Help! DVD player region locked.

[lexlee]

Hi, everyone. Actually I have a few problems:

1) I couldn't play DVD using my windows XP Windows Media Player v.10 because apparently I do not have the decoder. I don't know where to find it;

2) I have been using an alternative DOS based Linux software, Power Cinema, to view my DVDs. I was not aware of the consequences of choosing regions and thus have ended up being locked in Region 1. I'm in Singapore and most DVDs here are Region 3.

I must say that problem no 2) is more serious as even if I cant play in Windows, I could still play the DVDs in Linux. But now, I'm stuck!

Thanks in advance.

[jmet]

Welcome to the Digital Digest Video forum lexlee! Unfortunately, it is locked at region 1 permanently. Unless you send it back to the manufacturer, they will be able to reset it.

The 5 times you did change it, it should have told you that it would lock at the 5th change. You might have ignored it though, most people do.

[lexlee]

thanks jmet. Are u sure that there's no way around it? Gosh that's pretty crap, it's a new machine too.

[jmet]

Only way I know is to send it back to the manufacturer. Sorry.

[joegib]

lexlee,

Suggest you read this FAQ (located on this site):

http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/articles/region.html

It's a little dated. The short version is:

1. Find out what your DVD drive model is — I suggest using Nero Infotool. You can download this via google.

2. Investigate whether there is "patched" firmware available for your drive here:

http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php

3. Install patched firmware (if available) and overcome region-protection in the software player using Region Killer, DVD Genie or Remote Selector.

Alternatively there are software solutions that don't require you to flash firmware:

(a) Remote Selector, DVD43 — these are free

(b) AnyDVD, DVD Region Free — these have to be paid for.

[lexlee]

Thanks a lot guys. I shall try the freeware DVD43 I guess, since it's the cheapest and easiest alternative. I'm not too confident of myself flashing my DVD drive as I'm a real layman in IT/programming stuff. Thanks again.