I finally got around to watching Shaun of the Dead on my A30, and at around 90 minutes into the film, the video just goes crazy, i.e. there is terrible artifacting going on for a second or so, then the image freezes, but the player continues on (the time counter proceeds). If I skip to the next chapter, it plays fine, but if I go back to the same spot, it does the same thing. I'm using the firmware just prior to the latest one Toshiba posted (whatever the number was), and was a bit hesitant to "upgrade" due to some issues I read about with the 24p playback. Could this just be a bad disc, or has anyone else noticed this on the HD-A30?

I heard that the 3rd gen players are extremely sensitive to scratches or disc conditions. Please play after cleaning your disc. If possible do an upgrade and check if it happens again.

Strange thing here is that it was a brand new disc. Just opened.

I can try the firmware upgrade, but I'd rather that not introduce new problems...

C-c-c-c-c-combo!!!!!

Is Shaun of the Dead a Combo disc ? I anyway bought the U.K version as it was available for lower price and boasts a better covert art.

I finally got around to watching Shaun of the Dead on my A30, and at around 90 minutes into the film, the video just goes crazy, i.e. there is terrible artifacting going on for a second or so, then the image freezes, but the player continues on (the time counter proceeds). If I skip to the next chapter, it plays fine, but if I go back to the same spot, it does the same thing. I'm using the firmware just prior to the latest one Toshiba posted (whatever the number was), and was a bit hesitant to "upgrade" due to some issues I read about with the 24p playback. Could this just be a bad disc, or has anyone else noticed this on the HD-A30?

Did you consider trying another copy before wondering if it was a problem with the entire release? I've had 1 disk fail on me out of the package since DVD first began.

C-c-c-c-c-combo!!!!!

Shaun of the Dead is not a combo. Perhaps you're thinking of Hot Fuzz?

The same thing happened to me on my A-3. About the same time into it. I cleaned it the other day but haven't played it again. Hopefully it will play correctly next time, or I will wait for a blu-ray realease and buy it again, the movie is worth it.

The same thing happened to me on my A-3. About the same time into it. I cleaned it the other day but haven't played it again. Hopefully it will play correctly next time, or I will wait for a blu-ray realease and buy it again, the movie is worth it.

Same here on my A3...I took out the disc and it was fine, then I tried again and it went smoothly

Sounds like something is wrong with the disc. I've only had one DVD behave in a similar manner to that. It was a rental copy of The Heartbreak Kid (SD) and it was like a section of the movie just wasn't there. The disc was in pristine condition too, and I was the first person to rent it.

C-c-c-c-c-combo!!!!!

Shaun of the Dead is not a combo. Perhaps you're thinking of Hot Fuzz?

The same thing happened to me on my A-3. About the same time into it. I cleaned it the other day but haven't played it again. Hopefully it will play correctly next time, or I will wait for a blu-ray realease and buy it again, the movie is worth it.

Shaun played fine for me. Hot Fuzz via Netflix screwed up, as did 90% of my (rented) combos. They are both great movies.

At least the US release is not a combo disc.

Anyway, I tried again, and it's still acting up at the same spot. This sounds like it could be a bad batch of discs... or the third gen Toshiba players. The discs surface is flawless.

Does anyone know if the same problem exists with the 3rd gens with the latest firmware?

Has anyone actually tried getting a replacement through Universal?


Thanks,
Kevin

I bought it last month at BB and the first disc had the same problem. I exchanged it at another BB and the second one was fine. I was using an A3 player.

C-c-c-c-c-combo!!!!!Yup, Shaun of the dead is the only combo disk that gives me trouble...incidentally, also in an A30. I haven't tried playing it in my XA2 yet though..

edit- I see now that it's not a combo...and now that I think about it, I had the movie before I got my Optifix Pro so I never cleaned it. I've heard that even new discs can have gunk left over from the manufacturing process that needs to be washed off..

Join the club!

I went through 3 copies of Shaun from my local best buy, and they all freaked out at just past the 90 min mark, on 3 different 3rd gen players. After the third, I finally swapped it for a different title. Incidentally, this is the only title I've had issues with, and NO, it's not a combo and cleaning doesn't help.

After some research, it seems many have had issues with the later pressings of this title on the 3rd gen machines, but reported perfect playability on 2nd gen or xbox drives. The earlier pressings are said to be better.

Just this morning, I ordered a copy of Shaun from Amazon (now $9.95), so I hope I get a playable one, this time.

The disc played without issue in my A35.

Seggers

My disc plays fine in my A3.

Just to confirm, 90 mins would be (the 1:30:00 mark) at the end where Shaun and the chick emerge from the basement, and the military trucks show up.

I bought it last month at BB and the first disc had the same problem. I exchanged it at another BB and the second one was fine. I was using an A3 player.

Basically the same thing here. Exchanged at the same BB and the second disc worked fine. A30.

Same thing here...bought it the other day from BB. Starts messing up at 1:30:40 in my new A35. Works fine in my A2 though. Tried it again in the A35 but no go. Guess I'll return this one and hopefully get one that works.

Just got back, and the new copy plays fine. Here's the difference between the two copies: If you look at the back, under the running time, is a series of numbers. The old copy ended in 061; the new one ends in 791. I grabbed it from the back of the pile of discs; the front had the 061 discs. I'm assuming it has to do with the different batches someone mentioned earlier. If you pick up the disc, try to get the 791 copy and see if that helps.

I have an 061 and it works flawlessly on my 3rd gen units

Thanks everyone for the replies. At least I won't go crazy trying to figure out why the disc won't play correctly.

I also happen to have one of the xbox hd drives hooked up to a computer, but don't currently have the necessary software to play back video (I'm in the middle of a rebuild of my mediacenter pc, so I will be able to soon). If my copy (061) plays fine on that, then I'll be content.

Cheers!

Tosh HD-A30, firmware 1.3, start chapter 34, end chapter 36, no problem found.

I ordered another copy from Amazon, figured why not cause it's super cheap. So, fingers crossed.

i get the same thing all three matrix movies on hd-dvd with my a30. screen will suddenly freeze, then unfreeze but audio will be gone, or it will just freeze dead. i have to press stop, play then go to scene selection and the exact same place where problem occurred will play fine this time around. :confused: first time ive had issues with the A30. disk are brand new and clean.

I am on my second copy of "Shaun of the Dead" from Amazon with the same problem.
A30 player. locks up during the soldier shooting scene.

Amazon is cool with the free postage for returns. I might try again, just for fun.

Chapter 35 froze on the A35, but played fine on the A2. Bummer.

my copy plays great on my HD-A1. It was a blind buy for me and unfortunately I can't say that I was all that impressed with the movie itself.

Join the club!

I went through 3 copies of Shaun from my local best buy, and they all freaked out at just past the 90 min mark, on 3 different 3rd gen players. After the third, I finally swapped it for a different title. Incidentally, this is the only title I've had issues with, and NO, it's not a combo and cleaning doesn't help.

After some research, it seems many have had issues with the later pressings of this title on the 3rd gen machines, but reported perfect playability on 2nd gen or xbox drives. The earlier pressings are said to be better.

Just this morning, I ordered a copy of Shaun from Amazon (now $9.95), so I hope I get a playable one, this time.

Ok, I just received my Amazon copy of Shaun. It's a "061" batch and sure enough, it also jacked up on Ch 35. So, I'm 4 for 4. I guess I'll have to return this one to Amazon, and try to locally find a "791", and see if it's better.

The one I ordered from Amazon a "061" batch froze at the 1:31mk. So I went to Best Buy found a "791" but the disc was off the spindle and scratched, so I got stuck with another "061", but this one played straight through with no problems.

I watched this movie over the weekend on my A3. It played all the way through with no problems at all. The disc came from Barnes & Noble, and I got it maybe a month ago.

Same problem for me at the 1:30 mark.
The disc is a new one from Amazon, player is XA2 with FW 2.2.
Not sure about the batch number on the disc...

I'm on my 3rd copy of this title from Best Buy, they have all locked up at 1:30 on 2 A30's(FW 1.3), an A35(FW 1.3), and now the refurbished XA2(FW 2.7) I got yesterday, they all played on my A2(FW 2.7) and my xbox drive.

Today I looked in persistent storage on my XA2 and there was an unknown provider entry, so I deleted it, now my copy of Shaun of the Dead plays fine. I have the 061 batch number.

I have the problem as well, A35, 061 batch. I tried deleting the unknown provider content but I still have the problem. I'm getting a replacement from Amazon so let's hope it works.

obviously something went wrong with this disc and i doubt anyone is going to bother to do anything about it now. i just got it from amazon and played it on my tosh A1 with the most recent software and it got stuck at 1:30. tried it a few times and it froze my player every time. i ordered a replacement and if that one does the same, i'm done with the movie. who needs this kind of junk?

btw, mine is from usa and is NOT a combo.

did anyone ever find a solution to this problem? I have an a35 and it freezes up just before the 90 minute mark, as i have a disc from the bad batch. I boiled the disc today, but it didn't help at all... I'll try boiling again, but am not expecting anything from it. I can skip forward, but obviously losing over a minute of the movie isn't exactly ideal.

061 plays fine here on a venturer (a3) w/ 4.0

I started having similar issues with combo discs on my A30 I bought this year; after selling off about 5 discs for the non-combo versions, Superman Returns wouldn't play combo or non-combo. I had the latest firmware, hacked fw back to the beginning and still no dice. Sold my A30, bought an A20 and have had zero issues since. I've had an A2 since the beginning with zero playback issues as well. From what I've heard, the 3rd gen is hit or miss. Good luck!

I haven't had any playback issues but after putting the movie on my HDD I noticed that it didn't go all the way to the edges of the screen. There is about a 1/4" of black on the sides on 24" computer monitor. I played the dvd version I also own side by side, I noticed that the image is slightly squished vertically as well: net is the aspect ratio is off (played via a variety of media players to validate). I put the disc in thinking it was the rip (thought I didn't covert the video) and played in TMT and noticed the same issue.

Can someone else on this thread take a look on a fixed pixel display/PC lcd (no overscan) to see if it goes edge to edge for you and if it doesn't seem ever so slightly off squished? (double points if you can put in the DVD as well to compare).