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Make my superdrive region-free?

R

RedCroissant

Suspended
Original poster
Aug 13, 2011
2,268
96
Hello all,

I am trying to make my superdrive region-free because a movie that I really want to buy is region 2 only!

The drive is: Pioneer DVD-RW DVR110D.

I found firmware updates for this drive but only in windows formats. Maybe I'm missing something but if anyone knows where I can find this I would really appreciate it!
 
You can't change the region with a firmware hack.

However. you can dump the DVD with a tool called DVD Decrypter (Windows Only), then copy the dumped film to your Mac and play it.

Alternatively, you can create a region free iso with that software and burn it to blank DVD.

I forgot how to do it, but I believe there's tons of tutorials out there(Just google it)
 
i don't think 'cant' means what you think it means.

RedCroissant said:
...I found firmware updates for this drive but only in windows formats. Maybe I'm missing something but if anyone knows where I can find this I would really appreciate it!
Click to expand...

i assume you mean the flash utility. windows only, i've never found an alternative. buy a $10 dell at a garage sale or from goodwill, or hit up a friend. or buy a friend with a windows box for $5 and save half!

the firmware itself is not os specific, it's only hardware specific. that drive will work on any OS if you were not talking about the flash utility, just double checking. check.

i've no interest in opening the 'legal' can of worms that usually goes with these sorta threads, but THIS thread on the Apple Support forum might be an interesting read for you. more that one way to skin a cat or dvd. previous posters idea of an image is also valid if you have the software required. i prefer the external idea, do it once and never worry about it again FTW.


honam1021 said:
You can't change the region with a firmware hack.
Click to expand...

you as in 'you' can't maybe, but the rest of the internet looks up current RPC1 firmware and makes the silly hardware lock go bye-bye.

rpc1. , doom9. , afterdawn. , etc. best of luck.
 
RedCroissant said:
Hello all,

I am trying to make my superdrive region-free because a movie that I really want to buy is region 2 only!

The drive is: Pioneer DVD-RW DVR110D.

I found firmware updates for this drive but only in windows formats. Maybe I'm missing something but if anyone knows where I can find this I would really appreciate it!
Click to expand...

I didn't know it had a region block. I think you can change, don't know how.

Is the ibook G4 superdrive locked for regions?
 
4JNA said:
i assume you mean the flash utility. windows only, i've never found an alternative. buy a $10 dell at a garage sale or from goodwill, or hit up a friend. or buy a friend with a windows box for $5 and save half!

the firmware itself is not os specific, it's only hardware specific. that drive will work on any OS if you were not talking about the flash utility, just double checking. check.

i've no interest in opening the 'legal' can of worms that usually goes with these sorta threads, but THIS thread on the Apple Support forum might be an interesting read for you. more that one way to skin a cat or dvd. previous posters idea of an image is also valid if you have the software required. i prefer the external idea, do it once and never worry about it again FTW.
Click to expand...

Thank you for this. Are all external DVD drives then region free? Because I wouldn't mind doing that and I think I could get a pretty good deal somewhere.

rjcalifornia said:
I didn't know it had a region block. I think you can change, don't know how.

Is the ibook G4 superdrive locked for regions?
Click to expand...

Yeah, they're all locked initially(as far as I know depending on where you purchase the machine or where it was originally sold). I'm pretty sure you an change the region once you insert a disc with a different region lock on it, but there's a limit to how many times you can do that and I would prefer to not have to worry about those silly limitations.

rabidz7 said:
Someone still buys movies on DVD?
Click to expand...

You're kidding, right? You can buy Prometheus online through the iTunes Store for $14.99 and only be able to play it on the machines that you own or share with. I got it for $9, burned it, converted it, and can play it anywhere I want. Plus, the added benefit of a blu-ray player and an HDTV is that even SD DVDs look awesome. On my list tonight is to watch the original DVD release of Star Wars Episode IV. <----This will equal amazing.

And believe it or not, the sale bins at retailers sometimes have some great titles(Kill Bill V.1&2 for $7 on DVD, $10 on Blu-ray.)

So yes, someone still buys movies on DVD. I also(when I have the money) buy a MBP with the superdrive as long as they will still be making it, or will buy a refurbished/used one to have that capability.
 
RedCroissant said:
Thank you for this. Are all external DVD drives then region free? Because I wouldn't mind doing that and I think I could get a pretty good deal somewhere.



Yeah, they're all locked initially(as far as I know depending on where you purchase the machine or where it was originally sold). I'm pretty sure you an change the region once you insert a disc with a different region lock on it, but there's a limit to how many times you can do that and I would prefer to not have to worry about those silly limitations.



You're kidding, right? You can buy Prometheus online through the iTunes Store for $14.99 and only be able to play it on the machines that you own or share with. I got it for $9, burned it, converted it, and can play it anywhere I want. Plus, the added benefit of a blu-ray player and an HDTV is that even SD DVDs look awesome. On my list tonight is to watch the original DVD release of Star Wars Episode IV. <----This will equal amazing.

And believe it or not, the sale bins at retailers sometimes have some great titles(Kill Bill V.1&2 for $7 on DVD, $10 on Blu-ray.)

So yes, someone still buys movies on DVD. I also(when I have the money) buy a MBP with the superdrive as long as they will still be making it, or will buy a refurbished/used one to have that capability.
Click to expand...

What about netfilix or hulu? Or downloads for DRM free 1080p goodness?
 
rabidz7 said:
What about netfilix or hulu? Or downloads for DRM free 1080p goodness?
Click to expand...

None of the movies I just mentioned are on Netflix. And the movies that I do like on Netflix don't seem to stay around too long and I'm starting to feel that Netflix is becoming less and less worth the $10 monthly fee. Plus, most of the time Netflix is on a kid show that I could probably find on YouTube. Yes, I have kids.

Hulu sucks. It's a paid service that still hits you with ads and the movie selection isn't as good as Netflix's.

DRM free is fine, but how much does it cost to download a DRM-free movie from sites? I'm sure it would be more than what I would pay for the actual disc.
 
RedCroissant said:
Thank you for this. Are all external DVD drives then region free? Because I wouldn't mind doing that and I think I could get a pretty good deal somewhere.
Click to expand...

no, external (and internal) retail/oem are the same, all now have RPC-2 or region lock firmware by default. the beauty of the external solution is that you only need to perform the firmware rollback to RPC-1 (pre-region) one time and then move from one system to the next as you upgrade. one and done as it were.

read the thread previously linked for a specific drive recommendation, or using magic keywords to perform an ebay search like THIS would also be a good way to get started (not me/mine, i have nothing listed on ebay and no connection to anyone listed in that search, buyer beware).



RedCroissant said:
...I'm pretty sure you an change the region once you insert a disc with a different region lock on it, but there's a limit to how many times you can do that and I would prefer to not have to worry about those silly limitations.
Click to expand...


this. hardware firmware allows you to change 5 times as new/installed, depending on the system, 1 may have already been charged at install due to system install and configuration, so usually 4 as new/delivered system. silly limitation indeed.

the earth is much to small and interesting to arbitrarily lock out media from distant geographic locations. movie studios still believe pony express is the perfect distribution model. silly, silly studios.

i only buy physical media, so count me in the DVD hard copy crowd. Music too. it's mine, i do with it as i wish and watch/listen to it when and where i desire. freedom is power of choice and all that. best of luck.
 
Last edited:
4JNA said:
no, external (and internal) retail/oem are the same, all now have RPC-2 or region lock firmware by default. the beauty of the external solution is that you only need to perform the firmware rollback to RPC-1 (pre-region) one time and then move from one system to the next as you upgrade. one and done as it were.

read the thread previously linked for a specific drive recommendation, or using magic keywords to perform an ebay search like THIS would also be a good way to get started (not me/mine, i have nothing listed on ebay and no connection to anyone listed in that search, buyer beware).


this. hardware firmware allows you to change 5 times as new/installed, depending on the system, 1 may have already been charged at install due to system install and configuration, so usually 4 as new/delivered system. silly limitation indeed.

the earth is much to small and interesting to arbitrarily lock out media from distant geographic locations. movie studios still believe pony express is the perfect distribution model. silly, silly studios.

i only buy physical media, so count me in the DVD hard copy crowd. Music too. it's mine, i do with it as i wish and watch/listen to it when and where i desire. freedom is power of choice and all that. best of luck.
Click to expand...

Well then I am absolutely getting an external as soon as I get the opportunity because I don't like the workarounds and not being able to use my DVD player app...for sake of being prompted to change my drive's region setting.

I don't only buy physical media, but it is the majority of what I do purchase and my dvd case is proof of that! Well along with my cd case...and my computer program/application case....you get the picture.

And I love your avatar and signature! It's one of my favorite movies of all time and one that I can watch over and over! If you know where I can get an ugly red book that won't fit on a shelf; please let me know.
 
this is yet another reason why Apple kinda sux...

They keep updating the firmware of their drives to can't do this.. (or at least make it harder)..


I can't say the number of times i needed a PC drive just to read a disc with DVD Region for software, simply because it wouldn't work in a VM on a Mac. :p

One reason, i'll never understand, manufactures on PC based dives want the same thing "to prevent you from doing this", yet its more difficult on a Mac, that is unless you change the region (legal way, but they have control over that)

Like like Apple still liking to prevent jailbreak, as long as these companies still insist against stuff, they'll always be those apps/software etc, that will do it for ya ..... (And with Apple, it may take a bit longer), but it wil probably be possible eventually.

Til then.... www.rpc1.org
 
Tech198 said:
this is yet another reason why Apple kinda sux...

They keep updating the firmware of their drives to can't do this.. (or at least make it harder)..
Click to expand...

Nope. It's not Apple making the decision - the RIAA/MPAA group requires it. Apple has no choice but to limit number of region changes. Anyway the drives themselves are manufactured this way.

The MPAA still lives in a pre-digital world.
 
oh yeah,,, i should have known that.

I'm not saying Apple does it.... i'm just saying Apple bundles their drives with it.

And the fact, its harder on Apple hardware vs PC hardware to get round this, or make region-free..

I know its not Apple decision, but why does it make it harder on Apple hardware then ?

On PC, its well known tha most of these work for all PC based drives.... On Mac, its less so, why is tha, if it comes from it all comes from the MPAA/RIAA ? eg... the firmware, thus, this comes from Apple.
 
Tech198 said:
On PC, its well known tha most of these work for all PC based drives.... On Mac, its less so, why is tha, if it comes from it all comes from the MPAA/RIAA ? eg... the firmware, thus, this comes from Apple.
Click to expand...

The drive firmware comes from the drive maker. Apple makes the osx driver. Maybe the drive makers don't provide an mac/osx based utility to wipe the region code or the hackers don't do a Mac version.

I wonder if it's just Apple's choice of which drive to buy? there are probably some drives that are easier to make region free.

Personally I would love a region free drive so I could buy DVDs from the UK that are not available on region 1 (U.S.)
 
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