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megasad · 10:20 AM

As I understand it, all new Macs sold after February 2003 will be unable to boot into OS9.

All the DVD firmware patches, such as those found here, require that you boot into OS9 to apply them.

So, after February 2003, will it be impossible to make the DVD drive in a new Mac region free? Or will someone work out how to do it in OS X? Is it even possible to do this in X?

Thanks,
Simon

niji · Dec 5, 2002, 09:57 AM

no. yr wrong. there is a region free patch for os x. i have used it on both my iBook and Cube. sorry, cant remember from where i got it.it is called Region X and was written by xvi.

megasad · 10:21 AM

Originally posted by niji:
no. yr wrong. there is a region free patch for os x. i have used it on both my iBook and Cube. sorry, cant remember from where i got it.it is called Region X and was written by xvi.

I use Region X to change the region, reset the number of times Apple's DVD Player will let me change said region also. However, to get my drive RPC-1 in the first place, I had to boot into OS9 and apply firmware. I'm asking about the firmware. Does anyone know?

Eug · Dec 5, 2002, 10:21 AM

Of course it's possible in X, since Apple's firmware updates are X-based. Unfortunately, most hacks I've seen are 9-based as you said. Fortunately for me, my TiBook will boot into 9.

And you're right Region X does NOT help re: the firmware. If one uses a non-hacked drive too many times, it will lock forever after about 4-5 region changes.

megasad · Dec 5, 2002, 10:23 AM

Originally posted by Eug:
Of course it's possible in X, since Apple's firmware updates are X-based. Unfortunately, most hacks I've seen are 9-based as you said. Fortunately for me, my TiBook will boot into 9.

Splendid. I assumed it would be, just wanted to make sure. And so, my next question is:

Does anyone know of anyone working on OSX-native firmware patches?

Millennium · Dec 5, 2002, 11:35 AM

I do not know if anyone has actually made a firmware updater which runs natively in OSX. It can be done. However, it would require you to type your passphrase, because of Unix's security mechanisms; you wouldn't be able to update the firmware without authenticating. Other than that, it should work just as it did in OS9, once someone makes a native patch program.

wataru · Dec 5, 2002, 01:52 PM

Oh man, I hadn't thought of that.

I guess when I get a new Mac I'll also have to get a region-free set-top box.

icruise · Dec 5, 2002, 04:39 PM

Originally posted by Eug:
Of course it's possible in X, since Apple's firmware updates are X-based.

I thought that Apple's firmware updates were still OS 9 based. That's been one of the criticisms of this "no OS 9" plan.

Simon · Dec 5, 2002, 04:42 PM

Originally posted by Icruise:

I thought that Apple's firmware updates were still OS 9 based. That's been one of the criticisms of this "no OS 9" plan.

No, I just recently installed the PowerMac MDD Firmware patch and it was 100% OS X based. No OS 9 involved. I don't know why people here claim it would be such a problem to update firmware in X. It has already been done...

Oneota · Dec 5, 2002, 04:44 PM

Originally posted by Icruise:

I thought that Apple's firmware updates were still OS 9 based. That's been one of the criticisms of this "no OS 9" plan.

The recent SuperDrive firmware updates are available for both X and 9; the X versions came out first, though.

icruise · Dec 5, 2002, 04:55 PM

Interesting -- my powerbook's firmware update didn't show up in Software Update until I booted into OS 9 (which means that I didn't find out about it for months...)

Art Vandelay · Dec 5, 2002, 05:01 PM

Originally posted by Icruise:
Interesting -- my powerbook's firmware update didn't show up in Software Update until I booted into OS 9 (which means that I didn't find out about it for months...)

The firmware updates weren't OS X native until this Fall.