Sony Vaio Blu-ray problems

[Roymus]

All: I scanned the threads for an answer to this question but didn't see anything directly. I bought a new Sony Vaio VGNFZ285U (Windows Ultimate with WinDVD 8 and a Blu-Ray drive). The laptop has an HDMI connector so you can watch Blu-Ray movies on your 1080P HDTV (in my case a Mitsubishi 75831). I bought "300" and popped it into the Sony to see how it looked on the laptop...ok but not impressive (the screen does not support 1080P). I then hooked up the laptop to my HDTV via HDMI. The laptop display looks great on my TV, but when I tried to play the movie using WinDVD I received the message "Stop. Your display environment does not support protected content" and playback stops. I tested playing a regular DVD and it worked fine. I assume this is some kind of newfangled macrovision copy protection to prevent routing the signal to another device and copying the movie. So here's my questions:

1. Is it possible to play the movie on my HDTV using another player besides WinDVD? If so, which one? I don't mind buying another software player if I know it works.

2. Is the copy protection specific to Mitsubishi (i.e., is there something in the TV firmware that's telling WinDVD to stop playing)? If so, is there a way to defeat it?

3. If #2 is correct, are there Blu-Ray movies that don't have this kind of protection? If not, shouldn't Sony compensate me for selling me a player that won't work under any circumstances?

Sorry if this has been covered...thanks!

Roy

[Papi4baby]

Soounds like that, the ACCS and such stuff. Get on the insiders thread and see what paid can tell you about it, i doub it be much. But on the other hand, did you try it on another TV? Also do you have all the newest drivers for video card and everything.

P.S. Call Sony tech support see what they tell you. I myself almost pull the trigger on their top model BD laptop, but they didn't have the burner option available, it was there, but you could not buy the laptop. As soon as it comes out im getting one with the burner, yay i can't wait.

[Roymus]

Already updated all the drivers. Where's the insider's thread?

[Riverside666]

http://files.filefront.com/Cyberlink.../fileinfo.html

Thank me later.

[Roymus]

Riverside: Sent you a PM.

[HDTV1080P]

Since you said that you are able to play BLU-RAY discs fine on your Notebook then this would not be an AACS issue.This sounds like a incompatibility with HDCP (High Definition Content Protection). Your Sony VGN-FZ285U has a Geforce 8400M graphics card inside that supports HDCP computer monitors and displays that are HDCP. You need to verify that your model of HDTV display is HDCP compatible. Most likely it is if your using a HDMI connection but the manual will verify that. Also even if your HDTV display has HDCP there could be a in compatibility issue.
Other things you need to check is to see if you have resolution settings on your computer for the HDMI jack. If you are using a 1080P display then you need to set the HDMI jack to output at 1920 X 1080 P at 60HZ. The HZ settings is very important since it should always be set to 60HZ if the HDMI settings is adjustable. If you have a 1080I or 720P display you need to adjust the HDMI jack to the correct settings.
You might want to try another HDTV display to see if things work with that. Sometimes there can be incompatibilities between the display and graphics card that prevent you from making the connection.

http://www.sonystyle.com/wcsstore/SonyStyleStorefrontAssetStore/pdf/VGN-FZ285UB_SpecSheet.pdf

http://www.nvidia.com/object/geforce_8M_techspecs.html

[Roymus]

Good ideas. I do have a Samsung LCD TV I can test against tonight. I should also point out that even though the Blu-Ray movie ("300") plays on my laptop, the resolution is actually pretty poor (looks like 480p). I read that HDCP incompatibility will force the player to display at the lower 480p resolution in some cases, which is why I thought it might be the card.

[Roymus]

I tried playing the movie with the Vaio connected to a Samsung HDTV via HDMI. Same issue. I suppose it's possible that both the Mits and the Samsung have HDCP issues, but I think it's more likely that the problem resides with the Vaio laptop. Any other ideas/suggestions would be appreciated!

[interested]

Originally Posted by Riverside666

http://files.filefront.com/Cyberlink.../fileinfo.html

Thank me later.

This softaware allowed the Blueray movies to play on Sony viao (I have VGNFZ280E). However, when I connect to Sony Full HD TV (either through HDMI or serial/VGA port), the moment movie start playing, the TV Screen is blank and then player stops movie indicating compability issue. Sony Viao has NVIDIA® GeForce® 8400M GT GPU graphics card with 1GB graphics memory.

[Roymus]

Fixed it! Turns out the problem was that I had both displays (laptop + HDTV) going at the same time. HDCP no likey, thinks you're trying to make a copy. I went into NVIDIA Control Panel and changed the display configuration to Single Display (HDTV) and the movie now plays. BUT...now I have another problem with movie resolution (just posted). Hope this fix helps someone...

[Justjayn]

I did not want to post/start a new thread as this topic may have been coverd in the past.

Buying the wife a new laptop for Christmas, going Vaio-Bluray. Is it safe to assume that the unit is or will be (via firmware, etc.) Profile 1.1 and then profile 2.0??

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

[JadedRaverLA]

Originally Posted by Justjayn

I did not want to post/start a new thread as this topic may have been coverd in the past.

Buying the wife a new laptop for Christmas, going Vaio-Bluray. Is it safe to assume that the unit is or will be (via firmware, etc.) Profile 1.1 and then profile 2.0??

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

On PCs, the issue with updating to Profile 1.1 and 2.0 isn't in the PC itself... rather the software player. Both Cyberlink's and Intervideo's BD solutions should get updates to support the new profiles, however, higher processor requirements are likely, as you will need to decode two video streams simultaneously.

Assuming the Vaio you're looking at has a fairly decent processor, you should be fine.

[Justjayn]

JadedRaverLA,

Thank you very much for the info. I will proceed as planned!
Enjoy your weekend!!!

Viva la BluRay!

[Riverside666]

Yeah I recently had to upgrade my processor from a t2500 to a T7600, I was blown away by the difference. I did not think there would be much of a difference but it's night and day difference. And getting a better processor does more for you then just help you watch blu ray films, if you know what I mean, lol.

[C6 Z06]

Originally Posted by Riverside666

Yeah I recently had to upgrade my processor from a t2500 to a T7600, I was blown away by the difference. I did not think there would be much of a difference but it's night and day difference. And getting a better processor does more for you then just help you watch blu ray films, if you know what I mean, lol.

River, what kind of battery life are you getting when you watch BD's on your laptop. I know there are alot of factors like screen size, but just in general what do you get?

[jaybird]

Originally Posted by Riverside666

Yeah I recently had to upgrade my processor from a t2500 to a T7600, I was blown away by the difference. I did not think there would be much of a difference but it's night and day difference. And getting a better processor does more for you then just help you watch blu ray films, if you know what I mean, lol.

Can you elaborate on the diffrences between the two in terms of blu ray playing. I just purchased a new a Vaio VGN-AR190G (great price $899) which has the T2500. Also, any issues with swapping out to the T7600.
Many Thanks..

[marcelo]

Originally Posted by JadedRaverLA

On PCs, the issue with updating to Profile 1.1 and 2.0 isn't in the PC itself... rather the software player. Both Cyberlink's and Intervideo's BD solutions should get updates to support the new profiles, however, higher processor requirements are likely, as you will need to decode two video streams simultaneously.

Assuming the Vaio you're looking at has a fairly decent processor, you should be fine.

Hi everyone!

I´ve avoid to create a new topic about my problems with playing BR movies on my VAIO so I´m posting here.

My notebook is the VAIO AR690U, brand new. Full HD, etc, etc...
It comes with WINDVD 6 HD (Vaio version).
OK... but it does not play, already, some titles such as Fantastic Four 2.
Question is: Since that on VAIO update center it not mentions any bluray firmware updade, what should I do.

I´ve read a couple topics here and I´ve seen a lot of talk about the software (the player itself).
I do own a WINDVD 8 platinum license that I´ve bought for my desktop and never used.
Should I unnistall the original WINDVD6 and go for the 8 version? Is this the right solution?
Or is the Cyberlink Power DVD Ultra the best BR playback player?

I´m quite upset about this, I knew that could be some bluray payback problems with any PC, but since I´ve spend tons with this "powerhouse",
I expected that these problems would not happen.

I´ll be waitng for yours feedback. And sorry if my english typing is a little confuse.

tks

Marcelo
Sao Paulo - Brazil

[C6 Z06]

Originally Posted by marcelo

Hi everyone!

I´ve avoid to create a new topic about my problems with playing BR movies on my VAIO so I´m posting here.

My notebook is the VAIO AR690U, brand new. Full HD, etc, etc...
It comes with WINDVD 6 HD (Vaio version).
OK... but it does not play, already, some titles such as Fantastic Four 2.
Question is: Since that on VAIO update center it not mentions any bluray firmware updade, what should I do.

I´ve read a couple topics here and I´ve seen a lot of talk about the software (the player itself).
I do own a WINDVD 8 platinum license that I´ve bought for my desktop and never used.
Should I unnistall the original WINDVD6 and go for the 8 version? Is this the right solution?
Or is the Cyberlink Power DVD Ultra the best BR playback player?

I´m quite upset about this, I knew that could be some bluray payback problems with any PC, but since I´ve spend tons with this "powerhouse",
I expected that these problems would not happen.

I´ll be waitng for yours feedback. And sorry if my english typing is a little confuse.

tks

Marcelo
Sao Paulo - Brazil

Marcelo, welcome to the site. I can help you with this one. I just got the VGN-630E and had the same problem of not playing some BD's. I got an update of Sony's website and it plays everything fine (FF 2, POTC 1 & 2, Day After Tomorrow). I just checked and my Vaio does have WinDVD 8 on it. I assume that that was the update from Sony from 6 to 8.

I think if you install version 8 you will solve your problems. I am playing Fantastic Four 2 right now to make sure and all is fine. Good luck with it and post your outcome.

[dadkins]

Marcelo, did you install the WinDVD BD patch from Sony Support?

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu...?mdl=VGNAR690U

Specifically:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu...=2994&os_id=30

[jaybird]

Hello All:

Not sure what to make of this. System was working fine yesterday (Sony VGN-AR190G) When I threw in Night at the museum I got an update message from Cyberlink to upgrade to Ultra 7.3 which I did. I had watched a couple other movies before and never received this message??. I had 7.2 prior which worked fine and after I performed the upgrade I had no problem watching it either. Today I received CARS and wanted to give it a look and it does not play. The drive after the disc is in shows no data like it is a blank disc??????. Has anyone had an issue with CARS???. Now I am getting graphic driver error message when I put back in Night at the Museum. I Verfied that the graphic driver did not change....WTF!!!