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littlehorne - Apr 22, 2007 - 10:15 pm

I want to play a DVD from region 1 but my region setting is everything else apart from region 1 and 2. (i got my Apple PowerBook G4 in Singapore).

What software would i need to download to make my DVD multi regional?

Here are the details of my DVD player i have in my computer, copied from my System Profile

MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-835E:

Firmware Revision: GAND
Interconnect: ATAPI
Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipped/Supported)
Cache: 2048 KB
Reads DVD: Yes
CD-Write: -R, -RW
DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW
Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes
Burn Underrun Protection DVD: Yes
Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, DVD-DAO
Media: No



Any help would be greatly appreciated

vinko - Apr 23, 2007 - 1:05 am

Dear William,

My name is Vinko and I will attempt to assist you.

Please note that every Macintosh that comes with a DVD drive is capable of switching its DVD region up to "FIVE" (5) times.

Each time you place a different DVD region DVD into your Mac, and if you have configure your Mac to open "DVD Player" upon inserting a DVD. Then DVD Player will start and it will ask if you like to change the region code to the one on the DVD inserted.

Alternatively, and the preferred way, is to configure your Mac to use another DVD player application, which will ignore the DVD region codes. One such player is the "VLC Player".

To configure your Mac to open "VLC Player" after inserting a DVD into your Mac, you do so by going to the "CDs & DVDs" preference within the System Preferences, and then ensuring VLC Player is chosen for "When you insert a video DVD".

Lastly there is also one other option, but is not recommended. That is to upgrade the firmware of your DVD drive to have the region code remove permanently, but doing so may cause your DVD drive to be unusable if you do it wrong.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

-- Vinko

Thank you for using MacOSX.Com's free Mac support.

littlehorne - Apr 23, 2007 - 1:05 pm

Vinko,
Thanks very much for the reply and the help, but when i installed the softwareand went to play a DVD nothing happened for about 30 mins. It just stopped and did play anything. What firmware would you recommend to remove the region code? Thanks again for your help.

Will horne

vinko - Apr 23, 2007 - 1:23 pm

Dear William,

Thank you for your reply.

That is strange that VLC is not playing your DVD.

After you started VLC. Did you go to the File menu and choose "Open Disc..."? Did you then choose "DVD". If you have a DVD inserted you should be able to click on the "OK" button to begin playing the DVD.

I really DO NOT recommend you going with the Firmware change. As the risk is too high.

The exact version of firmware to use depends on the model and manufacture of your DVD player within your Mac.

Regards,

-- Vinko

littlehorne - Apr 23, 2007 - 9:24 pm

Vinko,
I downloaded and re-installed VLC and followed instructions again and still the same outcome. I also tried another DVD from the same region and the same thing happened. Is there another programe simular to VLC that will work? Also does DivX have the same function as VLC?? And just one more question.....how can i upgrade from Quick time 7.1.5 to Quick Time Pro without having to pay for it? thanks a lot for your help and time

Will

vinko - Apr 24, 2007 - 12:06 am

Dear William,

Thank you for your reply.

Alternatively you can try "MPlayer", but that application had not been updated for a while.

Please note that DivX is a codec your commercial purchased DVDs would not be in that format.

I am puzzled as to why VLC is not working for you. I just popped in two different DVDs and played them in VLC Player. You do realize that the DVD would not automatically play. You have to click on the Play button on the VLC Controller window.

I assume the following:

• you had configured your Mac to open VLC Player upon insert of a "Video DVD"
• when you insert a Video DVD, VLC Player would start
• click on the Play button on the VLC Controller window and a Open Source window will open, where you choose Disc from the tab
• you then click on the OK button
• if the movie does not automatically play you just have to clic on the Play button again

One other option is to rip your DVD using one of the DVD rippers, like "HandBreak".

Sorry we cannot provide information on how to illegally obtain a copy of QuickTime Pro.

Regards,

-- Vinko