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Thread ID: 142124 2016-05-01 00:02:00 DVD Region Settings on Laptop Neil F (14248) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1419869 2016-05-01 00:02:00 I have an HP610 Laptop Win7 Professional 64 Bit.
I watch DVDs on this. I learned some time ago that the Default Setting is Region 4 (NZ).
Occasionally I find a DVD which is another Region e.g. 1.
I have seen warnings (I can't remember where) that changing the Region Setting on a Pc can only occur a maximum of 4 or 5 times and then one is stuck with the last setting.

Does anyone know of a way to overcome this restriction?

I was prompted on this yesterday when the Librarian spotted on their Book out scanner that the DVD I wanted to borrow was Region 1 and alerted me so I did not take the DVD.

Neil
Neil F (14248)
1419870 2016-05-01 00:51:00 Install a 3rd party program that doesnt care about region based dvds Speedy Gonzales (78)
1419871 2016-05-01 00:59:00 Install a 3rd party program that doesnt care about region based dvds

...............Such as VLC player, which I use. It plays some region 1 and region 2 DVDs I have.
Terry Porritt (14)
1419872 2016-05-01 01:41:00 I use VLC too. Works well. R.M. (561)
1419873 2016-05-01 03:20:00 I think the restriction is built into the optical drives firmware, though there are ways around this feersumendjinn (64)
1419874 2016-05-01 23:08:00 Thanks for the tips. I already have VLC Player V 2.2.2 installed so I shall try that.
Cheers
Neil F (14248)
1419875 2016-05-01 23:31:00 It is the optical drive firmware that locks after 5 changes. I think VLC ignores region or there are utilities designed to get around it but they can also be used for piracy so I don't think we can discuss them in any detail without breaking forum rules.

Of course you could just watch the DVD on a regular DVD player... Most sold here have been region free for many years, something the suppliers/retailers just quietly started doing after the first year or so. And almost all that are region locked have a hidden "all regions" or region free setting you can activate with a bit of research.
dugimodo (138)
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