The Sony BDP-S300/301 Review Thread - Page 80 - Blu-ray Forum

Old Geezer · 01-09-2009, 12:14 PM

Question about loading time. I have the BDP-S300 and have never had a disc that wouldn't play. I keep the player updated and am currently running version 4.40. However, after the latest update (4.40) it seems like the loading time for my Blu-ray discs has dramatically increased. Last night I watched Dr. No and it took 3 min 10 seconds from the time I inserted the disc until the movie was ready to play. I had similar delays before watching Pineapple Express and Babylon AD (the last movies I've watched). Is this normal and I'm just paranoid?

fighthefutureofhd · 01-09-2009, 01:08 PM

i don't know if it's normal or not. when i got the bdp-s300 i was warned about the huge wait time for loading movies and so far i haven't experienced that at all. in fact the load times for me have been just as quick as my samsung bd-p1200 and my dvd players.

divemaster · 01-09-2009, 01:55 PM

Sony repair in Mt. Pleasant, PA just called to say that my 300 has been repaired and is being shipped back today with a new drive and updated firmware [from 4.4?]. I was surprised that it was only in-house for one business week.

Now let's see if it works when it arrives next week

FedEx still shows it on their truck as of 1/2 saying that it has yet to be delivered. I have had this "thing" about FedEx Ground since it was RPS.

Old Geezer · 01-10-2009, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Geezer

Question about loading time. I have the BDP-S300 and have never had a disc that wouldn't play. I keep the player updated and am currently running version 4.40. However, after the latest update (4.40) it seems like the loading time for my Blu-ray discs has dramatically increased. Last night I watched Dr. No and it took 3 min 10 seconds from the time I inserted the disc until the movie was ready to play. I had similar delays before watching Pineapple Express and Babylon AD (the last movies I've watched). Is this normal and I'm just paranoid?

I'm paranoid. I just threw in "The Italian Job" from Wal-Mart for $14.95 and it loaded in 25 seconds. It must be all the Blu-ray live and other extra garbage that the newer discs are loaded down with that slows the loading time.

jldhawk · 01-10-2009, 01:15 PM

I bought my BDP-S300 last summer, have never done a FW update on it, is there a way to check what version it is running now? I sent for the disc from sony HOPING that they will know by my serial number what version I have NOW on there and then send me the right FW Update?

BTW, I never new about this web site until I bought "I am Legend" and inside it warned me that the disc might not play.....(I haven't tried it yet) Will Sony send me the newest version, or ALL of the indevidual FW versions in order? ONe disc do it all?

jldhawk · 01-10-2009, 01:19 PM

Bought it in Late October or early November 2008 (Not last summer)

krisjan · 01-10-2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jldhawk

I bought my BDP-S300 last summer, have never done a FW update on it, is there a way to check what version it is running now? I sent for the disc from sony HOPING that they will know by my serial number what version I have NOW on there and then send me the right FW Update?

BTW, I never new about this web site until I bought "I am Legend" and inside it warned me that the disc might not play.....(I haven't tried it yet) Will Sony send me the newest version, or ALL of the indevidual FW versions in order? ONe disc do it all?

Here's the site to burn your own FW updates: http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu...pl?mdl=BDPS300

Here's how to check current FW version:

Check Current Firmware Version

Power on the television and make sure it is tuned to the inputs to which the BDP-S300 player is connected.

Power on the BDP-S300 Blu-ray Disc™ player.

If the player starts to play a disc, press the "STOP" button and wait until the blue Sony Blu-ray Disc screen is displayed on the television before proceeding.

On the remote control (RMT-B101A), press the SYSTEM MENU button.
At the "System Menu" screen, use the arrow keys on the remote control to highlight "Setup" and then press the ENTER button.

At the "Setup" screen, use the arrow keys on the remote control to highlight "Video Setup" and then press the ENTER button.

Use the arrow keys on the remote control to highlight "TV Type" and then press the ENTER button.

On the remote control, press "BLUE" button.

The firmware version currently installed on the BDP-S300 will be listed on the television screen. If the version number is 4.40 or higher, it is not necessary to install this firmware update.

Follow the instructions on the Sony site for downloading the FW carefully. Have fun!

jldhawk · 01-10-2009, 03:15 PM

OK, looks like I am running version 3.70 now, will the disc they send me upgrade 3.7 to 4.40 or do I need to load each and every update since 3.70 BEFORE I load 4.40?

I'd prefer to just wait for the Sony Disc to know it is burnt correctly. etc.

Thanks for your help.

krisjan · 01-10-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jldhawk

OK, looks like I am running version 3.70 now, will the disc they send me upgrade 3.7 to 4.40 or do I need to load each and every update since 3.70 BEFORE I load 4.40?

I'd prefer to just wait for the Sony Disc to know it is burnt correctly. etc.

Thanks for your help.

No need to load FW sequentially - the latest FW version as all prior updates in it. It's not difficult to burn your own disc especially if you have MS Windows XP (it is more difficult with Vista ironically and with MAC systems). All you need to do is download the file from the link I provided, unzip that downloaded file and then burn the resulting .iso file to a CD-R as an IMAGE using burning software like Nero.

jldhawk · 01-10-2009, 05:16 PM

I've got XP and Nero, but can't figure out how to burn as an image, only Data, Video CD, DVD burning capable I think. I have Nero verison 6.6.1.4 (Old version)

rdodolak · 01-10-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jldhawk

I've got XP and Nero, but can't figure out how to burn as an image, only Data, Video CD, DVD burning capable I think. I have Nero verison 6.6.1.4 (Old version)

Page 100 of the manual helps explain how to burn an image to disc. I've included a link to the manual for your reference.

http://ftp6.nero.com/user_guides/ner...ingRom_Enu.pdf

jldhawk · 01-11-2009, 02:08 PM

Thanks for your help, that pdf file didn't help, there was no "Burn Image" comand listed in my vesion of nero, so I downloaded the free software of imgburn, it apears that I was able to burn it correctly using that software, I'm going to go give it a try now. I just need to follow on screen instructions I assume?

tek101 · 01-11-2009, 03:27 PM

Ok, I got a FW cd from Sony and try to load it for my friend's S300
but It keeps saying CAN'T READ .....?

Have any idea.....?
Thanks.
(Also ordered anothe one)

jldhawk · 01-11-2009, 05:40 PM

OK< done with all of the above, DL OK on the screen, just finished watching "I am Legend" , Says I am running FW 4.40 now.
I burn TWO discs to cover my butt, I took a sharpie and wrote on the first disc, what it was, and the second disc I burn I left blank, believe it or not, the one I wrote on said "Can not read" on the display, so I put the second disc in, and all went with out a hitch.

THANKS for all the help, and for this web site, great HELPFUL tool for us HD Fanatics.

divemaster · 01-13-2009, 10:19 PM

the ol' S300 arrived back today from Sony repair with the replaced warranty drive. I quickly tested the movies that wouldn't work before and they're loading - a good thing. No new f/w - it's 4.4 as was already loaded. But, so far, it seems to be doing the trick. Kudos to Sony for the quick turnaround. I really didn't expect it.

So, 90 extra days tacked on to the warranty. Let's see how it holds up.

Dreedree · 01-14-2009, 09:16 AM

Why isn't the section with FIRMWARE's updated to reflect version 4.40 (which is available through Sony.com)

????

krisjan · 01-14-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dreedree

Why isn't the section with FIRMWARE's updated to reflect version 4.40 (which is available through Sony.com)

????

This site is slow to update the FW pages. You are best to just bookmark the Sony support site and go there periodically to look for updates.

Strannix136 · 01-14-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Geezer

Question about loading time. I have the BDP-S300 and have never had a disc that wouldn't play. I keep the player updated and am currently running version 4.40. However, after the latest update (4.40) it seems like the loading time for my Blu-ray discs has dramatically increased. Last night I watched Dr. No and it took 3 min 10 seconds from the time I inserted the disc until the movie was ready to play. I had similar delays before watching Pineapple Express and Babylon AD (the last movies I've watched). Is this normal and I'm just paranoid?

I just upgraded to 4.40 after buying Live and Let Die and discovering it wouldn't play. It does take a while to load, as does For You Eyes Only. It just must be the way the new Bond discs are.

bsaxman · 01-15-2009, 09:52 PM

Probably just my unit, I got it in Nov 2007 and had many random freezes and refusing to play any type of disc on many occasions. Problems got worse and worse and then got better so I was blaming it on firmware. Anyway, just before Christmas 2008 I got a "NO DISC" error no matter what type of disc I inserted. I took it into Sony and included print outs of all the emails between myself and Sony support over the year. Despite my warranty being over, Sony decided to treat it as a warranty issue (proves they aren't always cold-hearted corporate bastards that some portray them as.)

Sony said that my laser (optical block) had failed and they upgraded me (for free) to the BDP-S350 which was awfully nice of them. Needless to say, I purchased a 2 year warranty on the new units (just in case.)

The funny thing was, my Dad purchased a BDP-S300 around the same time as me and he's never had a glitch and his player always seem to work quicker than mine - especially the firmware updates (which took forever on my unit.)
Perhaps I got a bum unit that never should have left the factory, but did, or perhaps damaged in transport. We'll never know.

Anyway, what I wanted to pass on is this (advice from the lady at the Sony service desk) if that you are still under warranty and having these kinds of errors or glitches 1) document it, email Sony support, 2) take it in for service so they can check it out.
You never know, you may get a better unit out of it like I did. Sony (at least in Canada) is exchanging players with new units as they don't have the parts to repair the '300s but don't count on that policy continuing indefinitely.

Sony made the right call with me. If they couldn't/wouldn't repair or exchange my unit I was going to go out and buy the Panasonic. Now they've made me (and retained me) as a happy Sony customer. I've had Sony products for over 20 years and this is the first one that's ever given me grief so I hope it's just an aberration and not the 'norm for these players.

I certainly hope everyone is enjoying their 300. I liked mine, but never really loved it. After only a few days with my '350. Now I love it. Sony has made a lot of little improvements that really add up - especially in the speed department.

Guess I'll have to join the '350 thread now

jomari · 01-16-2009, 07:21 PM

great post bsaxman, im glad that we can see that sony does care about their clientele, and hopefully, this would extend to a number of us as well. as much as id like this to happen to me, id have to pass. i normally use my multichannels out, and have been blessed with a more than optimal unit (my 3.9 firmware still trucks on even with wall-e)

i guess the key note here is the fact that we end up being nice about things. theres no need imo for us to end up screaming our heads off, to get something in return. a good amount of documentation, a courteous question here and there, works wonders.

01-09-2009, 01:55 PM	#1583
divemaster Junior Member Member since:Dec 2008	Sony repair in Mt. Pleasant, PA just called to say that my 300 has been repaired and is being shipped back today with a new drive and updated firmware [from 4.4?]. I was surprised that it was only in-house for one business week. Now let's see if it works when it arrives next week FedEx still shows it on their truck as of 1/2 saying that it has yet to be delivered. I have had this "thing" about FedEx Ground since it was RPS. Last edited by divemaster; 01-09-2009 at 05:54 PM.

01-14-2009, 09:16 AM	#1596
Dreedree Active Member Top contributor Member since:May 2008 Location:The Netherlands Blu-ray collection:275	firmware section Why isn't the section with FIRMWARE's updated to reflect version 4.40 (which is available through Sony.com) ????

01-15-2009, 09:52 PM	#1599
bsaxman Junior Member Top contributor Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Canada 4K collection:- Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- iTunes collection:- Blu-ray reviews:1	Check your warranty & don't hesitate to let Sony know your problems - it's worthwhile Probably just my unit, I got it in Nov 2007 and had many random freezes and refusing to play any type of disc on many occasions. Problems got worse and worse and then got better so I was blaming it on firmware. Anyway, just before Christmas 2008 I got a "NO DISC" error no matter what type of disc I inserted. I took it into Sony and included print outs of all the emails between myself and Sony support over the year. Despite my warranty being over, Sony decided to treat it as a warranty issue (proves they aren't always cold-hearted corporate bastards that some portray them as.) Sony said that my laser (optical block) had failed and they upgraded me (for free) to the BDP-S350 which was awfully nice of them. Needless to say, I purchased a 2 year warranty on the new units (just in case.) The funny thing was, my Dad purchased a BDP-S300 around the same time as me and he's never had a glitch and his player always seem to work quicker than mine - especially the firmware updates (which took forever on my unit.) Perhaps I got a bum unit that never should have left the factory, but did, or perhaps damaged in transport. We'll never know. Anyway, what I wanted to pass on is this (advice from the lady at the Sony service desk) if that you are still under warranty and having these kinds of errors or glitches 1) document it, email Sony support, 2) take it in for service so they can check it out. You never know, you may get a better unit out of it like I did. Sony (at least in Canada) is exchanging players with new units as they don't have the parts to repair the '300s but don't count on that policy continuing indefinitely. Sony made the right call with me. If they couldn't/wouldn't repair or exchange my unit I was going to go out and buy the Panasonic. Now they've made me (and retained me) as a happy Sony customer. I've had Sony products for over 20 years and this is the first one that's ever given me grief so I hope it's just an aberration and not the 'norm for these players. I certainly hope everyone is enjoying their 300. I liked mine, but never really loved it. After only a few days with my '350. Now I love it. Sony has made a lot of little improvements that really add up - especially in the speed department. Guess I'll have to join the '350 thread now

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01-09-2009, 12:14 PM	#1581
Old Geezer Special Member Top contributor Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Missouri Home Theater Gallery:9 4K collection:460 Blu-ray collection:2644 DVD collection:137	Question about loading time. I have the BDP-S300 and have never had a disc that wouldn't play. I keep the player updated and am currently running version 4.40. However, after the latest update (4.40) it seems like the loading time for my Blu-ray discs has dramatically increased. Last night I watched Dr. No and it took 3 min 10 seconds from the time I inserted the disc until the movie was ready to play. I had similar delays before watching Pineapple Express and Babylon AD (the last movies I've watched). Is this normal and I'm just paranoid?

01-09-2009, 01:08 PM	#1582
fighthefutureofhd Blu-ray Baron Member since:Jun 2008 Location:Dry County	i don't know if it's normal or not. when i got the bdp-s300 i was warned about the huge wait time for loading movies and so far i haven't experienced that at all. in fact the load times for me have been just as quick as my samsung bd-p1200 and my dvd players.

01-10-2009, 01:15 PM	#1585
jldhawk Junior Member Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Spirit Lake, Ia	I bought my BDP-S300 last summer, have never done a FW update on it, is there a way to check what version it is running now? I sent for the disc from sony HOPING that they will know by my serial number what version I have NOW on there and then send me the right FW Update? BTW, I never new about this web site until I bought "I am Legend" and inside it warned me that the disc might not play.....(I haven't tried it yet) Will Sony send me the newest version, or ALL of the indevidual FW versions in order? ONe disc do it all?

01-10-2009, 01:19 PM	#1586
jldhawk Junior Member Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Spirit Lake, Ia	Bought it in Late October or early November 2008 (Not last summer)

01-10-2009, 03:15 PM	#1588
jldhawk Junior Member Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Spirit Lake, Ia	OK, looks like I am running version 3.70 now, will the disc they send me upgrade 3.7 to 4.40 or do I need to load each and every update since 3.70 BEFORE I load 4.40? I'd prefer to just wait for the Sony Disc to know it is burnt correctly. etc. Thanks for your help.

01-10-2009, 05:16 PM	#1590
jldhawk Junior Member Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Spirit Lake, Ia	I've got XP and Nero, but can't figure out how to burn as an image, only Data, Video CD, DVD burning capable I think. I have Nero verison 6.6.1.4 (Old version)

01-11-2009, 02:08 PM	#1592
jldhawk Junior Member Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Spirit Lake, Ia	Thanks for your help, that pdf file didn't help, there was no "Burn Image" comand listed in my vesion of nero, so I downloaded the free software of imgburn, it apears that I was able to burn it correctly using that software, I'm going to go give it a try now. I just need to follow on screen instructions I assume?

01-11-2009, 03:27 PM	#1593
tek101 Member Member since:May 2008 Location:FL	Ok, I got a FW cd from Sony and try to load it for my friend's S300 but It keeps saying CAN'T READ .....? Have any idea.....? Thanks. (Also ordered anothe one)

01-11-2009, 05:40 PM	#1594
jldhawk Junior Member Member since:Jan 2009 Location:Spirit Lake, Ia	OK< done with all of the above, DL OK on the screen, just finished watching "I am Legend" , Says I am running FW 4.40 now. I burn TWO discs to cover my butt, I took a sharpie and wrote on the first disc, what it was, and the second disc I burn I left blank, believe it or not, the one I wrote on said "Can not read" on the display, so I put the second disc in, and all went with out a hitch. THANKS for all the help, and for this web site, great HELPFUL tool for us HD Fanatics.

01-13-2009, 10:19 PM	#1595
divemaster Junior Member Member since:Dec 2008	the ol' S300 arrived back today from Sony repair with the replaced warranty drive. I quickly tested the movies that wouldn't work before and they're loading - a good thing. No new f/w - it's 4.4 as was already loaded. But, so far, it seems to be doing the trick. Kudos to Sony for the quick turnaround. I really didn't expect it. So, 90 extra days tacked on to the warranty. Let's see how it holds up.

01-16-2009, 07:21 PM	#1600
jomari Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2007 Home Theater Gallery:18 Blu-ray reviews: 2 Trading Score:2	great post bsaxman, im glad that we can see that sony does care about their clientele, and hopefully, this would extend to a number of us as well. as much as id like this to happen to me, id have to pass. i normally use my multichannels out, and have been blessed with a more than optimal unit (my 3.9 firmware still trucks on even with wall-e) i guess the key note here is the fact that we end up being nice about things. theres no need imo for us to end up screaming our heads off, to get something in return. a good amount of documentation, a courteous question here and there, works wonders.

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