PS3 pausing during playback: Possible temporary solution found

[BTBuck1]

Many of you may have read that since firmware v 1.5 and 1.51 that the ps3 freezes, or pauses momentarily (about 10 seconds) during movie playback, be it DVD or Blu-Ray. Many rumors have circulated that it's firmware glitch, etc. And some have claimed that by disabling the network that, that fixes the problem. Last night I decided to try it out. I have had several of these "freezes" since the latest firmware, on open season, FLyboys & Courage under fire. So I popped in The Departed last night and went in and disabled the network for the course of the movie. Well, to my surprise that seemed to be it. I didn't have one single problem, and that was a relatively long flick. So while this is a minor burden (turning it on/off) between gaming/watching movies I think it's worth it until Sony fixes this issue once and for all.

I'll keep an update going forward if I encounter any problems after turning the networking off, or If I leave it on and have more issues, or if firmware updates fix this.

I think if you're having these problems, try this out...it seems like this is the ticket.

Feel free to post your theories, experiences, testimonials etc. here.

Thanks,
Brian

[akadkins]

I'm not sure that is the final answer - I had these issues in previous versions of the firmware so I don't blame 1.50 or 1.51. I did write to Sony to complain. They sent me a phone number to call in to - but since that point, I have watched a number of movies with version 1.51 and have seen no freeze as of yet. I'll try Open Season and see what happens - but made it through Kingdom of Heaven without pause...now that's a long movie!

I put off calling at first because I wasn't ready to send in my PS3 for a new one - didn't want the pain of having to reload everything I have on the hard drive...but I've read on PS3 websites that a few people have done this and no longer have the glitch...making it seem like a hardware - not firmware - problem.

[dialog_gvf]

I upgraded my PS/3 to a 120GB HDD, and was forced to do a firmware upgrade before it would allow me to access the Playstation store to get the demos again.

So far I haven't had any problems with 1.51. MPEG-2. VC-1 and AVC titles have all played fine for me (keeping my fingers crossed).

Gary

[Jack Torrance]

I had this problem with the ps3 freezing during playback shortly after I downloaded the latest firmware... but a check of the disc revealed fingerprints. I cleaned the disc and viola! Perfect playback. And no problems since.

The point of this post, if there is one, is don't always jump to conclusions that it's the firmware just because you've read it somewhere (though I'm sure some have had genuine problems). Sometimes it's something as simple as cleaning the disc.

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by Jack Torrance

Sometimes it's something as simple as cleaning the disc.

yeah, and dirty discs are the problem with the toshiba A1's too
when they are spotless and fresh out of the package.

[Fenix88]

I also had the same issues with the 1.51 update. And yes turning off the network connection worked for me. My brother and I got our PS 3 same day and he has not had any issues with the 1.51.

[DavePS3]

I never have the broadband connected unless I'm actually using it so I haven't had any problems so far.

[Damon Payne]

Turning off the network connection worked for me.
They shoudl fix this in future versions.

[buckshot]

now I hope someone on here knows the operation ivy song referenced in the title. it has only a limited connection to this I just really like the song.

I have had a problem with some movies freezing on me for a few seconds then jumping ahead 15 to 30 seconds or so. I have a ps3 and its only been happening with blu-ray movies. today it happened while watching crash. before it happened with MI:I and MI:II. the disks seem to be in perfect shape. that's not the strangest thing to me, the strangest thing is that when I rewind the BD it won't freeze in the same place. Has this happened to anyone else? any suggestions on what I can do if anything. is this a player problem or a disc problem?

p.s. I have the latest software update installed on my ps3.

[Sfblups3]

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=5870 this thread should help

[buckshot]

thanks. that gave me some ideas to go with. I usually check this site a few times a day on my pda since i'm new to this bluray/playstation thing, guess that thread slipped by me.

[BTBuck1]

Two Weeks later, and probably 5-6 movies and haven't had a single issue since disabling the netwrok during movie playback.

This seems to be the ticket!

[NovaBomb]

Originally Posted by Jack Torrance

Sometimes it's something as simple as cleaning the disc.

I think in the end it all comes down to this. Funny how people say 1.51 fixes it, but some say it dosen't. Some say that disabling network fixes it, but some say it dosen't. Heres what I've encountered: I've never had a problem before 1.5. after 1.5 it paused numerous times during BD movies never on games, after 1.51 the pausing stop for about 4 movies and then it started to do it again. So then I decided to try out the disabling the network idea, The pausing stoped. Then the other day after finishing watching The Departed, I put in a game to play online, realizing then I forgot to disable the network to watch the movie...but it never paused the whole time during play.
So... WTF!?! It dosen't make sence.

[Blue]

The network thing could still makes sense. It can't be "connected" to the network or it would constantly pause, but when there is some activity on the network causes it to pause. This may be a specific type of packet or activity in general, this then could lead to random pauses that appears to be the current problem. Whatever the cause I hope they fix it soon (before the Aussie release)

[Avarond]

no problems here either. I have 1.51 and just watched Open Season the other night. I havent watched KOH yet so I'll try that next. But so far no pauses. The ones turning off the network are you on wired or wireless networking?

[Sfblups3]

Originally Posted by buckshot

thanks. that gave me some ideas to go with. I usually check this site a few times a day on my pda since i'm new to this bluray/playstation thing, guess that thread slipped by me.

No problem.... good luck with the ps3 and there is a verison 1.54 update

[TauRus]

Btw, software update 1.54 is available. I have not downloaded it yet, so I am not sure what it adds or changes/fixes.

[Sfblups3]

1up.com and gamepro had posted this

Flip on the ol' PlayStation 3 this morning and you'll discover an all-new firmware update for the machine with absolutely no indication of what it actually does. Thanks, Sony! A little digging, however, produces information on the upgrade's feature list, which isn't much to get excited about, unfortunately.
The image of the person you are chatting with during video chat can now be changed to match the screen size
You can now use a USB camera compatible with USB video class (UVC) for video chat
In March, Sony will distribute their first major firmware update to consumers worldwide. The update will be delivered by the time the machine launches in Europe on March 23rd, but it's unknown whether Sony will allow the rest of the world to check it out

[Amon37]

Well I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. I've had no freezing on any BD's on any firwares and I'm currently at 1.54.

[justinbaily]

I've got almost 12 bd discs and just watched the departed-very early in it froze
also have babel and during the opening credits it froze..the other movies played fine except i needed to switch the audio in brothers grim as my ps-3 selected the uncompressed audio as default which can't be played corectlly from toslink.

I havn't tried to disable the network while watching a movie but will try this.
Sounds like the easist fix would be for a future update to automatticlly disable
the network while playing a dvd or bd movie which would give sony more time to correctly fix the issue in a later firmware update.

Ever sience disc based gaming an ocasional freeze will happen though most resistance problems come from temporailly losing control of the game-doing
a 360 in place for a few seconds..also needs fixing.