My LG BP120 bluray model plays some PAL region 2 DVDs, but not others?

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parvati

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#240984 5-Oct-2018 11:58

Hi everyone,

My LG BP120 bluray player says on the back of the model that it is a region 4 player - however, it is able to play NTSC region 1 DVDs as well as PAL region 4 DVDs - and *some* PAL region 2 DVDs. I'm very confused as to why some of these PAL region 2 DVDs work, and others don't. If this player truly is a strictly region 4 player, I shouldn't be able to watch NTSC region 1 DVDs, or any PAL region 2 DVDs - at least, that's what the LG support team told me when I contacted them. They said it shouldn't be possible, but I have tested many different DVDs in my machine, and so far, all the PAL region 4 DVDs have worked, the NTSC region 1 DVD has worked (only have 1 to test), and about half of the PAL region 2 DVDs have worked, and the others have not.

Does anyone know why this might be happening? I would also love to be able to watch *all* of my PAL region 2 DVDs. I've been doing a lot of research online, and have come across some 'hacks' that supposedly unlock the player's region. However, I'm worried that if I try doing that, I would mess up my machine and lose any ability to watch these other region DVDs.

Hopefully this makes sense! I've been googling this all morning and I feel like the more I read, the more confused I get! Hoping someone here might be able to explain things to me better

afe66

3181 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2102103 5-Oct-2018 12:26

What happens if you try playing those DVDs on PC.
Some DVD say the are a certain region but are all regions.

parvati

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2102104 5-Oct-2018 12:31

I've taken a photo of the PAL region 2 DVDs that work, and the PAL region 2 DVDs that don't work. I can't see any discernable difference in the DVD information on the back, but I'm hoping someone else can!

PAL region 2 DVDs that work:

PAL region 2 DVDs that don't work:

parvati

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2102107 5-Oct-2018 12:37

afe66: What happens if you try playing those DVDs on PC.
Some DVD say the are a certain region but are all regions.

Okay, so I just tried two of the PAL region 2 DVDs in my laptop, and the DVDs that works on my player also worked in my PC, but the one that doesn't work on my player didn't work. Do you think that might mean that some of the PAL region 2 DVDs I own are actually all region DVDs? Why wouldn't they just say they were all region DVDs? I'm wondering how I can tell, because the info on the backs of the DVDs look very similar! It would make purchasing these DVDs very difficult too

robjg63

4096 posts

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#2102111 5-Oct-2018 13:00

You wont be able to make the blu-ray playback region free - but the DVD part of it might be possible:

http://www.fixya.com/support/t13298383-lg_bp120_unlock_region_code

EDIT: PS Dont try downloading firmware for it unless you are prepared to potentially fry it.

Most region disabling is entering a 'secret' unlock code and will either work - or not.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Behodar

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#2102156 5-Oct-2018 13:31

parvati:

I've taken a photo of the PAL region 2 DVDs that work, and the PAL region 2 DVDs that don't work. I can't see any discernable difference in the DVD information on the back, but I'm hoping someone else can!

Many region 2 DVDs are actually coded for both 2 and 4, even if the packaging only says 2. However, some are indeed only region 2. I suspect that that's the issue you're running into.

parvati

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2102189 5-Oct-2018 14:28

robjg63:

You wont be able to make the blu-ray playback region free - but the DVD part of it might be possible:

http://www.fixya.com/support/t13298383-lg_bp120_unlock_region_code

EDIT: PS Dont try downloading firmware for it unless you are prepared to potentially fry it.

Most region disabling is entering a 'secret' unlock code and will either work - or not.

Thought it sounded a bit like a roll of the dice - thank you for the heads up!

parvati

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2102192 5-Oct-2018 14:30

Behodar:

parvati:

I've taken a photo of the PAL region 2 DVDs that work, and the PAL region 2 DVDs that don't work. I can't see any discernable difference in the DVD information on the back, but I'm hoping someone else can!

Many region 2 DVDs are actually coded for both 2 and 4, even if the packaging only says 2. However, some are indeed only region 2. I suspect that that's the issue you're running into.

Ahh, I see. That is so bizarre, and very annoying! I do also have DVDs that say they are both region 2 and 4, even 2, 4 and 5. I wish the region 2 DVDs that actually are coded for other regions as well were *all* marked, it would definitely make things easier D:

So I suppose there's not much I can do about playing the PAL region 2 DVDs that don't currently work, other than buy a new/another player?

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Behodar

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#2102195 5-Oct-2018 14:31

parvati: Ahh, I see. That is so bizarre, and very annoying! I do also have DVDs that say they are both region 2 and 4, even 2, 4 and 5. I wish the region 2 DVDs that actually are coded for other regions as well were *all* marked, it would definitely make things easier D:

Yes, but you can't expect logic from movie companies :)

The worst I've seen is a Blu-ray in my collection which is locked to region A despite being region-free on the packaging.

parvati

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2102196 5-Oct-2018 14:33

Behodar:

parvati: Ahh, I see. That is so bizarre, and very annoying! I do also have DVDs that say they are both region 2 and 4, even 2, 4 and 5. I wish the region 2 DVDs that actually are coded for other regions as well were *all* marked, it would definitely make things easier D:

Yes, but you can't expect logic from movie companies :)

The worst I've seen is a Blu-ray in my collection which is locked to region A despite being region-free on the packaging.

That would be much more annoying, since that really is false advertising :/

parvati

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2102233 5-Oct-2018 15:52

Okay, so now I've gone through more of my DVD collection, and some of the NTSC Region 1 DVDs won't play, either - but some of them do. This really does seem to be purely random - or am I missing something? Surely the region codes can't be wrong on all the discs that do work?

Also, speaking of Bluray discs now, my player says it is a region B player, and yet I've just tried a region A bluray which played fine.

Why is my Bluray player so confusing??