DVD drives

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

righty I am sure we all have dvd players in our pc's. Thing is they are all set to region 2 (uk PAL) if you live in the uk. Now region 1 (USA NTSC) will play on these drives however you get a message sayign it can only switch regions a coupel more times, now this is pretty poor if you ask me, so is there any way I can extend the amount of switching they do?

I have actually PURCHASED some films you can't get in the uk on DVD only VHS but you can get them from the USA fine. So I have them and I'm running out of switching time, I just wanna back them up so I can watch them on anything (region free).

Site Subscriber Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Posts: 395

It's fairly easy but you need to download a couple of tools to do the job.

Heres an article that explains all!

http://www.pcreview.co.uk/article-14612.php

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

righty cheers, got 2 on this PC to unlock! So I'lllet you know how it goes.

Forum Moderator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 1356

Yeah just reflash the drives with any region rom, if you look hard enough you will find them

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

righty I can't get this to work.

I have the right programs. The pioneer dvdrw, it has 3 region changes left,m if I run the program I got, it runs then says 0 drivers were unlocked. Do I need to run the chances down to 0 before it works?

I can't get the sony to re-flash as it won't let me due to it being a primary and not a slave.

help would be appreciated.

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

cant you just swap em round and make the sony slave then, for the purposes of flashing?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

well my good man thats why I have the pc in bits! But no that doesn't work. You need to uninstall them and reassign them.

I have taken it apart and hoovered the bugger out, first time this year (last done in nov), manky already.

I have just re-flashed the pioneer with the upgrade from the pioneer website.

Now firmware version 1.18 inseatd of 1.06, theres a lot more choice for 1.18 version! So I shall give it a try now.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

wtf is a DOS window and how do I open it?

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

hah, youngsters...

DOS = Disk Operating System, a command line interface, all there was before windows.

if you want to open a DOS prompt, depending on what version of windows you have it will be in accessories as 'command prompt' or you can go to start > run > cmd

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Mhairi>DVRFlash -v G: R8100108.118
'DVRFlash' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Documents and Settings\Mhairi>DVRFlash -vf I: R8100108.118
'DVRFlash' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\Documents and Settings\Mhairi>

arse buggery bollocks, well then? Neal superman?

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

ok well looking at what youre trying to do, i assume you have a file called 'DVRFlash' which you are trying to run with the switches '-v' or '-vf' on I: or G: using a firmware file called 'R8100108.118'

first question

is the file DVRFlash located in the directory C:\Documents and Settings\Mhairi ?

if its not then its not going to work. So either move it there (and the firmware file) for the purpose of doing this, or change the directory of the command prompt to the directory where the file is. Since you dont really know what youre doing i'd suggest the former.

Forum Moderator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 1356

What to do is unzip your download to c: (as in your root directory, no folders)

Then get into the dos prompt (lol) as nelly described--- what ever folder it reads (eg c:\chris\porn) just type 'cd..' (yes thats cd and two dots) until the dos prompt reads C:\

type in Dvrflash and the switches you need

If that still doesn't work what to do is type 'dir' while in the same directory as the file(s) and show on here the list it gives you

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

righty, well to start no sony firmware upgrades, poor show from sony, their sites cack!

So I need to type in D:\ incriminating\ goat porn starring soneji?

Will do

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

well neither of your methods is working

Forum Moderator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 1356

What is the download, is it a .exe or a zip file?

Where have you downloaded it to, and are you in the right location (ie the same place you put it) before you are trying to run it?

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

so what is it saying then?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

I now get the device is not ready

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

does it have a disk in it?

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

righty.

I have got the DOS reading C:\ only like you said george.

I have downloaded and saved it to there. I have extracted all files etc, to the same place

heres the insctructions in the read me file thingy

Drive: Pioneer DVR-108 (Dual format 16x speed DVD+/-/DL Burner)
Also known as: DVR-108, DVR-108D, DVR-108B, DVR-A08, DVR-A08D, etc.
Firmware Rev.: v1.18
Author: >NIL:
Date: 2005.01.29 - 16:40 GMT (Farewell Release)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * I M P O R T A N T N O T E * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Patched: o RPC-1 (Region Free):
Remember, patching your drive to region free is only half
the job. A region free drive will not turn your system
region free by itself. For more info, please read
http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?t=239
o 12xRip (Unlimited ripping speed):
The official firmware from Pioneer limits the ripping
speed on video discs. This limitation has been removed.
12x is only the maximum THEORETICAL speed that the drive
can achieve, but not the sustained speed you are likely to
get when ripping. Most DVD's will start ripping around 2x
to 4x and end up around 8x or 10x. THIS is normal.
o nx4all : All speeds for -R/+R/+R9 media
This firmware allows you to select ALL burning speeds on
-R/+R/+R9 media. The official firmware from Pioneer only
allows a limited set of Pioneer approved media to use these
speeds but this patch removes that limitation. Write
strategies for approved media should not be altered by the
patch.
PROPER BURN OF NON APPROVED MEDIA IS NOT GUARANTEED!
Not patched: - Bitsetting (" Come back to your senses and Burn on -R media
instead, people!!!")
- nx4all on RW media. Tests have shown that burning RW media
at higher than rated speed was a bad idea
Flashing Instructions: 1/ Download the latest version of DVRFlash from
http://pioneerdvd.rpc1.org and extract the executable you
need (Windows, DOS or Linux) in the directory where you
extracted the patched firmwares
2/ READ THE DVRFLASH INSTRUCTIONS!!!
3/ If you are flashing from windows, and I: is your DVR-107
drive, open a DOS window and type a command like:
DVRFlash -v I: R8100108.118
or, *IF* you need to flash the kernel (Rebadged -> Pioneer):
DVRFlash -vf I: R8100008.118 R8100108.118
Alternatively, if all of the above looks too advanced to you
you can use the graphical user interface addon to DVRFlash
Useful Links: http://forum.rpc1.org/ (DVD-R/RAM/+RW section)
http://pioneerdvd.rpc1.org/
Thanks to: All of you out there who supported my work! It's been a great
3&1/2 years, but now's the time for me to say goodbye...
See you in another virtual universe! Wink

NB: This archive also contains a DVR-108 kernel.
DO NOT TRY TO FLASH AN XL DRIVE WITH THIS FIRMWARE - IT IS ONLY MEANT FOR THE 108/A08

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

no disc in it no

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

Quote:

Alternatively, if all of the above looks too advanced to you
you can use the graphical user interface addon to DVRFlash

tried that?