New Dell PC with Vista - Problems playing certain Blu-Ray discs

[jameswlfk08]

Hello,

I've got a new Dell system.. it's got Vista Home Premium and a Blu-Ray drive.. I'm going out of a Radeon ATI HD card into a Westinghouse montior at.. something x 1200 resolution with a standard VGA cable..

it came bundled with cyberlink powerDVD that plays blu-ray discs..

I've got five movies.. Robocop, Spiderman 3, and Devils Rejects all work completely fine.. Kill Bill vol1 and Kill Bill vol2 will not go past the notice that "the disc may take 2-3 minutes to load the extra content".. they just stay on the black screen and eventually powerDVD stops responding..

I can try using a DVI-HDMI cable into the monitor instead, but I hope something absolutely stupid like that isn't the problem..

Has anyone else seen anything like this..?

Thanks

[arush5268d]

Originally Posted by jameswlfk08

Hello,

I've got a new Dell system.. it's got Vista Home Premium and a Blu-Ray drive.. I'm going out of a Radeon ATI HD card into a Westinghouse montior at.. something x 1200 resolution with a standard VGA cable..

it came bundled with cyberlink powerDVD that plays blu-ray discs..

I've got five movies.. Robocop, Spiderman 3, and Devils Rejects all work completely fine.. Kill Bill vol1 and Kill Bill vol2 will not go past the notice that "the disc may take 2-3 minutes to load the extra content".. they just stay on the black screen and eventually powerDVD stops responding..

I can try using a DVI-HDMI cable into the monitor instead, but I hope something absolutely stupid like that isn't the problem..

Has anyone else seen anything like this..?

Thanks

There you go, I highlighted the problems.

And zoomed in on the solution for ya.

[LORDs_angellos]

Originally Posted by arush5268d

There you go, I highlighted the problems.

And zoomed in on the solution for ya.

+1

VGA is analog; definitely don't wanna use that connection.

[jameswlfk08]

haha ok thanks guys.. just out of curiousity, how come the other three work fine with the standard vga cable..? just something different with the newer discs..?

[arush5268d]

DRM, copy right protection, things like that are what I'd attribute to that.

[jameswlfk08]

After switching to the DVI->HDMI cable, still no luck with the two Kill Bill discs.. It's still the same situation as before with three discs working and the two new discs crashing power dvd.

Anything else I could try?

[arush5268d]

Have you checked for any software updates?

[jameswlfk08]

Yes. This PowerDVD that I have has a button for Online Update and it tells me there are no new updates available.

[jameswlfk08]

(and yes I have updated it in the past.)

[prerich]

Originally Posted by jameswlfk08

Hello,

I've got a new Dell system.. it's got Vista Home Premium and a Blu-Ray drive.. I'm going out of a Radeon ATI HD card into a Westinghouse montior at.. something x 1200 resolution with a standard VGA cable..

it came bundled with cyberlink powerDVD that plays blu-ray discs..

I've got five movies.. Robocop, Spiderman 3, and Devils Rejects all work completely fine.. Kill Bill vol1 and Kill Bill vol2 will not go past the notice that "the disc may take 2-3 minutes to load the extra content".. they just stay on the black screen and eventually powerDVD stops responding..

I can try using a DVI-HDMI cable into the monitor instead, but I hope something absolutely stupid like that isn't the problem..

Has anyone else seen anything like this..?

Thanks

VGA cable should work just fine. First question - is the computer connected to the internet? Notice the 2-3 minutes to load the extra content warning - screams the notorious BD-Live stuff to me. Try playing the movie with the internet cable disconnected from the PC. You should be able to get to main menu once stupid Profile 2.0 recognizes that you are not on the internet. It's not a HDCP problem - its a BD-Live issue.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by LORDs_angellos

+1

VGA is analog; definitely don't wanna use that connection.

With a PC there is nothing wrong with using a VGA cable (it will handle 1080p and above resolutions and the monitor will receive them - I used to do it all the time). Just because its analog doens't mean that its no good.

[WinLwin]

I think Kill Bill Blu Ray Discs have some advanced codec coz I couldn't paly those discs with my LG BH 200 combo player. PS3 is fine. It took several minutes for Kill Bill 1 to load in my brand new HP Elite PC with DVI/HDMI connector. May be you should exchange the disc and try again. It worked out fine for my friend who has Dell XPS 420 with Blu ray drive.

[CyberVisions]

Originally Posted by jameswlfk08

(and yes I have updated it in the past.)

First - You can obviously use a VGA output to view playback, despite Arush's smartass response -you just won't be able to view it at HD resolutions. You need to get an HDMI-HDMI cable, as you also won't get full HD resolution with DVI to HDMI - you can only get it with HDMI-HDMI or HDMI over CAT-5 or CAT-6. Problem with the second option is few systems support the HDMI over CAT as an A/V input. So HDMI-HDMI is the only way to get 1080p. You can get 1080i with DVI-HDMI. In any case, it's not causing the problem you're having.

One problem associated with your symptoms can be recent additions to the Blu-Ray specs, such as BD profile 1.1 or later. Although you said there aren't any updates from the vendor (Cyberlink), you don't want to update from them anyway - that's a common user mistake that many people make. If you haven't already, you need to update your BD playback software from your Dell System's Support Page, NOT the vendor site. All of the system vendors have their own customized versions of Cyberlink or Intervideo's BD software to playback BD's - however, you can only get viable updates of those from your system supplier's site. For example, HP's QuickPlay uses a customized version of PowerDVD for BD playback; ASUS uses a custom version of Intervideo's WinDVD, which frankly sucks.

Use the Support Tag on your system on the Dell site (support.dell.com), or open up the Support Program installed in your system to get to your system's support page. There are some drivers and software updates that are generic, like some video and audio drivers. The key to knowing which ones are custom or not is whether or not a component or program has a unique vendor footprint in it that changes it from the OEM version. Sometimes you can't tell until you update the driver or program and start having problems. That's why it's always good to create a Restore Point before updating anything - and NEVER do automatic updates for anything except A/V definitions. Aside from Flexnet being a security nightmare (the program many auto-update features use), you never want to have your system automatically installing something you don't know anything about, Windows in particular. Many people install an update just because it's on their system's support page without bothering to find out if it even applies to their system, then wonder why they have problems afterward. Vendors put sitewide updates on all system support pages, leaving it up to the user to determine if it's needed for their system.

Your symptoms are consistent with older vendor customized versions of PowerDVD. I had the exact same problem with my HP HDX9300, and although HP calls its BD playback program QuickPlay, the core program is PowerDVD. All I needed to do was update QP from my system page on the HP site to get it running correctly. The update takes care of the BD profile problem that prevents some BD's from playing.

Firmware - some BD-ROM's will indicate the need for a firmware update. Many times the problem you're experiencing can be caused by having a BD-ROM with an older FW revision. The problem is that you can't flash the BD-ROM's firmware with an update from the OEM site (e.g., Sony, Mat's, etc.). That too has to come from the Dell Support site. Flashing firmware using an OEM update can render your BD-ROM inoperable - like the BD playback software customization, the firmware is in the same category as far as customization for use with your particular system, and any other it happens to be in. Check your Dell support page for a firmware update for your BD-ROM. You can check the current version and drive type from your Device Manager. Just open out the DVD device list, then double-click on the device to get the FW info.

Region - This likely isn't a problem since you're able to view some of the BD's. It should be noted though, that on some systems (e.g., ASUS) the Region settings for DVD and BD's are separate and need to be set individually.

Dual Monitor Setups - Content Protection prevents a user from using a dual display setup (cloned displays - system monitor and external both on at the same time). Usually you'll get a Content Protection error message and the playback will stop - however, if you've got both displays up, it could well be stopping playback without you seeing it since you're not using HDMI-HDMI. You need to have your GPU set to external monitor only for BD playback.

External Display Settings - As I've noted several times in these forums, external HDTV's are simply large monitors that have their own settings, and need to be treated as such. They have their own settings for HDMI inputs, and they need to be set correctly. Make sure you have your external setup for HDMI-in correctly set on the proper input channel.

[jameswlfk08]

Hey thanks for all the answers. I'll try out the rest of this stuff when I get back to that computer.

[BReeves588]

It sounds to me that it is a copy protection problem this happen to me on my gateway HD monitor, apple HD Cinema Display 30 inch. I recommend upgrading to the lastest java update and also powerdvd software. The best software to get around copy protection problem is Slysloft AnyDVD HD. You look for it on the internet. Once installed You will have no problems viewing HD content in 1080P. PS: I have it and Love it on my Apple HD Cinema 30inch Non HDCP Compliant anydvd hd gets around it.

[arush5268d]

Originally Posted by CyberVisions

First - You can obviously use a VGA output to view playback, despite Arush's smartass response -you just won't be able to view it at HD resolutions. You need to get an HDMI-HDMI cable, as you also won't get full HD resolution with DVI to HDMI - you can only get it with HDMI-HDMI or HDMI over CAT-5 or CAT-6. Problem with the second option is few systems support the HDMI over CAT as an A/V input. So HDMI-HDMI is the only way to get 1080p. You can get 1080i with DVI-HDMI. In any case, it's not causing the problem you're having.

.

Hate to break it to you, but DVI is HDMI, minus the audio. You most certainly CAN get 1920x1080 with a HDMI-DVI connection.

My remarks weren't smartass - however your attempt to be smartass fails miserably. Get your fact straights next time please.

[jameswlfk08]

Tried all of the above, still no luck with anything. Regardless of how I update, and whether its the firmware or the software, still nothing with the Kill Bill discs.. the other three work fine..

[arush5268d]

How do you have the Westinghouse monitor configured in the ATi control panel? Is it a monitor or a TV?

Also, there's a member here - dadkins - that has an uncanny ability to resolve PC Blu-ray issues. Send him a PM and ask him to join this thread. I bet he can shed some light on this for you.

[El Negro]

Dude you're getting a Dell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nHM93z1wAc

[prerich]

Here's a quick way to see if its PowerDVD causing the problem or not. Download this http://www.arcsoft.com/public/softwa...=LANG_DOWNLOAD and see if it plays through TMT. If it plays, its a PowerDVD problem and I would upgrade to PDVD 8, or go to TMT. I don't think its your monitor (I am an A+ certified tech). Especially since the other movies play just fine on it. (the is for every one who thinks its HDCP because he doesn't have HDMI - he can play the other three movies just fine - its not HDCP). I've played BD over VGA for a while and it never failed. See what TMT does (you may like it better than PDVD - I do ).