My children received a DVD from their auntie in Australia, but it did not work in our DVD player because the disc is for a different region. My computer’s DVD drive can change its region setting, after which the disc worked — but only for a few plays. Why is this?
REH, Binbrook, Lincolnshire
The DVD drives built into computers allow only five changes of region before they lock up. It’s one of the restrictions the film studios demanded of the technology industry when the format was first devised.
One solution would be to update the software that operates the computer’s DVD drive to restore your permitted region changes back to five — contact the manufacturer for advice. A more permanent solution would be to use software such as DVDFab Passkey (free from tinyurl.com/dnwe), which should allow you to watch discs from any region even if the drive has been locked. And rest assured — the studios might not like it but what you’re doing is perfectly legal. Nigel Powell
I am suddenly unable to access scouts.org.uk on my PC. Have I inadvertently blocked it?
RG, Harrogate
Configuring web browsers to restrict access to sites is a convoluted business, and may require you to download and install (and even pay for) an add-on. Examples include k9webprotection.com, netnanny.com and familysafety.live.com.
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Let’s assume you have not done that inadvertently. Instead you might have activated Windows’s built-in Parental Controls (available in Vista and Windows 7), which can greatly restrict the websites you are able to view.
To check this, click the Start button, select Control Panel then User Accounts and Set Up Parental Controls. If asked for an administrator password, enter it, select your user account and deactivate Parental Controls.
Alternatively, your internet service provider (ISP) might be blocking access to the site, or there could be a technical fault involved. Find out via downforeveryoneorjustme.com, which does exactly what it says on the URL. If the site is down for everyone, simply trying again later might be all that is needed. If it’s reported to be down for just you, and remains down even after a reboot of your PC, get in touch with your ISP’s technical support services and ask what’s going on. Malcolm Pack
Email your tech queries to dontpanic@sunday-times.co.uk