Macintosh

Region Free Macbook

October 6th 2007, 04:10pm

One of my biggest gripes when I got my Macbook was the region locked DVD drive.

Today, it is locked no more! :D :D :D

When I got the Macbook it seemed not just that there was no firmware hack, but that it would be impossible to generate one for these drives. This thread charts the unravelling of the saga, and the breakthrough achieved by Ben11.

If you’ve got a Macbook (Pro) and want to give it a try, there’s a decent article at
powerbook-fr.com but please note, interrupting a firmware update will brick your DVD drive and this is not covered by the warranty, Applecare or no.

Running DVD Info before and after will be informative.

  • http://lonelocust.com Lone Locust

    If this works, it is a happy day indeed!

  • http://lonelocust.com gridman

    If this works, it is a happy day indeed!

  • http://www.littlestorping.co.uk Simon

    It’s worked for me, but my heart was in my mouth. Fortunately I’d already read that the firmware flasher sticks (temporarily) at 60% and 90% so I managed to stay calm.

    Still get angry that Matsushita go out of their way to cripple their products, but it’s fantastic to have such a huge upgrade to the functionality of my Macbook, for free!

  • http://www.littlestorping.co.uk Simon

    It’s worked for me, but my heart was in my mouth. Fortunately I’d already read that the firmware flasher sticks (temporarily) at 60% and 90% so I managed to stay calm.

    Still get angry that Matsushita go out of their way to cripple their products, but it’s fantastic to have such a huge upgrade to the functionality of my Macbook, for free!

  • http://www.littlestorping.co.uk Simon

    It’s worked for me, but my heart was in my mouth. Fortunately I’d already read that the firmware flasher sticks (temporarily) at 60% and 90% so I managed to stay calm.

    Still get angry that Matsushita go out of their way to cripple their products, but it’s fantastic to have such a huge upgrade to the functionality of my Macbook, for free!

  • http://lonelocust.com Lone Locust

    Your Macbook is newer than mine. Which model DVD-ROM was in there, the UJ-857?

    The info I read on those pages seems to say that mine will be a UJ-815, but the DVD Info program says it’s an UJ-857 – but my Macbook is certainly the first generation.

    Worries me a little bit when I have conflicting information.

  • http://lonelocust.com Lone Locust

    Your Macbook is newer than mine. Which model DVD-ROM was in there, the UJ-857?

    The info I read on those pages seems to say that mine will be a UJ-815, but the DVD Info program says it’s an UJ-857 – but my Macbook is certainly the first generation.

    Worries me a little bit when I have conflicting information.

  • http://lonelocust.com gridman

    Your Macbook is newer than mine. Which model DVD-ROM was in there, the UJ-857?

    The info I read on those pages seems to say that mine will be a UJ-815, but the DVD Info program says it’s an UJ-857 – but my Macbook is certainly the first generation.

    Worries me a little bit when I have conflicting information.

  • http://www.littlestorping.co.uk Simon

    Mine’s a UJ-857D, the firmware is KBVB (after the recent upgrade through software update). It’s stayed KBVB after the hack.

    I got worried because the first thread I read here I misread and started out looking for Macbook Pro firmware. Luckily I worked that one out before I did anything stupid.

    With regard to what’s in your machine, if DVD Info agrees with the System Profiler, it’s probably a UJ-857, but if you’re not sure don’t touch it. I’m sure you won’t, but I had to tell myself a number of times earlier, it can’t be said too often!

  • http://www.littlestorping.co.uk Simon

    Mine’s a UJ-857D, the firmware is KBVB (after the recent upgrade through software update). It’s stayed KBVB after the hack.

    I got worried because the first thread I read here I misread and started out looking for Macbook Pro firmware. Luckily I worked that one out before I did anything stupid.

    With regard to what’s in your machine, if DVD Info agrees with the System Profiler, it’s probably a UJ-857, but if you’re not sure don’t touch it. I’m sure you won’t, but I had to tell myself a number of times earlier, it can’t be said too often!

  • http://www.littlestorping.co.uk Simon

    Mine’s a UJ-857D, the firmware is KBVB (after the recent upgrade through software update). It’s stayed KBVB after the hack.

    I got worried because the first thread I read here I misread and started out looking for Macbook Pro firmware. Luckily I worked that one out before I did anything stupid.

    With regard to what’s in your machine, if DVD Info agrees with the System Profiler, it’s probably a UJ-857, but if you’re not sure don’t touch it. I’m sure you won’t, but I had to tell myself a number of times earlier, it can’t be said too often!

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