region free dvd on intel imac

[neil w]

is there a way ?

neil

[Fordy]

Lookup VLC on versiontracker.com, that will play almost anything.
Just disable the auto startup on the dvd player app first, so it doesnt reject the dvd.

[WhiteNoiseMaker]

Or you could try a firmware patch from here. I don't think the drives used in the current MacBooks or the iMacs will even let you watch or rip different region DVDs using any software work around.

[markuswarren]

I'm fairly sure the trick whereby you change the "Open DVD In" from DVD Player to VLC works on later versions of the Mac OS. Have a feeling something changed in 10.4.7 that closed this loophole.

Another solution I can think of is to use BootCamp, install XP and use the various region free software solutions available.

** edit **

I actually went to the firmware page listed in the thread and previously the drive on my Intel iMac (Early 2006) - MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-846 Firmware FB2U was not listed. However, it *is* now listed so I've downloaded the firmware patch and I'll give it a try later and report back.

To find out what drive and firmware you have, launch system profiler (/Applications/Utilities/) and look for the ATA item under Hardware, it should list the DVD drive there, so check the model number and firmware against the other list and see if you're there

[markuswarren]

Flip me on my side, cover me in marmite and call me Tarquin! It works!

The drive in my Intel iMac is now Region Free

Here's what I did:

Applied the patch under Tiger (10.4.11)
Rebooted into 10.5.1
Deleted the following items:

~/Library/Application Support/DVD Player.
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.DVDPlayer.plist

I then ran Region X, set the region to Region 2 and quit Region X.
I then launched DVD Player and inserted "The Day Of The Triffids" (BBC Series, pure class). DVD Player was more than happy with it and played the disk.

I quit DVD Player, launched Region X, switch to Region 1, quit Region X, relaunched DVD Player and inserted "Bad Santa - Directors Cut". Again DVD Player was happy to play the DVD, no dialog asking about region switching

I tried switching back and forth like that a few times and it's still working

[WhiteNoiseMaker]

Glad to be of help! I was a bit dubious of doing this to my MacBook so I let my brave (or maybe its foolish) friend try it on his machine first. It worked like a charm for him so I used it too, no problems so far!

[neil w]

only one problem . i dont have tiger as its a brand new i mac delivered wed with leopard installed

any more ideas ?

cheers for the help tho

neil

[Ger]

Originally Posted by markuswarren

Another solution I can think of is to use BootCamp, install XP and use the various region free software solutions available.

This won't work. I've tried it with DVDDecrypter etc and it won't read a disk that is the "wrong region".

I'm going to give the firmware patch a go later.

One more thing. I assume that the only thing changed in the modd'ed firmware is the region coding part and doesn't cause any issues with burning disk etc.

[dpstjp]

Originally Posted by neil w

only one problem . i dont have tiger as its a brand new i mac delivered wed with leopard installed

any more ideas ?

cheers for the help tho

neil

Get a copy of Tiger. Install this on a partition on your hard drive. Boot Tiger, install the firmware to make region free. Boot into Leopard and install the new Leopard-friendly Region X. You might want to check that firmware is available for your specific drive before you start this process, mind you.

dpstjp