DVD region

[glenafton]

Good morning,
I usually watch a film (a DVD)at night using my computer. Up until last night I have had no problems but now whenever I try to run a DVD I get the message
" Your system is set to region 2. To play this DVD set your system to region 4".
I have opened the device manager and clicked on DVD/CD-Rom device.
Properties - DVD region. The message there reads.
Can only change region a limited number of times. Times remaining 0 The region which I cannot change is set at region 2. I have never changed the region nor tried to play a region 2 DVD. My O/S is 7 premium
Can someone help me.
Glenafton

 

[meeshu]

The DVD drives' firmware may be corrupted somehow. Are you able to download (latest) firmware and re-flash the DVD drive ROM?

Also check that the power and data cables are connected firmly to the drive and to the motherboard.

Depending on firmware, there are often procedures for setting the DVD drive to be region free so that it can play DVD's from any region.

To have the region setting changed unexpectedly is very unusual and indicates a problem.

In case there are further problems, what is the make and model of the DVD drive so that we may be able to advise further?

 

[inachu]

Sounds like you need a region free dvd player. Does not make sense to have region block anyway since we are all from all over. I have tones of dvd's from china and japan and korean and thailand and my hardware never bugs me about region. Just gotta google region free dvd players.

good luck!

 

[glenafton]

meeshu,
The DVD model is : ATAPI iHAS124 E SCSI. All cables are correct and firmly in place. I have tried to reset the region but as it is "Greyed out" I cannot change anything. As standard I have run my anti-virus and malware and found nothing.
glenafton

 

[Burpo]

http://www.firmwarehq.com/Lite-On/iHAS124+B/files.html

 

[meeshu]

It is good that you ran anti-malware software to search for malware as malware may have altered the DVD region code settings(?) Although you didn't seem to find any malware, it is possible that malware may still reside on your computer.

To be fairly certain of finding malware, it is recommended that several anti-malware programs be run (one at time), as any one anti-malware program is unlikely to find all known malware.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and Emsisoft Anti-Malware are two good malware scanners, if you haven't already used them.

From limited information, updating or re-flashing firmware does not apparently reset the region code settings, unfortunately, I think(?) You could try (re)flashing the DVD drive firmware anyway, and see what happens.

So, these seem to be the options.

1) To reset and to re-enable region code settings again, it usually requires sending the DVD drive back to the manufacturer for resetting. This will most likely be at your expense.

2) Try using the utility LtnRPC to disable/enable/adjust region code settings, available from HERE. I haven't used this, so I can't say how well it works, and there is no guarantee.

3) Replace the current DVD drive with another (region-free) model.

 

[glenafton]

Meeshu,
Tried all of your suggestions with the exception of No 1 The utility had no effect as it was unsuitable for my computer so I bit the bullet and purchased an new DVD drive. Problem solved.
To you and the others who advised my thanks.
Glenafton