How to bypass DVD region code protection ?
As we've said, a lot of newer drives are RPC-2 drives these days. Some
of these drives don't allow raw access to the drive until the drive
firmware has done a regioncheck. But
some RPC-2 drives DO allow raw access, so in some cases it is quite possible to use a special software to bypass the protection:
The first solution is free
VideoLAN player:
click here to download VideoLAN. It might take a long time to initialize DVD. So just pop the disc in your drive and try it out, while you get a coffee.
The second solution is free
Remote Selector tool:
click here to download Remote Selector. Launch remselec22.exe file.
Click
Control tab. Choose
Enabled, and check all options
Region Free, Disable Macrovision, Disable User Prohibition as shown below:
Click
Start Player button, and try to play your DVD.
How to change DVD region ?
The region can only be changed five times, before its set permanently.
In WinDVD: if a DVD from a region different than the default one
is tried to be played, the dialog box for changing the DVD region code
should appear. If that dialog box do not appear, check the region code
set in the software:
Click Start, All Programs, Intervideo Win DVD, and Intervideo Win DVD.
Right-click the Win DVD window and select Setup or Properties.
Click the Region tab and check the region code selected.
If there is a 0 in the Changes Until Permanent field, the DVD region code will not be able to be changed again.
If a number from 1 to 4 appears in the Changes Until Permanent field,
add a mark in the checkbox of the desired region and click OK. The new
region will be set up.
In PowerDVD: the first time you insert a DVD title, to be played
on PowerDVD, a small dialogue box will appear. It will set the region
code to match that of the DVD title you wish to play. After this the
program will be set. However, if you have a region free DVD-ROM drive,
you have the option of playing DVD titles from different regions.
PowerDVD will allow you to change the region code setting up to five
times, and then it will be locked on the region you have listed on your
fifth and last change. At that point you will only be allowed to watch
DVD titles from that region. To change the region code, from the
original setting, just insert the DVD title in your DVD-ROM drive and
run PowerDVD. When the software recognizes that the disc is from a
different region than what was previously set, a dialogue box will
appear. For this example, the Current Region is Region 1. After
changing from one region to another, I will have four changes left. The
program detected the disc I inserted was from Region 2, so it selected
this option. Once I click OK the Current Region will be changed to
Region 2 and the DVD title will play.
How to make DVD-ROM region free ?
If your drive is locked, DVD doesn't play and you can't change
region code or bypass protection using described methods, then the last
& only working solution is to "patch" your DVD-ROM drive, and
replace hardware region code protection mechanism. It's a dangerous
method, which can be used only by PC professionals.
If you live in the USA or Canada (R1) then you most likely won't need
the ability to play DVDs from other regions, unless you are interested
in some of the rare titles that are out in Europe (R2) but not in the
USA. If you live in Europe and you prefer to watch the movies in
English then most likely you have to flash your firmware (in order to
buy American DVDs).
Load another firmware which disables the region code protection. This is ONLY for advanced users!
Step 1. If you're unsure about the type of the drive I suggest you run driveinfo.
Download DriveInfo program from this page:
http://www.remoteselector.com/driveinfo.htm
In case of ASPI error you have to install forceaspi first. Here's download link with instructions on how to install it:
http://force_aspi_18.w.interia.pl/.
After installing forceaspi you have to reboot your machine. Driveinfo
will show you the type of your DVD drive as well as the current
firmware, and whether or not the drive is regionfree. If driveinfo
tells you the drive has no region protection of course you don't have
to do anything.
Step 2. After you determine the type of your firmware you should download _EXACT_ version of
patched firmware. Go here:
http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_all.php
and check if there's an updated firmware for your type of DVD drive.
This step is really crucial! Double or triple check that you have the
right firmware, otherwise your drive might not work after flashing
anymore (and unfortunately there are flash programs that allow you to
load the wrong firmware). Bad flashing could destroy your drive
definitively. Read carefully the installation notes of your firmware
before you upgrade. The Firmware Page and the drive manufacturer can't
be responsible. AND REMEMBER: This is at your own risk.
Step 3. After you've downloaded the right firmware you'll have
to create a Windows bootdisk. You can format a disk and check "copy
system files" and you'll get a working bootdisk. Then copy the flasher
program and the firmware to the disc as well. Then reboot your pc and
change the boot drive order if necessary so that your pc boots from the
disk drive. Since every BIOS looks different I can't tell you where to
change the boot order. Please refer to the manual of your mainboard /
pc or call customer support.
Step 4. After rebooting run the flasher. Then the program will
search for a DVD-ROM and ask you if you want to flash. Type yes, wait
until the program has finished, then reboot your pc. Once back in
Windows run driveinfo again. If everything has gone as it's supposed to
that's what you're supposed to get. Enjoy.. you've just beaten the
DVD-ROM Hardware region-protection system.
NOTE: Before you buy a DVD-ROM make sure that there's RPC-1 firmware for it on this site:
http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_all.php.
You
should be aware that in some cases the warranty might become void if
you mess around with your drive on your own. Here are additional useful
tips:
The DVD-ROM Firmware Flashing FAQ
