ThinkpadT61 -- replacing the DVD-RW drive with another model

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ThomasAdam · #1 Post by **ThomasAdam** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:36 pm

Hello all,

I have a great thinkpad T61, and the only problem I have with it is the default DVD-RW drive that comes with the laptop is locked to a region.

As per:

http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?f=1 ... TA#p218060

Which depicts the drive in question (MATSHITA DVD-RAM UJ-862) I'm basically screwed.

Has anyone got any good recommendations for replacing this drive with another one which isn't region locked? It makes playing DVDs almost impossible,

Thanks!

Radioguy · #2 Post by **Radioguy** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:25 pm

There's supposedly some software workarounds (something called "region killer" IIRC).

I have the 852, and have been waiting for an RPC f/w, but I haven't seen one done yet. Even though I don't watch as many foreign region DVDs on laptop as I used to, I would like to have proper region-free firmware for it so I know I can.

ThomasAdam · #3 Post by **ThomasAdam** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 6:27 pm

Radioguy wrote:There's supposedly some software workarounds (something called "region killer" IIRC).

I have the 852, and have been waiting for an RPC f/w, but I haven't seen one done yet. Even though I don't watch as many foreign region DVDs on laptop as I used to, I would like to have proper region-free firmware for it so I know I can.

Right -- I am unwilling to wait though. And FWIW, whatever program might exist out there to change the firmware would have to work under Linux -- I have absolutely no Windows installation on my thinkpad whatsoever.

-- Thomas Adam

#4 Post by **richk** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 9:07 pm

This is the best source of firmware for optical drives that I know of:

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

ThomasAdam · #5 Post by **ThomasAdam** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 1:48 am

richk wrote:This is the best source of firmware for optical drives that I know of:

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

Yes, and you'll note in my original post I did reference:

http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?f=1 ... TA#p218060

Which pretty much sums up the state of play.

So... my original question:

Does anyone have a preference for another model of DVDRW drive I can replace the current Matshita one with?

-- Thomas Adam

Radioguy · #6 Post by **Radioguy** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:44 pm

ThomasAdam wrote:Right -- I am unwilling to wait though. And FWIW, whatever program might exist out there to change the firmware would have to work under Linux -- I have absolutely no Windows installation on my thinkpad whatsoever.

-- Thomas Adam

Well, if you can dump the current firmware to a bin file, the Dangerous Brothers might be able to do something with it. They seem to do region-free bins for drives they have in their posession though.

If someone wants to send them one....

Tseng · #7 Post by **Tseng** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 5:38 am

If you want to duplicate DVD, there is still hope.

Based on the info. from RPC1, you can use AnyDVD + nero or whatever buring/copying application you like. It is still possible to break the DVD regional protection.

But if you want to watch DVD from all different regions, I guess only option I can think of is prepare several DVD-RAM with different regional codes. Because lenovo almost use Matshita DVD-RAM exclusively.

daphatgrant · #8 Post by **daphatgrant** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 11:21 pm

What ThomasAdam is asking for and I am curious about as well is are there any recommendations for another brand of DVD-RW drive? Not a fix for the current one but a completely different brand/model.

rbena · #9 Post by **rbena** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 6:27 pm

If you can't purchase a region-free drive, you could consider purchasing another drive like you already have and setting it to another region (to cover the two most popular regions for playing DVD's, plus having a backup drive).

Alternatively, you could purchase a USB external drive that is region free. I've done this, and it also saves burning high volumes of disks on my internal drive and possibly shortening its life.

Tseng · #10 Post by **Tseng** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 9:34 pm

Yes, there is an alternative DVD-RAM to replace Matshita.

The answer is HLDS GSA=U10N. FRU# is 39T2829. Same 9.5mm height can be installed on T60/T61.

Radioguy · #11 Post by **Radioguy** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 9:40 am

Tseng wrote:Yes, there is an alternative DVD-RAM to replace Matshita.

The answer is HLDS GSA=U10N. FRU# is 39T2829. Same 9.5mm height can be installed on T60/T61.

1. How's the performance against the Panasonic? (Hitatchi's decent for HDs, but I don't like LG, so I have no idea how to rate them)

2. Is there an RPC free f/w for it?

Plus, can't any ATAPI interface drive with the same dimensions be placed in an UB Slim Optical drive enclosure/caddy to be used as well, or is there a whitelist for these?

Ravenheart · #12 Post by **Ravenheart** » Sat May 21, 2011 1:18 pm

I came across this old thread and thought I'd add, I had no trouble at all patching and reflashing my UJ-862 as RPC1 with the software from this page:

http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=46246

It also worked as well on a UJ-842.

With software like the free DVD Region Killer plus a player like Media Player Classic or the VLC player, you would be all set.

I have an X60, but that shouldn't change the picture.

ThinkpadT61 -- replacing the DVD-RW drive with another model

ThinkpadT61 -- replacing the DVD-RW drive with another model

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