[NTLUG:Discuss] DVD on a computer

[chris@chrisbaker.net]

I set up my DVD on a Windows machine to read all codes. I haven't 
tried a DVD on Linux yet.

This is certainly an important issue. I know plenty of dedicated fans 
of _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_ (I'm one, too) who bought DVD's of 
the show from Europe (which weren't available here) only to find that 
they wouldn't work in their DVD players for this reason.

Chris

On 11 Nov 2002 at 13:04, mike wrote:

> Three things look at the 'region code' in DVD technology: The drive, the 
> decoder, and the disc itself. 
> 
> Drives:_______________________________
> 
> Generic DVD drives generally have a region code 'all' setting either set up at 
> the factory or available to flash into memory. This is also sometimes called 
> region 7.  (maxtech, BTC, etc.)
> 
> Name Brand Drives generally do not have a published "all' setting. (sony, 
> Toshiba, HP, IBM, etc.)  I've heard rumours that some will support an all 
> setting by using 3rd party flash programs. 
> 
> Decoders:___________________________
> 
> Hardware decoders available in the US are either hard set to region code one 
> (and can't be changed,) or preset to region code one (and can be flashed to 
> different regions a few times just like most name brand drives.)
> 
> If you get a software DVD decoder that's completely open technology (which is 
> technically illegal to possess in the U.S. and may now be illegal in europe, 
> it's been a while since i've researched this issue) then it will either 
> ignore the region setting or allow a 'soft' region setting (in a config 
> file).
> 
> if you pay for a software DVD decoder licensed to be used in the U.S. then it 
> will generally require the hardware region setting to match the disc. (Thanks 
> to the RIAA/MPAA). 
> 
> If you get a software decoder with your generic drive (that is primarily 
> written in chinese with poor english support,) it will likely support region 
> code 7 - all (but require a windows load to run.)
> 
> Discs:____________________________________
> 
> I've never bought non code 1 discs. (I stick with VCD's if i'm buying from 
> overseas and avoid the whole issue.   Technically, non-code 1 discs are not 
> licensed in the states and therefore not-quite-legal.  You get into 
> possessory (having a copy) and commercial (trying to sell a copy) 
> technicalities here, and i'm no lawyer.
> 
> I will say my first set-top DVD player says in it's documentation it is set to 
> region 7 all, so it will play any region code.  It plays code 1 fine.  that's 
> all the first hand experience I have with this.  My only working DVD drive 
> went into my sister's computer 2 years ago, and i've had no reason to buy 
> another drive.   
> 
> 
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