Converting DVD drive to multiregional

need assistance

Just got a new MacBook Pro and am delighted with it.:D Only used windows up to now so am only finding my feet, does anyone know of a way to make the DVD player multiregional or what software I should be using?

babypink

you're looking at a flashing the firmware on the dvd drive to do it properly. It depends on what drive is installed in the computer, whether it is even possible.

Go to the "About this mac" in the apple menu and click "more info"....this brings up the system profiler...... We need to know what exact drive is in the machine and the firmware revision thats on it. The system profiler will tell you - either under ATA or Disc Burning, in the left column. For example, my PowerBook has a Matsu****a CW-8123 rev CA0T, this has never been cracked so I have to use VLC to get my region-free fix, well for my internal drive - i just use my external drive (flashed of course )

Though I've heard that VLC no longer does this on the newer mb's & mbp's....is this true anyone?
.
.
.
....ah ffs the board took the **** out of matsu****a - boo to censorship

Sad Professor

babypink wrote:

Though I've heard that VLC no longer does this on the newer mb's & mbp's....is this true anyone?

Yeah it won't work on the new MATSHI-TA drives which are used (afaik) in all current macbooks and mbps. On other drives (such as my Pioneer) VLC is able to decrypt the region protection but the new notebook ones won't even allow OSX access to the drive if it's not set to the same region. You can't even rip the data or nothing. Last I heard there was no firmware patches available either. So unless something's changed in the last few months, OP, you're basically screwed.

Only other option is to replace the drive or wait for someone to hack the firmware.

babypink

some machines have LG drives - most of these have been cracked, but if its a matsu****a (:D), you're right about the dead end.

Hope the OP comes back saying they've got an LG drive

K.O.Kiki

Could you still rip a US DVD's contents & convert to mp4 if it was a Matsush!ta drive though?

babypink

K.O.Kiki wrote:

Could you still rip a US DVD's contents & convert to mp4 if it was a Matsush!ta drive though?

i would imagine so.....how i go about it on my internal drive is to force-quit DVD player, because hitting cancel on the region change prompt will eject the disc. Once you have force quit, use MTR to do the necessary ripping goodness.

Sad Professor

K.O.Kiki wrote:

Could you still rip a US DVD's contents & convert to mp4 if it was a Matsush!ta drive though?

No. Not without using up a region code switch. The drive WILL NOT supply the raw data unless the region code matches. You can't read, rip, nothing. Matshi-ta clearly take a very hard stance on region coding.

babypink

that blows - wonder why they decided to go all draconian all of a sudden...pants!

So OP, what have you got in your MBP......matsu****a or LG?

need assistance

Model: MAT****ADVD-R UJ-857E
Revision: ZA0E


So will probably have to rip dvds to a hard drive. Will rapidly run out of space, thank you for assistance.

luckat

What would people recommend as a replacement drive?

babypink

its kinda difficult coz the macbooks and 15" mbp's use a 9mm high drive - a suitable replacement would be the LG HL-DT-ST DVDRW GWA4080MA, the trouble is finding one!!!

the 17" mbp use the standard laptop 12mm high drive so they are easier.