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Author Topic: Region Machine: Grim's guide to DVD freedom  (Read 2682 times)
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Grim

Professor
*
« on: 10-28-2003 03:46 »
« Last Edit on: 04-13-2004 00:00 »

I have noticed as of late, the number of people complaining about having to buy a region free dvd player, or just plain bitching about dvd regions. So here it is, my Guide to going region free.

**
Firstly! I am NOT responsible for anything that you do to your DVD player, xbox, ps2, or PC. I am posting this as a guide and leaving it at that.
IF YOU BREAK YOUR MACHINE I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE!

Secondly Region Hacking is not illegal, selling a region hacked device is. Sorta like recording off the TV is illegal, but you are allowed to own a VCR

Ok with that out of the way I will continue.

Firstly, DVD players:

Believe it or not many DVD Players come region free out of the box, but international law prohibits companies to make this an obvious feature.

Normally region free mode (or region 0 (r0)) can be activitated if you know how to push your machine's button's right.
 http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/info/multiregion/hackable.asp
Look for your machine in this comprehen
for remote hacks here
Once you find the hack just follow the instructions.

Another good place for remote hacks is http://dvdcodes.co.uk

but they also have firmware upgrades (the core software) for DVD players. Simply burn it to a cd and play it in your DVD machine.
Any firmware update can be dangerous, I am not responsible if you blow up your machine!
find firmware here http://www.dvdcodes.co.uk/dvdcodes.php?page=firmware

If you can't find your dvd machine in this comprehsive list, you could try googling for a remote hack or firmware


PC DVD-ROM HACKS:

There are two things you must do to get your computer to be region free.

1. You must flash your firmware of your DVD-ROM drive to be region0, or to set the region changes to unlimited.

Search For your Drive on http://www.firmware-flash.com
*you can find your drive model code from windows device manager

I am not responsible for your actions
If they dont have your drive listed, then it is unlikely there is a hack for it, this place is pretty up to date.

2. Inorder to trick windows into not limiting your region changes, you need a nifty little program called, DVD Region Killer. you can get that here- http://www.voodoofiles.com/5411

*some people are lucky enough to be totally region free just by using this program, on 5 different computers I have never been lucky enough, so its best to flash first.


Game Consoles:
Chipping of consoles is illegal, but it can still be done professionally in some smaller computer stores.

PS2s can be region free without chipping using a piece of software called DVDRegionX, which should be able to be bought from your local EB or other software / electronics store


I hope this clears some issues with DVD regions and making your devices region free.

I have performed all these sorts of hacks on all sorts of devices, including my own and many friends and have never run into problems.

But it is not foolproof and could result in damage to your devices, I am not responsible for anything that YOU do.

phew long post, but I think it had to be brought out


EDIT: (thanks Victor2000, Ranadok and me  :p):

Region 0: Will play on any player and in any territory
Region 1: United States & Canada
Region 2: Western Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, & Japan
Region 3:Southeast Asia including Hong Kong
Region 4: Central & South America AND Australia & New Zealand
Region 5: Africa, Eastern Europe, & Central Asia including India
Region 6: China
Region 7: Reserved
Region 8: International locations such as airplanes


Tweek

UberMod
DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #1 on: 10-28-2003 04:59 »

Presumably what is legal and illegal will vary between countries.

As I only have region two discs I'm not bothered about getting a region zero hack  :p
sheep555

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #2 on: 10-28-2003 05:45 »

Note to the above:

If you live in the UK, buy your DVD player from Richer Sounds - not only are they the cheapest (physical) retailer for audio equipment, they'll chip the player for around £10, and still give you the full warrenty.
CyberKnight

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #3 on: 10-28-2003 06:01 »

Good idea, Grim.

I believe you still have to worry about television conversions if you don't live in a PAL country, however?

(Of course, that's irrelevant if you're playing it on a PC).
thecrashtd

Delivery Boy
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« Reply #4 on: 10-28-2003 22:33 »

I have DVDRegionX but my PS2 wont read it anymore  :(
Spice Weasel

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #5 on: 10-28-2003 23:02 »

I don't think your TV has anything to do with DVD compatibility issues.

I thought it was all about framerate. Once your dvd player/ROM reads the data correctly your off to the races, no?
Asylum-Fry

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #6 on: 10-28-2003 23:19 »

I don't see Sony players on the list.

Curses.
aslate

Space Pope
****
« Reply #7 on: 10-29-2003 09:44 »

I made a post about being able to do this for Otis, and it's one of the one i regret now, along with the one saying i would tell someone where to download Futuramas via email.

I'd make it obvious you're not going to look up individual region hacks for people, or you'll be bugged by email.

*Just notices he doesn't have a mail link*
Ah well, my point remains valid.
Gleno

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #8 on: 10-29-2003 10:53 »

I bought a clearly advertised region free dvd player (Perth WA) took it home and couldn't play dvd's I bought in QLD....I rang the store and they said "oh yeah you have to enable it"

Anyway if you still have problems getting your machine to Region 0, try calling the place you got it from....it may/may not be illegal wherever you are but it's worth it....

Stupid copyright laws....
Evil Fox Exec

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #9 on: 10-29-2003 12:17 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Grim:
Sorta like recording off the TV is illegal, but you are allowed to own a VCR
I don't know about the laws in other countries, but I just want to point out that recording  TV show is perfectly legal in the U.S.   The Supreme Court itself decided that in the 70's or 80's (I forgot exactly when.  But it was shortly after the VCR was invented.).  What's illegal is to record something of the TV and go out and sell it.  I just wanted to point that out.

Anyway, I'm way too scared to hack my DVD-ROM.  The computer I'm using now is just a few months old, and I don't want to screw it up.  It is possible that using those patches or whatever will render the DVD player unusable, or will even cause massive software problems throughout the whole computer.  I will not allow my unwillingness to wait a year to play a bunch of DVD's to mess up my shiny, new computer permanently.  I'm not saying that it will destroy the computer or DVD-ROM drive.  I'm just saying that it's always a good possibility, and I for one will not take the risk. 

bankrupt

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #10 on: 10-29-2003 12:39 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Spice Weasel:
I don't think your TV has anything to do with DVD compatibility issues.

I thought it was all about framerate. Once your dvd player/ROM reads the data correctly your off to the races, no?

If you're using the good old DVD player and TV set up, you have to worry about the TV format too.  The Region 2 DVDs are in the PAL format while here in the U.S. we use the NTSC format (I'm assuming Canada uses the same).  These standards differ mostly in the framerate as you said.  Unfortunately, most DVD players are keyed for one or the other.  You may be able to make your DVD player run the region 2 Futurama DVDs, but you'll still need a PAL-NTSC convertor to view it properly on your  NTSC format TV.  Some region hackable DVD players have built in PAL-NTSC convertors in them that can be activated(like the Daewoo 5700 I have).  It's not the best convertor in the world, but it gets the job done cheaply.  Stand alone covertors are expensive from what I've seen.

You can find a lot of info on players and hacks here :  http://www.nerd-out.com/forum/


sheep555

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #11 on: 10-29-2003 12:54 »

Just to note that similar to what Evil Fox Exec said, in the UK it's not illegal to record TV shows onto a VCR - but due to bizarre copyright law you are only legally allowed to watch the tape once, and then must destroy it...but no one's really bothered about that law, including the broadcast companies.
CyberKnight

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #12 on: 10-29-2003 13:25 »

And I doubt the BBC would have much of a case, seeing as how their new strategy is to regard their shows as property of the British population.
Lionel Hutz Esq

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #13 on: 10-31-2003 02:36 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by sheep555:
Just to note that similar to what Evil Fox Exec said, in the UK it's not illegal to record TV shows onto a VCR - but due to bizarre copyright law you are only legally allowed to watch the tape once, and then must destroy it...but no one's really bothered about that law, including the broadcast companies.

The US Supreme Court reasoning was similar.  The idea in the case (from 1979, against Sony and its Betamax format, by the by), was that you could tape a show to "Time Shift" it.  In other words, you could tape it so you could watch at a better time for you.  Supposedly you can't keep it forever.

You can, however, have an archive copy of something you own, or make a copy so you can play it on another device you own (Making a tape of your record/CD so you can play it in the car is perfectly fine, although technically you can only be using one copy at a time.)

However, none of these rights give you a right to give it away, nor do you have a right to alter it (although this gets tricky, because if its satire, or commentary, you probably do have some rights to alter).

Personally, I think copyright is getting less and less important.  Which is good because Disney and others have made it rediculous.  125 years until something goes into the public domain?  And, trust me, when Winnie the Pooh or Mickey Mouse come up again in 2025 or so, they'll try to extend it to 150.  You should make a proffit off of your creativity, but the public deserves something too.  Hell, under the current system, Shakespeare would spend half his life in court.

Evil Fox Exec

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #14 on: 10-31-2003 21:00 »

Oh, man, I'm so disappointed that Disney won.  I heard years ago about the case where Disney went to Congress to get a copyright extension.  They got the extension, all right.  Then, I knew it went to the Supreme Court recently.  But I didn't know that the Supreme Court upheld it.  That gives me one more reason to hate Disney.

Anyway, back on topic, some of these laws sound really lame and you wonder why they were put there in the first place.  After all, how would anybody know if you decide to take a TV show and keep it forever and watch it over and over again?
Dose_Me_Up

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #15 on: 10-31-2003 22:12 »

I just think it's ironic that, for example, one division of Sony produces films, one division produces video recorders which can be used to copy these films, then Sony complains about piracy!

It's the same with music. Sony's music division produces CD's, another division produces MP3 players, then they complain that people are actually using the MP3 players!

I mean, do they really think people wouldn't use their products to copy stuff? They knew what they were getting into and now they've lost control,
[evil laugh] ha ha ha! [/evil laugh]
Evil Fox Exec

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #16 on: 11-01-2003 14:27 »

Many, Sony really is a bunch of idiots!  They can't seem to make up their minds! 
winna

Avatar Czar
DOOP Ubersecretary
**
« Reply #17 on: 11-01-2003 15:30 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Evil Fox Exec:
After all, how would anybody know if you decide to take a TV show and keep it forever and watch it over and over again?

I can now imagine a crazy person sitting in a small room watching a Simpsons rerun over and over and over again.  :nono:
alexvilagosh

Goose Patrol
Space Pope
****
« Reply #18 on: 12-19-2003 02:56 »

Uhh... do these hacks actually work? I wanna be able to watch Family Guy on my laptop...

On my last computer I think I screwed up the dvd drive my trying to do it.
Grim

Professor
*
« Reply #19 on: 12-19-2003 09:23 »

yes they work
winna

Avatar Czar
DOOP Ubersecretary
**
« Reply #20 on: 12-19-2003 12:47 »

You have to be smarter than the hacks  ;)
Mouse On Venus

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #21 on: 12-20-2003 18:02 »

Bollocks! No Philips DVD-625 and no Pioneer DV-350 on that list. And I just bought Space Ghost Coast To Coast on DVD.  :mad:
Grim

Professor
*
« Reply #22 on: 12-21-2003 06:41 »

its amazing what a little GOOGLING can do
 http://www.epicdiscs.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=214&highlight=philips+dvd625
Grim

Professor
*
« Reply #23 on: 01-08-2004 07:57 »

Sorry for the double post, but these are a few weeks apart!

A new piece of software has come to my attention, it allows you to go region free without, any flashing of drives or any risky business, so u can make your PC region free just with this piece of software

unfortunately u have to pay for it, there is a trial version, but it only lasts 30 days, but I am sure that there are ways around that  ;)

check it out- http://www.dvdidle.com/dvd-region-free.htm
shredmyhead
Poppler
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« Reply #24 on: 04-10-2004 14:00 »
« Last Edit on: 04-11-2004 00:00 by Tweek »

Sorry but that looks a little illegal  :p
Ranadok

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #25 on: 04-10-2004 15:39 »
« Last Edit on: 04-10-2004 15:39 »

Yeah, because THAT'S legal...  I would suggest getting rid of that information...
shredmyhead
Poppler
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« Reply #26 on: 04-11-2004 23:04 »

oh sorry...I didn't even think about it when I posted it
victor2000
Starship Captain
****
« Reply #27 on: 04-13-2004 12:21 »
« Last Edit on: 04-13-2004 12:21 »

I'm to lazy to region-hackm its more trouble than its worth.  :p

Anyway, I found this the Region Code Breakdown with Google (people keep asking me what code corresponds where).

Region 0: Will play on any player and in any territory
Region 1: United States & Canada
Region 2: Western Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, & Japan
Region 3:Southeast Asia including Hong Kong
Region 4: Central & South America
Region 5: Africa, Eastern Europe, & Central Asia including India
Region 6: China
Region 7: Reserved
Region 8: International locations such as airplanes
bankrupt

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #28 on: 04-13-2004 12:30 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by victor2000:
I'm to lazy to region-hackm its more trouble than its worth.   :p


You just have to have the right DVD player.  A few remote control commands I got from a website was all I needed to make my player region free.  No need to wait for the slow region 1 releases.
Grim

Professor
*
« Reply #29 on: 04-13-2004 19:39 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by victor2000:

Region 0: Will play on any player and in any territory
Region 1: United States & Canada
Region 2: Western Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, & Japan
Region 3:Southeast Asia including Hong Kong
Region 4: Central & South America AND Australia & New Zealand
Region 5: Africa, Eastern Europe, & Central Asia including India
Region 6: China
Region 7: Reserved
Region 8: International locations such as airplanes

Fixed   :p
Ranadok

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #30 on: 04-13-2004 20:05 »

Perhaps you should put that in your original post, for information's sake.
Birdbot

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #31 on: 04-13-2004 22:13 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by Grim:
A new piece of software has come to my attention, it allows you to go region free without, any flashing of drives or any risky business, so u can make your PC region free just with this piece of software

unfortunately u have to pay for it, there is a trial version, but it only lasts 30 days, but I am sure that there are ways around that   ;)

check it out- http://www.dvdidle.com/dvd-region-free.htm

AnyDVD is software that will also work for making DVDs region free and unprotected (for making backups). It will also allow you also to play and copy protected audio CDs.
You can download a trial version, and then buy it for US$ 39.00.
There are probably ILLEGAL ways to get the full version  :nono:


~FazeShift~

Moderator
DOOP Ubersecretary
**
« Reply #32 on: 04-15-2004 18:44 »

Perhaps some mention of what RCE DVD's are might complete this "guide".  :)

They only play in one region, right?
Won't even work in R0?
bender+fry

Professor
*
« Reply #33 on: 04-18-2004 20:20 »

heres something interesting.

so a few weeks ago, i bought a region 2 dvd player so i can watch japanese dvds on my tv. but, i also have region 1 dvds that i watch on my laptop. just in case it works, i played my friends season 3 region 1 dvd in my region 2 dvd player, and what do you know? it worked. i tried all of my other region 1 dvds, but only my friends dvds play on my region 2 player.

any thoughts?
DanMan4040

Delivery Boy
**
« Reply #34 on: 04-21-2004 22:30 »

Any Sony hacks?
Grim

Professor
*
« Reply #35 on: 04-23-2004 03:31 »

Where did you buy the machine from? Japan?

Its possible that the US futurama DVD is region 2 as well, because Japan is NTSC but region 2, where as the rest of region 2 is PAL

It may be the case of the Futurama Discs 20th Century Fox simply made an NTSC version and a PAL version.

The sets sold in UK and Australia are Region 2 & 4 and prehaps other PAL regions as well.
Therefore it is likely that the sets in the US are region 1 & 2, and other NTSC regions as well
mw

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #36 on: 04-23-2004 05:07 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by ~FazeShift~:
Perhaps some mention of what RCE DVD's are might complete this "guide".   :)

They only play in one region, right?
Won't even work in R0?
Yeah. An RCE disc queries the player for its region code. If it doesn't get the expected value, it displays the region map and locks you out of the DVD menues. Depending on the player you can still play stuff by selecting titles directly. 

Basically what this means is that RCE discs will always play on machines with manual region settings. Auto-switching may or may not work, although all recent mod kits should be able to handle it.

There are only R1 RCE discs at the moment. Col/Tri used to do RCE on their blockbusters, but it's an on-again off-again thing. Like, The Missing isn't RCE, although I had expected it to be. And there are a few obscure Warner titles that have it, but there are only a handful of RCE discs around in the first place.

Of course it's a ridiculously ineffective  method of enforcing regional coding anyway. Most players had no problems playing RCE discs when it was first used on The Patriot in 2001.  :p

 
Quote
Originally posted by DanMan4040:
Any Sony hacks?
Nope, Sonys need to be chipped as far as I know.
bankrupt

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #37 on: 04-23-2004 12:37 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by mw:
 Yeah. An RCE disc queries the player for its region code. If it doesn't get the expected value, it displays the region map and locks you out of the DVD menues.

Fuck RCE discs and the whole region coding system in general.  If I want to pay the money to import a DVD, why shouldn't I be able to?  I'm sure there's all sorts of arguments about being able to control the release schedule to max out profits, but I think most of these have been nullified by the internet.  The world's a lot smaller place because of the web.  I think the region code system is out of touch with this fact.  Fans can now know instantly where and when their favorite DVDs will be released.  It seems like it is much more difficult to control a films release in light of this fact.  I would wager that the region code system probably contributes to the piracy problem by making people wait on items that are easily available by illegal means.

Luckily, I can switch codes on my DVD player easily.  I don't think I'd have any problem with RCE disks.  I'd like to test it though to find out.  Is there a website where you can find out what movies have the RCE coding?
mw

Starship Captain
****
« Reply #38 on: 04-23-2004 14:16 »

 
Quote
Originally posted by bankrupt:
Is there a website where you can find out what movies have the RCE coding?
Here for example.
winna

Avatar Czar
DOOP Ubersecretary
**
« Reply #39 on: 04-23-2004 16:33 »

Yeah damn region coding that has no purpose!
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