Apollo 13 problem...please help

[mthopper]

I'm surprised to find no previous forum posts about this, but Apollo 13 is giving me major headaches. Judging from the reviews at Amazon, it seems like lots of people are having this problem. But that's not the appropriate place for discussion, so here goes: my Apollo 13 BD simply will not play. First, it takes a very long time just to load--and I mean ten times longer than any other BD I've watched. But I can deal with this. The real problem is that the movie WILL NOT PLAY. Once the top menu is on the screen, I can browse the different set-ups and bonus features, but when I hit "play," it goes into its brief mosaic of movie shots, exactly as you'd expect before the screen blacks out and the flick begins, but then it re-loops this sequence again and again and again, for hours if I let it keep going. It won't play the movie. And at this point, it is also impossible to get the menu options back on-screen. To retry, you have to stop the movie. When you re-start it, it has to load all over again for another 8 minutes or so. If I try to bypass the "play" option, and instead open up the chapters and click on chapter 1, the same problem as above starts all over again.

So I need some help from those who have posted reviews here, since you obviously have been able to view your copy of the movie. I would greatly appreciate any advice.

Just so you know, my player is a Panasonic DMP BD35. It plays everything else I've ever tried with no problems. I know that Universal movies sometimes require a firmware update. It so happens that there is an update available for my player (2.2), but when I try to put the update in my player, I get the screen message that the website says means my player does not need an update... However, it is not impossible that my attempted burning of the update onto a CD-R didn't work properly because the downloadable file provided by Panasonic is in the ".frm" format and it's virtually impossible to work with.

Also, my player unfortunately cannot hook-up to the internet because I have no cable internet connection.

Is there anything I can do? Please help!

[wilky61]

What do you mean that the .frm file is impossible to work with? I have never had difficulty burning the Panasonic Firmware updates to a CD, and I just use the default Windows XP burning capabilities... burning a CD is like drag-and-drop so I can't imagine what you mean...

http://www.worldstart.com/tips/file-...-burn-a-cd.htm

EDIT: I guess I shouldn't presume that you're running Windows XP, but my advice is to apply that firmware update before doing anything else.

[mthopper]

Originally Posted by wilky61

What do you mean that the .frm file is impossible to work with? I have never had difficulty burning the Panasonic Firmware updates to a CD, and I just use the default Windows XP burning capabilities... burning a CD is like drag-and-drop so I can't imagine what you mean...

http://www.worldstart.com/tips/file-...-burn-a-cd.htm

Until now, I have also never had a problem with Panasonic firmware updates. But when I try to drag-and-drop it into my Windows XP Media Player, I get the message that it "cannot recognize the format," etc. I don't think previous Panasonic firmware updates have been in this format. There's even a big chunk of the directions on the webpage saying that the format of the provided file requires some kind of a special burning software and that standard Windows players won't recognize it, etc. What I ended up doing was putting my blank CD-R into the drive, opening Windows Media Player, and then dragging-and-dropping the extracted file into the burn-list column (on the right side of the player when the "Burn" tab is selected) and then clicking "burn." But the instructions that came with the file--i.e. on the website where the file is to be downloaded--don't work, period.

But like I said, I did eventually burn it to a disc. I'm assuming it burned properly. It sounded like it was working. But when I put the disc into the player and started the process as described online, I got the screen message which the website said I'd get if in fact my player was not in need of updating (even though I know my current firmware is about 1.7 and there is a 2.2 available).

[BasicGreatGuy]

Try burning the disc at a slower speed. Sometimes, the media itself is the problem and changing brands fixes the problem.

Edited to add: Also, try burning the cd with a different software program.

[wilky61]

I'm not sure what you mean by Windows XP Media Player. I don't think that's the default CD burning software? Lemme fetch a CD-RW and I'll see...

Oh, btw, I don't have the same model as you (I have a DMP-BD60) but here is how to check what version of the Firmware is currently installed on my unit, see if it's the same for your unit:

SETUP button on your remote > Display > STATUS button on your remote > Should pop up in the bottom right corner

(You'd think they would've made it a bit more obvious than this...)

[mthopper]

Originally Posted by wilky61

I'm not sure what you mean by Windows XP Media Player. I don't think that's the default CD burning software? Lemme fetch a CD-RW and I'll see...

Oh, btw, I don't have the same model as you (I have a DMP-BD60) but here is how to check what version of the Firmware is currently installed on my unit, see if it's the same for your unit:

SETUP button on your remote > Display > STATUS button on your remote > Should pop up in the bottom right corner

(You'd think they would've made it a bit more obvious than this...)

Sorry, I meant Windows Media Player. And yeah, I know how to check which edition of firmware is currently on my player. I have 1.7. The latest apparently is 2.2. By the way, the Panasonic webpage makes quite a big deal that you cannot download the firmware update on a CD-RW. It says you must use a CD-R disc.

Does anyone have any knowledge about the Apollo 13 situation?

[wilky61]

Originally Posted by mthopper

Sorry, I meant Windows Media Player. And yeah, I know how to check which edition of firmware is currently on my player. I have 1.7. The latest apparently is 2.2. By the way, the Panasonic webpage makes quite a big deal that you cannot download the firmware update on a CD-RW. It says you must use a CD-R disc.

Does anyone have any knowledge about the Apollo 13 situation?

I've never used Windows Media Player to burn a CD, and I suggest you don't use it either. Honestly, I suggest you don't use it for anything because it's a crappy piece of software.

Here is how I burn the .frm to a CD with Windows XP, this should be easier:

- Download the .exe from http://panasonic.jp/support/global/c...5/bd35_na.html (might want to bookmark if you haven't already)
- Extract the .frm to your Desktop or wherever, and insert your blank CD.
- Go to My Computer and double-click your CD drive.
- Make sure that you have the "CD Writing Tasks" pane on the left side of the window. If it's not there, you can turn it on by going to Tools > Folder Options > Show common tasks.
- Drag and drop the .frm file from your Desktop to the CD drive.
- Then, click "Write these files to CD" in the CD Writing Tasks pane on the left.


EDIT: And I've always used a single CD-RW for all of my Firmware updates. I don't know why this would matter at all. But like I said, I'm willing to bet that if you upgrade to Firmware v2.2 your Apollo 13 disc will play...

[mthopper]

Originally Posted by wilky61

I've never used Windows Media Player to burn a CD, and I suggest you don't use it either. Honestly, I suggest you don't use it for anything because it's a crappy piece of software.

Here is how I burn the .frm to a CD with Windows XP, this should be easier:

- Download the .exe from http://panasonic.jp/support/global/c...5/bd35_na.html (might want to bookmark if you haven't already)
- Extract the .frm to your Desktop or wherever, and insert your blank CD.
- Go to My Computer and double-click your CD drive.
- Make sure that you have the "CD Writing Tasks" pane on the left side of the window. If it's not there, you can turn it on by going to Tools > Folder Options > Show common tasks.
- Drag and drop the .frm file from your Desktop to the CD drive.
- Then, click "Write these files to CD" in the CD Writing Tasks pane on the left.


EDIT: And I've always used a single CD-RW for all of my Firmware updates. I don't know why this would matter at all. But like I said, I'm willing to bet that if you upgrade to Firmware v2.2 your Apollo 13 disc will play...

I'm following your directions to the letter. I put a blank CD-R into the drive. I open My Computer. I double-click on the CD Drive (Drive D), and I get a pop-up saying "please insert a disk into drive D." Over and over and over again.

[wilky61]

Originally Posted by mthopper

I'm following your directions to the letter. I put a blank CD-R into the drive. I open My Computer. I double-click on the CD Drive (Drive D), and I get a pop-up saying "please insert a disk into drive D." Over and over and over again.

Uh... sounds like something's wrong with either your disc or your disc drive?

EDIT: Actually, that's weird... because I don't get that message when I double-click my CD-ROM drive and there's no disc in it...

[BasicGreatGuy]

Originally Posted by mthopper

I'm following your directions to the letter. I put a blank CD-R into the drive. I open My Computer. I double-click on the CD Drive (Drive D), and I get a pop-up saying "please insert a disk into drive D." Over and over and over again.

Did you wait several seconds before clicking on the drive? Did Windows recognize there was blank media in the drive? If not, you probably clicked too soon.

[mthopper]

Originally Posted by BasicGreatGuy

Did you wait several seconds before clicking on the drive? Did Windows recognize there was blank media in the drive? If not, you probably clicked too soon.

Yes, I'm waiting until it's ready. The clickable icon changes, just as it should, into a small picture of a CD. I listen to the computer cooking a few seconds and when it quiets down I try to double click on the changed icon, etc, etc.

[Weirded Wonder]

Originally Posted by mthopper

I'm following your directions to the letter. I put a blank CD-R into the drive. I open My Computer. I double-click on the CD Drive (Drive D), and I get a pop-up saying "please insert a disk into drive D." Over and over and over again.

Try another blank CD?

[mthopper]

Originally Posted by beardmoen

Try another blank CD?

I tried another one. Same results.

Has anyone played Apollo 13 without first updating firmware?

[BasicGreatGuy]

Originally Posted by mthopper

I tried another one. Same results.

Has anyone played Apollo 13 without first updating firmware?

I didn't have to update firmware in order to play Apollo 13.

[Underworld54]

Originally Posted by BasicGreatGuy

I didn't have to update firmware in order to play Apollo 13.

Nor did I....my SONY plays everything I throw at it. No discs tke an overly long time to load either.

[BasicGreatGuy]

Originally Posted by Underworld54

Nor did I....my SONY plays everything I throw at it. No discs tke an overly long time to load either.

Hopefully, hopper can get his problem fixed. Sooner or later we will have an issue.

[Lincoln6Echo]

Actually it sounds like you may have a problem with your CD drive. The reason why your BD player isn't recognizing the need for a firmware updtae maybe because the file that you burned to the CD before may be corrupt.

Curious....could your player play Avatar before a firmware update?

I had to update my Oppo-83 before I could play Avatar. As Avatar has BD-Live Plus that is a fairly new thing, I guess.

But anyway, for Oppo Firmware upgrades via CD, you have to burn the 'CD image'. And it is labeled as an 'image' file. And then to burn it, you can just right-click on the file and select Burn with [Roxio] Creator and a little while later, it's burned.

[jeffalindsay]

I have a panasonic dmp-bd-30...It played fine on it.

[wilky61]

Originally Posted by jeffalindsay

I have a panasonic dmp-bd-30...It played fine on it.

What version firmware are you running?

(Instructions on how to tell are in post #5 of this thread if you need them.)

[zeppie1138]

I know exactly how you feel! Frustration city! I had a similar problem. I have a a different player and it was a different movie, but this is worth a shot for you as you sound as desperate as I did when I couldn't get Starship Troopers to work on my Sony BDP-N460. Actually the fix I stumbled upon was a fix for a Panasonic player, so hopefully this works for you, although I looked up your model, and I see you don't have a flash memory port on your player. I do see you should have a SDHC memory card port. Do you have a blank card in there? All I had to do was put in a 2GB flash drive in the port (actually mine was only 128MB) and BOOM it finally played! And I was about to chuck the movie out the window! I know this is apples and oranges, but it sounds like a similar problem, and it might work for you so its worth a try!