Do computer Blu-Ray drives have/support region codes?

[Philip Colmer]

I'm wondering if anyone knows if the Blu-Ray drives that go into computers, such as the Sony BWU-200S, either have a fixed region code, just like a standalone player, or are able to play discs from any region - or is that a function of the software player like it was with early DVD drives?

--Philip

[Doom9]

Region codes is one of those mandatory "features" that make Blu-ray such a great choice for early adopters not living in the US or Canada (sarcasm is intended here..).
However, I'd be surprised if drives had a region code hardcoded - I'd expect region codes to be handled like with RPC-2 drives (so initially you have no code set, and you have 5 changes). Unless somebody else chimes in I'll let you know how things turn out when I install my LG dual format drive.

[Philip Colmer]

I've found the following answer for the Pioneer BDC-2202 drive:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Support/BusinessProducts/Blu-rayDisc+DVDWriters/Blu-rayDiscWriters/ci.How+do+you+set+the+Region+Code+on+a+Pioneer+Model+BDC-2202.SupportFAQ/?faqListingChannel=37140c8a81ed4110VgnVCM1000002567a8c0RCRD

"How do you set the Region Code on a Pioneer Model BDC-2202?

The Blu-ray region code can be set or changed using the following steps:

1. Power up the computer system.

2. Run the WinDVD application program.

3. Press the eject button of the BDC-2202 drive and leave the tray open.

4. Right click anywhere in the WinDVD window and choose SETUP from the menu options.

5. From the SETUP menu options choose the REGION tab.

6. Make sure the CURRENT REGION drop-down has BD TITLE listed and not DVD TITLE.

7. Choose the region you want (select region A if you reside in the United States).

8. Click the OK button and then close the WinDVD application.

9. Your Pioneer drive BDC-2202 is now set to Region A and is ready to play your Blu-ray movies.

Note: Changing the Blu-ray region does not affect the DVD region."
However, the page doesn't state how many times the region can be changed. It does seem to confirm, though, that you can change it at least once, so it does suggest it doesn't matter where I source a Blu-ray drive.

--Philip

[Philip Colmer]

Hmm ... this page (http://forum.inmatrix.com/index.php?showtopic=6117) seems to suggest that the current state of drives forces region coding to be handled by the software player, thereby allowing us to switch as many times as we like, so long as the process for resetting the count can be determined and, if that page is anything to go by, it isn't too hard at the moment, but may get harder in the future.