Don't throw your old DVD player away!

[rak sa_ngop]

I have had two Sony DVD players (from Thailand) and both played all my UK DVDs (region 2 and 4) with no exception.

I have now purchased a Sony Blu-ray player model BDP-S1200 and find that it will no longer play these regions any more.

I have googled the problem and find that there is no easy way to modify the player. There are companies that will carry out the modification and sell you a all-region DVD player (but not for Blu-ray discs), but at a price and maybe not in Thailand.

There is another way to make the the changes. It involves buying a 'One for All' remote control and going through a lengthy calibration sequence which may or may not work.

So the most obvious solution is to get hold of an out-of-date DVD player just to play these region DVD's.

Another option is to rip the DVDs on a computer and create data files. But I have done this with a lot of DVDs already and the word 'rip' hardly applies to this process as it is very time consuming.

Does anybody else have any other ideas on playing these DVDs.?

Is it even worth asking the Sony service centre to come up with a fix?

Thanks

[FarangKino]

I could be wrong, but it is very likely a Sony problem. Try your DVDs out on another make of Blu-Ray player before doing anything rash.

[rak sa_ngop]

Yes, I have decided not to mess around with my new Sony Blu ray. I plan on trying to get my old Sony player fixed (one chip has burnt out). But I don't want to approach Sony for the repairs as replacing the power supply board will probably cost a lot more than the value of the player (about 1500 baht when new). And that's assuming they keep spares for outdated models.

Can anybody recommend a repair shop in Bangkok that might be able to do this. I have seen shops in Pattaya that are stacked up with unwanted electronic equipment. Maybe if they have a similar model they could scavenge another machine to repair mine.

[wump]

I would suggest you buy an external hard drive and copy the DVDs onto it. I'm not talking about "ripping" as this means compressing the file which takes up to 12 hours. Just copy the whole DVD uncompressed (usually 4-8 GB) onto the hard drive. On a 4 TB hard drive you would be able to store 500-1000 DVDs uncompressed, so 100% same quality.

Beats messing around with extra players and you won't have issues with scratches etc. Also, you can access your movie library nicely from the TV and don't need to change discs etc.

[rak sa_ngop]

I would suggest you buy an external hard drive and copy the DVDs onto it. I'm not talking about "ripping" as this means compressing the file which takes up to 12 hours. Just copy the whole DVD uncompressed (usually 4-8 GB) onto the hard drive. On a 4 TB hard drive you would be able to store 500-1000 DVDs uncompressed, so 100% same quality.

Beats messing around with extra players and you won't have issues with scratches etc. Also, you can access your movie library nicely from the TV and don't need to change discs etc.

I have used Format Factory to create .avi files for most of my DVDs already, buy this takes a long time, maybe 5 or 6 hours per DVD. This was for BBC series so usually involves a lot of messing around sorting out the different episodes and additional out-takes and also duplicate episodes (which I assume are included to fill the DVD so it cant be copied easily).

I am not sure what you mean by 'copying the whole DVD'. Which method/program do you use?

I still would like the ability to just put a DVD into a player and watch it on a TV screen without any messing around.

[lust]

People still watch dvd?

[callaway]

Easily solved problem for 700 baht. Buy a cheap dvd player as a back up. Blu-ray read the disc to accurately hence need a cheapy to watch the copied regional discs. Cheap fix

[wump]

I would suggest you buy an external hard drive and copy the DVDs onto it. I'm not talking about "ripping" as this means compressing the file which takes up to 12 hours. Just copy the whole DVD uncompressed (usually 4-8 GB) onto the hard drive. On a 4 TB hard drive you would be able to store 500-1000 DVDs uncompressed, so 100% same quality.

Beats messing around with extra players and you won't have issues with scratches etc. Also, you can access your movie library nicely from the TV and don't need to change discs etc.

I have used Format Factory to create .avi files for most of my DVDs already, buy this takes a long time, maybe 5 or 6 hours per DVD. This was for BBC series so usually involves a lot of messing around sorting out the different episodes and additional out-takes and also duplicate episodes (which I assume are included to fill the DVD so it cant be copied easily).

I am not sure what you mean by 'copying the whole DVD'. Which method/program do you use?

I still would like the ability to just put a DVD into a player and watch it on a TV screen without any messing around.

When you create avi files you are compressing the DVD (usually to one tenth to one fifth of its original size), that's why it takes so long. This process dates back to when DVDs were copied onto CDs and therefore had their size shrinked to about 700 MB.

You should be able to just create a folder on your hard drive and just copy the contents of the DVD 1:1 into it. This also leaves all menus and bonus material intact. If the DVD has copy protection, it can still be done with the right program (which I think we are not allowed to discuss here in detail).

The whole process should only take a couple of minutes and it is much more comfortable afterwards as you can access everything you got at anytime.

Edit: A much easier way might be to download whole seasons of TV shows in mkv format (best quality/compression ratio). This is legal in my country, as long as you posses the original.

[Jeffrey346]

I suggest you buy a region free BR player. Just Google it... there are plenty available.

[rodknock]

i have a philips blu-ray and it plays all my usa disc's. model BDK-3380K, bought in Thailand.

[peterb17]

I could be wrong, but it is very likely a Sony problem. Try your DVDs out on another make of Blu-Ray player before doing anything rash.

Would agree my Samsung system plays absolutely everything.

[carlyai]

Yes, I have decided not to mess around with my new Sony Blu ray. I plan on trying to get my old Sony player fixed (one chip has burnt out). But I don't want to approach Sony for the repairs as replacing the power supply board will probably cost a lot more than the value of the player (about 1500 baht when new). And that's assuming they keep spares for outdated models.

Can anybody recommend a repair shop in Bangkok that might be able to do this. I have seen shops in Pattaya that are stacked up with unwanted electronic equipment. Maybe if they have a similar model they could scavenge another machine to repair mine.

There are a couple of options here, and a couple of good days fun.

Option 1: If you get on a bus and head for Yawarat (the Chinese section of Bangkok), and head to Baan Mor. This is (or was), the best place to roam around and visit the small shops, footpath stalls, etc to get electronic components and get electronics fixed.

But beware! If you stumble apon the gun shops, you'll be there for a week.

Option 2: Go to Pantip Plaza (if it's still there), and visit the very small shops at the back on the ground floor. They seem to fix everything. Just wander around until your eyes get used to looking for what you're looking for, ie if you want a dvd fixed, look for shops with broken or bits of dvd's, etc.

[IMHO]

too late, gave it away with all the old low-res DVD's I had years ago

[recycler]

People still watch dvd?

Haven't touched one in years!

[seedy]

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[lvr181]

I would suggest you buy an external hard drive and copy the DVDs onto it. I'm not talking about "ripping" as this means compressing the file which takes up to 12 hours. Just copy the whole DVD uncompressed (usually 4-8 GB) onto the hard drive. On a 4 TB hard drive you would be able to store 500-1000 DVDs uncompressed, so 100% same quality.

Beats messing around with extra players and you won't have issues with scratches etc. Also, you can access your movie library nicely from the TV and don't need to change discs etc.

I have used Format Factory to create .avi files for most of my DVDs already, buy this takes a long time, maybe 5 or 6 hours per DVD. This was for BBC series so usually involves a lot of messing around sorting out the different episodes and additional out-takes and also duplicate episodes (which I assume are included to fill the DVD so it cant be copied easily).

I am not sure what you mean by 'copying the whole DVD'. Which method/program do you use?

I still would like the ability to just put a DVD into a player and watch it on a TV screen without any messing around.

HDMI connection from laptop (or desktop) to TV works and play from the inbuilt DVD player. Or buy an external one to run with computer?

[ICECOOL]

When DVD players are manufactured they have settings that allow them to be set to play DVD in the region they are sold. It is possible to change that setting and I would think your retailer should be able to do that. Try contacting Sony as they may be able to help or not. It may be a player that was not intended to be sold here. Some players also have a region free setting.

[Nbarch]

It is a bit late for you, but I always advise friends never to buy Sony products (CD & DVD) because they are very enthusiastic about preventing copying. I have had problems with their equipment over the years. So you may find your DVD/Blu-ray play fine with other brands of equipment, good shop assistants know all about region codes.

The region code is usually ‘soft coded’ in the machine; you just need to find the code to switch the region code off. I bought a DVD player from Richer Sounds in the UK and on request they handed me the simple instructions sheet to do just that. (No need to dismantle the player)

An alternative is to play your DVD through a computer, this may also be region coded, in which case I very highly recommend the programs from SlySoft. Their program AnyDVD, runs invisibly in the background and when you put a disc in the drive it switches it to region zero, (worldwide). They also have software that copies DVD and Blu-ray discs easily and will set your disk copy as region zero.

You can trial their programs for free and if you purchase them, the other really good thing is you can use the license code to put the software on all your computers. Hope this helps!

[The Deerhunter]

I could be wrong, but it is very likely a Sony problem. Try your DVDs out on another make of Blu-Ray player before doing anything rash.

My Samsung Blu Ray purchased here plays Australasia zone Blue Ray as well as Thai but I brought an all zoned Panasonic DVD with me so although I have played DVD's on the Blu ray successfully I cannot remember which ones (probably local zone) . If a Blu ray player will play your DVDS it usually upscales the pixel count like a high end new series DVD does now.

[Saan]

I have a cheap DVD player, about 2 years old. Will it have marked some on it if it set to one region? I can't find any markings but maybe there is a code. I want to buy a set of DVDs from Europe and don't want to get them here and find they don't work.

[ICECOOL]

Forums seem to suggest Sony player region settings are in the firmware and if so you will not be able to unlock it. Instruction manual should tell you what region it is set for...good luck

[JohanB]

Yes be carefull and keep your older DVD-players, as these do not detect a Cinavia signal.

Cinavia is a protection built in in BluRay players from arond 2012 that makes many "illegal" DVD copies (most sold in Thailand) unplayable on them.

Around 10 minutes into the movie, a message banner is on the screen and stops you from see more.

This new "anti-piracy" system is called Cinavia and must be implemented in all BluRay/DVD players by "red book" patent rights since around 2012.

I had this problem with many Thai DVD's on a new BluRay player.

I Then looked for an old model from 2011 that my electronic store still had in stock.

It was with an earlier software that was not containing the Cinavia watermark detection.

Cinavia is almost impossible to take away from these DVD's and have been recorded for many years.

Google Cinavia and learn more !!

[CapeThai]

I could be wrong, but it is very likely a Sony problem. Try your DVDs out on another make of Blu-Ray player before doing anything rash.

Would agree my Samsung system plays absolutely everything.

My new Samsung Blue Ray does not play any of my older DVDs

[seedy]

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Arial 14 is the preferred style / size for TV Forum

Thank you.

[rak sa_ngop]

Sony replied to my complaint about the region settings:

Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for your support in Sony’s Bluray Players product and we are understand in your inquiries.

Firstly, we would like to inform that all Bluray Players cannot be play the DVD or Bluray all region cause the set has design for compatible with your DVD or Bluray to sold in your country or region.

Moreover, we no have modified the set to can be play all region. For more information about warranty and repair, please visit

http://www.sony.co.th/support/resources/en_TH/html/Warranty_Information/TermsandConditions_All_EN.html

If we can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Best Regards,

Krit Ya.
Customer Contact Center
Sony Thai Co. Ltd.

Well that settles it for me. No more Sony products.

[thatguy]

I haven't fead all the posts, but it used to be if you reset your region to 9, it covered all. As I remember, you could only reset the region once. Google should give some answers, maybe even a youtube howto.

[astral]

And if you do send a modified set to Sony for repair, they are likely to set it back to standard