Hi,

I’m in the US and I want to play a Region 2 DVD on my computer without
changing the region code.

Does this software work?  Is there any risk or other downside to using
it?

http://www.topshareware.com/DVD-Region-Free-download-130.htm

http://www.dvdidle.com/faq-dvd-region-free.htm

Thanks,
Googlenut

Good Day Googlenut,

Because the software does not access the firmware, it is safe to use.
I have looked up this software at tucows.com, and like
topshareware.com they give the software a 5 star review.

SITE: tucows.com
URL: http://www.tucows.com/preview/279162.html

The four votes at Download.com also seem to suggest that this is
pretty good software:

SITE: download.com
URL: http://download.com.com/3302-2194-10192617.html

Region encoding was designed to reduce piracy, and is simply a piece
of encoded information on a DVD. In essence, when you put a DVD into a
DVD player, it starts the session by identifying the region it is
designed for. If the DVD player matches the region of the DVD, all is
well.  Else, the player stops because it is not "allowed" to play this
region's DVD.

Here is more on DVD encoding, reasons behind it, etc:

DVD region codes
Excerpt from Tech TV: Multiregion DVD Solutions
URL: http://www.techtv.com/callforhelp/answerstips/story/0,24330,3396330,00.html
(full story available at above URL).

"DVD region coding is a method of ensuring that consumers in different
parts of the world can't watch DVD movies intended for other markets.
An idea dreamed up and lobbied for by the large Hollywood studios, DVD
region coding separates the planet into zones. Each zone is identified
by a number... "

Understanding the regions and the reasons behind them, you can see
that the technology is the same in all regions. Your DVD player can
handle any region quite nicely, as long as it simply matches what your
DVD dics is saying.

The software tricks the DVD reader to thinking it heard what it needed
to hear in order to keep playing the media.

Based on the rating received, I would say the software works on most
DVD player models. Because there is a chance it might not work on your
specific player, you can simply try the trial ware without worry that
it will break your DVD player. If it works, great. You can purchase
the software after the trial. If not, you know not to waste your
money. Either way, rest assured your DVD player will not suffer from
the experience.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask for a
clarification before rating my answer.

Thank you for your question.


Regards,
slawek-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by googlenut-ga on 22 Jul 2003 18:32 PDT

Hello slawek-ga,

Thank you, this is very helpful.  I just have one question.  I noticed
that you did not include a search strategy.  Were you already familiar
with all of the websites that you referenced?

Googlenut

---

Clarification of Answer by slawek-ga on 22 Jul 2003 18:54 PDT

Good Day googlenut,

Sorry for not mentioning how I got this information.

Yes, I have been using tucows.com for many years now, and download.com
for the last couple of years. If I need a program for a certain job
but don't know its name, I head over to tucows.com first.

I seldom search download.com's database for software, but many
distributors use it as a download source so I got forwarded there many
times.

My knowledge of hardware and its basic functions comes from toying
around with PC systems over the last 10 years. This is where my
understanding of firmware upgrades comes from, and much other hardware
related information.

In short the information I posted is a collection of previously
acquired knowledge, with the exception of the software ratings I
quoted.

Regards,
slawek-ga

Thank you.  I downloaded the trial version and it works great.  I plan
on purchasing the full version.