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Vista Won't Play With Old DVD Drives

Posted by Zonk on from the taking-their-ball-and-going-home dept.

tlhIngan writes "From a developer's blog, Windows Vista will no longer support DVD-ROM drives that do not handle region coding in hardware (RPC1 drives) - thus preventing playback of DVDs that are region/CSS encoded with those drives. Not a big problem, as RPC1 drives haven't been officially manufactured since 2000 (and Microsoft claims their drives are all broken), but for those with hacked drives (RPC2 with RPC1 firmware), or move the RPC1 drive to new computers, well, no more DVD movies for you!"

22 of 726 comments (clear)

  1. Who has to use Vista? by pesc · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...but for those with hacked drives (RPC2 with RPC1 firmware), or move the RPC1 drive to new computers, well, no more DVD movies for you!

    Funny reasoning!

    So why do you think you have to use Vista?
    Or if you think you need to upgrade your OS, why don't you consider Linux which I'm sure offers a better DVD watching experience than Vista on that hardware?

    --

    )9TSS
    1. Re:Who has to use Vista? by SillyNickName4me · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Because Linux isn't exactly known for being user friendly, especially in the desktop market.

      'User friendly'...

      Some people call a system user friendly when it is easy for an unexperienced user to access the functionality they want.

      The problem is that this almost always gets in the way for those who are more experienced users. It does this in many ways, for example by hiding or simply lacking more complex functionality, addressing the user as if (s)he is stupid etc.

      In most cases, you start out without experience, after some use you gain experience, and after some more time, you can be said to be a somewhat experienced user. This last phase lasts substantially longer then the 'unexperienced user' phase.

      Hence, reasoning that a system that caters to unexperienced users is 'user friendly' is stupid.

      Call such a system 'easy accessable' or something else that points at the fact that you need little experience for using it, but don't say it is friendly to the user because for most users it is the opposite.

      Ah, but most people do not use their computers enough to ever become an experienced user? True if you talk about 'consumers', but then, thats true for most tech markets that happen to include normal consumers. THere is 'pro' and consumer grade audio equipment, video equipment etc etc. Professional video equipment has a lot more functionality and quality then consumer grade equipment, and usually combines it with a more powerfull interface, putting more power in the hands of the editor. It can only do that if that interface is also 'friendly' to that editor, else it will just be confusing and get in the way.

      The same really applies to software on 'general purpose' computers, and it is your choice if you want to act as a 'low grade' consumer or as a (semi) professional. Stop thinking this has anythign to do with one being more 'user friendly' then the other however.

  2. ...so what? by Paul+Bristow · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I never installed XP at home, and don't miss it. I'm certainly not going to install Vista anywhere.

    Besides, the easy way to watch DVDs on crippled OS's like Windows is to rip it and re-record it without region codes, or no-skip flags. It makes a backup of your DVD and you can watch it anywhere.

    Happy New Year!

    --
    - Paul
  3. ..and then they wonder why people pirate.. by takochan · · Score: 4, Insightful

    In other words, people who have bought legitimate DVDs now cannot play them (BTW, buying DVDs from a different region is still legimate and not illegal, even if the DVD marketeers don't really like it).

    So now I guess everyone in the 'wrong region' will then have to get their movies from bittorrent instead.. yet another instance where big media and big software companies push their legimate customers to "piracy". That's brilliant...

    1)shut out legitimate DVD purchases
    2)push them to bitorrent
    3)????
    4)more profit?!?

    Gotta wonder about some of these companies...

    1. Re:..and then they wonder why people pirate.. by Max+von+H. · · Score: 5, Insightful

      BTW, buying DVDs from a different region is still legimate and not illegal, even if the DVD marketeers don't really like it.

      Good point. I live in a country (Switzerland) where the MPAA has little to no influence and in which I regularly rent zone 1, 2 or 5 DVD at the local videoclub and have been doing so for the past 4 or 5 years and my DVD player (panasonic) was zone-free when I bought it (like all DVD players sold here).

      DVD region coding is probably the stupidest ploy against consumers, especially at a time in which people can and do travel extensively around the world. Heck, you travel with your laptop and can't play a DVD you've rented once on the other side of the big pond? WTF? What's next, not being able to play media files if you're more than half a mile from home?

      All these measures only lead to what's now uncorrectly called "piracy", because we want to be able to do whatever pleases us with the hardware and software WE PAID FOR, not just what we're allowed by some paranoid Hollywood coke-head lawyers. No matter what's said in their illegal EULAs (well, they're not legal here), once I've bought something it's my absolute right to do whatever I want with it as long as it remains a private matter, period.

      Btw, downloading or copying stuff isn't piracy, it's not like we're robbing anyone, physically stealing property. The media industry hates us because of their so-called "loss of REVENUE", which IMHO may set a dangerous precedent. I mean, if they get their way, what's to stop them from litigating with anyone who simply doesn't buy their stuff?

      "Hey, your shopping decisions harm our business! Stop buying from the competition right away, or else!"

      --
      -- It's always darker before it goes pitch black.
    2. Re:..and then they wonder why people pirate.. by rolfwind · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Btw, downloading or copying stuff isn't piracy, it's not like we're robbing anyone, physically stealing property. The media industry hates us because of their so-called "loss of REVENUE", which IMHO may set a dangerous precedent. I mean, if they get their way, what's to stop them from litigating with anyone who simply doesn't buy their stuff?


      You are right. It's not outright theft, but it's copyright infringement. Making it sound like a-okay for all sides is not particularly good (or sympathetic for our side) in economies where what a reasonable portion of the population do for a living is producing the intangible - movies, cds, writing software, research......

      A copyright is selfexplanatory in its name, because theoretically gives the owner sole the sole right to copy (and distribute). This is given by society so that, in theory, works would be shared. Of course, in exchange for this (society's) protection and recognizing that much of who we are is influenced by previous public domain (Disney - see Grimm Brothers) works, copyrights were to expire in a somewhat timely manner (that part got totally perverted) and those works go into public domain.

      In America, at least, I would surmise you would be infringing under that right when you make a copy (downloaded or not - like borrowed from a friend) on your harddrive of something you don't legitimately have. Legitimate back-ups should be covered under Fair-Use (downloading songs from CDs you own would be legal too, thought the distributor is in a gray area......)

      In any case, it's not that I agree with Mega-corps - they perverted the system far too much in their own greed so that much of their current woe I view as justified payback.

      But then, I don't really sympathize with the downloaders - it's a type of complete selfishness in it's own way and the mega-corps only really lose if people lose interest in their wares completely and move onto other avenues of entertainment (perhaps going to a local band's concert). Even if their stuff is downloaded for free, the big corps gain (retain) the image of being the only game in town for musicians and other entertainers - ie mindshare. OTOH, if their wares were to become ignored, they would shrivel up and die....
  4. Message to MS + studios: it's our hardware by Morgaine · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Message to Microsoft, and to the content providers:

    1) Our PC hardware is our private property, fully bought and paid for by us. Our PCs are not just a rented delivery platform which can rightly be controlled by you.

    2) The operating system that we run on our PC hardware has the purpose of making our hardware do whatever *WE* want *OUR* hardware to do, and not merely what *YOU* would like *OUR* hardware to do.

    If you want a fully controlled delivery platform doing whatever you desire and no more, then set up a subsidized leasing business and we'll rent the content delivery platform from you, at a cost far below the cost of private PC purchase.

    In the meantime, our hardware is ours to do with as we please.

    --
    "The question of whether machines can think is no more interesting than [] whether submarines can swim" - Dijkstra
  5. Re:Message to MS + studios: it's our hardware by bani · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You're shouting at the wrong people. You should be shouting at your elected representatives (DMCA, etc).

  6. So what? by Hakubi_Washu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Install an operating system that does make your hardware do whatever you want! Microsoft is under no duty to make the system you wish for, they just make one they believe sells best, but it's up to you to decide whether you want to buy it or not...

  7. Fine by LividBlivet · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "well, no more DVD movies for you!" Ha. Well MS, no more money for you! Really, what incentive is there to *achem* upgrade to Vista anyway? 95/98 over W3.1 I get (pain in the ass as it was) ME over 98 ? no fsking way NT over 98 ? not for home use tnx 2k over 98 I get (glad I did) XP over 2k ? I can live without the eye candy Vista over 2k ? take your Trusted Computing and DRM and put it where the sun don't shine thank you very much. Until 64bit apps are the norm and force me to upgrade (like 32/16 with w2k) I can't see buying into this endless upgrade cycle.

  8. This topic isn't important by putko · · Score: 3, Insightful

    If you read the article, you'll see that any DVD hardware you'd likely use would have the region-coding in it. Or you get a de-regionalized one from Sony.

    This just doesn't look important for the vast majority of Slashdot readers.

    --
    http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_law/when_to_s tone_your_children/dt21_18a.html
  9. Price Gouging - DRM by evanism · · Score: 5, Insightful

    When will our governments, and consumers, realise that regionalisation is nothing more than a mechanism of creating continental price disparity and deliberate market manipulation? It has nothing to do with "costs" but maximising profits by restricting parallel imports. It does nothing for quality, or support....

    Consumers should respond by simply not buying anything which is deliberately designed to support a cartel. They are only ripping themselves off (The Matrix: US $9.95... Aust $19.48)

    Combined with DRM, how many months will we wait after the release of a fully DRM'ed Vista with hardware support before a company threatens its users with an OFF switch unless they pay their $2 per month DVD hardware "licencing" fee, or your CPU/RAM/HDD monthly "licencing" fee?

    Refuse to pay? OFF.

    --
    Just bought a new quantum computer, but I'm uncertain how it works.
  10. what's the point ? by drownie · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Every true pirate will just download the movie and keep it on his harddrive ... and how is this going to help against copied dvds with the correct region code ?

    --
    *an infinite number of monkeys wrote this sig
  11. Because people REALLY want to know... by NZheretic · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Asking Intel Because people REALLY want to know...

    llegal drugs are at least a big of a problem as copyright violation in the world today. In fact many of the artists promoted by Hollywood and the American recording industry include many positive drug related references in their scripts and lyrics. So the question is : Would you endorse forced illicit drug testing for all artists, actors and executives involved in content production?

    Over 11,000 people die in America each year at the hands of gun violence. The USA has the highest murder rate in the developed world. So the question is : Would you endorse taking away the legal capability of all Americans to bare arms?

    In the USA there are over 12,000 speeding-related traffic deaths per year. The technological capability exists to install a "governor" in every new automobile which would deny the driver the ability to exceed the speed limit. So the question is : Would you endorse restricting access to roads and highways to only vehicles that have such a speed restriction system installed?

    ( If the questioned person says yes to any of the above then pass the quote along to the Hollywood/recording/NRA/automobile media, bloggers and lobby groups etc)

    Spam advertising and spyware has become a major problem for computer users. The DRM capability that Intel is offering to content providers would also be available to those wanting to abuse those same user restrictions. Intel is effectively offering the ability to hide malicious content or deny access to content needed to gather evidence for the basis of a complaint. So the question becomes: Why are you offering up this ability to content providers when it denies the owners of the computer the ability to protect themselves?

    Whether it is a war on drugs, gun, or road crime restrictive and technological solutions that lock the end users out of the ability to make personal decisions perform actions are effectively a fundamental violation of a person's civil rights, even if taking that action could violate the law of the land.

    Even though illicit drug consumption is against the law, wholesale drug testing would be seen as a violation of a persons right to privacy. In fact most American courts would not accept evidence gathered though such an action.

    Even though gun related crime is a major problem, taking away the right for any citizens to bare arms would leave them at risk from criminals who would ignore the law as a matter of course.

    Even though speeding is a major problem, there are cases it is needed for safety. Overtaking vehicles may require the driver to exceed the speed limit to safely avoid oncoming traffic. Also there are rare cases, such as transporting someone requiring urgent medical treatment, where the even the courts have found that exceeding the speed limit was preferable to the affected person's demise.

    While making a copy of copyrighted content may seem trivial in comparison to the examples in the above three paragraphs, remember that Intel along with Adobe and Microsoft is talking of offering this same DRM technology for business, legal and even governmental documents. The ability to blow the whistle on suspect dealings, and pass copies along to the press and even authorities, may be severely restricted in the future.

    So the final question to everybody has become: Why should the consumers and citizens have to put up with DRM restrictions on their general purpose computers that they own?

    1. Re:Because people REALLY want to know... by Justin205 · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Even though gun related crime is a major problem, taking away the right for any citizens to bare arms would leave them at risk from criminals who would ignore the law as a matter of course.

      Do you really feel safe carrying a gun around? What happens if you do get robbed? Would you give the criminal what they want to avoid bloodshed, or would you pull your gun out and either shoot them or end up being shot yourself?

      If you don't get robbed, do you really want the temptation to be there to act on a whim and kill someone because you were angry? Would you want the chance a kid or teenager to find that gun and kill someone? Do you really want the chance of an accident happening, and the gun going off and killing yourself or another person?

      The only way to avoid gun violence is to not have guns, at all in a society. The way to limit gun violence is to have less guns in a society. And that doesn't mean 'less in the hands of the criminals'. It means less, period. In anyone's hands.

      Sorry, but a gun doesn't make anyone safe.
      --
      "Your effort to remain what you are is what limits you."
  12. Re:Why by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Personally, I'm already using Linux exclusively as a desktop on my new system. Why? No, I'm not just posting this to tout linux(Suse 10 is pretty damn slick though), but when I went to install Windows XP-64 on my system, it requires a ***FLOPPY*** disk in order to supply drivers for my SATA drive. My system doesn't have a floppy drive. WTF!? It's the year 2006, and a 64bit operating system that was released what, 4 months ago, requires a god damned floppy drive to install it? WTF is that about?

    True, I could go out and buy a floppy drive, or pull a floppy drive from another system, but is that reasonable in this day and age? WTF happened to "it just works"? No it don't.

    It seems like there's always some stupid fucking annoyance whenever I try to deal with Windows. People bitching about having to drop to a command line, shit. Get back to me when you have to rip apart two computers and swap ancient ass hardware you have no intention of using, just to get the operating system to install.

    Yeah, I can't wait for vista. God only knows what the fuck weird problem I'm going to run into. If I was inclined to paranoia, I'd think the Windows team is able to look into the future and discern what hardware combination I'm going to buy, so they can engineer Windows to work for everyone else smoothly, but require some asinine step from me just to piss me off. /end ranting, whining, bitching, and moaning.

  13. Re:Why? by Dion · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Well, let's wait and see, there is no telling what will be in Vista or when it will ship.

    MS has pulled the "Wait for us, we're the leader"-stunt many times and I for one refuse to get suckered in by it any more. ... I was looking forward to NT5 back in '95, but it turned out didn't ship until 2000 (as w2k) eventhough MS has promised that it would be out the same time as w95.

    I'll belive in the features of Windows Vista when I see it running on a machine, not a minute sooner.

    --
    -- To dream a dream is grand, but to live it is divine. -- Leto ][
  14. Re:Why by Dion · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The drive is not involved in region coding when the player does DeCSS in software in stead of cooperating with the drive about it, so all you need to do is use a user-loyal player in stead of a broken one.

    --
    -- To dream a dream is grand, but to live it is divine. -- Leto ][
  15. Re:Why by aussie_a · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I know Vista just keeps giving me more and more reason to overcome my difficulties with Linux. I want a computer that does what I want. Not some piece of DRM'd-up-the-wazzoo shit. (As an Australian I really dislike region coding).

  16. Who is going to notice? by Sloppy · · Score: 3, Insightful
    People who run Windows == People who bought a new computer with Windows preloaded.

    Hardly anybody installs Windows. Yeah, I'm sure there are Slashdotters out there who are exceptions. "I have a kickass machine but sometimes I need to need to test my software under Windows, yadda yadda." But that's what you are: exceptions. "Normal" people who run Windows, run it on the hardware that it came with. They also call the "e" icon on their desktop "the internet" and they call their Dell PocketPC their "palm pilot." Yes, really.

    --
    As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
  17. Re:Why by gscrivano · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Who needs Vista? I have no problems and no limitations with my GNU/Linux. I can change all the hardware I want with small changes to the configuration and not getting a broken system when I add/replace something.

  18. Re:Why by chasingporsches · · Score: 3, Insightful

    IIRC, apple patented "it just works" technology, leaving all other software and hardware companies with "it might just work... maybe." technology, hence your floppy problem (and yes, i am referring to your computer disk drive, not something that can be cured with medicine). microsoft quickly grabbed that patent up though, so linux users are left with "g-d damnit, i'll hack this til it works" technology.