DVD player that ignores codes?

akjon · Oct 4, 2004

I just got my first DVD player (I know, I know) and my one big annoyance with it is that when you pop in a commercial DVD it won't let you skip the FBI warning/commercials/etc. Not a deal breaker, but annoying.

Does anyone make a DVD player that does what you tell it to do and ignores disable codes on the discs? If not, why not?

kamkazmoto · Oct 4, 2004

Addendum - do the DVD players in computers have those regional (North America, Europe, South America, etc.) codes built in them too?

Steven Roos · Oct 4, 2004

kamkazmoto said:
Addendum - do the DVD players in computers have those regional (North America, Europe, South America, etc.) codes built in them too?

I don't have the answer to the first question, but DVD Software for computers typically use region codes. I have PowerDVD, and it uses region codes, but you can change the code. (only 5 times though)

There is probably a way around that though.

kamkazmoto · Oct 4, 2004

Thanks Steven

gary

Temper · Oct 5, 2004

Just to add, with a PC DVD player you can change it all the time by flashing the Firmware. You get the Firmware from the makers site. Put it on a floppy. Boot the PC (must tell PC to perform Boot up floppy seek) using a MS Dos disk that you can make by going to My Computer > Right click the floppy icon, select format then select make a MS DOS start up disk. Once the PC has started with the ms dos you will have a little A: prompt type in the name of the file and you will see some options (most will be in super basic colours) flash the DVD player and it resets the region that was selected after the initial 5 times. Its a bit of a pain but once you have done it one it only takes a couple of minutes to do.

phatch · Oct 5, 2004

There are freeware tools to hack your PC firmware to make it play all regions and such. There are also region free players available for your home. They tend to be from off brands though.

Phil

Point44 · Oct 5, 2004

There are loads of multi region dvd players. I don't really know about the US but here in the UK and back home in Malaysia there are no problems getting multi region dvd players from sony, toshiba, panasonic, jvc, pioneer etc. Currently i am using a multi region dvd player from toshiba which is quite good. I've had it for over 2 years now and am still very happy with it. Should really upgrade it but it still performs as well as i want it to considering i don' t have a great surround sound system or even a great tv.

As for the PC thing there are ways around it. THere are lots of downloads that disables the region code in the software like powerdvd. However, i have absolutely no idea on whether it's legal to do so or not.

zgourde · Oct 5, 2004

In the United States Apex is your friend. Yes, the maker of cheap juck electronics that we would normaly pass over, is one of the US's largest supplier of region free DVD players. With DVD players now being commodity items, there is really very little quality difference until you start talking real money.

To get rid of all the other junk, like the FBI warnings, I rip all of my dvd's and back them up. Then I put the originals someplace safe so they dont get borked. During the backup process I remove all the extra junk, so that when I put the disc in, it plays, no fuss no muss. If I want to see the extras, i dig out the original...