Need to change regions T60p w/ Matshita dvd-ram UJ-842

[Sam Spade]

I live in a part of the world where I get dvds from several different regions, so I'm constantly changing back and forth. Now my Matshita dvd-ram UJ-842 is on its last change. I'm looking for a way to make changes extend beyond the 4 the drive comes with.

I'm willing to pay but obviously if there is a free way (a hack) I'd be grateful.

Thanks.

[Wiz]

Maybe this piece of software could be an option:
http://www.dvdidle.com/dvd-region-free.htm

It's not freeware though, but i tried this one a long time ago and it did what it was supposed to do.

you can find some more info regarding DVD regions on the site below. There is also several firmware's available for download to make the DVD drive region free, but i don't think there any region free firmware available for your model.

http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php

[Sam Spade]

Maybe this piece of software could be an option:
http://www.dvdidle.com/dvd-region-free.htm

It's not freeware though, but i tried this one a long time ago and it did what it was supposed to do.

you can find some more info regarding DVD regions on the site below. There is also several firmware's available for download to make the DVD drive region free, but i don't think there any region free firmware available for your model.

http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php

Thanks, Wiz. I went to the dvdidle site yesterday and they say they can't help the matshita dvd-ram UJ-8xx drives, and have no plans to.
(bummer).

I'll try your other suggestion.


SS

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[Sam Spade]

you can find some more info regarding DVD regions on the site below. There is also several firmware's available for download to make the DVD drive region free, but i don't think there any region free firmware available for your model.

http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php

So close and yet so far. This latter site has the Matshita drive in the UJ-842 version, but it's for Sony only (mine is Panasonic), and it doesn't have "region free". (Don't know what it's doing there on the site??)

SS


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[Wiz]

Thanks, Wiz. I went to the dvdidle site yesterday and they say they can't help the matshita dvd-ram UJ-8xx drives, and have no plans to.
(bummer).

Oh i didn't know that, but at the bottom of the page i just saw that it's not supported.

I read a post from someone else on this board and he said this:

VLC will play any dvd from any region
Or install AnyDVD and it will remove those stupid region locks, as well as CSS protection

I don't know anything about VLC, but i tried AnyDVD some time ago and seems to work fine.

[Wiz]

So close and yet so far. This latter site has the Matshita drive in the UJ-842 version, but it's for Sony only (mine is Panasonic), and it doesn't have "region free". (Don't know what it's doing there on the site??)

That's right, they also have firmware's that is not region free (rpc-2) on that site. What you would need is a rpc-1 firmware which basically mean that it's region free. Also as you said that one is for Sony only and using that one on a thinkpad would probably just break your DVD drive.

[Sam Spade]

[quote="Wiz"][/quote]


Thanks again, Wiz. Gonna try AnyDVD. Here goes: wish me luck!!





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[Sam Spade]

Well, I tried AnyDVD and it also says my drive is "locked", and to try to find a RPC-1 hack. Back to square one.

New ideas welcomed!!!


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[Wiz]

Sorry, but I don't think there is any way around this problem with M a t s u s h i t a (Panasonic). I just found this one:

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showpost.php?p ... ostcount=2

Seems like the only way is to flash the drive with a rpc-1 firmware (but seems like none exist) or replace the drive with anything other then M a t s u s h i t a (Panasonic).

[Sam Spade]

Sorry, but I don't think there is any way around this problem with M a t s u s h i t a (Panasonic). I just found this one:

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showpost.php?p ... ostcount=2

Seems like the only way is to flash the drive with a rpc-1 firmware (but seems like none exist) or replace the drive with anything other then M a t s u s h i t a (Panasonic).

Yeah, this seems to be the picture. I'm already on the lookout for a replacement simple DVD-rom drive that I can switch in to watch DVDs, and still keep my dvd-ram drive (Matshita) for writing dual-layer disks. I don't know if there is such a switch-in rom drive available; this is a "slim-line" drive compartment for a Thinkpad T60p. If you know anything about this, please advise.


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[Wiz]

Yeah, this seems to be the picture. I'm already on the lookout for a replacement simple DVD-rom drive that I can switch in to watch DVDs, and still keep my dvd-ram drive (Matshita) for writing dual-layer disks. I don't know if there is such a switch-in rom drive available; this is a "slim-line" drive compartment for a Thinkpad T60p. If you know anything about this, please advise.

I don't know what other DVD drives you could get and use for the T60 if you want an internal drive. Maybe IBM/Lenovo have some other models from another manufacturers that can be used with the T60. I guess someone else on this board would be better to answer that question. Maybe to create a new thread on this board with another subject and ask that question is the best way to find out.

I would be interested as well to replace my Matshita with another Dual layer combo DVD-RW/CD-RW drive from any other manufacturer then Matshita. Want it to be internal and black cover of course.

[ducky2802]

Im not sure if itll help any, but TEAC makes drives (or they did once) for thinkpads. I see them all the time on ebay for around $30, various models of DVD/DVDRW/DVDRWDL, which may or may not be region locked. The main thing on all these "slim line" drives is the interface on the back...looks to me that all IBM thinkpads have a connector that looks like [---------] which is about the only thing you need to worry about. I know the sony vaio fs series uses a connector that looks like a rectangle [=====] (imagine the equal signs being spaced wider apart).

Anyways, point Im trying to make, except for the little connector on the back, virtually all "slim drives" from any computer brand are identical. And all you need to do is get a small screw driver set to change the covers/misc mounts so they work with the thinkpads.

[Wiz]

Thanks for the tip ducky2802, if they are not region free there might be rpc-1 firmware's available and at least the TEAC can use AnyDVD and DVD Region+CSS Free or other software created for that purpose.

[steveg47]

If you can't make your cd\dvd drive region free why not make your DVD movies region free with a product such as DVDshrink which makes decrypted region free copies or ISOs of DVDs. It's freeware and works superbly.

[Wiz]

If you can't make your cd\dvd drive region free why not make your DVD movies region free with a product such as DVDshrink which makes decrypted region free copies or ISOs of DVDs. It's freeware and works superbly.

Well the problem here is that you cannot read the disc using a Matshita drive (unless it's RPC-1) when the region of the DVD drive do not match the disc. So using DVDShrink on the computer with the Matshita drive wouldn't do any good. That would require another PC with any DVD drive except Matshita to make a region free copy before that disc can be used on the Thinkpad with the Matshita drive. In that case AnyDVD and DVD Region+CSS would work as well. Of course that's an option if willing to use another PC to make region free copies, but that's to much hassle for me. I prefer to get another DVD drive for my Thinkpad so i can watch any movie without having to make a copy first.

[Sam Spade]

Im not sure if itll help any, but TEAC makes drives (or they did once) for thinkpads. I see them all the time on ebay for around $30, various models of DVD/DVDRW/DVDRWDL, which may or may not be region locked. The main thing on all these "slim line" drives is the interface on the back...looks to me that all IBM thinkpads have a connector that looks like [---------] which is about the only thing you need to worry about. I know the sony vaio fs series uses a connector that looks like a rectangle [=====] (imagine the equal signs being spaced wider apart).

Anyways, point Im trying to make, except for the little connector on the back, virtually all "slim drives" from any computer brand are identical. And all you need to do is get a small screw driver set to change the covers/misc mounts so they work with the thinkpads.

Good idea, duck. Thanks.

I just checked the drive from my old T-22 and the new T-60 series is definitely a different size, the "slim-line" size, thinner by 30% or so.

I think changing the drive to a simpler DVD-rom is the only answer. I'll check the IBM/Lenovo site and see what they have for slim-line DVD-roms, something that will take a either a firmware change or can accept region-free. They will be priced through the roof, but at least they should have a name that I can pursue through other venues.

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