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For Windows, DVD Genie is the answer for most software solutions, including the popular WinDVD, and PowerDVD, and Remote Selector does the same for the Sigma Designs Hollywood Plus (aka VideoLogic DVD Player), and Creative's DXR2/3 amongst other hardware decoders.

I've used both with great results playing Region 1 disks on my (theoretically) Region 2 PCs.

I think the big international media companies are much more worried about Region 1 films reaching other regions of the world prior to their offiial release.

For what it's worth, I play DVDs -- and video cassettes -- produced and distributed in Hungary, and elsewhere in Europe, all the time, with no trouble. I have a dedicated Win98 box attached to my multisystem (NTSC/PAL/SECAM) TV. With Remote Selector I've never had trouble playing Hungarian and other Region 2 discs on my nominally Region 1 DVD-ROM drive. (They do come out in PAL though I'm not aware of any reason why the player couldn't show them in NTSC).

I think region coding is basically a waste of time on the part of DVD manufacturers; eventually it will be dropped entirely. I'm looking forward to that day...

Kiscica

A DVD-ROM drive and Remote Selector let me do this very thing right now. I don't see as there's so much newsworthy about it...

The DXR3 card has a Video Out port right on it, so it's perfect for plugging into your VCR if you're into that sort of thing.

Here is a nice little tool for the Dxr2 and others.

Add to this the idiocy of the BBFC: they demand that SUPPLEMENTS on DVDs, such as outtakes and making of documentaries, need a BBFC certficate in order to pass, henceforth the DVD producer has to submit that material and a fee to the BBFC. This is supposedly one of the reasons Criterion doesn't release their discs in the UK.

Add to this that it is not technically illegal to chip, modify, or hack a DVD player to play all Region discs - but it is illegal for a store clerk to suggest to you how to do it or provide help with it. All European DVD players can play NTSC or PAL - and several have super easy hacks to defeat the coding, such as a combination to put in the remote. Search the web and thou shalt find...

Now it gets even weirder. Some DVDs in the UK are released as anamorphic (enhanced for widescreen TVs) when they aren't in the U.S. because of wider market penetration of widescreen TVs in Europe.

Region Coding is extremely defeatable. I recommend heartily anyone with a Windoze system to watch DVDs on to use the Creative Labs DXR3 kit - a DVD drive, and a dedicated decoder board ready for 5.1 surround sound for 150 - 200 US dollars. Go to This site and download a 500 k app that lets you defeat region coding piece o cake. Basically, for about 150 dollars for DXR3, 300 dollars for my Videologic 5.1 surround kit, and a simple app I have a region free DVD player routed to my 16x9 capable television.

I buy some Region DVDs of movies that haven't been released here in the U.K. because a) I'm an American, moving back to America in a year, and I want DVDs that will work there b) American DVDs tend to have more supplements and c) A movie in Central London will litearally cost you 20$ for a decent seat. This way I can watch a movie without a dim projector bulb and crappy reel changes and some idiot's mobile phone going off while they're talking during the movie.

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I do not believe region coding is the issue. That part of the DVD world was 'cracked' long ago by such utils as Remote Selector -- and on top of that their are companies that will take your component DVD player and replace the firmware with a chip that does the same as well as to disable Macrovision to allow copying to VHS tapes or whatever media.

-dave zoji@please.dont.spam.me.at.unif.com

Actually you can get a remote for the PC based DVD kits. Go to the Remote Selector site. Works great, not only does it allow you to use a remote, but it also removes macrovision, lets you change regions an infinite number of times and switch between PAL and NTSC.