Solution #3
posted on Sep 18, 2007
Rank: Master
Rating: 88%, 60 votes
Many customers want to play DVDs from other countries, or that they bought overseas. Our DVD players will ONLY play dvds from Region 1. On the back of the DVD case, there is a small symbol, it is a picture of a globe with a number on it. That number MUST be 1, or 1-5. If it says anything else, that DVD cannot be played. It also states this in the manual. Customers may ask how to change the region code in our players. We cannot advise them how to do it, and as far as Samsung has informed us, you cannot change the region code. Other players may have this ability, or they may say they can find this out online, but we dont know how to change this, or if its even possible. Refer the customer to a dealer to inquire about multi region, or region-free DVD players, which Samsung does not make.
Region codes prevent DVD players bought in one geographical region from playing DVDs bought in other geographical regions.
There are 8 regions (also called "locales"). Manufacturers usually mark players and discs with the number of the region with which they are compatible, superimposed on a world globe. DVD players have only one number. Discs can have more than one or, in some cases, none. Discs with no region code numbers play on any player in any country.
A DVD player's region code is incorporated into the firmware of the DVD player by the manufacturer. It cannot be changed by the customer.
A list of region codes and regions is below.
REGION CODE REGION
1 USA, Canada
2 Europe, Middle East, Japan, South Africa
3 South Korea, Taiwan, HK, ASEAN
4 Australia, NZ, Latin America
5 Ex-Soviets, Indian sub-continent, Africa
6 China
So your next question will be, can I change the region code?
DVD movies have region codes, and they typically only play on a player or DVD-ROM drive sold in the country where the DVD movie was sold.
The DVD player or drive has a region code in its firmware. Personal computer DVD-ROM players often have the code in the software or MPEG-2 decoder. The two codes must match for the player or drive to play the movie.
Region Codes cannot be changed by the end user. Doing so will result in firmware damage.