZenny]

By the way, the RCE is pretty old news (circa 2000 I would say). Any post-2000 zone free player would pass through it.

OK -- I couldn't find a date on that site, so wasn't sure, and my usual computer guy said no one ever asked about that before. Plus when I went to look up the drive I was going to get, nothing came up on Search for RCE or REA.

So -- how about the DVD-playback software on Win XP? Is THAT going to have some weird glitch so that if I have two separate players installed on one computer, it gets a headache?


BTW - you guys are really helpful here -- I know I'm a complete idiot about tech stuff, and your guidance has consistently been helpful. Better watch that!

 

[dreamcastrocks]

OK -- I couldn't find a date on that site, so wasn't sure, and my usual computer guy said no one ever asked about that before. Plus when I went to look up the drive I was going to get, nothing came up on Search for RCE or REA.

So -- how about the DVD-playback software on Win XP? Is THAT going to have some weird glitch so that if I have two separate players installed on one computer, it gets a headache?


BTW - you guys are really helpful here -- I know I'm a complete idiot about tech stuff, and your guidance has consistently been helpful. Better watch that!

Two different drives should work just fine. Like I mentioned above though, it may be cheaper for you to get a stand alone player. If you want a PC drive, it should work just fine.

 

[AZZenny]

Interesting -- I'd emailed Philips about the new internal DVD drive I'm getting, and they said five resets max -and added: 'This is done with the help of Microsoft Windows which will manage the region of the drive.' -- So now I'm just curious if Mac users have the same issue? Or Linux users?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Interesting -- I'd emailed Philips about the new internal DVD drive I'm getting, and they said five resets max -and added: 'This is done with the help of Microsoft Windows which will manage the region of the drive.' -- So now I'm just curious if Mac users have the same issue? Or Linux users?

I'll bring in a dvd and check it on my Mac. Not sure about the region codes on it

 

[AZZenny]

My daughter checked her Mac -- same thing, so it must be industry-wide. She said she found a hint that Linux may not do that, however. I was just curious whether to attribute it to Mr. Bill or Mr. Sony.

 

[SirStefan32]

Linux does NOT have a limit on how many times you can change it.