It seems that some people are having success with AnyDVD with Matshita drives, and some aren't, but without any obvious reasons. (See also the forums on rpc1.com.) Does anyone know why sometimes AndDVD works with these drives, and sometimes not? I tried AnyDVD on my UJ-812 (all the new Sony Vaio S-series in the UK have them), but without success.

Are there any Slysoft moves to fully support these drives? Kudos to any app which manages it. AnyDVD seems like a nice app (I don't have that "shit what the heck is it doing to my computer" feeling) - I only wish it worked on my notebook.

Dave

AnyDVD works with Matsushita (Panasonic) drives, as long as:

1.) The drive is set to a specific region code. If your drive isn't, set your preferred region.
2.) CSS protected discs match this region

AnyDVD does not allow you with Matsushita (Panasonic) drives to watch or copy a CSS protected disc, which has a different region then the drive, unless you have a patched firmware. (AnyDVD allows this with every other drive)

The reason is rather simple:

MMC standard requires, that a drive should not reveal a title key on a region mismatched CSS protected disc. (It should return "Illegal request - region code does not match"). Some drives are even less restrictive and even give you the title key on region mismatch.
But AnyDVD can usually reveal the title key with a brute force attack, as long as the drive allows you to read the scrambled sectors.
Matsushita (Panasonic) drives do not! You CANNOT read the scrambled data, if the region code doesn't match.
No other drive behaves this way, only Matsushita (Panasonic) drives do, as the standard does not require a drive to not reveal the protected data on region mismatch, but Matsushita (Panasonic) drives are more restrictive as they need to be.

There is nothing AnyDVD, DVDDecrypter, or any other software can do about this. Sorry.

Solution: Set the drive to a region, and only use matching discs. AnyDVD will remove CSS/Macrovision/Adverts/User prohibitions/forced subtitles/FBI warnings/... no problem.

It cannot bypass region codes with Matsushita (Panasonic) drives.

I hope this answers your question.

Slysoft Team Member is absolutely right. (As usually). I have the same DVD drive and managed to solve the "compatibility problem" of Matsushita and AnyDVD. As Slysoft specialist mentioned it, you have to set the region code of your drive, doing that your AnyDVD will work and perfectly well. I have been using AnyDVD for almost a year and without any problems.

Good luck.

"AnyDVD does not allow you with Matsushita (Panasonic) drives to watch or copy a CSS protected disc, which has a different region then the drive, unless you have a patched firmware."

Hello,
I think I've missed something here . I'm trying to find out whether I can download a programme allowing me to watch Region 1, 5 or whatever DVDs on my Matshita DVD reader. Anyone know if it is possible?
Thanks

Sorry,
Signature with details missing, oops.

"It cannot bypass region codes with Matsushita (Panasonic) drives."
...
"There is nothing AnyDVD, DVDDecrypter, or any other software can do about this."

However, what happens after 5 region changes (ie if you use DVDs from both the US and Australia as I do) your Matshita will be locked to one region only, and then that is all you can play on it. I solved the Matshita UJ820s problem by getting an Imation external USB DVD/CDRW. Was cheaper solution than taking the matshita out.

I think you made the only and right decision. No other way to solve your problem.

I'm a forum novice, sorry for any lack of decorum. The comments on this topic are very helpful but they're several months old. Have there been any advances in region code get arounds with Matshita drives? I have a UJ 840D new vaio laptop, I watch mostly region 1 and 2 dvds, and I don't really want to buy an external dvd drive if I don't have to. :-(

Cheers for any help.

John

Vaio VGN-FS660_W
Intel Pent. M
795 MHz
1GB RAM
DVD COMBO Drive Matshita UJ 840D
XP SP2

To my best knowledge there is no any development in this respect.

Thanks for the feedback. Last year d'Az wrote:

"AnyDVD does not allow you with Matsushita (Panasonic) drives to watch or copy a CSS protected disc, which has a different region then the drive, unless you have a patched firmware."

Has anyone had success installing patched firmware to get around the region code problem? If so, could you point me in the right direction where to find the correct firmware and what to be cautious of. Sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm very keen have this dvd drive work and not have to replace it.

Cheers!

Vaio VGN-FS660_W
Intel Pent. M
795 MHz
1GB RAM
DVD COMBO Drive Matshita UJ 840D
XP SP2

hi......i have a toshiba ps25-s509 with a matshita dvd-ram uj-811 drive version h100...i haven't had any problems using anydvd with my laptop...the only thing i haven't been able too do is update my firmware....as of yet there isn't an update........

While we're at it, I am looking for a region free firmware for Matsushita DVD-RAM UJ-845S. Thank you!

Hi Olli,

I see you're in Switzerland. Me too! Drop me a line at email@email.com see if we can work a way around these damn Matshita drives together!

Cheers,
John

jklep
I would edit my post if you still can (time limit) and remove your email address, you're just asking for loads of spam and whatever else.

Ask Olli to PM you would be we wiser.

Unfortunately I think it's too late to delete my email but thanks for the tip.

i've removed your email address for you.

Thanks for removing the email address, may save him/her some surprises down the road.

I have an Acer 5004w...
Had the same problem as everbody else in this thread.
Installed DVDIdpro and no more problem. Now DVD shrink works with no problems.
A cheap solutions even if you buy the program. Or u can download i on DC++

Hi da leader,
I'm having similar problems like everyone else. I want to try DVDIdpro, but the website www.dvdidpro.com is dead.
Any idea where I can get a copy?
Thanks

If it works, it does not mean that it makes the Matsushita drive region free. See the post of James from Slysoft for an explanation. It is applicable to DVDIdPro as well.

@spikesclone,
Although this thread is 5 months old, I've posted the link for DVDInfoPro you're seeking.
Scroll down to the DVDInfopro Advert (free) link and download that one.
Although it indicates an unstable release (beta), you should have no problems with it.
Besides, you have no choice, they don't offer the previous stable version 4.36 for download.

http://www.dvd-recordable.org/wwwimg...opro/index.htm

I recently bought an Acer TravelMate 2318 but with Matsushita UJ-840D

Ive got DVDShrink / CloneDVD / DVDDecrypter / NERO 7,

But I use DVDRegion-Free which seems to play all regions fine.

Kozna,

Have you put original DVDs in your drive? If the answer is affirmative:
Can you please check the drive with Nero InfoTool ("DVD Features" > "Changes left by user, vendor") and post a screenshot?

I wondered if this thread had any further conclusions. My drive is stuck in region 3. An absolute pain. There has to be something to upgrade or change my firmware to reset.

Help!