How can I make my DVD drive region free?

[Danster]

Hi there.

Im playing both R1 and R2 DVD's on my T43, but when when Im switching from one region to another, the drive counts down, and I only have 2 times left. So is there any software, which can make my drive region free?

Thanks!

[agarza]

Try DVD Genie

[Wiz]

The DVD drive on the T43 is not originally region free (RPC-1) so you can change the drive's region 5 times and then it's locked. To make it region free you could either find a RPC-1 firmware for your DVD drive (if available for your model) and flash the drive. If you do that it's on your own risk and you should read the instructions carefully. It would also ruin your warranty. I did this a couple of times with success. Then your drive is region free and you could use several tools to reset the counter like DVD Genie. DVD Genie is not able to reset the counter on a RPC-2 drive (not region free drive) so that tool will be of no use unless you flash your drive with a RPC-1 firmware. There is also several other tools available to reset the counter on a region free DVD drive. Basically with a RPC-1 drive then it's Windows that has a counter to prevent you from changing the region more then 2 times (i think it's only 2 times). So then it's easy to reset the counter since it's a key stored in registry, but with a RPC-2 drive it's the firmware of the drive and not windows that prevent you from changing the region more then 5 times. There could be a counter in the DVD player you use as well, but DVD Genie is able to reset the counter in most of them.

The site below contains lot of firmwares for DVD drives (both RPC-1 and 2), information, software to reset the counter or to avoid this problem and a forum where you could get some help.

http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php (I hope it's ok to post this link since it doesn't contain any illegal stuff. At least not in my country).

Another more safe option is to use software that run in the backgound like DVD Region+CSS Free that make it possible to play a DVD with any region on a drive that is not region free. I don't think DVD Region+CSS Free is free though. you can find all the information you need using the link above.

[andrewb]

I have tried, and failed, in attempts to find firmware to use on the drive on my T43p. An alternate approach is to download and use VLC Media Player in preference to InterVideo or Windows Media Player.

I have found VLC plays DVDs of whatever region regardless of the region stipulated by the drive. Not being a techie, I have no idea how, or why, this should be the case.