DVD encoding question.

[mattyc2422]

G'day boys and girls.

I'm going to buy a DVD from the States, and the encoding is region 1, which is for USA/CANADA only.
Hence my question, if I want to watch this DVD on my computer DVD-ROM drive, what am I required to do? I've been told a region hack is needed.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Desredandwhite]

Well, there's 2 sides to this.

1) hardware region lock - your drive needs to be unlocked before it will authenticate the disc. search the web for your particular model to see if it is already unlocked, or if there is a firmware update hack for it - be warned though that you COULD cause damage to your drive if this is done incorrectly.

2) software region lock - you will need software that either ignores regions, or a program that changes it for you - DVD genie is a favourite of mine.

 

[KingyOrTheKing]

Aren't DVD drives set up so that you can only change the region so many times before it will be locked on the most current region??

Never used a DVD from a different region before so wouldn't know...

 

[jim boy]

Originally posted by KingyOrTheKing
Aren't DVD drives set up so that you can only change the region so many times before it will be locked on the most current region??

Never used a DVD from a different region before so wouldn't know...

Mostly, yes but a modified firmware update from somewhere like http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php will remove the restrictions. But be wary, as Desredandwhite said, a bad flash can ruin your DVD drive

 

[M29]

Never had a problem unlocking region shyte on any drive.

 

[BT]

I bought a Region Zero DVD the other day & was quite surprised that the PS2 was able to play it. Although the extra's didn't run too smoothly.

My PS2 plays region 4's brilliantly but plays burnt DVD's in B&W & won't play VCD so I was surprised it played the Region 0.

 

[Desredandwhite]

Not surprising at all. Region 0 just means "All Regions"

 

[BT]

Originally posted by Desredandwhite
Not surprising at all. Region 0 just means "All Regions"

I was told it was a Region 2 when I ordered it, so there you go. I knew the DVD player would play it anyway, that thing plays anything, DVD,VCD,MP3,JPEG.