Can I convert my TV/VCR/DVD combo to region-free?

[Colleen]

The vast majority of info on this site may as well be Greek as far as I'm aware, so please bear with my lack of technological savvy. We own a Toshiba VCR/DVD combo television (model MW20F52). We'd like to be able to watch our DVDs from Europe. In the past I've had a few of them converted to NTSC (did I get that right?), but it's so pricey it seems more logical to just buy a stand-alone multi-region DVD player. (Or buy one and enter the necessary code myself.)

Before buying a separate DVD player, I wanted to check and find out if it's possible for me to convert our current combo unit to region-free. If so, what code do I need to enter? If it'snot possible, will I be able to hook up a stand-alone DVD player to our combo tv?

Thanks very much for your help.

Cheers,

Colleen

[Baldrick]

I guess you have searched our dvd hacks list, www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks , and if the player is not listed there please submit the player under www.videohelp.com/newdvdplayer and others may post a hack some day.

You could also search for similiar combo units like, https://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks?dvdplayer=toshiba+mw&hits=50&Search=Search (not many hacks there either though..) and try those hacks.

[Colleen]

Yes, I did search the DVD hacks list. My understanding is that those listed are stand-alone units, not TV/VCR/DVD combo units. Mine is not listed. Would you recommend I just go ahead and buy a multi-region stand-alone player?

Cheers,
Colleen

[jman98]

Yes, I did search the DVD hacks list. My understanding is that those listed are stand-alone units, not TV/VCR/DVD combo units. Mine is not listed. Would you recommend I just go ahead and buy a multi-region stand-alone player?

Cheers,
Colleen

I would but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not do what so many people around here do and just buy anything under the assumption that you can make it multi-region later. Some models cannot be changed. Do your research BEFORE you buy to be sure that your model can be changed to multi-region mode. Most Philips models can be changed, but I'd suggest avoiding the ancient DVP-642 that they still make. They have other models that use more recent and better chipsets than the now ancient DVP-642, which should have probably been "end of lifed" 2 years ago.

[Colleen]

I would but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not do what so many people around here do and just buy anything under the assumption that you can make it multi-region later. Some models cannot be changed. Do your research BEFORE you buy to be sure that your model can be changed to multi-region mode. Most Philips models can be changed, but I'd suggest avoiding the ancient DVP-642 that they still make. They have other models that use more recent and better chipsets than the now ancient DVP-642, which should have probably been "end of lifed" 2 years ago.

Thanks for the advice. I'm considering a Philips DVP5140 which can easily be converted to multi-region, so I should be fine in that respect. My only concern is whether or not the player itself will be compatible with my Toshiba combo unit. I'm trying to look into that before purchasing it but having trouble coming with any leads. Any words of wisdom? Thanks.

Cheers,
Colleen