Problem changing DVD region code

[dops7107]

I've changed region code 4 times, and now I am on my last chance. I have ripped all my Region 1 discs to hard disc so i will be able to watch them, and now I am happy to be stuck on region 2. But now DVD player won't let me! I insert a region 2 disc and it tells me i need to change region, and when i click "Set Drive Region" I get an error:

There was a problem changing the drive region code. Error: -70001

Now, this wouldn't be such an annoying problem if DVD player wouldn't open up every time I insert a DVD, but it does. I have to click cancel and then it chucks out the disc. I can force quit and use VLC player, but to be honest i prefer DVD player and force quitting is not really satisfactory.

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[robbieduncan]

You can reset the DVD Player software region count with RegionX. Note that your DVD hardware has a seperate region count. You might be able to flash it to region free firmware (I have with my PowerBook). If you do this you use RegionX to switch the region back and forth at will and watch any DVD you like

If you post exactly what sort of Mac you have we might be able to find some firmware for you...

 

[dops7107]

If you post exactly what sort of Mac you have we might be able to find some firmware for you...

hoohar, thanks Robbie. I have a Mac Mini 1.25 GHz and have tried to find some way of flashing the drive, but to no avail. I'll check out regionX and see if that helps.

 

[robbieduncan]

hoohar, thanks Robbie. I have a Mac Mini 1.25 GHz and have tried to find some way of flashing the drive, but to no avail. I'll check out regionX and see if that helps.

What sort of drive is it (Combo or Superdrive). The make and model would be helpful too (incase you are unsure how to find this out it's in the System Profiler which is in Applications/Utilities or About This Mac then More Info)...

 

[dops7107]

What sort of drive is it (Combo or Superdrive). The make and model would be helpful too (incase you are unsure how to find this out it's in the System Profiler which is in Applications/Utilities or About This Mac then More Info)...

duh sorry, I'm not too well today It's the combo dive; here's all the info from System Profiler:

MATSHITA CD-RW CW-8123:

Capacity: 7.26 GB
Manufacturer: MATSHITA
Model: MATSHITA CD-RW CW-8123
Revision: CAD4
Serial Number:
Drive Type: CD-RW/DVD-ROM
Disc Burning: Apple Supported/Shipped
Removable Media: Yes
Detachable Drive: No
BSD Name: disk1
Protocol: ATAPI
Unit Number: 1
Socket Type: Internal
OS9 Drivers: No

 

[dops7107]

So I downloaded RegionX and I am heeding the warning: since my drive is not PRC-1, I know that RegionX won't allow me to unlock it. Will it do any harm to try it and see if it fixes the probem I have at the moment? Will it prevent me from flashing the firmware in the future (if such regio-free firmware exists)?

 

[risc]

IIRC VLC doesn't check region codes you could use it to play your imported DVDs.

HTH

 

[dops7107]

IIRC VLC doesn't check region codes you could use it to play your imported DVDs.

HTH

Hmm yes, I have tried this but it seems pretty buggy. On DVD Player all I have to do is select the VIDEO_TS folder, but VLC is horibly complicated with all sorts of non-self-explanatory options, and choosing a VOB file gives me an error... Typical software written by geeks, for geeks. But if I get desperate I will resort to this!

 

[cube]

You can reset the DVD Player software region count with RegionX.

You can only reset 5 times if you don't have region-free firmware, after that it becomes permanently locked in the last region used.

 

[dops7107]

You can only reset 5 times if you don't have region-free firmware, after that it becomes permanently locked in the last region used.

OK so I went ahead and used RegionX anyway, and changed it to Region 2 (not bothered if it ends up being locked, I can use VLC for the odd occasion I want to watch a Region1 DVD). Then I put in a region 2 disc, and DVD Player still tells me i need to change the region (and won't let me).

Is something permanently fooked?

 

[robbieduncan]

OK so I went ahead and used RegionX anyway, and changed it to Region 2 (not bothered if it ends up being locked, I can use VLC for the odd occasion I want to watch a Region1 DVD). Then I put in a region 2 disc, and DVD Player still tells me i need to change the region (and won't let me).

Is something permanently fooked?

That's the region code on the drive itself (Yes there are 2 codes) Lots of people seem to want region free firmware for the 8123 but none seems to be available

 

[dops7107]

Lots of people seem to want region free firmware for the 8123 but none seems to be available

Too true, I spent a while looking. It would seem the guy (ivx or something) whose hobby it was to hack all the firmwares has gone into retirement! I wonder if he was persuaded...

Thanks muchly for your help anyway.

 

[risc]

Hmm yes, I have tried this but it seems pretty buggy. On DVD Player all I have to do is select the VIDEO_TS folder, but VLC is horibly complicated with all sorts of non-self-explanatory options, and choosing a VOB file gives me an error... Typical software written by geeks, for geeks. But if I get desperate I will resort to this!

I don't know what kind of DVDs you are playing that you need to play them from the VIDEO_TS folder or the .vobs directly, all I need to do to play DVDs on VLC is press command d make sure DVD is checked and press OK, how is that geeky?

Oh wait you ripped your discs, I just read that - why is ripping the discs changing the regions for you, unless you have the DVD Player set up to play them as soon as the disc is put in? I've bought plenty of region 1 discs that I've ripped and burnt so I can play them here (well until I bought a region free player) and it has never tried to change the region on me.

 

[dops7107]

I don't know what kind of DVDs you are playing that you need to play them from the VIDEO_TS folder or the .vobs directly, all I need to do to play DVDs on VLC is press command d make sure DVD is checked and press OK, how is that geeky?

OK, I was venting slightly because I was getting numerous errors. But the "open file" dialogue is crazy. I mean, what does "treat as a pipe rather than as a file" mean??

Oh wait you ripped your discs, I just read that - why is ripping the discs changing the regions for you, unless you have the DVD Player set up to play them as soon as the disc is put in? I've bought plenty of region 1 discs that I've ripped and burnt so I can play them here (well until I bought a region free player) and it has never tried to change the region on me.

Here's the deal: I ripped Region 1 discs to hard drive. Region coding was removed, such that they play with Apple's DVD Player and VLC (albeit buggily!). I did have it set so that DVD Player would launch when I inserted a DVD, and I had to change the region to "open up" the drive for MacTheRipper. Or so it would seem - perhaps I was just being impatient, but MTR was unresponsive until I changed region to 1 through DVD Player. The problem now comes that ever since I tried VLC I cannot change the DVD Player region code when I put in a Region 2 disc. I am forced to quit and play it through VLC, which is far more complex than it needs to be.

 

[cluelessUser]

Error -7001

Hi guys,

i was wondering if any one could give me some advice as to fixing my problem. I have changed my region 4 times but it will not let me change it a fifth time as it spits out a very long error code of -70001.....

Could it be that i recently upgraded to leopard? and will downloading hte latest version of VLC help me out?Becasue the vurrent one i have just wont play the disks period!

thanks

CluelessUser