You should be able to change it with Windows Explorer.

It seems I am having the same problem as most in this thread.

But one question that wasn't answered completely was the issue
of patching the Matshita Firmware.

I am not sure if the above mentioned "feature" of the Mathita Drive which compromises AnyDVDs efforts is implemented Hardware or Firmware.

If this is Firmware-related there should hopefully be a patch available somewhere. So I would be gratefull for any Information on this.

@DetroidBaseball
I don't understand what you mean with Windows Explorer.
It may be possible to change the Region Code of a DVD Drive as long as it hasn't reached its limits, but after that it should be locked inside the DVD-Drive to my knowledge.

Programs like DVD-Genie reset the Firmware at "Windows-Level".
At "Firmware-Level" the only way I know to reset the Firmware is
patching it.

With most DVD-Drives it will suffice to patch the Drive with the "official" firmware I think. This should reset the counter and again let you change the Region Code a few times.

"unofficial" firmware may be able to remove the Region Protection from a DVD-Drive. The original firmware version has to match perfectly with the one mentioned in the installation instructions of the "unofficial" one. In the end its at the drives owners Risk to use such patches. It may cause a change in the drives behaviour up to total disfunction if the firmware was bad or something went wrong.

If I said something wrong please correct me.

Thanks

No. To buy a different drive is the only solution (and make sure never to buy a Matsushita drive again. And let the maker of your Notebook / Computer know, that you will never buy a Laptop with a Matsushita drive again.)

@ Elfwyn and Vespasian,

Welcome to the Forum,

Perhaps it would be beneficial if you read the Matshita / Matsushita / Panasonic thread at The Firmware Page Forum. This should provide detail information concerning the problem of making Matshita / Matsushita / Panasonic Drives RPC1 (Region Free) ->

http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?t=34750

I believe SlySoft (James) in his posting #2 in this thread explains exactly what the problem is with Matshita / Matsushita / Panasonic Drives.

The remedy for you is to replace your Matshita / Matsushita / Panasonic Drive with a DVD Burner that doesn’t have the RPC2 (Region Locked) restrictions of Matshita / Matsushita / Panasonic Drives.

There are numerous quality DVD Burners that don’t have the RPC2 (Region Locked) restrictions of Matshita / Matsushita / Panasonic Drives. If perchance your Matshita / Matsushita / Panasonic Drives is in a Laptop NoteBook Computer there are also numerous quality DVD SlimLine replacement DVD Burners that will slip into a Laptop NoteBook Computer. Replacing a DVD Burner even in a Laptop NoteBook Computer isn’t that difficult of a task.

Suggest visiting the CD Freaks DVD Burner Forum (http://club.cdfreaks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=61) and do some research on a replacement for your Matshita / Matsushita / Panasonic DVD Burner. Both Pioneer and NEC make quality DVD Burners that have RCP1 (Region Free) Firmwares available that that will replace your Matshita / Matsushita / Panasonic DVD Burner.

Regards,
bjkg