DVD

Clarifications

Windows is more restrictive with DRM than DVD players, sometimes. Note that when you can change your region, frequently this is limited to a certain number of changes.

I had similar issue and I ran out by changing Region settings on my XP Machine
Then I installed thid DVD region free and it runs fine.
I dont have to worry about changing Region everytime i get another ZONE DVD.

Have what are called Region Codes to prevent their use in other parts of the world.

This is supposed to prevent cheap copies bought in Asia from working in other regions where the cost of the Disc is greater.

You can change the Region Code on the DVD Player a limited number of times before the Drive gets locked to 1 region or use something like one of the many Region Free like Utilities the one here

http://www.slysoft.com/en/anydvd.html

Or you can just copy the Disc and remove the Region Codes so that you can play the copy on most DVD Players.

Col

Thank you for your input.
I just want to say that I have not changed the region code of any of my drives (4 in three computers). My DVDIdle Pro app takes care of that and I have consistently read lot of DVDs from various regions.
The Dye is silver color.
Of the same story that spans on 19 discs, I can read the first two on any of my computers or on the living room DVD Player while from the 3rd on none is recognized on any of the drives while play fine on the DVD Player? Could it be a DVD protection scheme that aims solely the drives and not the players? If yes how this can be done? I mean on which parameters they achieve the feat?
Also the LEDs of the drives are working with all other DVDs.
Thanks.

Many different Models of DVD Drive have limits on what they can read. ;)

Col

that different Makes & Models of DVD Drives work in different ways.

Quite often the technology is changed between different models in the same Product Line or even different makers can chose how well that they stick tot he DVD Standard. Where a DVD Drive that has more Power in the Laser Beams may read a Disc it is quite possible that a Drive with just the Minimum Power Laser Beams may not read the same DVD Disc.

Then when it comes to recorded Disc's there are lots of differences in the Dye Lots used by different makers of the Blanks. So it's possible that one color Dye may not be readable by a DVD Drive with it's own Color Laser but it is perfectly readable by a different Make or Model DVD Drive with a different color Laser.

Back in the early days of Recordable Cd's many makers would make CD Recorders that could only read the Disc's that they made and not read or record disc's from a different maker. Kodak used to be very well known for that back when we where paying $25.00 per Disc for each & every Blank CD.

Computer Optical Drives tend to be closer to the Standard as laid out by Phillips where as DVD Readers for things like TV's tend to be open to a lot more formats and just be able to read all Disc types. This stops them getting returned as not working for the customers needs, where as Computer Drives are not expected to be as flexible particularly if they are Burners. Also Computer Optical Drives can tend to only read Specific Type/Format Disc's like some can read DVD +R but not DVD -R or maybe even DVD RW Formats.

You can find out what Type Formats the Computer Drives work with by removing the Drives from the computers and reading their Specifications on the Label on the Drive. This will tell you what Formats the Drive is capable of reading. ;)

Col