LG model HT503TH Home Theater System Code change

[IBGort]

I bought this DVD model to go with my LG 42" TV here in Thailand. One issue that came up was changing the "Region Code" from the factory set "3" to "0". The manual is all in Thai to start with and is not help in English. You need to order the English version from Bangkok. Post here on this site was the advice to down load a "hack" to fix the problem. It turns out this is not necessary at all. There is a simple set of steps that accomplish this per my friendly service guy at LG:

Hook up the system as directed. You'll need the TV screen to see the menu.The first time you will need to set the "Language". Once you have done that do the following:
1. Leave the TV on and turn off the DVD player using the physical "on/off button". Not the remote.
2. Physically unplug the DVD player from the electrical source. Wait a few seconds.
3. Then plug the DVD player back in.
4. Power "on" the unit using the physical "on" button.
5. "Open" Disc carriage. Wait a few seconds you should see the "Region Code" on the Tv screen. If not close the Disc carriage.
6. When you see the "Region Code" menu, simply hit the number "0", 4 times on the remote. Why 4 times I'm not sure but it worked. You should now see the number "0" after New Code.
7. If you haven't "close" the "Disc Carriage".
8. Turn power off using the power button and not the remote.
9. Unplug the unit from the electrical source. Wait a few seconds.

Plug unit back in and you should now be set to Region Code "0". I was told there was no limit on the amount of times you can do this but the question is why would you want to when now you can use any DVD disc.

I hope this helps. It work flawless for me including playing my musical DVDs I brought over from the states.

[jagabo]

I was told there was no limit on the amount of times you can do this but the question is why would you want to when now you can use any DVD disc.

No, some discs are RCE protected. They will not play on region 0 players.

[jman98]

jagabo is quite right, but to be more specific, some region 1 DVDs use RCE and you must set the DVD player to region 1 to play such discs. They will not play on region 0 players. If you never buy region 1 DVDs then you have no need to ever change your player from region 0.

[jagabo]

I thought it was only region 1 discs with RCE but I wasn't quite sure. So I left it vague.

[IBGort]

Thanks for that extra tip.

So I suppose there is no way of telling if I have a "RCE" Dvd. But if the issue comes up just switch to Region 1? Seems like a pain but I guess it is worth it.

Like I said so far I haven't had any troubles but I haven't viewed "all" my Dvd's I brought over. And if I used the "hack", I could end up really screwing myself up permanently. So it would be best to use the manual method if needed but I also worry about how many times one can do this even though I was told it was unlimited. Who do you trust?

[jagabo]

So I suppose there is no way of telling if I have a "RCE" Dvd. But if the issue comes up just switch to Region 1?

Yes. I have a few RCE DVDs. The first thing I do is rip them and make an unproteced copy. Actually, any DVD I'm going to watch more than once or twice I'll make an unprotected, movie only copy. I hate waiting for menus, studio logos, distributor logos, FBI warnings, previews of other movies, etc.