Playing Region 1 dvds on my PC

[f1mandi]

Hi experts,

Need a wee bit of advice. I have a region 1 dvd box set that I want to play on my pc. Now, I think I remember reading something once that you can only change the region code 5 times and then it sticks to that particular region. I don't know how to do this.

But when I put the dvd in - first I got a region code error, so I tried it again and it played just fine, without me doing anything to change it.

What I need to know is can I play the rest of the dvd's (6 in all) without my pc becoming permanently region 1 as I'm in the UK and region 2?

I'm using Windows Vista and my pc is about 3 years old

Cheers,
Mandi

[camperman]

Depending on the brand of your DVD drive you should be able to get region free firmware to make it region free but you will have to flash the drive which can be a bit daunting if some thing goes wrong as it'll bugger your drive up if it does.

The other thing you can do is rip the DVD contents onto your hard drive with DVD decrypter which will remove the region 1 coding so you can convert it as region free to run on any DVD player.

You could also put the model number of your tv DVD player into google along with the word "codes" to see if your tv DVD player has any secret menus so you can change the region on it to play all regions.

Hope this helps

[f1mandi]

Cheers for the info. I do have a multi region dvd player so it's not a big issue.

I really need to know if - when I'm playing the dvds on the pc will I know if/when I reach my 5 code change limit? Or does playing all 6 dvds in one session count as one code change or 6?


Mandi

[camperman]

It's 6 separate DVDs mand so it will lock when you play the box set, if your going to do the firmware fix do it before you lock it out

[f1mandi]

I figured out another way. I've connected the multi-region dvd player to my region 2 dvd recorder and I'm recording the dvd's onto it's hard drive and then onto disc.

Just started doing this and it's working perfectly

I know it's illegal but it's for my own personal use and I'm only doing it so that I can watch them anywhere.

I'm not planning on making copies to sell - it's an old western series so I doubt anyone would want it anyway!

Thanks so much for your good advice. I'm glad I asked before playing them all on the pc and ending up locking it to region 1. Whew!

Mandi

[camperman]

no probs mandi

im sure the law has changed and you entitled to do this now if you own the dvd anyways and im sure if its been on tv already you have nothing to worry about

[DiscoDes]

I hope it converts NTSC to PAL then? As region 1 (USA) use a slightly different video system to the UK (PAL) whilst my Panasonic DVD player is multi region I have to change the system output to NTSC so my telly can display it properly. This is a good site about making DVD players and DVD drives region free www.dvdhacks.co.uk/

[camperman]

region 1 NTSC displays either 29 or 23 frames and region 2 PAL displays in 25
ive been converting films/frames for about 25 years so im pretty much clued up on conversions frames muxing ect, its all staright forward once you get your frames and muxing right

[DiscoDes]

Oh and I forgot about Macrovision when using the multi region player to f1mandi's recorder. I hope the original disk does not have it on it!

[f1mandi]

Thanks for all the good advice everyone.

I got it done! All I had to do was connect my £69 R1 dvd player to my fairly good quality R2 dvd recorder with scart leads. It was that easy!

I recorded 4 of the episodes onto the recorder's hard drive and then onto a disc. Finalised it and just finished testing it on another R2 player.

And it plays back perfectly!

The hardest part was climbing into the TV cabinet to get at the back to get the leads connected up properly!

Mandi

[camperman]

Not bad work for a woman

Most women I know can just about manage the remote control never mind wiring and tv settings

Good job and well done

[f1mandi]

LOL! I suppose it isn't really wimmin's work!!

You haven't met my husband!

He's completely hopeless when it comes to tv's and wiring stuff up. I even have to sky+ programmes for him as he can't even manage that!

He never can understand how I can connect up a TV, and sky and a dvd player and recorder without an instruction booklet. He starts reading it and by the time he get past the "thank you for chosing our product" part, I'm nearly finished.

Instructions are for sissies, I always tell him. I just visualise it in my head first and then connect it.

He's a teriffic cook though. And I burn salads!

Mandi

[camperman]

talk about roll reversal

i married the wrong woman

[Scylla]

Mandi! What I want to know is: what's the old western series? Please

I loved Lonesome Dove.

scylla

[f1mandi]

No, it's The Yellow Rose. David Soul and Sam Elliot mmmmm

Lonesome Dove was on CBS Drama a while back but I missed it. I'm waiting for it to come on again and I'll Sky+ and watch it this time.

Mandi