DVD player region permanently set

I recently bought a used MacBook. The optical drive handles music CDs, CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs fine, but it won't play movie DVDs. Apparently the previous owner(s) changed the DVD region setting five times, so it is now permanently set to something other than Zone 1 (North America).
My question is: what's the fix for this? I'm betting just reinstalling the DVD Player software won't reset the region. Will replacing the Superdrive with a new one solve the problem, or is there some software setting somewhere in addition to the hardware?

Well, as usual nobody could help me so I found my own fix. The answer is that the setting is the firmware of the DVD drive.
There is a fix, but it's probably illegal. I finally found the right combination of free downloads to "flash" the firmware and replace it with a region-free version. There were many warnings about bad things that could happen, but since my DVD drive was already basically worthless I didn't have much to lose.
1. Use "DVD Info X" to verify the firmware settings.
2. Download the firmware hacks, but they only work in Tiger (OS 10.4)
3. Download "Matsushita Flasher" which allows the hacks to run in 10.6
4. Download "RegionX" which allows you to manually set the region code once the hacks have been applied.
Problem solved.

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Why is there a limit on the number of times a "DVD player region" can be changed, and can it be adjusted for more region changes, or an indefinite number of region changes?

Why is there a limit on the number of times a "DVD player region" can be changed, and can this numbert be adjusted for more region changes, or an indefinite number of region changes?

Region encoding is the mechanism that enables motion picture studios to control the worldwide release of their movies. It is required by the DVD Forum (http://www.dvdforum.org/forum.shtml) in all commercial hardware DVD players. Every DVD-Video disc contains one byte of data representing a region code, which limits where the disc can be played.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2397
Once you have set the region in DVD Player five times it cannot be changed.
Instead, use VLC to view videos from different regions:
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html

How many times can I change the DVD Player region setting?

I Plugged in my external DVD and started to play a DVD disc. It asked me to setup a region for my DVD player. As far as I know there is a limit for this setting. Is it also true with MAC drive on a MAc invironment? Thanks.

Upto 5 times.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2397

DVD Player Hasn't set the REGION code

I just got a new MacBookPro (a replacement for one that had failed). Well, I restored all my data and am working fine... BUT...
I think all my settings think that I've already set the Region Code of the DVD drive. But, using a tool, I was able to verify that the region code has NOT been set.
How can I force DVD Player to set the region code of the DVD Drive? Right now, I can't play anything.
Thanks!

Hi Jack and welcome!
Until I read the last sentence my answer would have been: insert a commercial DVD intended for your region code (unhelpfully you don't say where you are!), i.e. NTSC for the US or PAL for Europe, and it will ask you set the region code for that DVD.
Remember: you can only ever do this five times, so best not to play DVDs from other regions.
But then you spoilt it all by saying "Right now, I can't play anything"!
What did you try to play?
Did you repair permissions?

Only Change the DVD Player regions 5 times!?

Really, is Apple so cheap that it thinks that is relevant? I travel, I am an NGO, so I could change regions continuously but I am restricted on my Apple to five region changes. Five! I have now moved to Europe and cannot use the DVD player because I have changed it five times previously, yet i can buy a PC or a travel DVD player that will play any and all DVDs. I now have a useless piece of software on my computer and a have to carry another DVD player because Apple are ******* ******. I actually like Apple but this is ******* me off. Maybe its time to look at the competition...

neilfromwashington wrote:
I have changed it five times previously
And each time you were warned that, "You can change the region code of a DVD drive only five times (including the original setting); the fifth setting is permanent", weren't you?
Maybe its time to look at the competition
Definitely. And please do share the results.
Below is an excerpt from my Fujitsu Lifebook user guide (capitalisation and stress is theirs):
• ALL LIFEBOOK DVD PLAYERS ARE SET TO PLAY DVD TITLES WITH REGION CODE NUMBER 1 WHICH IS SPECIFIED FOR THE NORTH AMERICAN MARKET. THE REGION NUMBER IS A REGIONAL RESTRICTION CODE DEFINED BY THE DVD FORUM ACTING ON HOLLYWOOD REQUIREMENTS. DIFFERENT REGION CODES ARE RECORDED ON VIDEO DVD TITLES FOR PUBLICATION IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE WORLD. IF THE REGIONAL CODE OF THE DVD PLAYER DOES NOT MATCH THE REGIONAL CODES ON THE TITLES, THEN PLAYBACK IS IMPOSSIBLE.
• YOU CAN CHANGE THE REGION CODE ON THE DVD PLAYER USING THE PROPERTIES MENU OF THE DVD SOFTWARE. NOTE, HOWEVER, THAT YOU CAN ONLY CHANGE THE REGION CODE UP TO FOUR TIMES. AFTER THE 4TH CHANGE, THE LAST CODE ENTERED BECOMES PERMANENT, AND CANNOT BE CHANGED.

Changing Apple DVD Player Region

My laptop is refusing to play a lot of DVDs - DVD Player opens but stays on a blank, black screen instead of loading the legal disclaimers and the DVD menu. If i use the little metal 'controller' to try to get the DVD to play then i get a no entry sign and a message that reads 'Supported disc not available'. Previously, i also get an error message that said that I needed to change my DVD region, (i think from region 4 to region 2, but i can't be sure as this was some time ago), but that it could only be changed two more times. So, because I don't want to set it to the wrong region just to play a couple of DVDs and then get stuck with that setting and not be able to play anything else, I want to know what the most common/official region for all UK DVDs is, and how to set it to that. I really don't understand the point of this nonsense, why am I limited as to how many times I can change this? And why do different DVDs have different region codes anyway, surely a DVD is a DVD, right?
Thanks in advance for any assistance with this matter,
LSRW.

Hi BDAqua,
Yes, I was aware of this, but the last time it prompted me to change the region it told me that I have two changes left, and I didn't opt to change it that time as I didn't know what I was doing and didn't want to use up a change. I have never changed it before myself, but I bought the laptop second hand.
LSRW

Apple DVD player / region code

I apologize if this is the incorrect forum for this question, but I could not find a forum specific to the Apple DVD player.
Several months ago my internal DVD drive died and I replaced with an external LaCie firewire drive which I purchased from Apple. Until today all I have used it for is burning disks, and for that it has worked flawlessly. Today, however, I needed to use it to view a DVD. When I inserted the DVD i got a pop-up box which stated "Since this is the first use of a DVD disc, the drive region must be initialized before playing." A drop-down box gives me the options of regions 1-6, and 8. When selecting region 1, or any region for that matter, I get an error message which states "There was a problem changing the drive region code," and it gives me an error code of 10007. If I click Cancel the disk ejects and Apple DVD player pops up. Thinking there might be a problem with this disc I have tried several dvd movies. I do not get the pop-up box with the region code choices, instead Apple DVD player pops up, but the movie will not play. On screen it says "Supported Disc not available."
I tried the original disk in my G4 PowerBook and it plays fine.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The LaCie drivers haven't changed since 2008 or before. Traditionally, computer DVD drives ignore region codes (a region code is a feature which should be illegal, IMO). So, unless your computer is new, I'm guessing the region code block is programmed into 'DVD Player'.
I've a LaCie external DVD drive, and I found the free MPlayer produces a much better image than 'DVD Player'. Haven't tried VLC in several years, but it's considered my many the best.
MPlayer
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/18580/mplayer
VLC
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/5758/vlc-media-player
Be sure the external drive is being accessed. (You might want to stock up on such software while that for Tiger is still available.)

DVD player - regional code issue

My wife is Japanese and I am Australian. We spend some time in Japan and some in Australia. Occasionally I take my ibook to Japan, and watch DVD's in both Australia and Japan. I now have only 2 more times I can change the regional code and this is an issue. I don't want to change again, in case I need one for an emergency, or something.
I find the whole thing impractical and a reason not to have an ibook!
I cannot believe that there is nothing that can be done - ie what happens if I do use my changes up - am I then stuck?
Is there a work around that someone can help me with.
It's not like I am trying to rip anyone off from their due royalties by pirating - I am just a legitimate user.
You replies and help are highly appreciated already.
Jeremy

Unfortunately, the movie industry cartel want to ensure their undiminished profits, so the rest of the world is stuck with this regionalization nonsense.
However, you may be able to find some relief by using the [VLC media player|http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html] instead of the stock DVD Player. Since that program reads the raw datastream directly, it may bypass the regionalization. If the DVD drive does not want to cooperate, you can purchase an external drive with Firewire and/or USB interface and use that together with VLC; just don't use the stock DVD Player program with it cause it will get regionalized and you'll be back were you are now.
Some people have also taken it upon themselves to modify the firmware of some DVD drives to disable this regionalization and with some diligence you may locate these efforts, searching for "RPC1". Note that doing this will void your warranty and in some countries may render you liable for criminal prosecution.

Dvd for dvd player through TV set

I have iMovie 7.1.4, which I am assuming is iMovie 8. Is there a way to take a slide show with music from iPhoto and make an iMovie version that will play on a DVD player through the television? I have made and burned a DVD that plays on Macs and PC's. When I put it in the DVD player connected to my TV, I receive a message on the TV screen "unknown disk."
Thanks,
BF

You need to burn your movie with iDVD.

Can only change dvd player region 5 times? (idvd player)

me my dad both got computers. I put a dvd in it said it was the wrong region code. then i looked it up on help and it says you can only change the region 5 times. We (the united states) are in region 1 but my dad has some japanese (region 2) discs he wants to play. why can you only change the region 5 times?????????????????

Region encoding is what the motion picture studios use to control the worldwide release of their movies. Apple limits the region change / settings to 5 times. The only way around this is to install a new motherboard....sorry.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60183
Hope this info is Helpful.

Set my DVD player to Region Code 0?

I have a Region 2 DVD I purchased and playing it forced me to change my DVD player settings from Region 1 so that I could view it on my iMac. I have 3 more changes left and would like to set my DVD player to Region Code 0 so that I can view all the DVDs in my collection without having to worry about this. Is there a fix for this or some 3rd party player I can install?
Thanks.

Hi Kort,
Using VLC you have to use option "Open Disc..." then you select the image that fairmount generated (I'm at work so I don't have my mac to check the exact name of the menu option).
This way you could see a DVD from other region without having to change the DVD player region, because fairmount has created a replica of the DVD without the zones protection.
Hope it helps.

Change DVD region on external DVD Player

I have a DVD player that was set to region 1. It now is not. It says that I have 3 DVD region changes left (yeah, I know you only get 5). I don't know how it changed to a different region, but now I need it to change back to region 1, so I can watch movies again. I have a samsung external dvd player. Any suggestions?

Hi V
Yes there are several possible origins to this:
• burning the DVD with x16 speed often gives so much errors that they doesnt work
• using a cheap brand - same
• wrong type of DVD
• to little free space on internal (start-up) hard disk
1. I make a DiskImage then use Toast™ to burn with x1 speed (one can use Apple Disk Util tool to do this - in iDVD08 one can select burn-speed)
2. I use Verbatim DVD-R
3. I use -R no +R or +/-RW disks
4. iDVD needs 25Gb free space on internal (start-up) hard disk. 10Gb might work but slow.
<5Gb if it reaches to goal - most probably an useless DVD disk is the result.
Yours Bengt W

How to connect JVC DVd player and video cassette recorder to QIP 7100 and Panasonic TC-32lx44

What cables do I need to connect my DVD/VCR recorder through my QIP 7100 to see on my TV? I would appreciate any assistance with this since I am a novice.
Thanks
Solved!
Go to Solution.

You cannot run ANY signal through a Set top box to a Television. The only input on the boxes that is actually functional is the coaxial cable. The only way your are going to connect your DVD player to the TV is via one of the AV inputs on the Television itself.
Hopefully your Television has at least 2 sets of AV inputs, because you are going to need them. 1 for the VCR and 1 for the DVD player.
Depending upon the TV, VCR and DVD player, the connections possible are:
1). HDMI cable from TV to DVD if the DVD player has HDMI and the TV has a 2nd HDMI input. It is very unlikely your VCR supports HDMI.
2). Component Video (RGB) plus Audio AV cables from audio and component outputs on the DVD player to a set of component and coresponding audio inputs on the Television. It is unlikely that your VCR supports component video.
3). S-VHS cable from DVD player or VCR to S-VHS input on the TV (if there is one), and audio AV cables from the audio outputs on the DVD/VCR player to the corresponding audio input on the TV for the S-VHS cable. If S-VHS is not available, you can use composite video instead. HDMI and Component video will give you the best picture and composite video will give you the lowest quality picture, but depending upon the equipment, your VCR may not have an S-VHS output available.

Creative 5200 inspire 5.1 speakers connection to my onida 5.1 dvd player

Hey guys i have a onida 5.1 channel dvd player and a set of creative 5200 inspire 5.1 speaker set.
As per your instuctions shown on the site i bought 3 pcs of single stereo to dual rca cables and attached it to the 5.1 output as per your picture shown but only 2 spkrs and the woffer worked .
Then i connected the front left n right as per your instuctions and the rear left & right i connected to the regular audio red and white plug on the dvd player where you would have connected it to your tv and then at least 4 spkrs and the wooffer is working now i wanted to know how should i make the centre speaker work pls advice
would request you to pls send me a reply on my mail id if you dnt mind ie: [email protected] as i dont visit this site very often pls request you for the same
hope you could help me wit the same pls thanx

i have bought a creative sound card namely " creative live 24 bit 7.1 " will me creative 5200 spkrs work {all 5 FL,FR,RL,RR & CENTRE}
pls advice as i could change my sound card if it isnt compatible.
thnx

DVD Player: Poor tolerance to less-than-ideal DVD quality?

"Real world" DVDs from rental stores have surface scratches, fact of life AFAIK most DVD players handle most of these fine. (With the odd exception, naturally.) I have had 6 consecutive DVDs that "broken down" on being played using Tiger's DVD Player (10.3.9). At first I blamed the DVD quality, but now I suspect I should be blaming Apple's software for not handling "real world" standards--?
Its a bit hard to believe 6 in a row are faulty, or the store would be getting a rain of abuse. Currently, I'm getting more more DVDs that "break down" than that play right through...
I'd welcome other's experiences: is "normal" for Apple's DVD Player? Do "set top" DVD players perform better? If so, why? Etc, etc.
Basically, I'd like to get the low-down on what's up. I'm thorougly sick of finding my movies "stall" on me, it makes the whole thing pointless after all.

While I could try a cleaner, I'm doubtful that this is the problem: the stalls occur in essentially the same places on replaying the DVD, even after ejecting and re-starting the movie. I would have thought a dirty lens would show a more random pattern of issues--?
(Excuse the very slow reply: I've been trying over a couple of days to post when Apple's forum is actually working for me!)

DVD player region permanently set

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