UK DVDs on North American laptop computer

Subject: BS: UK DVDs on North American laptop compute
From: CET
Date: 24 Dec 12 - 10:26 AM

I know this will reveal me for the technopeasant that I am, but here goes. Will a region 2 DVD play on a North American laptop? Does the type of computer or the operating system make a difference?

Subject: RE: BS: UK DVDs on North American laptop compute
From: nickp
Date: 24 Dec 12 - 10:37 AM

There'll be more technical folks around than me who may prove me wrong but...

Computer dvd players tend to be switchable - but only a few times. If it is 'region free' (region 0) you can probably play it without that being a problem. Depends how it was created as to whether you might have to find a way to skip round the menu.

Subject: RE: BS: UK DVDs on North American laptop compute
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Dec 12 - 10:43 AM

http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/articles/region.html

Subject: RE: BS: UK DVDs on North American laptop compute
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Dec 12 - 12:07 PM

Don't change the setting on your DVD player, it can only be changed a few times and then it's stuck in the last position. Instead, find a region free DVD player (they're easy to find these days and are comparable in price to regular players) or get a program that converts it. Here is one that costs $40 after a 30-day free trial.

Here is the search on DVD region free converter software so you can read up about it.

Here is a discussion of ways to convert the signal. I wouldn't recommend trying to change the code on your particular Region 1 player. In my experience that doesn't work

SRS

Subject: RE: UK DVDs on North American laptop computer
From: CET
Date: 24 Dec 12 - 03:09 PM

Thanks all. I have my answer. I didn't think Mudcat would fail me.

Subject: RE: UK DVDs on North American laptop computer
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 24 Dec 12 - 04:36 PM

I can play region 1 or 2 on my PC I'm sure most have this facility.

Dave H

Subject: RE: UK DVDs on North American laptop computer
From: Maryrrf
Date: 24 Dec 12 - 05:35 PM

I have received several DVDs from the UK and they played fine on my laptop - I didn't need to make any adjustments.

Subject: RE: UK DVDs on North American laptop computer
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Dec 12 - 01:20 AM

Computers may have flexibility now that stand-alone DVD players don't. As long as you're not changing your DVD settings on your computer you should be okay.

SRS

Subject: RE: UK DVDs on North American laptop computer
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Dec 12 - 11:53 AM

Today I managed to link my Samsung BluRay player that is hardwired to my router to handshake with the computer. Now I can watch video from my main computer in the kitchen on that linked older computer (they're both Win7) or in the living room through the BluRay player. It required downloading a Samsung Share Manager and allowing it to see the files, then setting it to act through the computer, and setting up Windows Media Player to give that device access to the computer.

All of that said, there are (I'll test it later) European DVDs that may be loadable, if not viewable, on US computers but that won't play in DVD players. I can either play them or get a converter program to load other region DVDs and then send them through to the big television in the front room via my router.

SRS