DVD regions

hoges25 · 16th May 2006, 10:59 PM

My folks are about to go on holiday overseas, so I would like them to get several dvd's for me. Problem is, in England, I think most dvd's are region two, as oposed to our region four.

So I was wondering - since I usually use my htpc to watch dvd's anyway, would it be possible to buy another cheap dvd rom drive to use as a region two drive?

I'm not really interested in copying them or anything illegal like that. I know that you can change the region on the dvd drive, I just want to make sure that it isn't a global option - ie if you change one drive to region two, ALL will be changed to the selected region. Or more importantly, that they won't interfere with each other?

nux · 16th May 2006, 11:26 PM

A lot of DVD drives can be flashed to be region free. Some will only allow 10 changes of region before they lock onto the last region used.

Zzapped · 16th May 2006, 11:28 PM

doom9.org has a lot of info on dvd regions and unlocking drives

Cheers

Z

MR CHILLED · 17th May 2006, 7:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoges25

So I was wondering - since I usually use my htpc to watch dvd's anyway, would it be possible to buy another cheap dvd rom drive to use as a region two drive?

I don't see why not.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoges25

I'm not really interested in copying them or anything illegal like that. I know that you can change the region on the dvd drive, I just want to make sure that it isn't a global option - ie if you change one drive to region two, ALL will be changed to the selected region. Or more importantly, that they won't interfere with each other?

It won't be an issue, they will both sit independantly. You change one it won't change the other.

hoges25 · 17th May 2006, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuxie1

A lot of DVD drives can be flashed to be region free. Some will only allow 10 changes of region before they lock onto the last region used.

I've heard of this, but apparently sometimes winxp, or in future vista, won't like the drive??

Meh, i'll check out the doom9 forums. It'll be a couple of months away anyways.

Cheers

nux · 17th May 2006, 1:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoges25

I've heard of this, but apparently sometimes winxp, or in future vista, won't like the drive??

WinXP doesnt mind. Maybe Vista would, but its a fair way off.

MR CHILLED · 17th May 2006, 1:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuxie1

WinXP doesnt mind. Maybe Vista would, but its a fair way off.

Eight months off, not too far.

foxmulder881 · 17th May 2006, 4:10 PM

Just run AnyDVD in the background. That's not illegal!

SnooP-WiggleS · 17th May 2006, 5:47 PM

Any liteon based drive can be made region free with a simple program, no firmware flash required. Then it plays any dvd, any region (like your standalone dvd players do). Not really worth buying a second drive just for the privelege. The latest media player classic can then play the dvds fine, most other programs have software checks. As mentioned Anydvd and similar programs will also work, since they decrypts the dvd on-the-fly so the dvd player just sees a region free disc. they usually cost money though!

jtsmorris · 17th May 2006, 7:05 PM

Another vote for anydvd. Simple software solution that doesn't have the potential problems that flashing can cause

16th May 2006, 10:59 PM	#1
hoges25 Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Victoria Posts: 555	DVD regions My folks are about to go on holiday overseas, so I would like them to get several dvd's for me. Problem is, in England, I think most dvd's are region two, as oposed to our region four. So I was wondering - since I usually use my htpc to watch dvd's anyway, would it be possible to buy another cheap dvd rom drive to use as a region two drive? I'm not really interested in copying them or anything illegal like that. I know that you can change the region on the dvd drive, I just want to make sure that it isn't a global option - ie if you change one drive to region two, ALL will be changed to the selected region. Or more importantly, that they won't interfere with each other? __________________ [redbubble] \| [flickr] \| [deviantart] Cannon EOS 1000D, Fuji F200EXR Sigma 10-20mm, Cannon 50mm 1.8 mkII

17th May 2006, 5:47 PM	#9
SnooP-WiggleS Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Ballarat, Victoria Posts: 2,662	Any liteon based drive can be made region free with a simple program, no firmware flash required. Then it plays any dvd, any region (like your standalone dvd players do). Not really worth buying a second drive just for the privelege. The latest media player classic can then play the dvds fine, most other programs have software checks. As mentioned Anydvd and similar programs will also work, since they decrypts the dvd on-the-fly so the dvd player just sees a region free disc. they usually cost money though! __________________ RIG - CPU: I5 2500k @ 4.3ghz \| RAM: 8GB 1600 \| MOBO: ASUS P67 \| GC: ATI 5850 \| HD: 4tb \| Audio: m-audio delta 1010lt -> USB DAC -> Head Direct Re0 \| Case: Antec Sonata 3 PSU watts and Rails calculator OCAU WIKI's - heres what i've added, what can you add? The OCAU PSU wiki. Video Card wiki. Quiet PC

16th May 2006, 11:26 PM	#2
nux Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Melbourne Posts: 16,790	A lot of DVD drives can be flashed to be region free. Some will only allow 10 changes of region before they lock onto the last region used.

17th May 2006, 4:10 PM	#8
foxmulder881 Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Gold Coast, QLD OS:R.Hat Posts: 5,845	Just run AnyDVD in the background. That's not illegal!

17th May 2006, 7:05 PM	#10
jtsmorris Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Adelaide, 5127 Posts: 94	Another vote for anydvd. Simple software solution that doesn't have the potential problems that flashing can cause