Trying to change region code

Once you have changed the region five times it is set in stone and cannot be changed.

DVD Player: About DVD-Video Regions

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2397

However:

It may be possible to make your Matshita Superdrive region-free by the methods describe here:

http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?t=43082

but please note: you USE THE SOFTWARE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!. The operation isn't officially allowed or sanctioned, which you're supposed to know when you do it.

I think region code changing takes place in the firmware for the optical drive. I believe you get 5 goes and that's it. Re-installing DVD Player, or even your whole OS, won't help.

I'm surprised VLC doesn't work, but maybe it's because you aren't running 10.4.11?

I don't know if getting an external optical drive and setting it to region 2 and leaving it there would get around the issue.

I don't know about making an Apple drive region free. You could open your Mac and see if it looks like some know manfacturer, e.g. Panasonic, and then hunt on the web for making something region-free. A bit chancy IMHO.

According to Tiger The Missing Manual:

You can change the computers region "only 5 times". Then it's locked in the 5th version/region until you erase your HD & start all over. When you insert a region-locked DVD from another region, you will be offered the chance to change regions.

But would that delete the Superdrive firmware?

@ Klaus

I re-read the Missing Manual & David Pogue makes no mention of the superdrive's firmware, one way or another. However, if one wipes out their HD & reinstalls all the software, would you still get firmware updates through Software Update? If so, I would assume firmware is wiped out also.

my gosh why does apple have to implement this crap. i mean i love apple and all but this is really UNEEDED.

It wasn't Apple that did it...

http://www.bdlot.com/resource/dvd-region.htm

http://hometheater.about.com/cs/dvdlaserdisc/a/aaregioncodesa.htm

did you try it out Klaus?

Apple keep deleting my posts. cant see what i am doing wrong?

jakeboy wrote:

Apple keep deleting my posts. cant see what i am doing wrong?

Simple.

Your socalled 'solution' not only stops DVD Player from working, and is not therefore a solution at all, the subject of breaching copyright laws is against the terms of use of these forums, and attempts by a user to change or modify the firmware of their Mac with anything not provided by Apple will void the warranty.

So, your advice is therefore not only useless, it can damage a user's Mac and should not be attempted.

How about finding a new project to concentrate on - like do-it-yourself brain surgery? 😎

Klaus !

1: i dont modify any firmware !

2: it can NOT dammage the Mac

3: The solution is to help people watching different region codeson their mac, using VLC or other app.

4: the way i described it in my solution is totally legit.

5: i actually know quite a bit about macs.

6: i was just trying to help people stuck with their region lock.

7: you say i braech copyright laws ?

8:: how do my solution damage the mac?

The points are:

These are Apple forums.

They are owned by Apple.

They make the rules.

When signing up, you agree to their rules.

If they remove your posts, you are obviously violating one or more of their rules.

Instead of ranting (which is also violating the ToU), simply move on to something else.

Here is a link to the ToU:

https://discussions.apple.com/static/apple/tutorial/tou.html

i agree babowa. i simply said that by removing the content of the dvd player, the mac wouldn't regonise the region code. as far as i can see there is tons of info of how to flash the firmware of the drive etc wich IS a violation, so i dont understand.

PS: like Klaus1 recommends further up the thread.....

It is Apple's prerogative - see the ToU which you agreed to.

You need to drop this subject.

In this thread and any others.