Any Toshiba HD player users get the 408bc504 error yet?

[TheVrolok]

So I just got my first 408bc504 before I even knew there was a problem. For starters, I have the Toshiba HD-A3 and it was while using the 1.1 firmware version. I updated the player to 1.3 and I am no longer getting the error code, however, the player simply skips and hangs at the relative spot of the previous error code. I've skipped to the 2nd episode on the disc and as such have had no problems. In addition, I've watched Transformers probably 5-6 times, The Matrix twice, V for Vendetta twice, Blood Diamond thrice, Blood Diamond twice. Apollo 13 once, and a few SD-DVDs. Of all that playing I had 0 problems.

This is my first problem with the player and it seems like it's pretty common. So what do I do? The player IS still within 30 days; I bought it 11/2. Do I return the player or chalk it up to a bad disc and go on my way? I'm thinking about just trying to get some solid use out of it over the next few days to see if I ever get another error. If not, I think I might be ok. Maybe it would be prudent just to return it tho? From my netsearches (primarily of DVDTalk and AVS) I still can't tell whether it's player issue or a disc issue. It seems to be a bit of both. So what do I do?

 

[FP]

I just ran into that error the other day while watching a pretty scratched up HD-DVD disc from Netflix.

Do you have any other info on the problem? I figured it was just due to the damaged disc although the disc wasn't horribly scratched.

 

[TheVrolok]

Over at AVS
HD Digest

It seems like it occurs when the player has disc read issues. Whether these issues stem from the discs or the players is up for contention I suppose. My disc, for example, was brand new out of the box when I got the error and it still doesn't appear to have any scratches on it. A bad pressing perhaps? I've now finished the second episode (on the same disc as the error which occurred during the first episode) and I've had no problems.

 

[Shawn]

Disc 2 has the web enabled features. Is your player hooked up to the internet? If so let it sit for a while when it appears to be frozen. It actually should be downloading an update.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: Shawn
Disc 2 has the web enabled features. Is your player hooked up to the internet? If so let it sit for a while when it appears to be frozen. It actually should be downloading an update.

I actually thought about that. The player was hooked up to the net when the problem first started. I was wondering if it were the net so I actually unplugged the cat5 from the router so it's no longer connected. I still got the same issue - and now after the firmware upgrade to 1.3 it appears to artifact a bit before it actually freezes. I had no problems during Episode 1 or 3, but I first had the problem during Ep 2, and again finally on Ep 4. I had to skip it and just go on to the next disc. All these problems occurred on Disc 2. I feel like since the cable is unplugged, it's probably the disc.

Maybe I'll reconnect it and play the disc again and let it sit - but I doubt it.

 

[TheVrolok]

No direct error, but slight artifacting of the picture then a pausing in the movie for a good 30s. Then movie returned to playing but without audio. Superman Returns, occurred around 2 hours 20 minutes. Anyone else noticing any similar issue with brand new HD-DVDs?

 

[Shawn]

You should exchange your player for a new one. The optical drive is no good.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: Shawn
You should exchange your player for a new one. The optical drive is no good.

Looks like this is what I'll have to do. I don't have any problems with other discs though, wouldn't a bad drive have issues more frequently with other discs?

 

[TheAdvocate]

Originally posted by: binister
I just ran into that error the other day while watching a pretty scratched up HD-DVD disc from Netflix.

Ditto, badly scratched Knocked Up HD-DVD. Thats the only time I've seen it.

I ejected the disk, did a ghetto clean (meet shirt), popped it back in, no problem.

 

[TheVrolok]

I think the A3 is just currently running into some issues reading certain discs for whatever reason. I cleared the persistent memory and tried Heroes Season 1 Disc 2 again (the web enabled disc) and still had issues while having the ethernet unplugged. However, I played the disc just fine in my friends A2. :/ Looks like I'll be waiting for a new player or some new firmware. Either way, I'm not too upset, I've had no problems (minus the small glitch with SR) with any of my other discs and for a cheap player, I'm ok with it.

 

[Shawn]

It's defective, just exchange it.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: Shawn
It's defective, just exchange it.

Heading to BB when they open to exchange. Will update with how the new player plays the discs once I get it hooked up/firmware updated.

 

[TheVrolok]

Went to BB, exchanged it. Updated my new A3 to 1.3, no problems whatsoever with the Heroes disc. Looks like it was in fact a defective player.

 

[SlickSnake]

What is interesting about that is other users have reported this same problem on the Xbox 360 players, with HD Heroes, too.

I don't doubt that the HD player might be partly at fault, but it also seems odd all these player problems are on the same HD Heroes disks. I think it might also be some HD mastering problem that makes itself known in the HD hardware on various players, for whatever reason.

Now I'm even more glad I returned my HD-A3 and kept the HD-A2, hehe.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: SlickSnake
What is interesting about that is other users have reported this same problem on the Xbox 360 players, with HD Heroes, too.

I don't doubt that the HD player might be partly at fault, but it also seems odd all these player problems are on the same HD Heroes disks. I think it might also be some HD mastering problem that makes itself known in the HD hardware on various players, for whatever reason.

Now I'm even more glad I returned my HD-A3 and kept the HD-A2, hehe.

That is caused by a different problem. The first time you load Heroes disc 2 it checks for an internet connection. If one is available it downloads an update. During this time it does not let you know what it is doing so people just assume that their player is frozen, especially if the download speed is slow. If you do not complete the download it will keep trying to download every time you load the disc until the download is completed.

 

[SlickSnake]

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: SlickSnake
What is interesting about that is other users have reported this same problem on the Xbox 360 players, with HD Heroes, too.

I don't doubt that the HD player might be partly at fault, but it also seems odd all these player problems are on the same HD Heroes disks. I think it might also be some HD mastering problem that makes itself known in the HD hardware on various players, for whatever reason.

Now I'm even more glad I returned my HD-A3 and kept the HD-A2, hehe.

That is caused by a different problem. The first time you load Heroes disc 2 it checks for an internet connection. If one is available it downloads an update. During this time it does not let you know what it is doing so people just assume that their player is frozen, especially if the download speed is slow. If you do not complete the download it will keep trying to download every time you load the disc until the download is completed.

I read that already. But if that was so, a new player would not fix that. He would still have a delay on Heroes, and the claim is, now on another player, there is none. So that would be either a HD mastering problem, a player problem, or a combination of both. Just as I stated. If there is a noticeably long delay to download information, then there should be some kind of notice on the screen advising of this, and there is none.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: SlickSnake

Originally posted by: Shawn

Originally posted by: SlickSnake
What is interesting about that is other users have reported this same problem on the Xbox 360 players, with HD Heroes, too.

I don't doubt that the HD player might be partly at fault, but it also seems odd all these player problems are on the same HD Heroes disks. I think it might also be some HD mastering problem that makes itself known in the HD hardware on various players, for whatever reason.

Now I'm even more glad I returned my HD-A3 and kept the HD-A2, hehe.

That is caused by a different problem. The first time you load Heroes disc 2 it checks for an internet connection. If one is available it downloads an update. During this time it does not let you know what it is doing so people just assume that their player is frozen, especially if the download speed is slow. If you do not complete the download it will keep trying to download every time you load the disc until the download is completed.

I read that already. But if that was so, a new player would not fix that. He would still have a delay on Heroes, and the claim is, now on another player, there is none. So that would be either a HD mastering problem, a player problem, or a combination of both. Just as I stated. If there is a noticeably long delay to download information, then there should be some kind of notice on the screen advising of this, and there is none.

Read above. His problem was different. 408bc504 means a read error.

 

[TheVrolok]

Just put in Shaun of the Dead, at like 1 hour 34 minutes it artifacts and freezes. I was able to fast forward past the glitch part and after a little stuttering it played the last few minutes. After pulling the disc out, examining it to make sure it's not scratched, and then putting it back in it still did the same thing. So I suppose the answer is the A3 is just garbage? I'm not getting any error code, it just acts the same way DVD players do when they encounter a scratched disk. I realize the player was cheap - 199 on sale when I bought it, 299 now; but is it really too much to ask for a product that works? This is really frustrating me.

 

[SlickSnake]

I rented Dead Silence at BB from the store about 2 months ago. It was a regular DVD and the disk was virtually unscratched, for a rental disk. It acted just like you are describing. This was played back on an older Panasonic recordable DVD player that will play through any DVD I have ever thrown at it, including massively scratched ones several other DVD players I have would not play.

When I looked at the DVD it had a weird irregularly shaped water mark type of spot that covered the DVD media surface layer, and was lighter and darker in spots, but it was hardly noticeable unless you held it up to a light just right. I have had old recordable CDs do this after years making them unplayable. Some of these disks even became crystallized on the recordable layer. I have also had some of the oldest CDs made, first and second generations, start to show holes in the media layer and become unplayable.

Since HDs are still in their infancy, I would be suspect of the media more than the players, at this point. I feel sure BR is having the same problems with some disks, too. Look at Heroes. They most likely had multiple defective disks they were burning Heroes onto. You would see these problems more in certain runs with defective media.

Let us know if you see odd defects like these in the media layers of the HD dvds you are playing.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: SlickSnake
I rented Dead Silence at BB from the store about 2 months ago. It was a regular DVD and the disk was virtually unscratched, for a rental disk. It acted just like you are describing. This was played back on an older Panasonic recordable DVD player that will play through any DVD I have ever thrown at it, including massively scratched ones several other DVD players I have would not play.

When I looked at the DVD it had a weird irregularly shaped water mark type of spot that covered the DVD media surface layer, and was lighter and darker in spots, but it was hardly noticeable unless you held it up to a light just right. I have had old recordable CDs do this after years making them unplayable. Some of these disks even became crystallized on the recordable layer. I have also had some of the oldest CDs made, first and second generations, start to show holes in the media layer and become unplayable.

Since HDs are still in their infancy, I would be suspect of the media more than the players, at this point. I feel sure BR is having the same problems with some disks, too. Look at Heroes. They most likely had multiple defective disks they were burning Heroes onto. You would see these problems more in certain runs with defective media.

Let us know if you see odd defects like these in the media layers of the HD dvds you are playing.

I see them in just about every HD-DVD I own. For me, it's only noticible in incandescent lighting but it looks as you've described - like a irregular almost water ripple looking pattern on the media. Take a look at this picture. It's a rather crude image taken with my cell phone of the bottom of my Transformers disc. The stuff to the left can be ignored as its a reflection but you can see the ripple look that I'm talking about. Its not exactly the same as the image because some was lost in the reflection, but you get the idea. Pretty much every HD-DVD I've seen has this; Transformers though, has been played maybe 10 times in my player from start to finish with 0 problems so I still don't completely understand. Do you believe that this early HD media may end up being garbage one day? I'd rather not continue to buy HD-DVDs if they're going to break down. I already have a collection of 20 or so. I really hope this doesn't for me to BR.

 

[Eug]

Heh. I've never had the error on my Toshiba HD-A2, but look at this Venturer SHD7001 ad. (It's an A3 clone.)

Then look at the code on the LED display.

:camera:

 

[SlickSnake]

Originally posted by: Eug
Heh. I've never had the error on my Toshiba HD-A2, but look at this Venturer SHD7001 ad. (It's an A3 clone.)

Then look at the code on the LED display.

:camera:

That's interesting, isn't it? The error code displayed in their add, no less. I'm sure the marketing department had no idea this was being displayed in their add, hehe. But it also points to some obvious problems with either media, players or both.

But as to whether or not some of the HD media is bad, it's entirely possible. After all, I'm sure they are going with the cheapest supplier of blank HD media they can find. Good for them, bad for the consumers. I wouldn't necessarily jump ship to BR, though. Some of the discs I had that developed the crystallized media layers were Sony and Pioneer recordable CDRs. Some of the first and second generation CDs I had that developed the holes in the layers were also Sony recording artists.

I think I would complain to the main studio of the possibly defective titles you have, if you suspect a faulty HD DVD. I feel sure they won't be too happy about unhappy consumers in mass discovering they are shipping faulty HDs. Especially since they are charging a lot more for them. You can also take the suspect disks back to where you bought them from, and ask them to test them on their HD players and see what happens. If you get the same problems , you know it's most likely defective media, or many bad HD players.

 

[TheVrolok]

Originally posted by: Eug
Heh. I've never had the error on my Toshiba HD-A2, but look at this Venturer SHD7001 ad. (It's an A3 clone.)

Then look at the code on the LED display.

:camera:

That's pretty amusing. I'm tempted to actually go and buy an A2, I've heard from a number of people that they're receiving less errors than from the A3. So far it's only one small glitch on one or possibly two discs, so I'm not overly concerned. It is rather frustrating though.

 

[AmpedSilence]

I recieved this error last night for the first time; watching the Bourne Supremecy. It was really hard to reproduce. Not consistant at all. SD side worked fine, but that defeats the purpose of HD.

any ideas?

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: Eug
Heh. I've never had the error on my Toshiba HD-A2, but look at this Venturer SHD7001 ad. (It's an A3 clone.)

Then look at the code on the LED display.

:camera:

Dammit. They have wised up to it and have since blacked out the error.