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Multi-region DVD?

Multi-region DVD?

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Does anyone know how to check if your DVD player is multi-region? I want to buy a Region 2 DVD, but I am in Region 4. I tihnk you can play any region of DVD-Roms, but I'm not sure. I don't want to spend 30 dollars on a DVD I can't play.

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Many DVD players could be set to region-free mode:
http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks.php

By default, most probably, your Region 4 player will not play Region 2 DVD. If hack is available, though, you are fine.

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Ah, yes, but to do that, I would need a Palm Pilot (don't have), or a remote from the States (more expensive than the DVD). What about DVD-ROMs?

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I think you can handle it with local remote🙂

About DVD-ROMs: if you have old DVD-ROM, it is most probably region-free. All recent DVD-ROMs would allow you to change region few times only. To check region (I can talk about WinXP only): go to disk properties, "Hardware" tab, "Properties" and "DVD Region" tab.

Even if DVD-ROM is not region-free, there are solutions:
1) You can check this utility: http://www.dvdidle.com/dvd-region-free.htm. It would allow you to play any region DVD on your PC.

2) You can use DVD Shrink utility (it's free): http://www.dvdr-digest.com/software/software.php?file=dvdshrink to decode DVD content onto your hard-drive (it will remove region restrictions on the way). Then, you can either play it from hard-drive or write your region-free DVD (if you have DVD writer).

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Yeah, another problem...

No Region tab. Hmm...XP Home. I presume you're using that? You might have the NTSC version. I have PAL.

I hate region coding. And it's raining. This is not my day.

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Originally posted by D43M0N
Yeah, another problem...

No Region tab. Hmm...XP Home. I presume you're using that? You might have the NTSC version. I have PAL.

I hate region coding. And it's raining. This is not my day.
Easy solution: rip the DVD onto your HDD and burn a copy off that. Gets rid of the Zone blocks and the macro-vision, vers 1 and 2!

skeeter

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Originally posted by skeeter
Easy solution: rip the DVD onto your HDD and burn a copy off that. Gets rid of the Zone blocks and the macro-vision, vers 1 and 2!

skeeter
But, certain DVD-ROM's don't always read out of region DVDs. And, you need a DVD burner for that, which I don't have.

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Go and look at your DVD manufacturers website. It may tell you.
I made one of my DVD players region free with the remote control that came with it. I put in a code and it opened up a hidden menu.
I got all the info on how to do this from their website.
Dave

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What's the point of having regions if a DVD player can be set to region free?

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Originally posted by AThousandYoung
What's the point of having regions if a DVD player can be set to region free?
Quite stupid, isn't it.

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Originally posted by AThousandYoung
What's the point of having regions if a DVD player can be set to region free?
Not all DVD players can be hacked to Region 0 (zone free) and you can't hack a Sony. The region code and macro-vision are embedded in the video chip. So, don't buy Sony. There a literally hundreds of other players that are multi zoned and macro free, parallel imports from China / Taiwan most of them. Do a Goggle for the brands and models.

skeeter

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Skeeter

Apparently some people have managed to hack the Sony DVP-NS930 and make it region free.
http://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks.php?select=Sony+DVP-NS930

Dave

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Originally posted by skeeter
Not all DVD players can be hacked to Region 0 (zone free) and you can't hack a Sony. The region code and macro-vision are embedded in the video chip. So, don't buy Sony. There a literally hundreds of other players that are multi zoned and macro free, parallel imports from China / Taiwan most of them. Do a Goggle for the brands and models.

skeeter

Mine's a Sony/Aiwa (Aiwa is a division of sony) but it still said it could be hacked, using a universal remote. Strange.

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Originally posted by AThousandYoung
What's the point of having regions if a DVD player can be set to region free?
The manufacturers must set their players to certain regions due to contracts with Macrovision and CSS.

Dave

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Originally posted by D43M0N
Mine's a Sony/Aiwa (Aiwa is a division of sony) but it still said it could be hacked, using a universal remote. Strange.
Lets be clear. In Sony DVD players, the region code and the macro data enabler are embedded in the video chip. It is not an e-prom.You cannot reprogramme it. The Sony engineers are not stupid and they are at the vanguard of the war against pirating. If anyone says that they hacked a Sony then its either not a Sony or they are lying.

skeeter