How to Change a DVD Zone
Most DVD drives are region-locked. This means that if you are locked in region 1, which is the U.S., you cannot play a region 4, Australia DVD. This can be quite a problem sometimes, and Windows lets you change your DVD drive region just five times before it is locked. By flashing a patched firmware, you can bypass the region check, making your drive region-free and able to play any DVD.
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Things You'll Need
- Patched firmware and flash program (see Resources)
- Driveinfo (see Resources)
- ForceASPI (see Resources)
- Blank DVD
- Windows-based PC
- DVD drive
Instructions
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Install ForceASPI and restart your computer. Install Driveinfo and open the program. When the program starts, you will be presented with some information. Identify what type of DVD drive and firmware you have. The program will let you know if you already have a region-free drive. If you do, you're done.
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Go to the site provided in Resources and locate and download your patched firmware and compatible flash program. Match the firmware version Driveinfo gave you with the same one on the site. Create a boot disk by inserting a blank DVD and formatting it. Check "Copy System Files." Copy the flash program and firmware over to the boot disk and restart your computer. Before your computer boots into Windows, press either "F10" or "F12" to enter boot options and select your DVD drive to boot from the disc.
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3
The flash program on the disc will run and ask if you want to flash your DVD drive. Select the firmware on the disc and click "OK." The program will now flash your DVD drive, making it region-free. Once it is finished, boot into Windows and try out your new region free DVD drive.
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Tips & Warnings
Check multiple times to make sure you have the correct firmware. Patched firmwares are not operating-system sensitive, so match the correct firmware numbers.
If you flash the wrong firmware, your DVD drive will be inaccessible.
