<p>I have some DVDs from Germany that I want to play here in the States.</p>
<p>The DVD-player hooked up to my TV tells me the DVD is from the Wrong Region.</p>
<p>My computer DVD-player tells me I can change the setting to play the DVD, but I can only change it a certain number of times before the change becomes permanent. I don’t want to risk ending up permanently with the wrong region selection.</p>
<p>Any suggestions?</p>
<p>You can try to “unlock” your DVD player. I’ve never done this, but I know people who did - try to Google it (you need to know the brand and the model)</p>
<p>If this is a one-time thing for you, you can just watch the DVDs on your computer. It can reset the region 5 times (the 5th setting will stay, though I am pretty sure you can reset it to its original setting even then…) But for one time viewing, I’d just use the computer. You will not have any problem resetting it back when you try to watch an American movie in the future.</p>
<p>If you will be playing German DVDs often, get a DVD player that can handle mulitiple formats including PAL, like one of these:</p>
<p>[PHILIPS</a> - All Region Hi-Def 1080p Up-Converting Multi Region DVD Player with USB. Plays PAL/NTSC DVDs(Model DVP5990)](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/PHILIPS-Region-Up-Converting-DVP5990-Remote/dp/B001TLLXCI/ref=pd_cp_e_3]PHILIPS”>http://www.amazon.com/PHILIPS-Region-Up-Converting-DVP5990-Remote/dp/B001TLLXCI/ref=pd_cp_e_3)</p>
<p>Thanks BunsenBurner, the price certainly looks right on that model.</p>
<p>German television uses the PAL (phase alternating line) system. It is not the same as the US/Canadian NTSC system. Your computer can make the translation but with the 5 region change limit. Your DVD player needs to be able to play PAL discs. Many of the old APEX players can play PAL system discs to US TV sets. I have an old Pioneer DVD player that can start a PAL disc but the picture can’t be synced and will roll continuously and the picture is in black and white. My cheapo Apex AD-1600 (under $50 that I bought years ago plays back PAL discs with no problem).</p>
<p>You’ll probably have to do a search to find a list of DVD players that can handle PAL.</p>
<p>The catch on laptops is that odd number of region changes which will leave you eventually stuck in the other region. I invested in a cheap player that will play multiple regions.</p>
<p>I recently unlocked the region code on my DVD player as it was region 4 and I buy a lot of DVDs from the US. I just Googled “unlock region code” and the brand and model number of the DVD player. The search result said to turn on the DVD player, open the disk drive, press pause, 0000, pause on the remote control and turn the player off. Apparently the code varies for different brands and models. Anyway, it worked and my DVD player now plays DVDs from all regions! Be careful if your DVD player is still under warranty though, as unlocking the region code may void the warranty.</p>
<p>Buy the cheapest DVD you can get.
Go on the interent and look up the code for your specific make and model.
You will be able to unlock it so it plays all regions. No need to unlock just one ;)</p>