multi-region DVD ROm Drives?

[freddynorth]

I have a Pioneer 106S (i think..? it's a 16X one) which seems to have locked itself up forever on Region1. I've used up all the region changes and the firmware upgrade ( which is supposed to make the drive multi-regions .. i think? ) didn't work. So I'm looking to buy another DVD ROM drive. Anyone have any suggestions on good DVD ROM Drives which are MULTI-REGION ENABLED from the start and never lock up? I'm not too bothered about buying another one as they're just about (US)$50

 

[SaturnX]

It'll be hard to find a region free drive nowadays, all are manufactured with region locks, older drives like my 6x Toshiba SDM1212 are region free. You'd have to look for an older drive, or even one with a firmware upgrade.

--Mark

 

[freddynorth]

oh..!!? =((( I find this quite strange since so many people have many DVDs from more than one region.. Do most people use standalone DVD players for watching movies? (since most standalone players are multi-region)

btw.. sorry i think my old DVD drive is a 116S not 106S.

So which drive should I go out and get which can be patched to region-free quite easily.

 

[sMashPiranha]

You can de-zone that Pioneer drive, I have one myself and got rid of the stupid region code with a firmware update from here. Don't bother with a new DVD drive, the Pioneer 16x is a very good one.

 

[freddynorth]

yes, but it didn't work when i tried... i think it might be because i used up all my region changes. then tried to firmware it afterwards?

 

[Davegod]

there's a little program for detecting if ur dvd drive is region free... theres a link to it at the CloneCD maker's site, i think the prog is called DRIVEINFO.exe. havent tried it out yet so cant really vouch for it.

i know theres some programs to fool the DVDRegion coding thing, but i know little about them, any reccomendations? I feel no guilt whatsoever about 'cracking' the region code, I will be paying for the DVD and see no reason why the labels should be allowed to manipulate the markets in this way, which basically end up with the UK paying more for DVD's that have had extra's taken OUT - i mean really, they actually went to the expense and effort to REMOVE extras, then had the balls to charge us between 20-50% more than north america. frankly im disgusted the EC caved in and allowed it (has the EC done ANYTHING useful? NO!). GRRRRR. one of my pet hates