Okay, my DVD player is being funny. I check out DVDs from the public library. Some work in my player, some don't. However, they ALL work in my computer and on another much cheaper player at my church. Any ideas here on what's wrong and whether its fixable?
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
1. Your DVD player is broken. 2. Try hitting it.
What brand of DVD player is it? A buddy of mine bought a cheap DVD player and DVDs that would play fine on mine wouldn't play at all on his. OTOH, my parents also bought a cheap DVD player and so far there hasn't been any trouble getting movies they borrow from me to play on it.
In short, I'd say most of your electronic equipment seems to hate you. You should be more polite.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
I'm assuming that you aren't getting foreign films out of the library.
Er, not to go all obvious or anything, but have you cleaned the lens?
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Gosford Park was a very good movie. You should rent that at some point, Ommie.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
I think Liam might have been referring to DVDs that would have a non-region-1 encoding. Which you're not likely to find in a US library.
Could it be that they are regionless DVDs, and the player is stupidly programmed to play only DVDs that are explicitly region 1?
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Is that possible?
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
All are region 1 NTSC. It's a Samsung DVD-N501. Supposedly I can upgrade the firmware, but when I try that it won't recognize the disk. Too bad, too, because I'm eleven upgrades behind.
As for cleaning the lens, it's not easily accessable. The tray spits out, and sucks the disk back in, with the lens inside the device. I suppose I could fiddle, though.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
"...I'm eleven upgrades behind."
I'd consider this as a prime suspect for the problem.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Yes, well, I can't upgrade, either, so if that's the case I'm still screwed.
Posted by LOA (Member # 49) on :
Omega~ As far as I've been educated by the great and powerful Hollywood Video, there was a long period of time where the different studios and DVD manufacturers were trying to "stop" any type of DVD copying or reproduction, so they kept trying new encoding and copyrighting techniques..... since there was no industry standard at that point though, and every studio was doing something different, it became a BITCH for consumers 'cause not all formats would work in all DVD players depending on the programming the machine itself had...........
This problem seems to have been resolved, but if the DVDs you're renting are older, then it's possible that these "secutiry measures" may be incompatible with your particular machine........
~LOA
Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
"Is that possible?"
Sure. I have a bunch of region-free DVDs that my prehistoric (like, first generation) R2 player just won't swallow, so I'm forced to view those on my PC. It is evil, pure evil.
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
I've heard of several models of Samsung that just wouldn't play some DVDs. Can't remember the model numbers though. You've presumably done a search on the web for any issues involving your player?
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
quote:Originally posted by Omega: As for cleaning the lens, it's not easily accessable. The tray spits out, and sucks the disk back in, with the lens inside the device. I suppose I could fiddle, though.
Or you could buy one of those CD lens cleaning kits designed for just such a situation.
Although I'm tempted to go with Lee's explanation. There were some DVDs famous for being picky about which DVD players they would run on. The Matrix, for example.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
"Chicken Run", "Rear Window", "Abbot and Costello Meet the Mummy", and "Jesus Christ Superstar". Oddly, though, another copy of "Chicken Run" worked just find when we got the player a year and a half ago.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Perhaps indicating that maybe something has gotten dirty in the meantime. Like...the lens.
And although I did just say that Lee was right, after reading Tim's comment that being 11 upgrades behind is almost certainly the cause, I started thinking...how many people ever upgrade the firmware in their DVD players anyway?
Doing a quick count of everyone I know with a DVD player, I got the answer...none.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
Well, I don't know how many players have firmware upgrades available. Mine is a Nuon player, so it's a bit more complex. Nuon was one of those rather cool but quick-dying technologies. I can play tetris on this thing!
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Wow. That's great. Because there's no other piece of technology available that allows you to play Tetris. None at all.
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
No, but, Liam, think. Who's got time to worry about being able to play silly DVDs when you could be playing a rousing game of Tetris?
Posted by Austin Powers (Member # 250) on :
rousing??? **LOL** And you didn't even put an emoticon there... Posted by LOA (Member # 49) on :
I have Tetris on my cell phone, and it keeps me entertained for HOURS.
~LOA
Posted by Austin Powers (Member # 250) on :
Lucky you! Posted by Harry (Member # 265) on :
There are about 3 million DVD standards, so that could be part of the problem...
Posted by The359 (Member # 37) on :
I have Tetris on my NES and Game Boy.
OLD SKOOL!!!!11 Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
So what part of the sarcasm inherent in "Tetris isn't available on any platforms at all" weren't you all getting?
Posted by Austin Powers (Member # 250) on :
Everyone got the sarcasm I think. But most wanted to rub in their familiarity with the game anyway... ;-)
Posted by Mucus (Member # 24) on :
On that note. Any Tetrinet players around here? Posted by Cartman (Member # 256) on :
Tetris: the most ingenious Soviet invention since Sputnik. B)
Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :
quote: It's a Samsung
That's probably the problem. I haven't worked in retail for about 16 years now, but when I did, everything they made was garbage. If we sold 20 Samsung produts, 10 came back. Get an Apex, they are very cheap, and it will give you far less trouble.
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