New issue on SDH-400 - some DVDs won't play

[Mikeyis4dcats]

Hi all,

I received Running with Scissors and Stranger than Fiction from Netflix, and neither will play on my Toshiba. Both are Sony Entertainment discs, so i wonder if there is some sort of copy protection flubbing it up.

It plays all my other DVDs just fine...

Anyone run into this?

[ashu]

Do they play in other players?
Your PC?

They may be badly scratched!

I never had an issue, but then again, I hardly ever used my SDH400 for DVD playback!

[Mikeyis4dcats]

Do they play in other players?
Your PC?

They may be badly scratched!

I never had an issue, but then again, I hardly ever used my SDH400 for DVD playback!

they play in my PC. Both came to me on the day of release, so they are BRAND new discs.

[STC]

I have the exact same issue w/ my SD-H400. I was also thinking it was because of the new sony encrypton.

[Flathed]

I'm new to the Tivo lifestyle and just got a SD-H400. I know this model is a few years old, has a simular DVD compatability issue come up before that Tivo fixed with a simple software update? Would they bother with an older receiver?

[Jobius]

I have the Humax TiVo/DVD, not the Toshiba, but I had problems with some discs refusing to play. It started out with some home-burned discs not playing, but about a month ago, it was refusing to play 3 out of 4 rented movies.

I ended up replacing the DVD drive, and the problems went away. FWIW, I tried the Stranger than Fiction disc I just received from Netflix, and it plays fine.

[fatbastard]

Wife just picked up a movie, Casino Royal and it won't play the movie but it will play the extras disc. It is also a Sony Entertainment disc I beleive. Played in the laptop no probs so it si defiantely tivo.

[scissors]

I am having the same problem with my Pioneer 810H. It won't play sony movies and one from Lionsgate. I've tried six different discs so it's not a scratched disc. You might try reporting the problem to Sony from the Casino Royale web page. I reported it to Sony and they asked for the serial number on the inside ring of the movie and the model of my machine. They seem interested in figuring this out--someday.

[briandsloan]

I'm glad I ran across this forum.

I thought my Tivo SD-H400 was broken. I played about one movie a week, and when I popped in Stranger Than Fiction, it didn't work. I thought, "Uh Oh."

I then popped in Zoom, and that one gave me the same problem. I was starting to get worried.

I tried cleaning the DVD player with a CD cleaner, and I could hear the music and voice on the CD just fine, but when I popped back in those two DVDs, nothing worked.

I then ran across this posting, put in one of my old DVDs I watched a few months back, and that one worked fine.

Both those above movies did work in another DVD player, so it is not the shape of the disc itself.

I don't know the answer, but you can add Zoom to the list of movies that don't work for some reason.

Anyone have a suggestion?

[rambler]

Make (then watch) a backup copy using your PC.

Probably have to use RipIt4Me, dvddecrypter, dvd shrink, ImgBurn. A lot easier than it sounds since they work in conjunction with each other now.

[ashu]

But are these new Sony discs ripable? I thought avoiding/preventing that may have been their motivation in making the new encryption or whatever it is that prevents playback in older players!

[usnret]

DVDFab (the free one) works pretty good too.

[jkeynotes]

Add Rocky Balboa to the list of DVDs that don't seem to work in the SD-H400.

[rambler]

But are these new Sony discs ripable?Yes they are if you follow my post (above). That's the way to go now, per the websites that know!

[albotrozzz]

This issue is not limited to just the SD-H400. Today I purchased Rocky Balboa and found that it did not play on my SD-H400. I tried playing the same movie on my second SD-H400 and found that did not play on that player either. I then attempted to play the movie on my Toshiba D-R4 (DVD player/burner) and the movie did not play there either. I then tried playing the movie on my Toshiba SD-4700 (older DVD player) and the movie would not play there either. I finally tried playing the movie on my brother's Toshiba SD-3950 (DVD player) and the movie worked OK.

[TR6cra]

I have a Pioneer DVR-57H and am having the same problem playing movies issued by Sony (Casino Royale). My player has a DVD burner and I am not sure if that is part of the issue or not. I tired playing on my Gateway laptop with DVD burner and it would not play. It did play on my Dell laptop with DVD reader only. Also worked on my Sony DVD player. Could also be an issue with combo Tivo / DVD units. I am at a lose. I am sure Sony has put some new encryption on their DVD's that is the root cause. I am sure this is not going to get fixed if at all without some sort of lengthly litigation.

[T u r b o]

I have the same problem with both Stranger than Fiction and Casino Royale on my Pioneer 810H.

So their crappy new copy protection is actually causing problems with legitimately purchased discs on licensed players, and the only work around is to actually copy the disc and play the backup...

Exactly whom thought this was a good idea??

[STC]

Will Toshiba send out a firmware update for this? Very annoying problem.

[watstein]

This issue is not limited to just the SD-H400. Today I purchased Rocky Balboa and found that it did not play on my SD-H400. I tried playing the same movie on my second SD-H400 and found that did not play on that player either. I then attempted to play the movie on my Toshiba D-R4 (DVD player/burner) and the movie did not play there either. I then tried playing the movie on my Toshiba SD-4700 (older DVD player) and the movie would not play there either. I finally tried playing the movie on my brother's Toshiba SD-3950 (DVD player) and the movie worked OK.
Ok I commented in the 810 area about this
Ok I have had the same problem with Sony DVD's in my 810 as well as my Toshiba SDH-400 and my regular DVD players from Toshiba. I called Toshiba and they are sending me a firmware update for my regular player but I think the sony problem is everywhere and sony is getting worse. What I noticed is in my toshiba is if i put it in it would spin and then sit and then if I hit top menu it would play but I couldn't come back to where I left it. But it's gotten worse with the release of Rocky Baloba I couldn't do that so I think sony is encoding them for blueray and not fixing it for SD DVD.
What I didn't say is that it started when Zoom came out and also what I was going to add is that the 4700 is on the firmware update that I am getting for my 4800 which is just as old and won't play these sony's either. The firmware was released in 2005 so you might have it. Otherwise if you don't you can call toshiba if you want. I know that the only DVD player in my house that will totally work is the toshiba SD-2700 as well as my computers.

[briandsloan]

Watstein gave a great tip. We seem to be able to get around this problem with this new Sony Encryption by hitting the "Top Menu" button on the remote.

Once you put the DVD in, wait for the DVD to stop spinning, or for numbers to show up on the display screen on the unit itself.

If you hit the play button, the "No Function" red circle with the slash through it will pop up, but if you hit the "Top Menu" button, the DVD will play.

This has worked on Stranger Than Fiction and Zoom.

Thanks again Watstein

[watstein]

Watstein gave a great tip. We seem to be able to get around this problem with this new Sony Encryption by hitting the "Top Menu" button on the remote.

Once you put the DVD in, wait for the DVD to stop spinning, or for numbers to show up on the display screen on the unit itself.

If you hit the play button, the "No Function" red circle with the slash through it will pop up, but if you hit the "Top Menu" button, the DVD will play.

This has worked on Stranger Than Fiction and Zoom.

Thanks again Watstein
Except the "Top Menu" trick will not work for Rocky Balboa. So that is why I said that sony disks are even getting worse.

[lafos]

The problem is not limited to the SD-H400. I could not play Casino Royale on a Harmon Kardon DVD101 player or my SD-H400, but could play it on my RS-TX20 and an old Toshiba 6109 DVD player. On the H-K, it tried to read the disk and never came back. I had to power it off and then on with the open button pressed to get the disk out. It's ironic that once ripped to a hard disk media center, it played just fine.

Looks like Sony is trying to shoot itself in the foot once more.

[ksujeff99]

Add a "me too".

My SDH400 would not play Stranger Than Fiction nor Casino Royale. Both played fine in my ancient 1st generation Zenith DVD player however. Unfortunately, the Zenith is connected to a 27" TV where my SDH400 is hooked up to a front projection unit. Movies seem REAALLLY small on a 27" screen after watching them on a 100+ screen for a couple months! :-)

Has anyone talked with Toshiba or TiVo about this?

[palepeople]

I doubt this is really just a tivo problem. We have a sony mega disc dvd player with about 300 movies in it. We just got "Stranger then fiction" and it would not play in our dvd player. The "Stranger then fiction" dvd is a sony disc, my player is a sony player and yet nothing... We ordered a second disc thinking the first was defective. Nope. Same thing. It will play on my new computer but not our old one. It also plays on a protable dvd player that I hook up to the tv. I think it is new technology sony is using and it won't even play on their own mega disc dvd player. We're pissed!!!!

[scissors]

Yes, same problem with my Pioneer 810H. Pioneer is working on a fix and is not sure if it will be fixed via a phone call to TiVo, a DVD, or actually sending the machine in for a firmware update. You may want to call Sony and find out what their plans are for a fix. In the meantime don't waste your money renting Sony or Lionsgate discs. There is also a problem with some Disney discs. We wait...

[jpulver]

I have the same problem with my SD-H400 TiVo. It won't play newish Sony Entertainment discs. Rocky Balboa wouldn't work the other night. I called Toshiba and was told that this is a common problem with Sony discs, and Toshiba isn't at this point doing anything about it. (I don't know why they don't issue updated firmware.) He suggested I contact Sony. So I did. I was told that Sony customer service doesn't know about this issue. I sent Sony some detail. I also sent a note to TiVo. Maybe we'll get some action.

[scissors]

I found an address for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Support on the Stranger than Fiction website. It is consumer@SPHECustomer.Support.Sony.com

When I wrote them a week ago they wrote back and asked me for the serial number on the inside ring of my movie that wouldn't play, but haven't heard any more from them.

I'm having problems with a Pioneer and they said they may be able to fix it with a TiVo phone call or DVD so hopefully Toshiba will do the same.

[watstein]

This issue is not limited to just the SD-H400. Today I purchased Rocky Balboa and found that it did not play on my SD-H400. I tried playing the same movie on my second SD-H400 and found that did not play on that player either. I then attempted to play the movie on my Toshiba D-R4 (DVD player/burner) and the movie did not play there either. I then tried playing the movie on my Toshiba SD-4700 (older DVD player) and the movie would not play there either. I finally tried playing the movie on my brother's Toshiba SD-3950 (DVD player) and the movie worked OK.

Ok I got the Update from Toshiba for my SD-4800 which is also affecting your 4700 and I hate to say that the firmware update still doesn't fix this Sony Issue. So I am sorry if I got your hopes up on that. Since people on this board say that Toshiba isn't doing anything then maybe we will have to wait and see. Also this firmware doesn't do anything for the SD-H400, I hope that the tivo download has it soon.

[AlanBDahl]

Watstein gave a great tip. We seem to be able to get around this problem with this new Sony Encryption by hitting the "Top Menu" button on the remote.

Once you put the DVD in, wait for the DVD to stop spinning, or for numbers to show up on the display screen on the unit itself.

This technique works with Casino Royal but does not work with Rocky Balboa for some reason. The problem is that these Sony discs are not actually DVDs but something close enough to a DVD that they work in the majority of players. They are deliberately designed to be defective enough that you can't copy them but not so much they won't play. Problem is if the player manufacturer adheres to the letter of the DVD standard you get nothing (Toshiba developed the DVD standard, then called " SuperDensity Disc" so it's not surprising). IMHO this problem is not going to be fixed until Sony is denied the rights to use the DVD disc logo and the term "DVD" in describing their discs.

[AlanBDahl]

Called Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's customer support hotline (800-860-2878) and they said that they had a new version of Casino Royal that would work in Toshiba players and would send me that if I sent mine in which I will do this week. They as of yet don't have any fix for the problems with Rocky Balboa though.

[jkb]

I had the same problem with Casino Royale, my SDH-400 would not play the disc but a cheap $30 generic brand dvd player would. I also had the problem with Curse of the Golden Flower, another Sony disc, but i was able to get it to play on my SDH-400 by hitting the Top Menu button.

[podster]

Casino Royale & The Pursuit of Happyness doesn't work on the SD-H400.
Yet it works on other DVD players. Does anyone know of a fix for this?

[kenflynn]

My SD-H400 has taken this one step further. We rarely had any problems reading DVDs until we brought Rocky Balboa and Stranger Than Fiction home about 2 weeks ago. Rocky would not work at all and we somehow jury rigged Stranger Than Fiction (probably via that Top Menu trick) as I was just hitting buttons all over the place. We successfully watched Stranger Than Fiction.

We could never get Rocky to work and just watched it on another DVD player (oddly a Sony Platstation 2.) Stranger Than Fiction is the last movie the SD-H400 played.

It won't play any DVDs - including ones we've been playing on it for years (Toy Story, Lion King, and the like), and gives a disc error message for any DVD we put in. Music CDs work fine on it still.

Is it possible that the Sony disc problem triggered a bigger issue with my machine? Grateful for any input anyone has.

[watstein]

My SD-H400 has taken this one step further. We rarely had any problems reading DVDs until we brought Rocky Balboa and Stranger Than Fiction home about 2 weeks ago. Rocky would not work at all and we somehow jury rigged Stranger Than Fiction (probably via that Top Menu trick) as I was just hitting buttons all over the place. We successfully watched Stranger Than Fiction.

We could never get Rocky to work and just watched it on another DVD player (oddly a Sony Platstation 2.) Stranger Than Fiction is the last movie the SD-H400 played.

It won't play any DVDs - including ones we've been playing on it for years (Toy Story, Lion King, and the like), and gives a disc error message for any DVD we put in. Music CDs work fine on it still.

Is it possible that the Sony disc problem triggered a bigger issue with my machine? Grateful for any input anyone has.

Well that is odd. My SD-H400 does still play other disk other than sony, so maybe a problem with your machine, Try rebooting the tivo to see if solves the problem but probably something else wrong with your drive.

[fmalone]

Hmm, I haven't had any problems yet.

[TiVoPony]

Hi guys,

What you've described isn't unique to TiVo products - it's an issue that a number of DVD products are having with new disks manufactured by Sony. Sony has acknowledged the issue, and I've been given the following information to pass along:

Sony is providing replacement discs to customers that have had problems. Customers can call Sony Pictures Home Entertainment customer service at 800.860.2878 for replacement discs.

Sorry you ran into this (I've noticed it recently myself at home, on non-TiVo product), but it is not an issue with your TiVo box.

Concerning the post where older movies won't play now, that is strange...there's nothing regarding this issue that would cause that to happen. It may well be that your DVD drive has chosen an inopportune time to fail. Very sorry to hear that.

Here's an article discussing the Sony issue. (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070418-sony-to-replace-incompatible-dvds.html)

Thanks,
Pony

[scissors]

Pony,

Thanks for your response. Unfortunately Netflix and other rental places do not recognize this as a problem because it is happening with so few machines. I also had this problem, or assume this was the same problem with the Lionsgate movie US vs. John Lennon because I had two copies of the movie that wouldn't play on either the DVD and crashed my PC DVD Player. It's great to know that it is a limited number of titles! Thanks.

[EiBWeN]

You can add Open Season from Sony Animation to the list. It wouldn't play in my SD-H400 so I had to pop it in my PS3. Grr...

[sharp1]

I am glad I found this. I thought my SD-H400 player was dying. I had this problem both with Open Season and Stranger than Fiction. I even took Open Season back to the store and exchanged it. Both played both on our PS2.

I am going to call them tomorrow to see if I can get replacements.

I find this really irritating. I will definitely think twice before I buy another Sony product, be it electronics, DVD, or CD. I hope it was worth it to them. I can live without media, and there are many other electronics manufacturers...

[lafos]

I mentioned earlier in this thread that my Harmon-Kardon DVD-101 won't play the DVD's from Sony that the SD-H400 has trouble with. HK has a list of these titles and Sony's phone number. I bought the HK about the same time as the SD-H400's. Maybe it was an odd year in DVD hardware...

[scissors]

Do you know where to find this harmon kardon list? Thanks

[lafos]

http://www.harmankardon.com/faq/showfaq.aspx?lstProduct=DVD%20101

[AlanBDahl]

So has anyone received replacement discs for these titles which solved the problem? I recently tried buying Rocky Balboa again since it's now November and the problem was fixed in April but the disc I bought from Best Buy was still defective. I'm going to try calling Sony on Monday to get a replacement, else someone's getting Rocky Balboa for Christmas I guess :-).