Mac Mini :: New MM - Region Free Mod?
Jun 17, 2010
I am considering ordering a Mac Mini from Apple's Hong Kong store which I presume will have DVD region flags set for 3 and 6 which will cover me in China where I am living now. When I moved here, I reflashed the firmware on my Dell business notebooks with a region free firmware. I am wondering if I will be able to make the mini DVD drive region free so I can play my HK and China DVD's as well as my US DVD's?
Also, I will be purchasing a new 15" MBP also from HK and will want to mod that DVD drive as well so hopefully I can get both answers here.
View 3 Replies
ADVERTISEMENT
May 12, 2009
I just inserted a DVD into my mac mini for the very first time. It says I get to change the region five times (or ten, I dont remember), but my question is if it is possible to make the mac mini permanently region free, so it can read any DVD at any given time
View 6 Replies
View Related
Jun 29, 2008
I am trying to back up my DVDs but have only one more region transition left
View 24 Replies
View Related
Aug 29, 2007
The notorious Matsushita UJ-857(D) firmware has at last been cracked, thanks to ben11 from rpc1.org. He has released region-free updates for the HAEA, HBEA, KBVB, and KCVB revisions.
Before I provide the download links, here's the obligatory disclaimer:
WARNING: DO NOT DOWNLOAD IF YOU ARE UNCONFIDENT ABOUT THE FLASHING PROCESS. IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG YOU ARE LIABLE FOR DRIVE REPAIR. THE FOLLOWING IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND IS NOT WARRANTED. FLASHING YOUR DRIVE IS IN VIOLATION OF APPLECARE TERMS
Now, take these steps before you do anything:
1. Check that you have a UJ-857 or UJ-857D drive with revisions HAEA, HBEA, KBVB, or KCVB. This can be done by going to the Apple Menu>About This Mac>More Info. This will open up System Profiler. Click on ATA and the Model number and Revision number will be listed. If it looks OK proceed to step 3.
2. If you have a UJ-857(D) drive but the revision number is NOT one of the four listed (HAEA, HBEA, KBVB, or KCVB), then you have not applied the Superdrive Update 2.1 which Apple released in June. You will need to apply this update BEFORE PROCEEDING. This update is no longer available from Apple so you can download it here. Once you have done so, proceed to step 3.
3. Download DVDInfoX to check whether you have a region set. YOU MUST HAVE PLAYED A DVD IN THIS DRIVE AND SET A REGION IN ORDER TO PROCEED. A correctly set drive will produce something along the lines of this using DVDInfoX:
Quote:
Vendor: MATSHITA
Model: DVD-R UJ-857D
Firmware: KBVB
RPC-2 (region locked)
State is SET
4 vendor resets left
3 region changes left
Region 2
If "State" is "SET", you are ready to flash your drive.
4. Download the correct RPC-1 (Region-Free) update.
UJ-857 Revision HAEA
UJ-857 Revision HBEA
UJ-857D Revision KBVB
UJ-857D Revision KCVB.
5. Read the included README and then proceed to opening the "Update to region free" application. The process will start immediately. DO NOT INTERRUPT THE FLASHING IN ANY WAY - it will result in a broken drive. Also, there are only a certain number of times the drive can be flashed so be very very careful. I suggest you restart the computer and shut down any other application that is running before you run the update - just to be safe.
One note: the flashing will probably hang at 60%, and then again at 90%. This is normal. Just be patient and let it finish. Do not panic and do anything stupid.
6. If everything goes well, the flashing will finish and it will ask you to restart. Once you have done that, you can open DVDInfoX and check that the drive has been flashed. A correctly flashed drive will show something along these lines:
Quote:
Vendor: MATSHITA
Model: DVD-R UJ-857
Firmware: HBEA
RPC-1 (region free)
7. That's it. Make sure to download Region X to change the region of the drive before you play DVDs. The drive is region-free, but you must still change the region manually to play DVDs from different regions.
View 24 Replies
View Related
Apr 7, 2010
how can i play all regions.I have mac 10.5.5
HL-DT-ST DVDRW GS21N:
Firmware Revision:SA15
Interconnect:ATAPI
Burn Support:Yes (Apple Shipping Drive)
Cache:2048 KB
Reads DVD:Yes
CD-Write:-R, -RW
DVD-Write:-R, -R DL, -RW, +R, +R DL, +RW
Write Strategies:CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
Media:Insert media and refresh to show available burn speeds
View 3 Replies
View Related
Nov 3, 2009
This is my first mac and i have searched the forums and apple website but haven't found any concrete evidence of whether or not the optical drive is region free or not, or if there's any way of getting around it?
View 1 Replies
View Related
Jun 21, 2012
How to make my iMac DVD drive region/zone free?
Info:iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8), Late 2006 iMac
View 4 Replies
View Related
Jun 15, 2012
How do IO reset the DVD Region on my Intel coreduo Mini?
Info:Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
View 3 Replies
View Related
Mar 28, 2009
I have alum macbook trying to play family guy DVD and get this message.
the disc region does not match the drive region.
the drive region must be changed to play this disc.
View 4 Replies
View Related
Jun 4, 2009
I've researched and googled and finally downloaded VLC. I can't get it to work. It will paly the title screen of the movie and then shuts down.
I read another thread here from a person who said they newer macbooks won't let VLC run. I bought mine last SEptember.
View 8 Replies
View Related
Jan 22, 2008
I'm looking for a DVD software player that plays DVD's from any region on my iMac, which is running Leopard OSX. From everything I've read, the VLC software should enable me to do this - but I've downloaded it and it doesn't! I've disabled the DVD Player that comes with the iMac and changed the settings so that the VLC software is what launches when a DVD loaded and although it'll see and run Region 1 DVD's fine, it won't pick up on, say, a Region 2 DVD. Does anyone know why this is? Or what I'm missing? I'm from England. now living in the States, so have a lot of R2 DVD's that I really need to be able to play on my iMac.
View 9 Replies
View Related
Nov 3, 2008
The new macbook's have the following:MATSHITA DVD-R UJ-868: Firmware Revision:KA13....Is there any chance this is going to be cracked? If so, where should I be looking. I find it ridiculous that a laptop isn't region free!
View 14 Replies
View Related
Apr 24, 2005
So for the last couple years I have been addicted to Amazon.com. Living in Australia, I cannot get many of the DVDs I want (especially TV Shows). So 2 years, and thousands of dollars later, I have a stack of Region 2 DVDs (as well as many Region 4 from when I buy local).
I think you see where I'm going
Is there working, *safe* Region-free software available for OS X? I've had a look around the place, such as [EDIT: Links removed], but have found their solutions are either for OS9, or seem to be a little risky.
I'm looking for a software-based Region hack that works the same/similar way as DVD Region Free on the PC (that is, you just have to have the software running in the background when you play a DVD and it makes it region-free, so no risky firmware hacks).
I wish VLC supported menu systems better than they do or I'd just use that, but at the moment it is simply too much of a headache to use for DVDs.
View 7 Replies
View Related
Nov 4, 2008
Who agrees since they're not or probably will never update the mac mini again they should at least update it with the 'addons' (more like essentials) for free?
I hate how they nickel and dime you with the ram and hd (because they know most people will opt for the upgrades). It's pretty standard for that price now to have at least 2GB of memory!
Either way I'd like to get one not really for real use (with it's current specs) but more like a novelty item...
View 4 Replies
View Related
Jun 1, 2009
Because with a free printer and free ipod, that would be a hell of a deal.
View 3 Replies
View Related
Jun 30, 2012
I have a Mac Mini 500GB and have 440GB of movies on it. I have deleted the files from the iTunes media folder and have emptied the trash but the storage information still says that my hard disk is almost at capacity with 440GB of movies...all of the files from the iTunes folder are stored elsewhere on an external hard drive and I have iTunes talking to the exernal hard drive so I really want to free up the space on the mac mini.Â
I dont know what else to do because I cant even find any mv4 files and when I search for files over 1GB, the only thing that comes up is iPhoto.Â
Info:
Mac mini, Other OS
View 1 Replies
View Related
Aug 14, 2010
So a few months back my old mac mini decided to crap out on me and I was computer-less for those few months. Since my money situation isnt too good right now (unemployed, live at my grandmas and my dad supports me. Im 21 btw) I didnt bother getting it fixed until recently. Keep in mind the computer is out of warranty and I dont have Apple Care. So I eventually took it to the apple store and they said the logic board was fried and possibly the ram. They quoted me at $317 for a new logic board. I told them I'll give it a wait because I cant afford it. So a few weeks later I decide to go back and ask if I can get it done for a cheaper price. They told me they can do it for $217 with just the logic board replaced and if it needs ram they will tell me. They end up calling me telling me to pic it up and that the price is $377. I told them no, they told me they'll do it for 217. She tells me they had to replace the ram as well and thats why the price was higher. So I told her that as long as the computer still works with the old ram just put back the old ram and Ill pay the $217....
So I get a call back today saying I can pick it up. I ask them just to make sure how much the price was. She says no charge. So im of course confused and ask to speak to the person who repaired it. She tells me that since mac mini's are hard to open and shouldnt be opened a bunch of times that they just left it with the new logic board and ram and decided to do it for free given the small hassle I had with them. I couldnt believe it! It was a $377 dollar job and they just let it slide.
View 1 Replies
View Related
Mar 9, 2012
how do you change the target drive for i photoes library so i could change them to an external drive
Info:
Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.7.3)
View 3 Replies
View Related
Mar 15, 2012
I keep getting the message that my start up disc is full - system will not me delete any files etc
View 1 Replies
View Related
Apr 19, 2012
I know they were giving free upgrades to Lion on refurbished units purchased from apple. I just bought a mac mini with snow leopard and see no mention of a free upgrade.
View 1 Replies
View Related
Jun 16, 2009
I have a macbook pro which was purchased in america, however I am moving overseas and was wondering if it was possible to change the region of my computer.
View 2 Replies
View Related
Mar 26, 2012
My DVD Region is locked to Region 2 and now I can't watch films from Region 1!I've tried VLC and that doesn't work.
Info:MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
View 2 Replies
View Related
Apr 3, 2012
on a macbook pro, you can only change the DCD region 5 times. I accidentally changed it 5 times and now it's stuck on the european region, which means that i can't watch american dvds. Â can I re-set my dcd region or do I have to go to the store? Â Â i was living abroad and that is why i had to switch so many times.
Info:
MacBook Pro (13-inch Late 2011), iOS 5.0.1
View 3 Replies
View Related
Sep 22, 2009
I have a question regarding regions on DVD's. In the UK we are on region 2, I want to buy a DVD from the US. I am only allowed 4 times to change the region on my Imac before it presumably locks it's self to which ever region was the last one used??
Does anyone know how to (a) over-ride this lock down & (b) allow me to burn the region 1 DVD onto a region 2 disc so I can watch it on my TV??
If you are interested I want series 4 of Weeds. They showed the first 3 series in the UK & then stopped...... so annoying!!
View 3 Replies
View Related
Mar 2, 2010
I'm in North America (region 1) and I want to buy some DVDs that are only available in the UK (region 2). I know that VLC works for viewing these DVDs on a Mac, but what about ripping them?
View 2 Replies
View Related
Apr 1, 2010
I have a problem playing DVDs on my 2007 MacBook. I recently watched a DVD in region code 1, and now I want to go back to region code 2. I have done this a couple of times, but I still have one chance left (or so DVD Player tells me). Yet when I try to change back, I get an error reading Error: - 70001. Can anyone help? It says I still have one try left???
View 1 Replies
View Related
Jul 14, 2010
I have a DVD with an Indian region format (nothing illegal, it's from a wedding). Is there a way to change that to play on a US region DVD player?
View 7 Replies
View Related
Aug 26, 2009
I have read similar topics and I must say that I am doing everything right. I have downloaded VLC, change the settings, inserted DVD, click "play" and nothing happens.
I have MacBook Pro :
Model Name:MacBook Pro
Model Identifier:MacBookPro5,1
Processor Name:Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed:2.66 GHz
Number Of Processors:1
Total Number Of Cores:2
L2 Cache:6 MB
Memory:4 GB
Bus Speed:1.07 GHz
Boot ROM Version:MBP51.007E.B00
SMC Version (system):1.41f2
Sudden Motion Sensor:
State:Enabled
Will it help to purchase Quick Time Pro?
View 2 Replies
View Related
Apr 12, 2012
When I first got my macbook I changed the region the 5 times you are allowed without realising that there was a limit.I had recently got a region 1 DVD and wanted to play it so I kept changing the region to region 1 and it eventually stuck on that. This is a problem because 99% of my DVDs are actually region 2 so I can't watch any of them. I didn't know there was a limit to changing it or I wouldn't have changed and now I feel pretty desperate because it was just a mistake and now I can't watch any of my DVDs on it.
Info:MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2010)
View 1 Replies
View Related
Apr 27, 2012
Does anyone have the coding in terminal to unlock the DVD region for an image? Rather than unlock it individually from each computer ...
View 1 Replies
View Related
