DVD Region?

Hi there

I just bought a DVD film from amazon but I didn't realise it's in region 1, my DVD player (Blu Ray actually) is in Region 2 in Vista and I think the same in XP (I dual boot).

Is there anyway I can make the Blu Ray player totally region free without having to install new firmware, by doing something non-destructive and safe, both in Vista and XP?

Thanks in advance for any help on this.

 

Not as far as I'm aware.

I also don't know whether its legal to do so or not.

But apart from your player there is the actual media player on your laptop too that is limited to certain regions...

 

There is no way to do this, at least via legal means.

Region free discs can be played anywhere, but there is no such thing as a region free player.

 

It may depend on which drive you have - see this thread. On at least some laptops, you can change the region of your DVD player a certain number of times.

Googling does turn up a region-free DVD player or two. Not sure if there's any laptop ones that are region-free; also not sure if Blu-Ray players that are region-free exist. However, there are no region controls at all on HD-DVD's, so if you go the HD-DVD route you won't have to deal with this particular problem again.

(as cheap as some HD-DVD players are these days, that's actually a somewhat reasonable option if there are HD-DVD films you've been considering buying on regular DVD)

 

Use Slysoft AnyDVD. Should do the trick. You're going to have to run the software before you play the disc or just keep it running in the taskbar (I think, only used it a couple of times), it's only a couple of MB though so it's no biggie.

Google it.



About legality and what not- I don't care. It's my DVD/Blu-Ray and I will do whatever the heck I want with it, and that includes playing it on a region 92324 player or taking it to Mars and playing it on a martian player.

 

You can legally change the region on your drive, but be aware that you are limited on the number of times you can make the change before it becomes perm.

Just open the drive properties in Device Manager and choose the "DVD Region" tab.

A way to do it in software has already been posted, but do be aware that using software like AnyDVD can be illegal in your country (like it is in the US).

 

But the region isn't really copy protection, so the DMCA doesn't apply to it. I can't really see why it's illegal, it's just like putting a supercharger on your car.

Too bad there's nothing like VLC for Blu-Ray discs yet, AFAIK.

 

AFAIK I know you can make your CD/DVD Region free by making the drive RPC I drive but i don't know about Bluray Discs :rolleyes2:

Mods : Please remove my comment if it found to be illegal

 

I've posted some information in this thread before.

Region free DVD players do exist, you can also patch your DVD player with a special firmware to make it region free. However, for a computer, having a region free player will only remove the hardware limit, there are OS and software limits as well. The following site has all the information about this.

The best solution so far is still AnyDVD, for Blu-ray, use the AnyDVD HD version, it supports both Blu-ray and HD-DVD.

 

AnyDVD is not illegal.

At least, well, not illegal enough for anything to be done about it.

I would like to meet the Judge/Jury that is going to convict someone and fine/jail them for playing a legally bought disc in their home. Region code be daMed.

Just use AnyDVD HD and don't worry about the rest. Nobody is going to come knock on your door.

Trust me, they have bigger things to worry about then someone sitting on their PC playing a legally obtained disc.

"OoOOoOoooOo, he has changed the region code of his DVD player SIX times, the legal limit is FIVE times! Send him to the gas chamber!"

Just use AnyDVD HD and enjoy the movies you paid for.

 

Yep I agree with that totally. I want a region free bluray/dvd drive so that I can play both region 1 and region 2 dvds (or any other region come to think of it). Regions only exist so the movie studios can charge more in various territories. Like you said it's my DVD I paid for I'll watch it where and how I want. So sue me. I'd like to see a movie studio try that actually...

Thanks for the advice so far guys, I'll look into anyDVD and give that a go, I've got VLC and the DVD I've bought isn't blu ray so I should be ok on the software front.

 

DVD Shrink will also remove region coding if you want to rip the disc.

As with AnyDVD, depending on where you are using DVD Shrink (freeware) it could be illegal as stated many times that circumventing copy protection is illigal in many places.

As to why region coding is in place, it is just a method for the MPAA/(other movie organizations in other countries) members to control release dates, prices, content for certain regions.

If you don't want to rip the disc or pay for AnyDVD...the best suggestion I could come up with is firmware modding the drive to make it Region 0.

 

Depends on where you are... In the USA AnyDVD is illegal because it overrides copy protection (DMCA)

I'm not going to make an argument about how well the law will be enforced or is enforced as that is another topic altogether. I was just informing the guy of the potential legal risks. What ever option he chooses is up to him, but it is only ethical to inform a person.

 

I didn't say it wasn't illegal, well, not exactly at least:

"At least, well, not illegal enough for anything to be done about it."

I know mate, and I was just informing him as well.

 

Keep it legal!
(Just as a by the way notice)

 

The legal status of AnyDVD in the US is still unclear. If removing the region code of a DVD that you bought for your own personal use is illegal, then a lot of people on this forum have done something illegal, like customizing your Windows installation disc with vLite/nLite for example. In some States, you can't even backup your own Windows disc. It's kinda in a gray area. Either way, DMCA is not international, only in the US.

 

Ok thank you guys. I am well aware that removing copy protection and circumventing the region codes could be seen as "illegal" and quite frankly I couldn't give two hoots about it.

I am a firm believer that if you pay for something you have a right to do with it what you want so long as you don't pass it onto the public, i.e. piracy.

I don't see why we who wish to purchase outside of our own territories because certain DVDs are unobtainable or more expensive should be criminalised for doing so just because we use software to circumvent the region codes and I also don't see why making a backup is such a big deal either.

Granted piracy happens, but the movie studios and whatnot are treating everyone like pirates these days and it's high time it stopped, they're using a sledgehammer when a surgical knife would be better...

We're firmly in the 21st century now, it's a shame the movie studios aren't...