Amazing Region Free tool for ltd-165 and 163!

[cfitz]

Okay, I got a chance to move my 166S to another computer, this one a system running Windows 98 natively rather than Windows 2000 with the Windows 98 Compatibility Layer. CDVDInfo Version 1.3.5 crashed and burned with an access violation - I didn't bother to investigate why - but Drive Region Info V2.2 continued to report that the drive was region locked. So I ran Rpcde once more, this time on the native Windows 98 machine. Rpcde again reported success, but in addition the drive spun a bit during the update. Viola, the drive now is reported as being region free on both Windows 98 and 2000!

My conclusion that Rpcde doesn't work on Windows 2000, even with the Windows 98 compatibility layer enabled. More specifically, it doesn't work on Windows 2000 Server with SP3.

So, Sakajuia, I would suggest that if you are running Windows 2000 you try what I did. Temporarily transfer the drive to a native Windows 98 or ME machine and run Rpcde there.

cfitz

[mrk1283]

I'm getting a 166s soon and have downloaded this tool, lots of poeple on xp sp1 and 2k have reported problems with the tool so ill have to disable rpc on another machine running windows me/98 even if it means using a 2nd hd and installing win98 :/

ahh well long as it works, looking forward to this drive, heard great things

[dimitri]

Sorry to interrupt here in the middle guys but I strongly advise NOT to have any cd in the drive when running rpcde (or a full flash).
I don't say it sure to get you in trouble but you greatly increase the chances of something going wrong.

Should the system try to address the cd at the exact moment that rpcde tries to write to the firmware - it's a no no situ.

As I said before, rpcde has worked successfully for many running xp and 2k. Some people are not so lucky and are having problems. Rpcde was obviously not design for those os's and that's why the compatibility mode is a minimum must. A 32 bit aspi layer is also a must. Try to look for other factors addressing the ide/ata controllers. E.g do you have IAA (Intel Aplication Accelerator) installed? Try different DMA settings as well. Anything installed or indigenous to do with burning can have an adverse effect too.

I'm handicapped here because I run W98 and ltd 163 so I can't join the experimentation. I can only go by the many emails I'm receiving, and by research.

good luck

[cfitz]

Sorry to interrupt here in the middle guys but I strongly advise NOT to have any cd in the drive when running rpcde (or a full flash).
I don't say it sure to get you in trouble but you greatly increase the chances of something going wrong.

Should the system try to address the cd at the exact moment that rpcde tries to write to the firmware - it's a no no situ.

Hey, don't be sorry for that. If having a DVD in the drive is a known bad move then people should be warned. As I noted in my original post, I only had it in there by accident, and didn't intend it to be there. I have edited my post appropriately.

As I said before, rpcde has worked successfully for many running xp and 2k. Some people are not so lucky and are having problems. Rpcde was obviously not design for those os's and that's why the compatibility mode is a minimum must. A 32 bit aspi layer is also a must. Try to look for other factors addressing the ide/ata controllers. E.g do you have IAA (Intel Aplication Accelerator) installed? Try different DMA settings as well. Anything installed or indigenous to do with burning can have an adverse effect too.

Windows 2000 in general doesn't allow application level software to directly access hardware, which may be what Rpcde is trying to do and why it didn't work for me, even with the Windows 98 Compatibility Layer enabled. If some people have reported success on 2000, I wonder if they were using 2000 Professional rather than Server. Maybe 2000 Professional, since it is designed for desktop use, allows more access to the hardware. This is just speculation, since I haven't tried Rpcde on 2000 Professional.

As for your suggestions, it isn't any of those, at least not in my case. I've got the most stable ASPI version installed - 4.60. I don't have IAA installed. I tried both DMA and PIO transfer modes. I tried both the latest Microsoft and VIA IDE Bus Mastering drivers. And while I have Nero installed, I don't have any of the constantly active components installed - neither Image Drive nor InCD is installed. Heck, I even removed the Adaptec/Roxio plugin from WMP. Also, although you didn't mention this as a possibility, I ran Rpcde as an administrator with full system rights. I do appreciate your suggestions, though, and I really appreciate the efforts you have made to provide a great site for LiteOn DVD firmware and region-free tools.

There is a chance that some trick could make Rpcde work for everyone under XP/2000. However, if anyone is having trouble getting it to work under XP/2000, I would suggest the easiest solution, if available to that person, is to temporarily install the drive in a native 98/ME system and run Rpcde there.

cfitz

[europanorama]

Posted: Thu Jan 01, 1970 10:00 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes it works with the Ltd166s too!

No it does not work. I have tried it more than once and it does not work. I tried to flash it as well and that too does not work. Everything you have advised to others does not appear to work with my Lite-On DVD 166s. Their are two types. DSOB and DSOF. I have the DSOB. I have downloaded this EXE utility from your site (links) and they say that I have the most recent update. I again flash the drive and reboot but nothing happens. Still region 4.


CHECK THIS SITE PRECISELY AND IT WILL WORK:

http://kickme.to/digitri


Sakajuia

sakajuia@netscape.net

[cfitz]

CHECK THIS SITE PRECISELY AND IT WILL WORK:

http://kickme.to/digitri

Thanks europanorama, but we all know about that site already. That is where we started. It is Dimitri's site, as listed in his signature and as repeated by mike_s104 and now also by you. I'm not trying to be rude, but we really don't need to told yet again about Dimitri's site.

More importantly, did you have success running Rpcde under Windows 2000? If so, could you please supply details of your configuration? For example, Server versus Professional, service pack level, IDE configuration, etc.

cfitz

[mrk1283]

Ive installed aspi 4.6 using force aspi a while ago today and its installed perfectly as the proggy loads as it should and all progs i have that used aspi before load just fine (clonyxxl, cdrwin, cdex) and nero tool detects windows system aspi as installed and functioning. Now just gotta wait for the dvd drive

[cfitz]

Let us know how you make out when the drive does arrive and try Rpcde. The more data points we can get with using Rpcde on XP or 2000, the better we will be able to understand its capabilities and limitations.

cfitz

[skinfreak]

I dunno if was a fluke, but I got it workin wiht Spider-Man R1 and then swapped back and forth between that and an R2 disc yesterday...but now i cannot seem to do it...I'm puzzled. As of right now, I cannot get it to work under Win XP.

Anyone else out there know of a region free patch? Is anyone developing one?

SF

[skinfreak]

Ummm...I am an ARSE!!! I got it working fine now...all ya have to do is SELECT the DVD drive...! All this time I've been making my CDRW RPC free....DOH!!

The util works fine in Win XP Pro with a 166 and DVD Genie. Official!

SF

[project ek]

Sorry to interrupt here in the middle guys but I strongly advise NOT to have any cd in the drive when running rpcde (or a full flash).
I don't say it sure to get you in trouble but you greatly increase the chances of something going wrong.

Should the system try to address the cd at the exact moment that rpcde tries to write to the firmware - it's a no no situ.

What is the worst that can happen if you use rcpde or flash your firmware while a disc is in the drive?

[dhc014]

That is just where his redirect points to. Use his official URLs...

[project ek]

bump

can someone please answer my question from a few posts back?

thanks

[europanorama]

CHECK THIS SITE PRECISELY AND IT WILL WORK:

http://kickme.to/digitri

Thanks europanorama, but we all know about that site already. That is where we started. It is Dimitri's site, as listed in his signature and as repeated by mike_s104 and now also by you. I'm not trying to be rude, but we really don't need to told yet again about Dimitri's site.

More importantly, did you have success running Rpcde under Windows 2000? If so, could you please supply details of your configuration? For example, Server versus Professional, service pack level, IDE configuration, etc.

cfitz

i was landing here accidentally because this dvd 165h had troubles reading cd-r-multisession. i did excessive tests and the solution was: never burn data directly from a multissssion cd. always copy it to hdd. - i have not yet experience using dvd-disks.regional code etc is new to me and i have no time at the moment checking all these thing, but later i will. i mentioned dimitris site again because i checked the questions and our friends repeatedly asked questions which are very precisely described there. tip: download all programs and instructions and study it, first. after checking alll options come here and ask.- i have helped a poor guy in nyc who had motherboard or other problems for weeks. only with checking all details we come to a finish. i fix pcs professionally.

[cfitz]

tip: download all programs and instructions and study it, first. after checking alll options come here and ask

Well, I won't argue with that advice in general. Although in this specific case I have precisely studied and followed the directions. The directions don't always work, because the people writing the directions can't be expected to anticipate every possible hardware/software combination that is out there. But, yes, I am all for reading the directions carefully and following them precisely before calling for help.

cfitz

[europanorama]

CHECK THIS SITE PRECISELY AND IT WILL WORK:

http://kickme.to/digitri

Thanks europanorama, but we all know about that site already. That is where we started. It is Dimitri's site, as listed in his signature and as repeated by mike_s104 and now also by you. I'm not trying to be rude, but we really don't need to told yet again about Dimitri's site.

More importantly, did you have success running Rpcde under Windows 2000? If so, could you please supply details of your configuration? For example, Server versus Professional, service pack level, IDE configuration, etc.

cfitz

sorry i made a mistake when quoting.
as to the win2k test: i have a brand new pentium 4 with wrk professional (cairo, unattended, does not ask for kex at setup), i will change this at next setup. this p4 has dvd-drive(JLMS LTD-165H WITH FIRMWARE VCHOQ(DO NOT REMEMEMBER IF ITS THE ACTUAL ONE. PLS TELL ME) , and i have a win98se-,pentium 1 , both machines are from customer but i know i can handle them.

i have 4 cdr-RW-burners(lite-on ltr-12101B((12/10/32)(winme)(NERO 5049 -ricoh mp 7200A(20/10/40(NERO 5523) and twice cyberdrive CW-078D(40x10x48x)(NERO 5581)BOTH BRAND NEW,

I HAVE 2 DVD-DRIVES 1. THE ABOVE MENTIONED JLMS LTD-165h(LITEON 1/48) has CAV-NEW 2. LG-DRD 8080B-( has slower CLV)8/40.(TESTED OK)


i want to test the free-regional-code now, today. but i need precise help, pls send email,
NOW TO THE TESTING: I MUST DO THIS TODAY . I NEED PRECISE HELP AND ALTERNATIVE LINKS FOR DOWNLOADING(IF THE ONE YOU GIVE IS DOWN.

I WILL BURN THE DVD-SOFTWARE-GAMES OR WHATEVER TO CD.
1. WHERE CAN I SEE THE ACTUAL FIRMWARE?
2. BURNING PROCEDURE. I KNOW SOME SITES TO DOWNLOAD.I HAVE GHOST, NERO,ISOBUSTER, CLONE

3. PRECISE PRODECURE AND REASON WHY I MUST DO THIS PRECEDURE. IF ITS NOT PRECISE I MUST INTERRUPT BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME LEFT FOR ASKING QUESTIONS AT THE MOMENT..

[cfitz]

Sorry europanorama, I don't think I will be able to help, given your limited time constraints, because I'm not even sure exactly what it is you are asking for. But let me offer this little bit in the hope that it helps some:

1. If you are trying to run a test of Rpcde under Windows 2000 just for the sake of contributing to this thread, then don't! At least, don't do it under the circumstances you are facing: limited time and on a customer's machine. While your desire to contribute is appreciated, we wouldn't want you to cause your or your customer trouble just for the sake of adding some information here.

2. If you are trying to run Rpcde because your really need to make the LiteOn DVD region free (e.g. your customer requires it), then simply follow the directions as clearly spelled out in Dimitri's web site. His instructions are very good and quite explicit. You already know the address, and can find several mirrors listed in Dimitri's signature at the end of any of his posts here. Note that Dimitri's site will only help you with the LiteOn 165H because it is for LiteOn drives only. Also, if you have a choice I would suggest making the 165H region free in the Windows 98 box, for the reasons I described in my earlier post.

3. You won't need to burn the tools on Dimitri's site to CD. They are small enough to easily fit on a floppy.

cfitz

[europanorama]

i do not have problems executing dimitries hints, my problem is:
i need informations about 1. which game or film or whatever -dvd i should test, link to that program to download. exact description what i should crack. i have regional code 2.
2. how do i burn this dvd to cd.

if someone can help me giving links i wil do this tonight on my different machines win98se, winme and w2k. i will procede this dvd-test on the machine(p4-w2k) i will have to reformat anyhow. (i must make imaging-tests-imaging windows-partition and ghosting(mirroring) it back.

maybe i will buy a second harddrive.

[europanorama]

the constellation of my pc-setup with different drives(i have 2 identical new burners plus a different dvd is perfect to test the free-regional-code-testing. it will never again be like this. so pls help now.

[cfitz]

You need to get an actual region 1, 3, 4, 5, or 6 DVD for the ultimate test to see if your region 2 drive has been made region free. You can't copy a DVD to CD in the manner you are considering.

However, for the purpose of testing Dimitri's procedures, you don't need to go that far. The CDVDInfo and Drive Region Info utilities to which he links will tell you if the drive has been made region free.

By the way, region codes only apply to video discs, not data discs.

cfitz

[europanorama]

yes of course. i just mixed something because i thought about copying a vcd instead. my friend did make one which plays only 60 secs. something went wrong.

but this is described elsewhere. i will study dvd-copying.
instead of difficult downloading a complete dvd i would instead rent one. is the code written on dvds?

[cfitz]

Yes, renting or borrowing a DVD disc would be a fine plan. The region code should be marked on the DVD sleeve or the disc itself, looking something like this for region 1:



The above image is from http://www.fourmilab.ch/documents/dvdregion/ , which has a some background explanation of the region code system. It also talks about disabling region protection in Windows 98. I don't know if that still has relevance or not. To tell you the truth, I've never even seen the reported Microsoft DVD player.

cfitz

[Nat]

Hi folks,

I've just tried rpcde on my liteon 166s (JLMS XJ-HD166S DSOF) and it failed. I think the problem is pretty obvious though - raid controllers confuse rpcde and prevent correct communication via the aspi layer. Its seems to be a common factor amongst people who are having trouble patching under XP at least.

In my case, when rpcde is run win98 mode it only see's drives on the highpoint controller and in normal xp mode it sees only the atapi devices but doesn't patch.

I tried it on another XP SP1 machine in win98 mode (without a raid controller) and it also failed due to an unknown aspi problem (adaptec 4.71). Very odd.

I'm loading win98 onto an old machine to unlock my drive in a moment and I just dropped by to see if anyone had found a solution... Everything will go fine on a bog standard machine running win98, fingers crossed

Edit: I'm going to use forceaspi instead. Excellent page Digitri - thank you!

[cfitz]

I think the problem is pretty obvious though - raid controllers confuse rpcde and prevent correct communication via the aspi layer.

That was a good observation, and at first I thought you were on to something. I have a raid controller on the computer that gave me trouble. But now I think the cause is something else, at least on Windows 2000.

Based on your observation, I put my 166S into a different Windows 2000 system that doesn't have a RAID controller (it is a plain-Jane Dell Optiplex). Happily, I was able to use Rpcde to switch region locking on and off with no problems. I was about to congratulate you, but decided to do one further test.

I had noticed that the Windows 98 emulation layer wasn't a choice on the second "good" machine, so I had to use Windows 95 emulation. On the original "bad" machine where I couldn't get Rpcde to work both emulation layers were listed. One other major difference between the two machines is that the "bad" machine was running SP3, while the "good" one was only running SP2. So I upgraded the "good" machine to SP3 as well.

The result? The erstwhile "good" computer now lists both 95 and 98 emulation layers, but Rpcde doesn't work anymore (with either emulation selected).

Summary: Rpcde never worked on machine 1 that always had SP3 installed. Rpcde worked on machine 2 when SP2 was installed, but stopped working when SP3 was installed. My conclusion? Rpcde doesn't work on Windows 2000 SP3. The service pack level is the key.

cfitz

<edit>The bug in Rpcde that was causing this problem has been fixed. See http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=8158 </edit>

[Nat]

I used forceaspi to revert to 4.60 on my main rig with the RAID controller without much hope of success, but lo-and-behold it worked... Assuming you used the same ASPI version in your tests, it seems there are a number of factors: External ASPI revision and native NT5.x driver revision. RAID controllers also appear to somewhat complicate the issue.

Thanks for the reply