DVD-rom regions

I just bought an HP Compaq nx9105 which has a Toshiba DVD-ROM drive SD-R2512. The drive will only allow a maximum of 5 region changes.
This is a major problem for me. I'm a screenwriter, I travel a lot, and I have a large collection of DVDs from around the world.
Does anyone know a way of over-riding the code that prevents changes?
If not, do you think I have a case for a refund from HP? Nowhere in the advertising or documantation does it mention this restriction.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

Hi Ivan,
I don't think that is a case for any refund because every DVD player is the same, by law you can only change regions 5 times. The motion picture association made those rules. Just make sure all the DVD you buy are of the same region. These laws were made because movies are released in different countries at different times and they don't want someone getting a movie and taking it to a country where it has not been released and playing/selling or showing it. Being a screenwriter I'm sure you understand now. There may be illegal ways to modify your DVD player to get around this, but this is not the forum for talking about or posting links to illegal activities.

Jack

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" (Ben Franklin)
http://pbase.com/joneill

 

Thanks for the info. As you can guess I've never owned a computer with a DVD drive before so I was unaware of any restrictions.

I find it odd that here in the UK I can buy a region-free domestic DVD player from my local electrical store for use at home but the one in my Notebook PC is restricted.

Is it me or is that illogical? I always thought that the point of a Notebook/laptop was that you could take it with you wherever you go (as long as you have an appropriate PSU).

Then again when did logic and computers ever go together?

 

EDITED

My bad - didn't realize making it region free was illegal. Maybe you should invest in a regular dvd player with an s-video cable? ^_^

 

Hi Ivan,
Interesting you should mention your region free DVD player. After answering your post, I did a little searching on google and found that several of the major motion picture companies are going to modifying their DVDs later this fall/winter so that they will not play on DVD units that are region free. Here is a clip of part of that story.
"allows the disc to detect if a hardware player is region specific (as required by the CSS licensing agreement), or if it has been manufactured or altered in the market to be 'region free'. If the player is 'region free' the [Region Code Enhancement] will not allow the disc to play the program material. It will instead display a message on the television advising the consumer that the machine is not authorised to play this disc", says the leaked memo.

"Warner will start applying the RCE to discs scheduled for release in the US market beginning in late October. At this time, the RCE will only be applied to Region 1 versions of titles. At least one other studio (Columbia TriStar) will also be releasing discs with the RCE during the fourth quarter."

The document continues: "It is especially important to focus on retailers selling product online, and any account, which may be exporting products outside region one.

"With the online retailers, we must discuss the need to properly notify consumers outside the region one territories that the disc may not play in their player before the disc is purchased. The customer dissatisfaction and returns risk is significant if this is not done."

In other words, Warner knows all too well such a move will piss users off, which is probably why "there is no plan to send out a press release on this program". ®

Jack

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" (Ben Franklin)
http://pbase.com/joneill

 

At least for those of us who want to we can take a movie and rip it region free so we won't have this problem.


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