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Replacing TM8100 DVD drive

post #1 of 28
4/24/05 at 1:19pm
Thread Starter 
After reading the comments on this forum I took the plunge and got a 8101. GREAT machine, just one problem -the DVD drive cannot be made region free, either by firmware or software such as DVD Region+ CSS Free. So it looks like Im gonna have to buy another drive to watch DVDs If anyone can help me on this I would appreciate it !

1) Are drives a standard size ?

2) Is the bezel size a consideration or is that standard ? I notice that the bezel on my drive is sloped.

2) Any suggestions on model to buy or where to buy ?

Many thanks

Keith
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post #2 of 28
4/24/05 at 2:16pm
the drive isn't sloped it's the bezel they use
and from what i see it can me removed
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post #3 of 28
4/24/05 at 3:53pm
Thread Starter 
Cheers. So all drives are a standard size, and its just a matter of replacing the bezel ?
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post #4 of 28
4/24/05 at 4:15pm
yep i am pretty sure on that.
u can take the bezel off that is what acer had told me if i wanted to replace my drive
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post #5 of 28
4/24/05 at 4:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kdowling
Cheers. So all drives are a standard size, and its just a matter of replacing the bezel ?
Yes, they are all standard size. But bezel is attached differently to different models. So while you'll be able to fit new drive into frame easily, you'll probably have to live with bezel that new drive came with.
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post #6 of 28
4/24/05 at 6:10pm
Thread Starter 
Thats just what I needed to know. Thanks guys. One more thing, where can you buy drives ? None of the usual PC suppliers I use have them. Only place i can find so far is ebay
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post #7 of 28
4/24/05 at 6:19pm
www.newegg.com has some

the nec 6500 etc
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post #8 of 28
4/24/05 at 6:45pm
Thread Starter 
thats brilliant thanks !
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post #9 of 28
4/24/05 at 8:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kdowling
Thats just what I needed to know. Thanks guys. One more thing, where can you buy drives ? None of the usual PC suppliers I use have them. Only place i can find so far is ebay
Look for drives that have regionfree firmware or work with DVD regionfree at here: http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php

Then enter the part number in google or www.pricewatch.com and you'll usually find a retailer that carries it.
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post #10 of 28
4/24/05 at 8:57pm
We cant flash the firmware to make it region free?
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post #11 of 28
4/25/05 at 12:41am
Until Acer release an updated drive firmware there won't be anything for the people who make the RPC1 versions to work from

And Acer are notorious for not releasing updates unfortunately
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post #12 of 28
4/25/05 at 3:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kdowling
After reading the comments on this forum I took the plunge and got a 8101. GREAT machine, just one problem -the DVD drive cannot be made region free, either by firmware or software such as DVD Region+ CSS Free. So it looks like Im gonna have to buy another drive to watch DVDs If anyone can help me on this I would appreciate it !

1) Are drives a standard size ?

2) Is the bezel size a consideration or is that standard ? I notice that the bezel on my drive is sloped.

2) Any suggestions on model to buy or where to buy ?

Many thanks

Keith
Hi Keith,

I myself use DVD Region+ CSS free and it works just fine. I have the dvd set as region 2, but then I have Alien quadrology bought from US and with region+ it works great.

Don't understand why you couldn't make it work?

Cheers,
Ouzo
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post #13 of 28
4/25/05 at 11:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dash
Until Acer release an updated drive firmware there won't be anything for the people who make the RPC1 versions to work from

And Acer are notorious for not releasing updates unfortunately
Acer is known to realease BIOS updates quite regularly, so the statement above (especially "notorious") is false.

Acer will not release a firmware update for DVD drive in question because they do not manufacture it. It's Matsushita/Panasonic that should issue a firmware update, if necessary. So far there are no known problems with the drive so it is unlikely that any new firmware will come out.

Sometimes, some laptop manufacturers make firmware updates for DVD drives available to end-users. That only happens if:
- the manufacturer in question received firmware update from DVD drive vendor
- the issues fixed by update are serious enough to warrant a risk of letting users reflash their drives
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post #14 of 28
4/26/05 at 10:38am
Thread Starter 
Ouzo,

What happens when you run your dvd player ? I get a prompt to change my region. Are you supposed to get this when region + is working ? I only have 2 changes left and dont want to get stuck on the wrong region.

I know my player is region free so this prompt is definately referring to the drive.

Also, if i change now, will the following change ("1 changes remaining") be my last ? Or is 0 counted ? I am currently set on R1, but want to set R2 if i cant make the drive region free

Thanks
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post #15 of 28
4/26/05 at 11:17am
if u get a new drive.. get the nec 6500 as it can support rcp on the firmware links posted above.
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post #16 of 28
4/26/05 at 11:42am
Thread Starter 
yeh i was looking at that drive after your last post. Do you know if it physically fits in the acer ?
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post #17 of 28
4/27/05 at 9:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kdowling
Ouzo,

What happens when you run your dvd player ? I get a prompt to change my region. Are you supposed to get this when region + is working ? I only have 2 changes left and dont want to get stuck on the wrong region.

I know my player is region free so this prompt is definately referring to the drive.

Also, if i change now, will the following change ("1 changes remaining") be my last ? Or is 0 counted ? I am currently set on R1, but want to set R2 if i cant make the drive region free

Thanks
Hi,

Well.. if I insert the dvd(region 1) in, it starts to play it as the normal region 2 disk. If I start dvd program, like power dvd, it starts normally. For me it works perfectly, it just fakes the region.

So everything works like I would always use region 2 dvd's, no pop up asking for region.

When it reaches zero, you can't change it anymore. So 1 means one time remaining. Though region+ free works when it has reached zero, cause it makes it region free

Cheers,
Ouzo

P.S. Region+ free makes the software region free(this is what i have understood), which I think means that it goes between dvd-player interface and dvd-drive interface and lets the drive think that it uses the same region as its configured at. If your player is already region free, don't know what is the issue.
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post #18 of 28
4/27/05 at 9:51am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ouzo
Hi,

P.S. Region+ free makes the software region free(this is what i have understood), which I think means that it goes between dvd-player interface and dvd-drive interface and lets the drive think that it uses the same region as its configured at. If your player is already region free, don't know what is the issue.
Yes i have a region free version of powerdvd. But the counter that appears is definately that of the drive.

From looking at the region + support, it appears that you have to use up your drive counter first. I cant do that now in case region + still doesnt work and i get stuck with the wrong region.

The thing it dont understand is that region + support says it does not work with panasonic drives, yet it works for you ?
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post #19 of 28
4/27/05 at 11:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kdowling
The thing it dont understand is that region + support says it does not work with panasonic drives, yet it works for you ?
My drive is 'HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GMA-4080N'. I don't know the manufacturer.. but I think its LG, or is it?

Hmm, it's really odd that it doesn't work for you.. or is it odd that it works for me? heheh...

Ouzo
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post #20 of 28
4/27/05 at 11:55am
Thread Starter 
My drive is MAHSHITA DVD-RAM UJ831S in TM 8101

Problem solved ! You got lucky. Wonder if i can ask acer to swap it ?
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