Sony Vaio DVD region question

Hey,

I have a Sony Vaio VGN FS285E laptop that was bought in the U.K. My question is if a region 1 DVD would play in this laptops DVD player? A reply would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

You can change the region code. You can only do it 5 times. AnyDVD or DVD Region Free can bypass the region code.

 

i'm not sure if it will, but an easy way to take care of it is with a software called dvd region free.

 

Sony SZ comes with Mat****a UJ-832D for which DVD Region explicitly states not being supported for now.

 

Whats, this DVD region? Heard of it just first time!

 

For those who've been hiding under a rock... http://hometheaterinfo.com/dvd3.htm

 

I've just taken delivery of a TZ32, European model. I've used AnyDVD and DVD region free on a previous machine - but neither seems to work on this one. Can anyone suggest a programme that will? I don't want to be limited to the ridiculous 4 changes of setting. I've also come across references to firmware changes, but they sound scarier and I'm not sure whether to try that option.

 

See this thread regarding the DVD region issue. The Matsh!ta drivers are one of the worst when it comes to users having freedom to watch DVDs from different regions (but this would suit Sony who own a chunk of Hollywood).

A slightly tedious work-around is to use DVD Shrink to make a region-free copy. Use a DVD-RW so that you can reuse the disc, once watched.

John

 

I would think that flashing the firmware with a modified one will bypass the region code restrictions but I'm not sure where to find one & whether it will definitely work...

 

When AnyDVD wouldn't work on mine, I got a message referring me to www.rpc1.com, which has various downloads to do this 'flashing the firmware'. Having searched the database there, however, there isn't anything coming up for the DVD drive I have (Matsu****a UJ862PS), so I'm stumped so far. Also, that site has heavy warnings about potential to 'destroy your drive definitively', which sounds scary! Has anyone else tried doing this, and with what results? Or does anyone know anywhere where the right download might be found - or whether exists, or is ever likely to?

This is a real limitation on the TZ for me so far.

 

Have just been looking in forums on www.rpc1.com, which make depressing reading as far as any prospect of making the Matu****a drive region free is concerned. Only advice there seems to be: avoid Matsu****a altogether. I'm not really looking to replace my DVD drive having only just bought my TZ, but can anyone tell me if that is an easy option if single region becomes unbearable? Are there any issues to do with size of the drive, given how small the space must be in the TZ (or is it still a standard size - forgive my ignornace on such matters). Would it cost much? And is it something I could easily get someone to do for me? Any thoughts appreciated.

 

The DVD drive, used in SZ & TZ laptops, is so called Super Slim Drive, i.e. 9.5 mm instead of standart 12.5 mm height. I couldn't find any modifed firmware for UJ832 or 852.
You can use Optiarc AD-7913A or AD-7910A (btw. manufactured by Sony!) for TZ & SZ. Both drives can be used with AnyDVD as region free drives.
Unfortunately, the original Sony drawer cover doesn't fit.

 

Thanks, Visioneer, that's helpful. Shame if the cover doesn't fit, though. Does that just mean it would leave a gap that would be unsightly, or would there be any more serious problem (would it hamper operation, or let in dirt, etc)? Have you done this, or do you know anyone who has? Can't say I fancy having to buy a new drive that won't fit seamlessly, even if it worked OK. But that seems like the only answer - have to decide whether I need multi-region that much...

 

External DVD drive, set to the other region.

 

Would work, no doubt, but not what I want for watching DVDs on the move...

 

I've done it on my previous SZ. There is no gap or any (mechnical) problems. The drawer cover is just flat and not round like original Sony cover.
My new SZ7xx laptop has 250 GB hdd. So I rip/convert dvds on my desktop to region free iso files and save them on internal laptop hdd. I can play every flick back using Daemon Tools.

 

If you're on the move, you'll get better battery life playing ripped DVD's from your hard drive.

 

True, and I'll have to look into doing that. Only drawback is time spent ripping in advance rather than just grabbing a bunch of existing discs.

 

It takes about 15 minutes to rip & create a iso file with AnyDVD+CloneDVD, it isn't a big issue.

 

Thanks. I've just tried that, using my desktop, so anyDVD worked. I've got to the stage of having an iso file from CloneDVD. Couldn't open that, so have downloaded WinImage. But I still can't work out how to open the iso file and actually see the movie. In WinImage, I just get a range of options that I can't figure, none of which seems actually to open the file itself. Maybe getting a bit off-topic here, but any help with this stage would be appreciated!

 

I've also tried using WinRAR, which was another recommended programme for iso files. In both cases, what I'm getting when I open the iso is a pair of files, one with video and one with audio files. There's an option to extract (which just creates the same files wherever extracted to), but I can't work out how to just open the movie. Or maybe it just doens't work that way - I'm stuck either way. Apologies again if this is off topic and for my ignorance of these things. I like the idea of ripping the files rather than using DVDs on the laptop, but just can't quite get there yet via this option!

 

You don't have to open the iso file. As I already wrote, use Daemon Tools to mount the iso file. It creates a virtual dvd drive, so you can use your software player to playback a movie.

 

I'm getting there! Have got all that to work - on my desktop, as I can't do it multiregion on the TZ of course. Just need to get a larger memory stick of one kind or another now, in order to transfer the 4GB worth of movie file to the laptop (I tried copying it across a network but the size of the thing made it crash). That does make it rather space-hungry, though. Don't know if I could make it smaller by using something like DVDShrink (although I also don't know if there are quality-loss issues if I compress it one way or another). Presumably, though, I can always keep bulky movie files on a large-capacity memory card or express card - do they run OK from that kind of source, or are there any issues to do with speed of access or the like?

Good doing it this way if it uses less battery on the move, but I wouldn't say it was hassle-free en-route.

 

I wonder if the flash drive is formatted using FAT32 (normal to ensure better compatiblity with different computers). This supports a maximum file size of 4GB.

I think you should give DVD Shrink a try. You will lose a little quality by making files smaller. DVD Shrink can also take out the extras which you don't need. However, are you planning to use the TZ's screen or connect to a big external display?

John

 

Have got it to work now, by copying the two folders with the various video and audio files, rather than the single entity that includes them. So it's fine, although rather a large file, being more than 4GB; not so good if I want to have a whole bunch available to choose from. Am now about to try other options than DVDClone that create smaller files, including PQDVD (which, on another front, I've just used successfully to achive another goal: being able to rip DVD clips to put into powerpoint presentations for my work!).

I just want to be able to watch on the TZ screen, for travel. Be interested to compare the quality that results from the various methods I'm trying.