DVD region error

To check whether the dvd was working, I popped in Love Actually which has ntsc region 1. However, I'm getting

Then it gives me two options.

When I click the "change dvd drive's region code", another screen comes up that says "current region code is free".

So why can't I play my movie? If I do change the drive's region code, apparently I'm only allowed to change it 5 times. I thought you can all region movies in computer dvd player. Was I wrong?

 

do a google for "dvd region free" and get a program like "DVD Region+CSS Free " THat will get rid of the nags

 

Unfortunately region locking persists in computer DVD drives. Depending on your country's laws there isn't much that can be legally done about it, I'm afraid.

 

is the dvd a legal copy?

 

but happens to be illegal

 

There are alternatives to your problem. First you can play the DVD using Windows Media Player. Or just reinstall the DVD program. Since sometimes they give you several chances to use different regions before locking it. For the one on my Toshiba, I changed it 5 times before it locked itself.

 

You can also use AnyDVD from SlySoft.
I've been using it for years, highly recommend it.

 

First of all the DVD was a legal purchase in Canada. I'm in Canada so there should be no problem playing the DVD in any of the DVD players available in Canada.

Now, I'm assuming that Dell knows I'm in Canada and should have set the DVD to my region or since the error says the DVD has "free region" code, it should be able to play any DVDs that's out there in the market regardless of the region.

Am I wrong in assuming that?

 

Are you trying to play the DVD using the Dell Media program?

I ran into this problem and fixed it. It's because when you start the program for the first time, no region has been specified yet. Usually most DVD drives are preset to region 1...this is not to set to anything.

When it says the current region code is 'Free' it means that the first change is free...so go ahead and set it to 1, and you should be fine.

 

I didn't know I did it but apprently now the region code is 1. But now the number of times I can change has been lowered to 4. How many changes do you have left?

 

Yup, I only have 4 changes left also. I guess Dell "charges" you for that first change....bums...

 

Would it help to have an external DVD drive to watch all your non-region 1 DVD's on?

 

Err...

Four?
;-)

EDIT: my apologies, I had read "how many changes do *I* have left?".
To go beack in topic, I have to say that I have had that problem also. I think I will free my dvd reader, though. I like freedom better than a lock up.

 

I had to come here to figure out what was going on. It's pretty unbelievable that you buy a new $1300 computer from Dell, put in a commercial DVD movie and the fancy Dell media center pops up ...and tells you there's an error..when there is NO ERROR. and that you have to make a change to your DVD region code and that you're only allowed to do this 5 times. If they're selling you a computer in North America, their biggest market, the damn thing should be set to Region 1 and when you put a goddamned DVD in the first time it should just PLAY...not require some configuration.... and the need to go research how to PLAY A DVD! Ridiculous.