[ZZtop]

I downloaded this and updated my 2910 firmware with it. Its played two Region 2 discs fine so far. Microcosmos is a great Region 2 dvd if you can find a copy.

2910 Region Free Firmare

3910 Region Free Firmware



It recogized the cd , loaded, and flashed from reading, writing and erasing for about 30 seconds. Then I powered cycled it to load the new firmware. Woooo hoooo! Its seems to be region free now. Though I have no idea what modded version of firmware this it. I took a risk and did it anyway.


Hopefully its a modded version of the current firmware. It came from a french page, in the bottom paragraph, whose internet translation of French to English is :

The french page is here, the above firmware links are at the bottom


I make small a r�cap on the d�zonnage of these machines: For d�zonner, it is enough to: 1 to download the firmware corresponding to its reader, 2 the d�zipper 3 to engrave it with Nero (without particular adjustment) 4 to insert CD engraved in reader 5 to let the reader rewrite the firmware (writing) 6 to await jusqu'� automatic l'ouverture of drawer 7 to extinguish the reader (not with the button stand by, l'�teindre completely) 8 to relight it... it is from now on multizone, RCE included/understood. This manipulation went for my 2910. However, one finds a manipulation more complete. Jusqu'� 7 nothing changes. But from the 8 that changes: 8 to relight the reader and to close the drawer. 9 to support and maintain to support the button Play, and Forward Skip and Open during more than 3 seconds jusqu'� what "Initialized" s'affiche.


Can anyone make sense of the rest of the instructions after the first part. It sounds like a description of a number sequence on the remote control possibly?


Anyone have any idea of how to check what version the firmware is that these units ship with? and the remote codes or button sequences to discover this stuff?

Credit for the firmware discovery on that link goes to user arioch on here.


I found it at the french page he listed in a post but no one apparently had tested yet so I thought I would test it as I want a region free player and share the results with fellow avs members.


Since I know absolutely nothing about it, try it at your own risk.


The 2910 is wired for component on a large tube tv at the moment, not DVI, but all the main setup menus and options appear identical to my eye so far.

 

[Tinker]

ZZtop,


Man U got guts....hacking a brand new 2910 with unknown FW.


Hats off to u.....

 

[ZiggyB]

Quote:

Can anyone make sense of the rest of the instructions after the first part.

I think it means after restarting the player, press and keep pressed the Play, Forward Skip and Open buttons for more than 3 seconds until the word "Initialized" is displayed.


I could be wrong tho'....

 

[ZZtop]

Update:


I have been running several region 2 dvd's for the last 2 days, all settings and buttons etc appear to be just fine. Again try at your own risk, but so far so good.

 

[Dazog]

now if someone would post a 1910 firmware

 

[flydutch]

I wanted to confirm the french translation mentioned here above

I went on the french link and downloaded the exe file. It contained the firmware driver with the following instrcutions:

The instructions are as follows:


Burn file to CD then


1. Connect to display device.


2. Insert disc


3. Display will show “disc loading†then “updating flash memory“

FL display will show “writingâ€


4. After 1minute loader will open.


5. Remove disc and power off. DO NOT CLOSE TRAY


6. Power on and close loader


7. Now press and hold Play (>), Forward skip (>>I) and Open/Close for more than 3 seconds until “INITIALIZED†appears on front display.


I am looking for the way to find the firmware version.


I think the real question is if you can reapply the original firmware if you are not satisfied with the upgade. But how/whrer can you get the original firware?


Did anyone else tried in the meantime to upgrade?

 

[ZZtop]

I read on another forum earlier today where the DVI HDMI outputs don't work for the region free fix.


I have no way to test that. I hooked up a DVI computer monitor and I get an intermittent image(probably the HDCP not being present on the DVI connection, flashes on and off about every 3-5 seconds. So it will have to wait until I get my plasma back or some other person does the upgrade and posts.


Any other brave souls out there?

 

[Steve_Lazarus]

It is "Region free" over DVI, as for HDMI ??

As for it taking guts to do it, well I say fuey!! it's not a piece of eqipment that costs thousands of dollars and it's really hard to screw up the firmware install and the process is straight forward.

The only thing the firmware does is set " All Regions" to on within the players setup options which I'd love to find out how to access. The Region decoders are there but just not activated due to a worldwide DVD conspiracy, why they have to set them to area specific regions I'll never know.

If you don't need to worry about watching DVD's from other regions I say no worries and don't bother with it, but for folks that maybe moved to the states from other countries or vice versa, I say it's a great way to watch all those Area 2, 3, 4 ....DVD's thay brought with them that were rendered unwatchable on the player due to region codes or to continue to use your player in other countries such as myself without having to worry about what region it is when I buy a DVD.

Someone responded to my post calling it a crime? I say no harm, no foul. All I did was turn that option to "ON" within my DVD player, it was there already, it's not like I added anything to the player or messed with DVD codes.


If your interested in doing this I wrote up a complete guide covering the burn process and upgrade process step by step and will paste it here as well.

 

[Steve_Lazarus]

2910/3910 "Region Free" Firmware Upgrade

A must firmware upgrade for "Region Free" playback, no problems reported, please use Nero to burn file to disk (Use free trial if need be) http://www.nero.com/en/nero-prog.php

Windows software will not work. Other than that, good to go. Load it up and let it go!


2910
http://mapage.noos.fr/gbogros/d21zsavd.zip


3910
http://mapage.noos.fr/gbogros/d31zsavd.zip


Firmware Upgrade Procedures:


** Be Careful updating your firmware, it is recommended that you have this done by a qualified Denon technician**


Burn the D21 or 31*.cfw data files to a standard data CD-R at the SLOWEST possible speed supported

by your CD writer (e.g. 4x or 8x).


Burning to disk using Nero:


1. After starting Nero close the default wizard, which will lead you straight to the main burning menu. The program will work in demo/trial mode.


2. Cancel the “New Compilation†screen which enables you to choose what kind of CD you wish to burn.


3. Go to “file†and choose “Burn Imageâ€


4. Find the previously downloaded Firmware Update file on your Hard Disk (.cfw file). Select it, click on “Open". Recommend saving to your desktop or familiar location for easy access.


5. Be sure to have the "Disk At Once" and "Finalize CD" boxes checked before starting the burn.


6. Insert the CD-R/RW disc into appropriate drive and wait for the onscreen information if the CD-R/RW disk to be written if it has not been inserted prior to this point and complete burning process.

Once burning is complete move on to upgrade procedures below.



*(Reference to power on/off refers to actual power button, not illuminated stand-by button).*


1) Turn on the power. Open the disc tray and load the CD-R/RW disc.


2) Press "OPEN/CLOSE" button.


3) The following indications appear on the FL display: "CLOSE"-"LOADING"-"WRITING"-COMPLETE" Takes approximatley 45 seconds so don't get concerned that it's taking to long.


4) On "COMPLETE", the disc tray will open. Turn off the power.


5) While holding the "PLAY" and "OPEN/CLOSE" buttons on the unit down simultaneously, turn on the power of the unit. The FL display indicates the Play and Pause symbols. To close the disc tray press "OPEN/CLOSE" again.


6) Initialization: Turn off the power, and then turn on again while holding the "SKIP FORWARD" (>>|) and "PLAY" (> ) buttons simultaneously. Right after you turn power on press the "OPEN/CLOSE" button for approx. 3 seconds (make sure you press the open/close button before the 2910/3910 leaves the display field). Continue holding all buttons until the display reads "INITIALIZE".


NOTE:

If "INITIALIZE" is not displayed on the first attempt, press SKIP FORWARD and PLAY simultaneously

followed by OPEN/CLOSE for more than 3 seconds again. Repeat this procedure until successful.

 

[pnichols]

.............. "I say it's a great way to watch all those Area 2, 3, 4 ....DVD's"


It'd be worth it alone just so I could pick up and enjoy that great Japanese Superbit version of Jurassic Park, finally!

 

[ZZtop]

Quote:

Originally posted by Steve_Lazarus That's correct, no Region free over DVI/HDMI, the post was mine and Region free applies only to the component output due to HDCP. As for it taking guts to do it, well I say fuey!! it's not a piece of eqipment that costs thousands of dollars and it's really hard to screw up the firmware install and the process is straight forward. The only thing the firmware does is set " All Regions" to on within the players setup options which I'd love to find out how to access. The Region decoders are there but just not activated due to a worldwide DVD conspiracy, why they have to set them to area specific regions I'll never know. If you don't need to worry about watching DVD's from other regions I say no worries and don't bother with it, but for folks that maybe moved to the states from other countries or vice versa, I say it's a great way to watch all those Area 2, 3, 4 ....DVD's thay brought with them that were rendered unwatchable on the player due to region codes or to continue to use your player in other countries such as myself without having to worry about what region it is when I buy a DVD. Someone responded to my post calling it a crime? I say no harm, no foul. All I did was turn that option to "ON" within my DVD player, it was there already, it's not like I added anything to the player or messed with DVD codes. If your interested in doing this I wrote up a complete guide covering the burn process and upgrade process step by step and will paste it here as well.

Steve:


The post I read was somone else's , not yours. Also let's not forget to credit the french page I listed and pulled the firmware links from, at the top post I started the thread with. Also AVS forum member arioch for telling us about it, his was the first post linking to the new firmware on here about it I think.


I don't see it in your post above but if you know or come across the the actual firmware source or author we can list/thank that site/person also to be fair.

 

[flydutch]

The french site also reported that the firmware came from Denon there were it says "it's not a patch but a firmware".


Any word if this is really true????

 

[laurie]

What about RCE disc will they play also

cheers laurie

 

[SkAkE]

Quote:

Originally posted by laurie What about RCE disc will they play also cheers laurie

Yes. I got a region2 DVD-2910 that I updated with the firmware. Now I can play all my DVDs including the RCE protected region XXX (Vin Diesel in Triple-X). Tried reg1, reg2, reg3, RCE-reg1 and DVD-audio - no problem.

 

[ZZtop]

Several people are asking around the board , YES it does play PAL discs. I haved a small box of them so far, not a single glitch.


They were in a shoebox grabbed in bargain bins or online purchases that were never clear I was getting a non-region-1 disc. I must admit its great to just put them in and have them play no muss, no fuss as the saying goes. Navigators/Menus all come right up.



I am discovering alot of region 2 discs have cheesy navigators.


Btw, Amazon.UK sells and ships dvd to the U.S fairly cheaply, I have done it several times, they ship immediately so you almost really don't even know it came from overseas.


One set of dvd's came in 5 business days.


Quite a few tv series and movies have been released 6 months or more in advance over there.


However, be careful, some of the tv series being brought to dvd overseas (Region 2 usually) are a group of episodes and not an entire season or even 1/2 a season on a single package. They seem cheaper, but to assemble a season you need to buy more separate purchases.


For example, the Six Million Dollar, and the Bionic Woman were both released over there quite a long time ago, but you only get 3-4 episdoes per disc per package. Several people I know love to cherry pick bargains from dvd sellers over there or off Ebay U.S.A.

 

[Steve_Lazarus]

*Updated*


Firmware is Region free over DVI, still looking for someone using HDMI to verify it's region free as well... Please remember to stop the player and hit NTSC/PAL button on your remote after updating and inserting an Area 2,3,4 region disk. It will black screen at first, stop disk hit NTSC/PAL button on remote and play. Should be good to go.....


*This is not new firmware* Just erroneously passed information due to lack of testing, feedback and language barriers. I guess the French come in handy every now and then! Just kidding !!!

 

[echnaton]

Thanks Steve! This is great news. I am ready to order my 3910

 

[jens]

Thanks Steve!

It works - I just updated my US player with the software (Denon 3910) and it works perfectly.

It works with my Panny DVI input like a charm (720p and 1080i). No side effects whatsoever.

RCE (Bad Boys 2) works as well without any problems.

Burning the software though gave me some headaches - burning it with nero works but tells you that it is an unknown format. After you have burned it with Nero, Windows XP won't even recognize that there is a file on the CD. It tells you that it is empty (which it is obviously not).

Other than that it worked exactly like you described.


Now I am going out there and buy an new Denon receiver with loudspeakers and I will get rid of my Bose LS 28


Jens

 

[Steve_Lazarus]

Quote:

Burning the software though gave me some headaches - burning it with nero works but tells you that it is an unknown format. After you have burned it with Nero, Windows XP won't even recognize that there is a file on the CD. It tells you that it is empty (which it is obviously not).

Micro$oft $oftware should be avoided, you can't use it to copy/burn the file to disk either.. Glad to hear it you got it going !!!!


Quote:

Thanks Steve! This is great news. I am ready to order my 3910

Your going to love that 3910 !!! especially on the audio side, if your main purpose is video I would recommend the 2910 as they are basically the same...But I almost bought the 3910 anyway just because it looks like a monster !!! Cheers

 

[EL]

jens,

could you check the firmware of your modified 3910 and post the result here?


thanks.