Region Locked RPC2 Drive error/problem/issue/thing

[stefanaalten]

Hi,

AnyDVD HD version: 7.0.4.0

When I insert DVD ("A State of Mind") I receive this warning message:

WARNING!

Failed to read DVD!

This could have several reasons:

1. - DVD Media is dirty, you can try to clean it.

2. - DVD Media is damaged, you have to replace it.

3. - Your drive is a region locked RPC2 drive, which does not allow reading of scrambled sectors from a different region and you try to read a DVD from different region. Known drives having this problem are RICOH/PHILIPS DVD writers and Matshita/Panasonic DVD readers and writers. You can try to find a RPC1 patched firmware at http://www.rpc1.com

4. - Your drive RPC2 drive that has not yet been assigned a Region. Try to assign one, or try to find a RPC1 patched firmware at http://www.rpc1.com

I have found some posts that indicate I should set the region on my DVD drive. Is this a once-only operation that cannot be undone, i.e. region is set for all time, or can it easily be reset/changed as many times as I want?

Many thanks in advance for any help!

Stefan

[Hawk]

Normally you are allowed to change up to five time. However in your case the drive you are using will require you to change everytime you wanna watch movie from different region. This applies to you becuase of Matshita Drive. Again see point 3 in your first post for drive which is known to cause this problem. It should also be noted no software can over come this. However if you have drive which don't fall in any of the brand listed in point 3 then you only need to set region once and forget about it.

[libather]

I have the same issue, with my acer aspire5733! really not happy as ive used AnyDVD for years

Where can i find rpc1 up to date patched firmware?

[Ch3vr0n]

There is no such code nor patch.

[libather]

so is there nothing i can do to rectify this issue? Is an external dvd drive my only option? Sorry i have a bit of knowledge but i can't make head nor tail of this

My drive is a MATSHITA DVD-RAM UJ8BOAW

[Ch3vr0n]

the reason matshita (laptop drives) usually can't decrypt css protected dvd's from another region is because they have the region code HARDWARE embedded instead of desktop drive FIRMWARE (software based) inside the drive. If you want to avoid problems the best option is indeed an external drive.

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by libather

so is there nothing i can do to rectify this issue? Is an external dvd drive my only option? Sorry i have a bit of knowledge but i can't make head nor tail of this

My drive is a MATSHITA DVD-RAM UJ8BOAW

Your drive (actually UJ8B0AW) doesn't show any RPC1 firmware available. Make sure your region is set in hardware (temporarily disable AnyDVD then use Device Manager); if it still won't work, replace it with another brand of drive. DVD drives are cheap nowadays; most brands don't have problem #3, so AnyDVD will work if the hardware region is set once. Just pick a brand other than Ricoh, Philips or Matshita/Panasonic and you'll probably be fine. (I've never seen that with any of my drives, including three LGs and a Samsung.)

OTOH, the OP's drive (Matshita UJ-862A) has RPC1 firmware available here.

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by Ch3vr0n

the reason matshita (laptop drives) usually can't decrypt css protected dvd's from another region is because they have the region code HARDWARE embedded instead of desktop drive FIRMWARE (software based) inside the drive. If you want to avoid problems the best option is indeed an external drive.

I don't think that's quite accurate. The issue (as described in #3 in the OP) is that Matshita drives don't allow AnyDVD to bypass the RPC2 mechanism entirely by reading discs as encrypted data, as most other brands do. Flashing to RPC1 would get around this, but there's no RPC1 firmware for that drive; THAT part might be a hardware-vs.-firmware issue.

Being a laptop, an external drive would be the easiest solution. However, if he's comfortable with laptop repair he could try another brand of laptop drive.

[libather]

Your right it just won't let me bypass it :0( So, my alternative is to purchase an external dvd drive that will but this girl is now lost to what to get!! Need help from you savvy boys!!

I tried windump and winflash and region killer but as you already know RBBrittan it won't work!!

Acer Aspire 5773 windows 7 64bit.......

[libather]

Samsung Super WriteMaster Slim External DVD Writer USB Powered (8x DVD / 24x CD)

Would this one be ok do you think??