Region Free Firmware

[blueprint]

Does anyone know where to get region free firmware for a DVD-ROM?

I have an LG GDR8164B DVD-ROM drive, but I wanna get past the restriction on the amount of times you can change the region
I have no idea why they impose such restrictions in the first place, it's bonkers.
My old drive had this region free modification on it, but I don't have that anymore.

Any help appreciated. Cheers.

[bledd]

it will appear here...

http://tdb.rpc1.org/#GDR8163B

email them and they'll proabably make it for you



then you need this..

http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=DVD_Region_Killer

[fuddam]

http://www.firmware.fr.st/

once you flash your drive, I haven't found a dvd killer to be necessary

[blueprint]

cheers Bledd & Fuddam!

Why the hell do they put these restrictions on the regions?

[Dr. X]

So that they can sell DVDs for different amounts depending on location!

[johnny02004976]

this works a treat - like Bledd said i did need DVD Killer to run

[atifds9]

You may still need the DVD region killer to get past the region restrictions in the software itself which can also impose region restrictions, try without the region killer first but if you get windows or your dvd software asking you if you want to change region then you will the the region killer program.

[Paul Adams]

Since turning my first (Pioneer) DVD-ROM drive into a paperweight shortly after flashing it with hacked firmware to make it region free, I now exclusively use "DVD Region-Free".

No need to perform any kind of potentially risky mod to the hardware.
Works happily on 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.
Allows extra functionality like bypassing skip restrictions so I can jump straight into a movie or to any menu (no longer forced to sit though annoying FBI or anti-piracy movies which are probably only present on genuine discs).
Handles RCE-encoded discs without a problem.

I tend to update my systems fairly regularly too, so a software solution saves me having to go through the hassle of looking for the appropriate firmware every time I buy a drive.
Doesn't tie you to a specific DVD playing program either, works with Media Player, PowerDVD, WinDVD and more (only used those 3 personally).

I'm going to shut up now as I sound like a commercial

[directhex]

or: use VLC as your player.

done & dusted, no need for any flashing of anything. and you can skip the bloody FBI warnings at the start of discs too.

[autopilot]

OR Use DVD43 or AnyDVD. Both must have apps imo.

[TheAnimus]

or: use VLC as your player.

done & dusted, no need for any flashing of anything. and you can skip the bloody FBI warnings at the start of discs too.

which is INCREDIBLY slow with a lot of systems and graphics cards. For instance, a EPIA system won't be able to play a dvd with VLC. Its support for host MPEG2 acceleration is very poor too.