unable to play some dvd's

[demi]

I am based in the UK but due to work I am travelling a lot and as a result I often have to have the region code switch to the country I am visiting whenever I use my dvd player that came with my osx system

I've now had to use VLC to watch my dvd's but i have had problems playing a lot of them - the region code 0 ones play fine and i have tried a bunch of region code 2 dvd's (PAL) - most don't seem to work yet a few do which has ledft me very confused

any pointers in the right direction??

this was the error message i was getting

main debug: CPU has capabilities AltiVec FPU
main debug: looking for memcpy module: 2 candidates
main debug: using memcpy module "memcpyaltivec"
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 34502656 (playlist) created at priority -47 (playlist/playlist.c:184)
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 33751552 (preparser) created at priority -47 (playlist/playlist.c:210)
main debug: looking for interface module: 1 candidate
main debug: using interface module "hotkeys"
main debug: thread 33750016 (interface) created at priority -47 (interface/interface.c:198)
main debug: looking for interface module: 3 candidates
main debug: using interface module "macosx"
main debug: thread 33660416 (manage) created at priority -47 (interface/interface.c:164)
main debug: adding playlist item `JIMI_HENDRIX' ( dvdnav:///dev/rdisk2 )
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 35165184 (input) created at priority 37 (input/input.c:265)
main debug: creating statistics handler
main debug: `dvdnav:///dev/rdisk2' gives access `dvdnav' demux `' path `/dev/rdisk2'
main debug: creating demux: access='dvdnav' demux='' path='/dev/rdisk2'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 1 candidate
macosx debug: input has changed, refreshing interface
dvdnav debug: trying to go to dvd menu
main debug: thread 35243520 (dvdnav event thread handler) created at priority -47 (dvdnav.c:336)
main debug: using access_demux module "dvdnav"
main debug: meta information:
main debug: - 'Title' = 'JIMI_HENDRIX'
main debug: `dvdnav:///dev/rdisk2' successfully opened
dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_HOP_CHANNEL
dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_VTS_CHANGE
dvdnav debug: - vtsN=1
dvdnav debug: - domain=8
dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_CELL_CHANGE
dvdnav debug: - cellN=1
dvdnav debug: - pgN=1
dvdnav debug: - cell_length=3643200
dvdnav debug: - pg_length=3643200
dvdnav debug: - pgc_length=3643200
dvdnav debug: - cell_start=0
dvdnav debug: - pg_start=0
dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_SPU_CLUT_CHANGE
dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_SPU_STREAM_CHANGE
dvdnav debug: - physical_wide=0
dvdnav debug: - physical_letterbox=0
dvdnav debug: - physical_pan_scan=1
dvdnav debug: buttonUpdate 1
main debug: selecting program id=0
main debug: looking for decoder module: 24 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "spudec"
main debug: thread 35299328 (decoder) created at priority -47 (input/decoder.c:159)
dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_AUDIO_STREAM_CHANGE
dvdnav debug: - physical=0
dvdnav debug: buttonUpdate 1
dvdnav warning: cannot get next block (Error reading from DVD.)
macosx debug: input has stopped, refreshing interface
main debug: closing input
main debug: thread 35243520 joined (dvdnav.c:352)
main debug: removing module "spudec"
main debug: thread 35299328 joined (input/decoder.c:191)
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `spu ', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
main debug: removing module "dvdnav"
macosx debug: input has changed, refreshing interface
main debug: thread 35165184 joined (input/input.c:412)
main: nothing to play
macosx debug: input has stopped, refreshing interface
main debug: adding playlist item `JIMI_HENDRIX' ( dvdnav:///dev/rdisk2 )
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: waiting for thread completion
main debug: thread 35207168 (input) created at priority 37 (input/input.c:265)
main debug: `dvdnav:///dev/rdisk2' gives access `dvdnav' demux `' path `/dev/rdisk2'
main debug: creating demux: access='dvdnav' demux='' path='/dev/rdisk2'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 1 candidate
macosx debug: input has changed, refreshing interface
dvdnav debug: trying to go to dvd menu
main debug: thread 35320320 (dvdnav event thread handler) created at priority -47 (dvdnav.c:336)
main debug: using access_demux module "dvdnav"
main debug: meta information:
main debug: - 'Title' = 'JIMI_HENDRIX'
main debug: `dvdnav:///dev/rdisk2' successfully opened
dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_HOP_CHANNEL
dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_VTS_CHANGE
dvdnav debug: - vtsN=1
dvdnav debug: - domain=8
dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_CELL_CHANGE
dvdnav debug: - cellN=1
dvdnav debug: - pgN=1
dvdnav debug: - cell_length=3643200
dvdnav debug: - pg_length=3643200
dvdnav debug: - pgc_length=3643200
dvdnav debug: - cell_start=0
dvdnav debug: - pg_start=0
dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_SPU_CLUT_CHANGE
dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_SPU_STREAM_CHANGE
dvdnav debug: - physical_wide=0
dvdnav debug: - physical_letterbox=0
dvdnav debug: - physical_pan_scan=1
dvdnav debug: buttonUpdate 1
main debug: selecting program id=0
main debug: looking for decoder module: 24 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "spudec"
main debug: thread 35357696 (decoder) created at priority -47 (input/decoder.c:159)
dvdnav debug: DVDNAV_AUDIO_STREAM_CHANGE
dvdnav debug: - physical=0
dvdnav debug: buttonUpdate 1
dvdnav warning: cannot get next block (Error reading from DVD.)
macosx debug: input has stopped, refreshing interface
main debug: closing input
main debug: thread 35320320 joined (dvdnav.c:352)
main debug: removing module "spudec"
main debug: thread 35357696 joined (input/decoder.c:191)
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `spu ', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
main debug: removing module "dvdnav"
macosx debug: input has changed, refreshing interface
main debug: thread 35207168 joined (input/input.c:412)
macosx debug: input has stopped, refreshing interface
main: nothing to play

[jclark]

Perhaps you have done this already, disable the automatic startup of the standard Apple DVD widget, so only VLC is the program to access the DVDs.

[demi]

i went to preferences in my dvd player and switched everything off so that it doesn't start but it still detects it and because the region code is stuck on 1, most of my dvds are 2 or 0 and immediately says to reject...i force quite and ahve vlc on but it just doesnt open them up in there either - this is a nuisance beyond belief....if anybody can help would be really grateful

d
x

[jclark]

i went to preferences in my dvd player and switched everything off so that it doesn't start but it still detects it and because the region code is stuck on 1, most of my dvds are 2 or 0 and immediately says to reject...i force quite and ahve vlc on but it just doesnt open them up in there either - this is a nuisance beyond belief....if anybody can help would be really grateful

d
x

I don't know if there is a solution at this point. If the region has been frozen to 1, then perhaps there is no solution... perhaps googleing for how to 'fix' a region code selection on Macs is in order.

[vx777]

demi wrote: =============
i went to preferences in my dvd player and switched everything off
=====================

This is bad. Never launch the Apple DVD player when you have an
out-of-region disc inserted.

TRY THIS INSTEAD
==============================

1. Select (APPLE MENU)->System Preferences

2. Click on "CDs & DVDs"

3. There are 5 pop-up menus.
Change the last popup to say this:

When you insert a video DVD [[ "Open VLC" ]]


4. You can also choose "Ignore" if you prefer.

When you insert a video DVD [[ "Ignore" ]]

But you will need to launch VLC yourself.

Steve

[demi]

many thanks for that

still unable to play any dvd's of region code 2 in the new version of 8.6b
d
x

[aborel]

I am based in the UK but due to work I am travelling a lot and as a result I often have to have the region code switch to the country I am visiting whenever I use my dvd player that came with my osx system

I've now had to use VLC to watch my dvd's but i have had problems playing a lot of them - the region code 0 ones play fine and i have tried a bunch of region code 2 dvd's (PAL) - most don't seem to work yet a few do which has ledft me very confused

any pointers in the right direction??

What is the exact model of your DVD drive? (see "About this Mac", then "More Info", then click on ATA in the Hardware tree)
Apple is infamous for selecting drives that go above and beyond what's required by the norm, which means that VLC is unable to bypass their hardware region check. In such cases, one can still win by flashing the drive using a hacked firmare (the so-called RPC-1 firmwares). Unfortunately, once again, Apple managed to make it harder for us by selecting drives that either (a) can't be patched on a Mac, so you need to physically move them to a Windows machine in order to perform the trick, or (b) can't be patched at all because no RPC-1 firmare exists.
Before you know in which category you'll fall, you need to know the exact model of your drive.

Oh, wait! In another message you wrote (hint: don't double post!):

I have had my MAC for a few years and is an alluminium model POWERBOOK 15" running on OSX 10.4.9 using a MATSHITADVD-R UJ-835F drive

Matsushita UJ-835. You're screwed, I'm afraid: no RPC-1 firmware is available.

[demi]

thanks - so does this then mean i am simply unable to play and dvd's on this powerbook machine unless they are region codes 0 & 1...?

i've been hearing of portable externals? i may now just end up buying a separate dvd portable player if there just seems to be no way .....are there limitations on those kind of players as well or are they universal?

still cannot digest the fact that you pay honest money for dvd's which have limitations as to where u can watch them

d
x

[aborel]

thanks - so does this then mean i am simply unable to play and dvd's on this powerbook machine unless they are region codes 0 & 1...?

Indeed.

i've been hearing of portable externals? i may now just end up buying a separate dvd portable player if there just seems to be no way .....are there limitations on those kind of players as well or are they universal?

It depends on the exact model. http://www.rpc1.org is a good place to find information on the various models from all drive makers.

still cannot digest the fact that you pay honest money for dvd's which have limitations as to where u can watch them

Thank Hollywood for that. They're the ones who decided to divide the world into regions in order to maximize profit.

[demi]

ok with all this in mind - i put in a dvd of EDDIE MURPHY - DELIRIOUS which has region code 2 and this played absolutely fine along with all of my BUD SPENCER & TERENCE HILL dvd's which are all region code 2 as well - i have 8 of them which all work and play


i have tried several other dvds (other films, documentaries, music concerts) with same region code and none of them work

???????

d

x

[demi]

ok with all this in mind - i put in a dvd of EDDIE MURPHY - DELIRIOUS which has region code 2 and this played absolutely fine along with all of my BUD SPENCER & TERENCE HILL dvd's which are all region code 2 as well - i have 8 of them which all work and play


i have tried several other dvds (other films, documentaries, music concerts) with same region code and none of them work

???????

d

x