Changing the region - limitations...

[AlecWest]

Not long ago, I helped a friend with a PAL DVD create an NTSC backup. In the process of doing so, I saw message come up in DVD Decrypter telling me a region change had occurred. Later, when I backed up one of my own DVDs (NTSC), I saw another message saying my region was changed back ... and telling me my burner could only make two more changes.

Hmm ... I know there are region-free players that don't have limitations associated with switching between regions ... but are there also region-free burners without change limitations ... or a way to remove this limitation from my MagicSpin 8x burner?

[johnhamler]

i use patin cuffin...so i am not limited as long patin coufiin works in the background.

[lenti_75]

oficially you have 5 changes only. the LAST ONE will be permanent....

you could use software, but I preffer hacked firmware for it.

flash it with a hacked firmware.
go here and find it.

http://www.firmware.fr.st/

[budz]

download DVD REGION KILLER which will fool the operating system. your dvdrom or dvdrw would need to be region free as well. here is the download for it and use mirror 3 to download the program.

http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/downloads/dvdrk.htm

[MOVIEGEEK]

Another reason to use a Lite-On DVD-ROM.*

*easy to make region-free(RPC1).

http://digi.rpc1.org/rpc.htm
http://tdb.rpc1.org/

[Skith]

A must read on how Region Control works: hardware (a.k.a. a drives firmware), Operating System (a.k.a. Windows), Software (a.k.a. ripper/media player).

Read up, and take control! (bad pun ALERT!)

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

[AlecWest]

Alas, my Magic Spin doesn't seem to have any RPC1 firmware support. But, I do have a fair alternative. I have a Yamakawa 275 region-free DVD player. If I get an out-of-region DVD, I can modify the player's region an indefinite number of times. Then, just play the DVD and patch the player via S-Video to my Hauppauge capture card to make an NTSC region-free backup.

I recently bought a PAL (Region 2) DVD from Amazon.co.uk, tried the method, and it worked. Heck, the NTSC region-free backup looks as good as the original. Had to do it in real time but its better than screwing up my DVD burner with firmware or tricks that may have unforeseen consequences.