Page 1 of ALba DVD 108 DVD-108 DVD_108 DVD108 VCD hack, multiregion, macrovision, OP PROH

I thought the more forums I get this info the quicker someone will come up with a solution or proper hack code.
Yes the Alba does seem to do everything it says and more ie multiregion out of box, DVD, VCD/SVCD as well as MP3 but it would appear that the VCD part has been most likely intentionally disabled. But there appears to be a possible way to remove this hobbling, but it will either take a lot of time or some inside info and cunning to figure it out.
Anyway other than the (goto 1 1 1 1) or (menu 1 1 1 1 play) hack as the VCD spins up,
there is a secret system menu available from which it may be possible to permanently restore the VCD player.
Press `OPEN` - press 2812 - press ENTER to access the hidden systems menu (multi-page).

Here you have access to some settings that can be changed if they got an asterisk beside them
Region Code which is set to 13 (multi) by default (also accepts 4 dig cd
OP PROH for disabling the FBI warning (also accepts 4 dig code)
Parental code as in your manual
Parental CC - dont know what this is for (also accepts 4 dig code)

Here is the hard bit I am waiting for someone to crack
Each of these can also accept a 4 digit code.
This seems to be to allow you to change the setting
I dont know what combination if any will enable VCD and or disable macrovision or FBI warning but I suspect it can.
Another forum indicated Alba support said it (VCD) could be done but wouldnt tell how.
So let me know if you have any success coming up with the right combination of 4 digit code and settings to enable any of these.

Try thr code 8926 and let us know if anything happens.

tried code 8926 without success BUT you may be on to something.
The problem is what code to enter where and how to ensure it has been accepted.. Maybe someone familiar with the the firmware would have a better idea. Itis supplied by C-Cube Beijing division. It would appear to be in several DVDs Sampa, Mico, Cyberhome etc. Alba probably rebadges some Chinese model. Earlier versions of this firmware had a Macrovision on/off on the second page. This has obviously been removed. I noted it says beta version on the firmware.
On the hidden system menu, you can change and/or enter codes for Region, Op Proh and Parental CC. I am not sure that it is just a 4 digit code that is required. I am also not sure whether you have to power off before it takes effect, but I think this may be so.
After some experimentation with your code I noted after entering it powering off the region changed to 14 on one occasion and 10 on another. A vcd briefly booted up on one occasion (also mentioned in rel to reg 14 in another forum I read) could be on right track.
Another interesting finding. Entering same numbers repeatedly in the 4 digit field had the odd effect of cycling thru other codes eg entering 9090 over and over threw up codes 5373, 7554, 8373, 8203, 6494, 8194, 6413, then eventually back to 13. Similar effects if you type 6`s, 7`s, 8`s, 9`s 79`s, 78`s etc. Could be each code relates to a particular region. Will investigate further, but if you got any other ideas or expertise, feel free to share.

Try 2918 then Enter.
It works with the Mico20 - also a C-cube chipset model
Just a thought
Images

The chipset is not relevant : Sampo`s use ESS...

The firmware code is written in the Far East somewhere and customised for the different players as there are amazing similarities between Sampo, Apex, Alba, Bush, Dansai, Mico, Magnavox and others (I`ve compared a few of them).

You could try the firmware version hacks for the Sampo DVE612 :

Firmware date : STOP ANGLE AUDIO on the remote
Firmware version : Press OPEN on the player, then 2,1,8,8 on the remote

This item was edited on Tuesday, 1st October 2002, 22:28

No response to these sequences.

I believe the chip set in the alba is the same as in the Bush 2023 and the Goodmans GDVD134. They all respond to the open tray, 2812 multiregion procedure.

At one stage the Bush helpline gave out advice on making the 2023 vcd compliant - this involved cycling through the sequence 18926, 28926 and so on to 98926. The common factor being 8926 with the prefix possibly having something to do with the region code.

Hmm..a bit of number crunching on my Cray is indicated ...!

Similarly the use of 3308xx on some players : some only need 33080 to render region-free, others need 330880.

Basically, every player`s VCD codes are likely to be slightly different, but as you say there is generally some commonality on some players, particularly with region hacks.

No surprise that there`s overlap between Bush, Alba and Goodmans as they`re all the same company, and presumably sourced from the same Far Eastern manufacturer (Alba are actually the owning company, but they don`t make any DVD players themselves - they are all outsourced)

Amazing what I`ve learned about the industry in the last 20 months, since starting http://www.area450.com :-)

Could you give a bit more detail if you have it regarding the info Bush gave out. Cycling thru the numbers is a bit vague.
I ask for anyone with knowledge of C-Cube firmware on how to go about entering the codes in the system menu as detailed earlier. I am a little concerned with experimentation in case I inadvertently change something I cant reverse because I am just guessing. C-Cube seem to be commonly used in many Chinese built DVD`s and the firmware is very similar So perhaps someone out there who speaks Chinese could trawl through the Chinese forums as this could be a possible source. Maybe even a quick email to C-Cube Beijing division. Sorry my Mandarin is not up to scratch

See here:

http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/forums/thread.asp?Forum=176&Thread=107916

For macrovision free recording just use a cheap (not fully wired) scart cable to connect to the video.