DVD Region coding

[sabretooth jockey]

I've gota Toshiba laptop, with a region locked DVD player. As I carry this around the world, I was wondering if anyone knows if it is possible to get it unlocked to allow me to play different region DVD's.
I've been told this is legal to do, but can be a bit difficult.
Any tips/ideas/advice will be welcome.

S.J.

[Background Noise]

It's worth searching for this stuff on the net, ther's loads of information. Generally both the hardware and the software player can be region freed although sometimes you are limited to a max number of changes. I've used downloaded software to region free my set-top DVD player, my pc dvd and my pc software - I used DVD genie for one of them, it's mentioned here on the dvd BB http://forum.inmatrix.com/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?s=3f90152d6595ffff;act=SF;f=8 and to unlock my camcorder to accept DV-in.

Have a look at this page - it might be of use and refers you to a file download. http://forum.digital-digest.com/archive/topic/10414-1.html

[Tinstaafl]

Go to http://www.rpc1.org

LOTS of information about removing the region coding crap & the firmware/tools to do it. Many, but not all, DVD drives can be hacked to get rid of it. If your DVD drive isn't yet included it may do-able in the future.

[A-V-8R]

Another source is:

http://www.astalavista.box.sk/

Basically, you download a small utility that reads your drive and firmware version.

Then you go to a table and see if your drive and firmware is on the list.

Then download the flash driver and flash your rom.

I did it on a Toshiba Laptop 2805 and it worked fine. I much prefer watching DVD's in London as opposed to having dinner with our 60 year old flight attendents. The whiskers on their upper lip offend me.

[Engineer]

You say u travel around the world Then maybe a good suggestion is to buy DVDs produced in Pakistan or Malaysia which will be region free. So no need to chip your DVD player.

If you do decide to alter the firmware be careful because if you get it wrong could end up just listening to music and the alternative to AV8R option could become an attractive one :O

[jb.murdstone]

Try http://www.dvdidle.com/ It works fine on my machine having unlocked both software and drive.

[sabretooth jockey]

I finally got around to buying "DVD Region Free" from Dvdidle, and it works fine.
Thanks for the advice.

S.J