Cannot Play Most DVDs

Laser assembly has lost the ability to focus and play back. Replace unit since repair not cost effective.

Unfortunately, you have a DVD player that is "Region Specific" and cannot be changed. Your system has a region code printed on the back of the unit and will only play DVDs that are labeled with identical region codes. DVDs labeled "ALL" will also play in this unit. If you try to play any other DVD, the message " Playing this disc is prohibited by area limits." will appear on the TV screen. Depending on the DVD, no region code indication may be labeled even though playing is prohibited by area limits.

There may be a issue with the assembly, blu-ray plays with more precision and speed, for some reason it is not slowing down to play the regular DVD's may be a padder motor problem.

To changethe Region code on your DVD player, open Control Panel - System - Hardware -Device manager, and click on DVD/CD ROM drives, then right click on the DVDdrive and click Properties then click on DVD Region.
You can enter a new region and it also shows you how many changes have beenmade.
NOTE you can make only 4 changes and the player will lock permanently on the4th change. Region 4 = Australia
If you want to play DVDs from any region you maybe able to upgrade the firmwareto make it region free BUT if you make a mistake or installed the wrongfirmware the player will be a piece of junk.
The best solution to make the player region free is to install a piece ofsoftware (Passkey for DVD) that allows you to play DVDs from any region andPasskey for Blu-ray that allows you to play Blu-rays from any region. There areseveral available on the Internet but my favourite is DVD-Region Free From: -
www.dvdfab.com/products,free.htm

I think you wanted to write that you CAN'T watch DVDs or play games bought in Australia on your PS3.
The reason is the region code of your playstation. It only can play Region Code 2 DVDs and games. In Australia you only can buy Region Code 4 media.
You need to buy your media from south africa or Europe. Some blueray-discs are region code free. You can check this on: http://www.blurayregioncodes.com/
As far as I know it's not possible at the moment to change the region code of the play station.

See my workaround at http://www.fixya.com/support/t622687-unknown_disc_please_check_disc_again

there is a link you can cut.dont know which one but the web should tell you .it will then play all dvds

Some computers will not play mini dvds. You will need to check with the computer manufacture to be sure.

Hi camonk2004,

It's interesting that your DVD player was purchased in Russia but plays Region 1 DVDs. Region 1 is North America. Does your Player also play Russian DVDs (region 5)? If so, then it has probably been modified to play DVDs from multiple regions.

Check the back side of the DVD player - the rear panel should have a Region number on it. If the region number is 1, then try playing a Region 5 DVD. If it reads the DVD, then the modification that was done in Russia will probably allow it to read any DVD. IF the Region 5 DVD won't play (or if it is ejected automatically), then your player's region control os still intact, and it will only play DVDs from the same region as the one listed on the rear panel of the player (or DVDs marked "ALL").

I hope this helps - please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

Kind Regards,
H2H

some drives need a disc adapter to able to run smaller discs, others kust dont run mini dvd.