Anyone know how to hack the 17" MAC powerbook to play region free?

[babka]

I tried playing a region 2 disc and it said I can change the region code only 4 more times.

And , another question.....The powerbook has a DVI output that can go into my projector. So, if I play a region 2 PAL dvd in the powerbook using that VLC media player, will it display properly through my projector?


thanks

[gwsat]

As long as the problem is with a DVD you own you can remove its copy protection features and copy it to your hard drive via a process called "ripping" and play the copied version on your computer. I have done this with my 17" PowerBook and it worked well. There is freeware on the Web that will allow you to rip the disk. There is also other software that will allow you to compress the ripped files and then copy them to a DVD-R, but you have to pay for it. Of course, doing any of this would be illegal if the disk belonged to someone else.

Other than ripping the disk, which removes its copy protection features, I don't know of any way you can defeat Macrovision, which is the region code feature, on the PowerBook's DVD burner.

[CJayB]

You might try searching around www.dvdrhelp.com because they have lots of info on doing this sort of thing. With PCs there are programs you can use to defeat region codes without using up the number of times you can change the region code, and I would think something similar is available for the Mac.

[lcubed]

use the VLC program instead of the apple dvd player software.

works on other region dvds withou invoking region changes.

[babka]

what is that VLC program?

[Qwijib0]

Originally posted by babka
what is that VLC program?

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.html

[babka]

thanks.... but I have no clue what that website it saying

[Meritocracy]

Nothing to see, just download the file marked "vlc-0.7.2.dmg", and once it's decompressed, drop it in your applications folder. Now use the VLC application as opposed to Apple's DVD player. This will now allow you to view DVDs from any region without having to resort to hacking your DVD's firmware.

[babka]

It says...
Note: There is not, and there will never be, a version for Mac OS 9

But the 1.5 powerbook I have uses Mac OS 9 and it also says Max X....so Im confused if it will work.

Also, if I download the program onto a cd on my PC and then put the cd into my mac will it download? Reason is because I have no net connection with the mac yet.

And , another question.....The powerbook has a DVI output that can go into my projector. So, if I play a region 2 PAL dvd in the powerbook using that VLC media player, will it display properly through my projector?


thanks

[HumanMedia]

The Powerbook might have OS9 and OSX loaded, but which do you use?

If you are using OS9 then switch asap!

BTW There are lots of MacOS DVD Region utilities at:

http://www.wormintheapple.gr/macdvd/download.html

Im sure you will find what you are after ;-)

[Shift]

This is what I used. I know its for Windows, but see if there is one for mac or compatible.

http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/downloads/dvdrk.html

[babka]

Originally posted by Meritocracy
Nothing to see, just download the file marked "vlc-0.7.2.dmg", and once it's decompressed, drop it in your applications folder. Now use the VLC application as opposed to Apple's DVD player. This will now allow you to view DVDs from any region without having to resort to hacking your DVD's firmware.

is there a way to download this to a CD-R using my PC and then loading it to my mac laptop somehow? my laptop's modem broke and I cannot get onto the net to do a straight downlaod. thank you

[Artisn]

Can your Mac read PC format CDs?

[babka]

I dont know how can I tell? Its a 17" powerbook 1.5

[babka]

I downloaded those onto a CD-R and then inserted it into the mac laptop and it tried to read it 3 times then ejected it. So I take it that it doent . Is there something I can download or do ?

[babka]

Below is what someone told me. But how do I do format it? thanks

"It also depends on the software that burned the CD. If the PC used Windows built in burning software, there in lies your problem. If the PC used a third party burning software ie Roxio's Easy CD creator, then the fault lies in the person who burned the CD for not formatting the CD to be multi-platform compatible"

[babka]

?

[subbedout]

Your Powerbook will read CD-R written in a number of different formats, including those written by most PC CD burning software. However, typically the burning "session" for the disc on the PC must be fully "closed" - ie don't select "multisession writing", otherwise your computer might not like it.

[babka]

can you tell me how to do that? thanks

[babka]

Well, I have tried the old verson and now there is a new version of VLC and I still cannot play dvds on it. Maybe someone can help me with this and / or recommend another option? I could not find a mac compatible version on the other things mentioned above.

Its strange because the VLC program works perfectly on my PC. I changed the option on my powerbook to play dvds using VLC and not the mac dvd player.... but it does not play even though the VLC menu bar shows up. thanks

[boxedlunch]

If you have a superdrive, there's a guy who hacked the firmware and implemented region free/other features. I've used a previous version to double my burning speed without problems in my 15" Titanium PB G4. Hope this helps someone...

Linky (written out because of the spam filter & first post): superdrive cynical net.