how many region changes left?

[Chinashaw]

Hi,

I know I can only change the region code on my PB 5 times, I think I have done it 4 times now. I was wondering if there was a way of checking without actually inserting a dvd. I am worried about accidently changing the region into 1 (I live in London).

Thanks,


Nicholas

 

[Porco]

The best way would probably be to insert a disc that is region coded for the region you wish it to be (I presume that is region 2, the region the UK uses). Any new, bought DVD with a region 2 designation label on it will do.

That way, if it is set to a region other than 2, it will tell you when you try to play it, and ask you if you want to to change it to region 2 permanently.

Aside from of all that, you can play any region DVD on your Mac. If you go to system preferences after you try the above test, and go to the CDs and DVDs panel, you can set the PB to ignore DVDs when you insert them - they will still mount on the desktop, they just won't launch DVD Player. You will still be able to run DVD Player when you choose to, just like any other app, but the reason for all this is that you can instead choose to run VLC, which will play a wide variety of video formats -and- any DVD, whatever region, regardless of the one your drive is set to. It's not quite as smooth an experience as DVD Player, but does the job when you have something other than Region 2 to play.

 

[spacepower7]

VLC is the easiest way

but you can also update the firmware to be RPC-1
http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php?
search mac stuff

 

[howesey]

However, it is not locked by software so VLC is not the answer. The firmware that is built into the DVD-ROM drive locks the drive, therefore not allowing any changes. It is not done by the OS or any other hardware.

 

[Porco]

However, it is not locked by software so VLC is not the answer. The firmware that is built into the DVD-ROM drive locks the drive, therefore not allowing any changes. It is not done by the OS or any other hardware.

Well, it's not the answer to the question; 'How do I make my drive region free?', but VLC allows you to bypass the region code rubbish altogether, it just plays, so it IS the answer to the question: 'Can I play any region-coded DVD?' which is, as demonstrated, a different question. The Original Poster expressed concern about locking the region to the 'wrong' one for him, so I guess he wanted a way to avoid being locked out from his own region, and VLC does that, whilst also allowing him to play any DVD.

So yes, you're right of course that it's the firmware in the drive that determines what the region is set to, but whether VLC is 'the answer' or not depends very much on what you perceive to be the question.