--- Forwarded Message from Duncan Charters <[log in to unmask]> ---

>In-Reply-To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2004 22:12:15 -0600
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum
<[log in to unmask]>
>From: Duncan Charters <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: #7435.2 Where is region info stored? (!)

I needed to ask questions about region issues when Apple replaced just
about everything in my 1999 G3 bronze keyboard Powerbook, one of the first
machines to have a optional DVD module.  At that time, the DVD player was
definitely not software-driven only, so that explains any references to
hardware and the recent one to firmware on this list.  However, my
understanding is that Apple modified the DVD system to make it completely
software-driven not long afterwards, so I thought it had been software
driven for a few years.  At one time I would get messages warning about
changing the DVD code when I was using only region 1 discs.  I was told by
Apple to click "change to region 1" anyway and it wouldn't use up my 5
code-changes.  There have been other interesting issues along the way until
now.  The old DVD player wouldn't work for anyone under OS X, for instance.
When Apple upgraded everything for me, the one thing that still didn't work
was the DVD player.  The final time (all for no additional cost,
fortunately), they got it to run perfectly under OS X 10.3 (Panther) but
they didn't want to say what the problem was or how they resolved it (the
Apple Store techs couldn't).  Which leads to their final advice about
region codes.  I was told that one thing not widely known is that you just
have to reinstall the DVD software and you can start all over again.
That's a simple procedure once you have it set up, and doesn't involve
installing a whole new system.  That's not an official answer, and doesn't
deal with any ethical issues about code-changing, just what they do when
someone has the problem of region-code lock-ups.  It doesn't sound like you
could do any damage to the hardware this way, but that's just my experience
and perhaps there was a firmware issue as referred to on some earlier
models.

Dr. Duncan Charters
Professor, Language Department
Principia College, Elsah, IL 62028-9799
Telephone: (618) 374-5252    Fax: (618) 374-5465
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>