Region Code changed to (1) now cant play normal legal dvd's...

[Diazepam]

Hi

I’m situated in Australia, my original DVD-ROM setting was to region 4 .
Recently I watched a foreign dvd a few times and changed the region code by mistake to Region 1, now I am no longer able to watch movies on my computer unless they are from USA..
I read somewhere that Windows allows you to change the DVD region code once…
Is this correct? And if not how can I get around this problem?

Any help…greatly appreciated

[MOVIEGEEK]

Get AnyDVD

[jman98]

The region code can actually be changed 5 times, but here's how you count it:

Original setting of region 4 - 5 changes left.
Change to region 1 - 4 changes left.

You certainly CAN change it to region 4 again in Windows as you have 4 changes left. This change limitation is enforced in firmware on the drive. It doesn't really have anything to do with Windows.

To get around this problem, either replace your firmware (if possible) with hacked firmware that has no change limitations
see http://www.rpc1.org to look up your drive
or you can buy something like AnyDVD which defeats region codes in software.

[KBeee]

Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager -> DVD/CD ROM Drives. Right-click on your DVD drive, select "Properties", go to the DVD Region tab and select the region you want.

[TBoneit]

Or if it is a Lite-On drive there is software to change the region and reset the region change back to original amount. So even if you are out of region settings that can be reset on Lite_on drives. Other option rip to the computer and then watch that way.

[Diazepam]

Yeh I accidentally changed it the 5 allowable times by continously watching that DVD - doh!

I might take jman98's advice and look for some Firmware..

TBoneit - My drive is a LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1213S
Are you talking about getting cracked firmware as well or is there a specific place to go for Lite-On's?

[TJohns]

go HERE for the tool to just disable the region code in your existing firmware[/url]

[TBoneit]

TJohns has provided a link to the program I was talking about. I wasn't talking about cracked firmware as I am a firm believer in the old adage, If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If the drive works fine don't play with it. Always a small chance of breaking it by doing firmware flashes.

That program will let you reset and reset as needed.

Cheers

[Diazepam]

LtnRPC worked like a charm!

THNX TO ALL THAT CONTRIBUTED WITH HELP!!: D

Now to a quick second question lol......

I also own a HP laptop (DV5129) with a HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-4084N writer.

Allthough i wont make the same mistake again, Im just curious how to get around another region code lockout on this lappy...

Ive had a look thru the The Firmware page @ http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_all.php
but am unsure of my writer's brand name..
Is it simply classified as a HP writer being part of the laptop?

Thnx once again.[/b]

[OneSickPup]

Is the drive still under warranty? If not, I'd use the auto-reset TDB firmware available here:

http://tdb.rpc1.org/index.htm#GSA4084N

Its use does void your drives warranty.

[CODEWERKX]

my solution is ANYDVD. i have been using it since 9/06 and have had NO problems with it at all.

[bevills1]

Are all drives supposed to allow 5 region code changes? Recently I got a Sony DRU-120C from CompUSA that showed only 1 change remaining. It really doesn't matter to me since I used the LtnRPC tool to go region free, but I wonder why this Sony shows only 1 change remaining. BTW Nero Info Tool, DVDInfoPro and similar programs should give drive identity.

[Ai Haibara]

Was it a brand new drive, or refurbished?

[Diazepam]

my solution is ANYDVD. i have been using it since 9/06 and have had NO problems with it at all.

So its a LG drive than..

thnx for that!

[Morse2]

Hi bevills1;

The bit about "Windows is showing one change left" is a Windows artifact, not a problem with your drive. Here's how it works - when you went "region free" you technically changed from an RPC2 (drive has region protection built in) device to an RPC1 (drive has no region protection built in) device. When Windows detects an RPC1 drive, Windows acts as the "gate-keeper" with it's own software based counter that is not present on RPC2 devices, allowing you only one region change in Windows. If you were to install "region killing" software (it's out there, do a Google search), it will tell Windows that "it's really an RPC2 drive, honest" and Windows won't butt in with it's software counter for drive region changes.

Hope this helps.
Morse

[budz]

Download DVD REGION KILLER which is used to make the operating system (XP) region free.

[[_chef_]]

Is the drive still under warranty? If not, I'd use the auto-reset TDB firmware available here:

http://tdb.rpc1.org/index.htm#GSA4084N

Its use does void your drives warranty.

Be careful.
If you flash withthe wrong firmware, you cannot use your drive anymore.

[bevills1]

My Sony DRU-120C was brand new and showed only 1 region change remaining using the LtnRPC tool. Are there advantages of the DVD region killer over the LtnRPC tool?

[budz]

My Sony DRU-120C was brand new and showed only 1 region change remaining using the LtnRPC tool. Are there advantages of the DVD region killer over the LtnRPC tool?

DVD REGION KILLER is used to fool the windows operating system. You would still need to make a dvd burner/rom become region free by using either a hacked firmware or some other tool. For LITEON drives just use LtnRPC. I used the LtnRPC only once to make my LITEON 18A1P region free.

Read this thread: http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?t=239

You need to make sure you're using LtnRPC correctly. Here's the link for the download and you can also practice using the tool as well.
http://dhc014.rpc1.org/LtnRPC/

[bevills1]

LtnRPC is what I use which works great, and I wondered why something else would be used.

[budz]

LtnRPC is what I use which works great, and I wondered why something else would be used.

Did you read the link I posted? Read it and you'll understand. :P