Well, well, well, my second burn worked!
I now have:

installed on the player, but guess what! I get colored blocks during the rolling credits at the end of "The Planet Of The Apes"! Both 1.8 and 1.9 are broken in this respect relative to 1.3!

Can anyone tell me what didn't work on 1.3 that does work on 1.8 or 1.9?

I tried cleaning my BD and no change. I then loaded 1.9 on my other player and got the identical colored blocking during the rolling credit symptom as on the first player. This doesn't occur on either player with 1.3.

Anybody else?

So did i burn it wrong? i went off of Samsungs website:confused:
When you load the new firmware CD-R, the player first reports it's verifying system firmware. When it finishes from a successful verify, it tells you the firmware ID (81121.1) and asks if you want to install it. If you select YES, it proceeds with installing all three firmware modules. If you don't see that exact behavior, then there is a problem and the new firmware is not being installed.

I tried cleaning my BD and no change. I then loaded 1.9 on my other player and got the identical colored blocking during the rolling credit symptom as on the first player. This doesn't occur on either player with 1.3.

Anybody else?

I don't have that movie to test. Is that at the beginning of the movie or the end (usually old movies had credits at the beginning but I can't remember)?

Sweet that we got another FW for this thing!!!
I'm burning the CD-R now.

Some kudos to Samsung! But, it did come a little late for me, I did change out the player in my theater.

I'll be anxious to read results with the new releases for sure.

I don't have that movie to test. Is that at the beginning of the movie or the end (usually old movies had credits at the beginning but I can't remember)?
Rolling credits are always at the end. Credits at the front are treated as a series of titles, they don't roll (or scroll if you prefer).

PS. It doesn't happen with all BD, eg "Total Recall" is fine. So far I've only tried those two BD with 1.8/1.9.

Rolling credits are always at the end. Credits at the front are treated as a serious of titles, they don't roll (or scroll if you prefer).

PS. It doesn't happen with all BD, eg "Total Recall" is fine. So far I've only tried those two BD with 1.8/1.9.

In that case it doesn't sound like a big deal. I'd stick with 1.9 because I think they have fixed a lot of other playback issues that you may run into if you don't.

All very well in theory, but I'm not yet aware of what works now, but didn't in my previous firmware revision (1.3). The only thing I'm currently certain of is a loss of functionality with a recent release title "The Planet Of The Apes." What are the clearly acknowledged gains? Judging from your response -- you probably don't know either!

Well the Bond films now work for one.

Seemless branching issues previously encountered, seemed fixed for me last night.
I was having some oddities with it on Close Encounters in particular.

I retired the player, so that was the only title I checked after updating.

Well the Bond films now work for one.
Aha! Please excuse my ignorance, but please tell me what the hdmi problem was with the Bond films -- I just picked up some of those :)!

I've tried the 1.9 firmware, clearing the cache, and a few other tricks that have worked with other stubborn discs like pressing stop during the load and hitting the disc menu button... Anyway, nothing seems to work for me on X-Files

I've tried the 1.9 firmware, clearing the cache, and a few other tricks that have worked with other stubborn discs like pressing stop during the load and hitting the disc menu button... Anyway, nothing seems to work for me on X-Files

No, it's not working on my BD-P1000 either. I'm currently on hold for Samsung to report the issue.

I've tried the 1.9 firmware, clearing the cache, and a few other tricks that have worked with other stubborn discs like pressing stop during the load and hitting the disc menu button... Anyway, nothing seems to work for me on X-Files

From what I've heard about the new X-Files, you're not missing much.

Yeah, it's horrible.

From what I've heard about the new X-Files, you're not missing much.

I've only seen the one from 10 years ago and I liked it a lot. I'm going to see the new one tonight.

Has anyone gotten the new Futurama Blu-ray to work?

Aha! Please excuse my ignorance, but please tell me what the hdmi problem was with the Bond films -- I just picked up some of those :)!

There are no problems using HDMI. Only component.

Has anyone successfully played "Horton Hears A Who!" via the component output? I updated to v1.9 and still get the "analog output restriction" message.

Has anyone successfully played "Horton Hears A Who!" via the component output? I updated to v1.9 and still get the "analog output restriction" message.

I have fw 1.8 on the 1000; I am using component and I am getting the same "analog output restriction" on ALL recent Fox releases that I've tried, including:

X-Files
Horton Hears a Who
Space Chimps
The Happening
Meet Dave
Super Troopers
(I haven't tried any of the Planet of the Apes or Bond movies yet)

It seems to me that Fox has decided to activate the prohibition against analog (component) video on all its BDs - I thought there was an agreement between the studios that they wouldn't do that until 2010(?)

I hate Fox

I have fw 1.8 on the 1000; I am using component and I am getting the same "analog output restriction" on ALL recent Fox releases that I've tried, including:

X-Files
Horton Hears a Who
Space Chimps
The Happening
Meet Dave
Super Troopers
(I haven't tried any of the Planet of the Apes or Bond movies yet)

It seems to me that Fox has decided to activate the prohibition against analog (component) video on all its BDs - I thought there was an agreement between the studios that they wouldn't do that until 2010(?)

I hate Fox

I heard the players were still suppose to play movies if this happend but downconverted. If this isn't so that is a real shaft to early HDTV adopters who do not have HDMI inputs.

Do the new fox titles play on this player with HDMI? I thought they didn't.

There are no problems using HDMI. Only component.OK, so it sounds like 1.8 and 1.9 may not offer any advantages over 1.3 for HDMI users. Perhaps I'll just go back to 1.3 and wait to hit a problem before trying 1.9 again. I don't like losing proper functionality without knowing I'm gaining something of greater value.

Seemless branching issues previously encountered, seemed fixed for me last night.
I was having some oddities with it on Close Encounters in particular.

I retired the player, so that was the only title I checked after updating.
A possible correction of seamless branching? I'll stick with 1.3 for now and see what shows up -- thanks :)!

PS. Went back to my cover-both-bases stance, one player on each revision -- makes it easier to compare if/when I hit anything :)!

I was an update behind, but I gave my BD-P1000 to my bro-in-law after I did the update, many discs do seem to play now that did not before. He has purchased a slew of them now and reports they all play, some load painfully slow he said though.

after I did the update, many discs do seem to play now that did not before.

On the other hand, now I have a Blu-ray disc (Run, Fat Boy, Run) that no longer plays after the last update.:mad:

Endless loading screen? Can you describe what happens when it does not play please?

Endless loading screen? Can you describe what happens when it does not play please?
My son has the P1000 now in his bedroom. He called me in when the disc wouldn't play. It woud take quite a long time to load and then spit it out with a message like - this disc cannot be played - or something similar. Several attempts at unplugging the unit and Cache clearing didn't help, yet it played when it was in my room and the disc still plays fine when I put it in my other player.

I was an update behind, but I gave my BD-P1000 to my bro-in-law after I did the update, many discs do seem to play now that did not before. He has purchased a slew of them now and reports they all play, some load painfully slow he said though.
Thanks John! Time'll tell, I thoroughly enjoyed my favorite Bond film on BD last night -- "Dr. No" :)! No problems of any sort on v1.3 with HDMI. Unfortunately, I don't watch a lot of films these days (though I've a sizable stack of both HD formats on hand.) Still, if I hit something, I'll report it :)!

PS. Read last night that "Gangs Of New York" BD was flubbed by Disney -- same master as the DVD! I bought a copy on a Towers sale since I was certain it would be spectacular, not to mention an improvement over the decent, but flawed SD DVD. Bummer :(!

Don't know if it was mentioned here earlier, but it seems Fox recently moved to a new BD+ on their titles -- one of them being my original "Planet Of The Apes." I guess with that kind of thing going on, it's not entirely surprising our players need updates occasionally. Interesting though that my old rev 1.3 firmware has no issues with that film :)!

Here is the current list: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1098170

Has anyone successfully played "Horton Hears A Who!" via the component output? I updated to v1.9 and still get the "analog output restriction" message.
Horton hears a who (and the other recent fox issues) dont play with component out on my bdp1000 (fw 1.9) or that of a freind I sent some discs to test, either. From others' comments (for example above in this thread) it seems to be an issue specific to this player rather than a blanket analogue restriction by fox, unless anyone knows different. Painful for those of us at the sharp end, nevertheless.

Chris

Philips bdp9000 has the same error, but is the same hardware internally.

I was behind on an update as well. Except for the newer titles, the fw is much better than the previous rev. I spent some time and loaded variety about 50 disc and they all work on first try. The discs that never loads properly still don't work. All of my sporadic hit and miss discs loads properly and every time now instead of giving me a read error.

Just popped in to say goodbye.
I finally pulled the trigger on a PS3 with a bluetooth remote (also considered the Panasonic BD35).

Wow... This thing is Sony's finest hour. Its load and access time times are absolutely without peer - often faster than regular DVD! Having a bluetooth remote helps this, and not having to aim the remote directly at the unit is also a blessing.

Of course there's also 24p, HD audio decoding, excellent upscaling, frequent online updates, a great menu system and the flexibilty of having a games machine/computer built in to the bargain.

I urge everyone here who is able to make the jump!

What did you find out from Samsung? I have updated to 1.9 and my x-files won't play either. Thanks.

Is all OK with rev 1.3?

I refuse to update the firmware on my player. It seems that the new firmware updates are doing more harm then good. I havent updated my player since the Pirates trilogy came out and I havent had any playback issues other then long load times.

I am based in the UK it is with regret but my BDP1000 will have to be retired as it unable to play any of the new BD Live discs such as The X Files even with the latest firmware.:(

Been a BDP-1000 owner for a long time now and I have had many problems with this player, not to mention super slow load times. Samsung should offer a big trade in rebate for an upgrade to a better player. This one is just a nightmare. New BD movie comes out and you have to keep your fingers crossed hoping that it will play without a new firmware update. So sick of this. Anyone else feel this way?:mad:

Been a BDP-1000 owner for a long time now and I have had many problems with this player, not to mention super slow load times. Samsung should offer a big trade in rebate for an upgrade to a better player. This one is just a nightmare. New BD movie comes out and you have to keep your fingers crossed hoping that it will play without a new firmware update. So sick of this. Anyone else feel this way?:mad:

Um...yes.

Thing is Samsung will simply never do this... end of story.

Finally got rid of my BD-P1000 back in December and got a PS3.
Couldn't be happier with it.

If you want a standalone, then either the Panasonic BD35 or BD55 is definitely the way to go.

I posted a spiel on the subject HERE ! (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=15696835#post15696835)

Same here. I got rid of mine back in July and got a PS3. Haven't had a problem since. I even picked a Sony 350 for the bedroom and it plays flawlessly.

Hmmm! Haven't hit a title that doesn't play yet, but there's certainly lots of titles I haven't tried. My most recent acquisitions tried are Ipcress File, Dr. No, The Fog (Carpenter), Zulu, and Earth and the Flying Saucers. Do the ones that fail tend to be a particular studio (like Fox)?

Hmmm! Haven't hit a title that doesn't play yet, but there's certainly lots of titles I haven't tried. My most recent acquisitions tried are Ipcress File, Dr. No, The Fog (Carpenter), Zulu, and Earth and the Flying Saucers. Do the ones that fail tend to be a particular studio (like Fox)?

Have you tried the latest X-Files title? I can't get that one to play.

Edit: I just called Samsung Technical Support and they just said to wait for the next firmware update. Nothing else they could do. Great, huh?

Well, unfortunately, that's not a title that interests me. I did spin the original "Planet Of The Apes" though -- no flaws with my 1.3 firmware. (Forgot to include that in my above list.) I've been picking up titles fairly regularly, mostly newer releases on price dips. If there's something else that doesn't play, I may have it.

ya, the 1.3 firware works great. It is slow, but all of my titles play to. It seems to be the best one to have at this point.

Rented X-Files and the loading animation spins endlessly, sounds like there is no fix yet.

the player is good because you can convert it to a US player with putting Us firmware in it it good for region B people It should work both ways, if you have a region A player and what a region B player just put uk firmware in it.

Well after who knows how many updates, some movies that would not play and others that would, and some that would after you ejected and put the disc back in I think this unit has bit the dust.

It has started producing what I can only describe as digital noice into random parts of movies, sort of random squares of noise that last anywhere from 15-45 seconds or more and occures through the whole movie, seems to be about every third movie we've tried to watch on the thing. I call it a done deal! Took it out back last night and gave it last rights :D

I went out and got the sony BDP-S550, and boy can I say it loads so much faster, that and the bitstream out for the HD audio is real nice. Makes me realize how underpowered this guy was, even though I have to say the player served me well, but I am glad I upgraded as I never realized how much of my life I was wasting trying to get this thing to play the movie I wanted to watch or finally giving up and saying to my wife, how about we just get the SD DVD from netflix in this title as it just doesn't like the Blu-ray.

Cheers to those of you who are still working with this dinosaur :rolleyes:

Sounds like your drive was giving up the ghost (I imagine DVD still played fine). A shame, but that does seem to be the bow out :(! As I understand, the 1G HD DVD players go bad that way as well.

Good to hear you're back online though, even if it is a different player :)!

Don't know if anybody here has tried the Digital Video Essentials blu-ray on this machine, but you have to see how slow the menu overlays work to believe it.

After using it on my PS3, I took it to a friend's place to calibrate, playing it on his BD-P1000. After only 30 seconds of cycling through the menus, he decided to replace the machine there and then.

Awww! I've got two of 'em -- love 'em both :)!

Has anybody had any joy playing the new X-files film on the Samsung, is there a firmware update that anyone knows of as my machine just will not play it.....Many thanks

Has anybody had any joy playing the new X-files film on the Samsung, is there a firmware update that anyone knows of as my machine just will not play it.....Many thanks

I've already contacted Samsung and they said to wait for the next update whenever that may be...

FYI- Philips has a newer firmware for the BDP9000, which essentially a clone of the BD-P1000. I have used the Samsung firmware on the Philips- I assume the Philips would work with the Samsung. You may want to try that.

does anyone know of a place where i can get the 1.3 version firmware? I can't find a place to dl it on the net anywhere.

sf49ersnfl - check your PM

I just bought a Samsung BDP-1000 on ebay for a good deal. My question is that even though it takes forever to load and has some issues playing newer discs Am I going to notice a picture/sound quality difference with a newer player?

(i'm using a 1080p 61" Samsung DLP (hlt6176s))

I just bought a Samsung BDP-1000 on ebay for a good deal. My question is that even though it takes forever to load and has some issues playing newer discs Am I going to notice a picture/sound quality difference with a newer player?

(i'm using a 1080p 61" Samsung DLP (hlt6176s))

There shouldn't be any difference in video quality I don't think. Just make sure you have the latest firmware update. I don't think there are that many compatibility problems, it just takes a while to load.

I have two BDP-1000 players and run firmware revision 1.3. I've yet to hit a disc that doesn't play (though admittedly, there are plenty I haven't tried), still, although it isn't always especially quick to load, I consider the picture and sound quality to be excellent :)!

I have two BDP-1000 players and run firmware revision 1.3. I've yet to hit a disc that doesn't play (though admittedly, there are plenty I haven't tried), still, although it isn't always especially quick to load, I consider the picture and sound quality to be excellent :)!

Have you compared the picture from your Samsung to any of the newer players? After dumping my 1000 and buying a Panasonic, I can definitely tell you there is a difference in the PQ. Just saying.

I'm not asserting the BDP-1000 provides the pinnacle of BD picture quality, but I do consider the PQ to be excellent. Until such time as I run into problems playing discs, I see little point in changing!

I'm not asserting the BDP-1000 provides the pinnacle of BD picture quality, but I do consider the PQ to be excellent. Until such time as I run into problems playing discs, I see little point in changing!

Nobody asked you to change. And it's great that you think the PQ you get is excellent. I thought the same too, until I bought something else.

Comparing the Samsung and the Panasonic(s) I have now, the difference is noticeable. The Samsung always delivered a soft picture and added a certain amount of grain to the equation. Colors weren't as vibrant either. Never realized it until I switched.

As far as playability problems, you must be the luckiest person on the face of the earth to not have any issues with that player. Nothing more frustrating than waiting 5 or more minutes for a disc to load, and only to get that "disc cannot be played' message appear on the screen.

Pretty sure the 1000 sort of cheats to give you 1080p. (I believe it converts to 1080i first)

PQ is pretty good, but there is a slight softness compared to most other players with a recent manufacture date.

Nobody asked you to change. And it's great that you think the PQ you get is excellent. I thought the same too, until I bought something else.

Comparing the Samsung and the Panasonic(s) I have now, the difference is noticeable. The Samsung always delivered a soft picture and added a certain amount of grain to the equation. Colors weren't as vibrant either. Never realized it until I switched.

As far as playability problems, you must be the luckiest person on the face of the earth to not have any issues with that player. Nothing more frustrating than waiting 5 or more minutes for a disc to load, and only to get that "disc cannot be played' message appear on the screen.
There seems to be a communication problem here. The HD pictures from all of these players are excellent compared to any other players, you then get down to the granularity of which HD picture on which player is superior to which. It reminds me of audio cables where you can purchase from a wide stratosphere of cables, all with differing shades of sonic quality.

As I said in my post "I'm not asserting the BDP-1000 provides the pinnacle of BD picture quality, but I do consider the PQ to be excellent. Until such time as I run into problems playing discs, I see little point in changing!" My point being that in my opinion, the picture is sufficiently excellent, that I personally wouldn't be concerned with upgrading. The "upgrading" concept being only presented as an indicator that I do indeed consider the picture to be of a high enough order to satisfy me. Please read again the first bolded sentence above -- it means exactly what I meant it to mean :)!

Also, please recognize that my post in no way criticizes you or anyone else who has moved on for whatever reasons to some other player. That has nothing to do with me and I won't lose any sleep over it. At such time that I become dissatisfied with my own players, I will be looking for replacements too! This is exactly my statement in the second bolded sentence above. Whatever you're reading into my post was not put there by me.

Pretty sure the 1000 sort of cheats to give you 1080p. (I believe it converts to 1080i first)

PQ is pretty good, but there is a slight softness compared to most other players with a recent manufacture date.

Yes, it extracts 1080i first, but that 1080i contains all the information necessary to recreate the original 1080p -- no information is lost due to that. Given the original release problem was a filter having been left at a fairly high setting, we know there's a filter present. They corrected that with a firmware update, but that doesn't mean they backed the filter all the way off -- perhaps just set it much lower.

As far as playability problems, you must be the luckiest person on the face of the earth to not have any issues with that player. Nothing more frustrating than waiting 5 or more minutes for a disc to load, and only to get that "disc cannot be played' message appear on the screen.
Hey dude -- peace! I can think of at least four possible reasons for my having fewer problems.

1) One player had a drive and main board replacement immediately after I got it (because it went belly up). The other was replaced by a PS3 not too long after the seller purchased it -- meaning, it was in near new condition.

2) The only discs I play on either player are BD. So, I'd expect that to slow down any age induced pickyness.

3) It's entirely possible I haven't tried to play the discs that have been a source of trouble. So far, every disc I've tried to play has played properly with rev 1.3 (only exception being one with surface damage -- took a little spotting though). However, I've had to unload and reload a disc on occasion. The only disc I'm aware of that causes trouble is the new X-Files film. Presumably there are others, but although I've asked, I still don't know them. As the new X-Files didn't interest me, I don't know if my players would have trouble or not.

4) The problem is specific to component playback, not HDMI.

On an associated note, I bought a sealed copy of Gothika HD DVD and couldn't play it on either my HDV-5000 or A-2 (both play my other HD DVD fine), but the sealed BD replacement played without a hickup :)! That's the first time I've gone BD due to problems with an HD DVD. I think the HD DVD was defective, but the Amazon seller says machine compatibility issues -- whatever!

I've got plenty of BD I've yet to try, and if there are other problem titles that I happen to have, I'll give them a whirl. I just won't buy titles soley to learn if they'll play OK!

New firmware posted today 4/15/09. I am at work, I will load this evening. I hope this solves the skipping issues I have had ever since the fireware update in December 2008. Player worked great up until then. I have two other BD players, I use this as the bedroom unit.

What does it fix?

Thanks for the tip :)!

2.0 BDP1000_XAA_090408.zip

http://www.samsung.com/us/support/download/supportDown.do?group=&type=blu_ray&subtype=blu_raydiscplayers&model_nm=BD-P1000&language=&cate_type=all&dType=D&mType=FM&vType=&prd_ia_cd=03020100&disp_nm=BD-P1000&model_cd=&menu=download

I installed the firmware update and "The X-Files I Want to Believe" still doesn't load. I then called Samsung and went to second level support (you wouldn't believe how little even 2nd level support knows about the BD-P1000) and they basically said that it may never work. I guess some movies require an internet connection and because the 1000 never had the ethernet input, it may never play some movies. Great huh? I will never buy another Samsung product again.

I guess some movies require an internet connection and because the 1000 never had the ethernet input, it may never play some movies. Great huh? I will never buy another Samsung product again.

AGREED!:mad:
Samsung is coming up with some lame excuses (including your above statement) as to why some Blu-ray discs may never play on the BD-P1000. My Panasonic BD55 has never been connected to the ethernet for anything and yet it plays every Blu-ray I own.

Samsung also has never answered why the player also will not play certain discs via component - out, putting the message on-screen:

"Due to current Analog Restriction Current setup cannot be displayed. To playback, please switch to HDMI output mode.":rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

That's totally BULL**** because the Studios DID NOT restrict the Analog video as these same Blu-ray discs will play fine with COMPONENT-OUT from players like the Panasonic DMP-BD55.:eek:

Paul

I guess some movies require an internet connection and because the 1000 never had the ethernet input, it may never play some movies. Great huh?
But if that's what they're saying, that's so ridiculous! No disc should "require" internet access, but at worst, the player firmware should easily be able to stub out disc internet requests if the supporting hardware (or internet connection for that matter) isn't present. That's not rocket science.

If there still isn't a solution for that disc problem, assuming it's common to all BDP-1000 players, then it suggests they've back burnered it. It's too bad they (among others) don't indicate what corrections are installed in new firmware releases. I'm just glad BDP-1000 firmware releases thus far (hopefuly also 2.0) are reversible -- some players don't allow returning to a previous revision. What other titles don't play properly on the BDP-1000? I only see X-Files mentioned.

Quick follow-up to the firmware post from yesterday. I did install the 4/15/09 update and I am happy to report the skipping issue that I incurred after the 12/08 update has been resolved. I tried four or five BD's (hit all major studios) and thankfully the issue that I was experiencing has been remedied. I don't have the X-Files disc, sorry. My BDP-1000 is back in business!!

I installed the v2.0 firmware with hope that my x files movies finally can be viewed and... Nothing but the same spining circle of dots, that's a lame... And we all know that samsung customers care are bad but I don't know if any of you realize that in the download center the new firmware is describe as: update v1.9(again???) and release date April 15th 2008!!! (step back in time), I just can say if samsung don't pay atention in these little things what we can expect from their updates:(

If a firmware upgrade failed due to power outage and the machine will now not start, is the only answer a factory repair ? As it's out of warranty, I think it will be going in the bin.... :(
John

Power failure during the writing phase of the update process is normally fatal -- that's why the player screen text warns not to kill the power.

Power failure during the writing phase of the update process is normally fatal -- that's why the player screen text warns not to kill the power.

Unfortunately the local electricity board killed power to the whole area for over 40 minutes :(

How does Samsung repair it ? New motherboard or forced update through a service port ?

John

Probably new motherboard.

Probably new motherboard.
Yes, probably a lot easier/quicker for the technician than replacing the flash chip.

I've updated the firmware to 2.0 and can gladly say that everything I throw at the unit seems to work great.. With the exception of menu's on Blu Rays not displaying properly. For example Wall-E works fine, but I can not access nor see additional features on the disc. Anyone know a fix or is this something we have to live with?

Does anyone know how long Samsung will continue to support the BD-P1000? Is 2.0 going to be the last firmware for it?

Does anyone know how long Samsung will continue to support the BD-P1000? Is 2.0 going to be the last firmware for it?

With the advances in computer firmware over the last few years and with the original price of this player being over $1000, Samsung should support this player as long as Bluray is a format.

Hi,

I've been following this thread because I'm having the same problems with the newer Blu-Ray discs not playing on my player. I've updated the firmware to the latest version from the Samsung website, but, I still get the message

"Due to current Analog Restriction Current setup cannot be displayed. To playback, please switch to HDMI output mode."


I thought that the latest firmware update would fix this, but no luck. Recent movies that I've had this problem with are "Quantum of Solace" and "The Wrestler". Some of you have said that other players don't have this issue. What I'm really wanting to know is whether this is an issue with my player, or, if I'm screwed because I don't have a HDMI input on my HD TV?

Thanks,
Jim

Hi,

I've been following this thread because I'm having the same problems with the newer Blu-Ray discs not playing on my player. I've updated the firmware to the latest version from the Samsung website, but, I still get the message

"Due to current Analog Restriction Current setup cannot be displayed. To playback, please switch to HDMI output mode."


I thought that the latest firmware update would fix this, but no luck. Recent movies that I've had this problem with are "Quantum of Solace" and "The Wrestler". Some of you have said that other players don't have this issue. What I'm really wanting to know is whether this is an issue with my player, or, if I'm screwed because I don't have a HDMI input on my HD TV?

Thanks,
Jim

I have an HDMI input to my TV and I still can't get some movies to play. Samsung was no help the couple of times I called.

Hi,

I've been following this thread because I'm having the same problems with the newer Blu-Ray discs not playing on my player. I've updated the firmware to the latest version from the Samsung website, but, I still get the message

"Due to current Analog Restriction Current setup cannot be displayed. To playback, please switch to HDMI output mode."


I thought that the latest firmware update would fix this, but no luck. Recent movies that I've had this problem with are "Quantum of Solace" and "The Wrestler". Some of you have said that other players don't have this issue. What I'm really wanting to know is whether this is an issue with my player, or, if I'm screwed because I don't have a HDMI input on my HD TV?

Thanks,
Jim

I had the same issue as you (like you, my HDTV is older and is without a HDMI input). The good news is that AFAIK it's an issue with this player.

It appears that recent Fox/MGM releases such as Quantum of Solace and The Wrestler has BD+, and 1000's using component outputs would get the "analog restriction" message.

I recently switched to a Sony 350 using component outputs and all of the Fox/MGM discs now play without a problem.

Thanks for the reply. Its good to know I'll still be able to use my HDTV, but, its disappointing that the player doesn't want to behave. Penalty of being an early adopter of new technology I guess.

Wondering if some one can help.

Updating to the latest 2.2 firmware and it seems to have frozen. Went through the initial screens ok and now seems to be stuck on the sub firmware update for over 2 hours.

What should I do?, try again?

Thx, Steve

With my BDP1000 no blu-ray disks will play smoothly. Everyone I put it in plays fine for about 10 minutes and then it skips. I have firmware 2.0 installed. Anyone have this problem?

I have had nothing but problems with this player since I bought it. Samsung should do a recall on this player and give us a refund. I bought it 4 years ago for over $600.00 and I feel like smashing it. Never again will I buy anything Samsung. :mad:

With my BDP1000 no blu-ray disks will play smoothly. Everyone I put it in plays fine for about 10 minutes and then it skips. I have firmware 2.0 installed. Anyone have this problem?

I have had nothing but problems with this player since I bought it. Samsung should do a recall on this player and give us a refund. I bought it 4 years ago for over $600.00 and I feel like smashing it. Never again will I buy anything Samsung. :mad:

You've been using your player for 4 years and it malfunctions, so you expect a recall and a refund? :confused: 4 years use from a modern piece of consumer electronics, at any price point, is pretty much par for the course. Have you tried updating to the most recent firmware? If that doesn't fix things, it's probably time for an upgrade. It may have cost you $600 when it was released, but ANY BD player on the market, even the $98 Magnavox from Wal-Mart, will be an upgrade.

With my BDP1000 no blu-ray disks will play smoothly. Everyone I put it in plays fine for about 10 minutes and then it skips. I have firmware 2.0 installed. Anyone have this problem?

I have had nothing but problems with this player since I bought it. Samsung should do a recall on this player and give us a refund. I bought it 4 years ago for over $600.00 and I feel like smashing it. Never again will I buy anything Samsung. :mad:
You've been using your player for 4 years and it malfunctions, so you expect a recall and a refund? :confused: 4 years use from a modern piece of consumer electronics, at any price point, is pretty much par for the course. Have you tried updating to the most recent firmware? If that doesn't fix things, it's probably time for an upgrade. It may have cost you $600 when it was released, but ANY BD player on the market, even the $98 Magnavox from Wal-Mart, will be an upgrade.
My sentiments are with Marinecop.

Samsung has seemed to drag their feet on updating this unit with bare-minimum software while not keeping the consumer informed of the problems involved.

He was lucky to pay $600.00 as a number of initial purchasers paid the full $1,000.00 price. Samsung could have taken the time to inform the consumer if there truly was an unfixable problem and not let us think they didn't just want to spend the money on research and development like Sony did with the Playstation 3.

Paul

My sentiments are with Marinecop.

Samsung has seemed to drag their feet on updating this unit with bare-minimum software while not keeping the consumer informed of the problems involved.

He was lucky to pay $600.00 as a number of initial purchasers paid the full $1,000.00 price. Samsung could have taken the time to inform the consumer if there truly was an unfixable problem and not let us think they didn't just want to spend the money on research and development like Sony did with the Playstation 3.

Paul

Samsung's update practice are far from the best, no doubt, but that doesn't mean a 4 year old player malfunctioning merits the kind of angst Marinecop presented.

You've been using your player for 4 years and it malfunctions, so you expect a recall and a refund? :confused: 4 years use from a modern piece of consumer electronics, at any price point, is pretty much par for the course. Have you tried updating to the most recent firmware? If that doesn't fix things, it's probably time for an upgrade. It may have cost you $600 when it was released, but ANY BD player on the market, even the $98 Magnavox from Wal-Mart, will be an upgrade.

The player has been malfunctioning since day one. Buy a new blu-ray and it won't play. Then I look on here and people say the same thing. Wait for a firmware update to play the movie after owning the movie for a few weeks. I can't count how many times I have run into that problem. Now it skips with every movie. I am not a rich person that can go out and buy a new player. I have old dvd players that have lasted me 10+ years with no problems.

If it malfunctioned from day one, why did you not return it? Did you make any attempts to have it repaired under warranty? I'm not a rich person either, but I think I'd get my money back or have it repaired before I'd just put up with that kind of issue for that amount of time. I've used my P1000 with at least 200 BD discs through Netflix, and I've had a grand total of 3 that would not play properly with the most recent firmware.

There are always going to be glitches and growing pains with early adoption. Sounds like you got a dud but maybe didn't take the appropriate actions to either get it repaired or get your money back.

If it malfunctioned from day one, why did you not return it? Did you make any attempts to have it repaired under warranty? I'm not a rich person either, but I think I'd get my money back or have it repaired before I'd just put up with that kind of issue for that amount of time. I've used my P1000 with at least 200 BD discs through Netflix, and I've had a grand total of 3 that would not play properly with the most recent firmware.

There are always going to be glitches and growing pains with early adoption. Sounds like you got a dud but maybe didn't take the appropriate actions to either get it repaired or get your money back.

I did not take it back because the firmware updates fixed the problem for the specific blu-ray disc playback problems. According to this site and others, everyone would tell me you need a firmware update to play the specific title and Samsung is working on fixing the problem with the next firmware update. Then I would update it and the movie would play. A couple of months later a new movie and then the same problem. It was not just my player, but many others that had the same problem. I mean who the hell wants to buy a new blu-ray disc and worry about whether or not your blu-ray player will play it or not??? What kind of company would let this ******** happen. Now it skips after four years with update 2.0, but it plays normal dvds just fine. I have a Sony SXRD 50" with a Monster HDMI cable so it can't be my set up, but it has to be my player that is causing the problem. This is just an endless headache with this player. I knew I should have gone with Sony. :mad:

It sounds like you have two different problems... one with the the firmware support, the other with a laser malfunction after 4 years of use. I'd say your firmware complaints are mostly valid but you're talking about the very first BD player... there are going to be growing pains when you're an early adopter. As for your recent malfunction... seriously? 4 years of use from a piece of consumer electronics with moving parts seems about par for the course. They don't make 'em like they used to... but does anyone?

No advice for my skipping problem? I can't watch any blu-ray DVD's at all.

Called Samsung today and told them my problem. They said that they aware of the issues with the BDP-1000, but they can't do anything about it. They said I could send it to them for a repair, which would cost me $160.00???:mad: Their warranty is only one year and then three months for labor. WTF? I will never, ever buy a Samsung product again. I hope that company goes under. Boycott Samsung.

You got 4 years of use out of it... the warranty expired... it happens. With the prices you can probably get from the PX (assuming you're active duty or reserve) you're definitely better of upgrading than repairing.

Called Samsung today and told them my problem. They said that they aware of the issues with the BDP-1000, but they can't do anything about it. They said I could send it to them for a repair, which would cost me $160.00???:mad: Their warranty is only one year and then three months for labor. WTF? I will never, ever buy a Samsung product again. I hope that company goes under. Boycott Samsung.

Plenty of reasons to hate Samsung, but this one is probably not one of them in all honesty.

You got 4 years of use out of it... the warranty expired... it happens. With the prices you can probably get from the PX (assuming you're active duty or reserve) you're definitely better of upgrading than repairing.

I don't think 4 years is a long enough time to expect a DVD/Blu-ray player to work considering my first DVD player from 1999 is still working.

I would expect a longer life as well... but I wouldn't throw a fit and boycott a company if a failure occurred in that time frame.

Welcome to electronics in the new mellinnium(sp?)
Everything is designed for 5 years of average life these days.

It will be more rare and more rare to have something last 10 years going forward.

Not sure what else to say on it. It has malfuntioned, it is out of warranty.

Best of luck with your new player.

Anybody here watched the "Watchmen" BD? ("Director's Cut")

I've never seen the film before and just watched it a few nights ago (used). I noticed there are six or more segments seemingly repeated verbatim (including the two opening segments, first with the logos and smiley badge, second with the panel questioning). I checked the time code on the player and it did indeed back up and replay each time (seamlessly, no signs of disc reading difficulty). Each segment appeared longer duration than the previous with the last repeat being very long indeed (included the prison breakout).

Three of the segment end times that repeated are aprox 12min, 22min, and 28min as I recall. However, each segment only repeated once, and then the film proceeded. Is this normal for the Director's Cut, or is this my player acting up? Also, if normal, does the theatrical version do the same, or do these repeated segments pretty much comprise the added film length?

Thanks -- Trevor

Got my answer, the repeat behavior is not normal, so apparently it's a compatibility issue with the BD-P1000. Guess I'll just have to skip forward next time I play the disc.

I saw the same thing, it was the deciding factor for my PS3 purchase.

Thanks, it's nice to know it's not just me :)! I'll eventually break down and get a newer player, but since I've two of these, and this is my first significant complication, and I was still able to view the entire film, I think I'll bide my time. Other recent films seem to play OK (so far as I've tried, that is) and there's no question, I'm a cheap bastard :)!

I was just noticing the Panasonic BD-80 is available on Amazon for a pretty decent price. Has anyone compared the analog audio outputs to those of the BD-P1000? If the quality is at least similar, I'm thinking that could make a good upgrade. I just wouldn't want the RCA output sound quality to go in the other direction :(!

Can anyone help me on this?

Firmware 2.1 is out. At least for Europe. Should be available to others also...

Wow -- that's great :)! Thanks for posting!

Here's hoping someone shares whatever benefits it provides (and/or problems). I'm still running 1.3 (tried 1.8 but wasn't satisfied); however, four titles I've tried have difficulty -- worst being "Leatherheads" which won't play at all on the BD-P1000.

I was just noticing the Panasonic BD-80 is available on Amazon for a pretty decent price. Has anyone compared the analog audio outputs to those of the BD-P1000? If the quality is at least similar, I'm thinking that could make a good upgrade. I just wouldn't want the RCA output sound quality to go in the other direction :(!

Can anyone help me on this?
FWIW -- I picked up a demo Pioneer BDP-51FD. Works fine so far for the occasional title my BD-P1000 stumbles with, an infrequent problem. The Samsung remains my BD workhorse :)!

the player is good because you can convert it to a US player with putting Us firmware in it it good for region B people It should work both ways, if you have a region A player and what a region B player just put uk firmware in it.

Sorry region A upgraded to region B doesnt work. I tried it.

It up grades OK but when you play a disk the output is very strange Almost like its interpreting lines. Lots of line jaggies.

THEN when you go to change it back it will only change region on BD disks and not DVD.

It was a nightmare, Took me hours to get it back to region A as I had to download and update to the first software version which changed both BD and DVD regions. Then reupgrade to the current version.

Dont bother doing this.

If you look back at my old posts from 2-3 years ago there is a very good explaination of the issues.

Personally, I wouldn't seriously consider installing firmware for a different region -- just not that brave. Very glad to hear you were able to fight your way back :)!

I'm just hoping region "B" people will report on the efficacy of the new firmware. If there are recognizeable gains to be had, I'll be watching for the region "A" release. Can you share the FW revision that heals the DVD region divide?

This is an accounting of my odyssey in dealing with Samsung about one of their awful bluray players.

My parents who are elderly purchased a Samsung BD-P1000 Bluray player in the late fall of 2006 in conjunction with the purchase of a Sony XBR LCD TV. The salesperson gave them the big spiel on Bluray and why they needed to have it and how he’d cut them a heck of a deal by knocking 50% off the price of the latest and greatest. The retail on this piece of garbage was $1,000. They paid a whopping $500!

Fast forward to this Christmas. As one of their Christmas gifts, I gave them a Bluray version of Public Enemies. They said, “I hope it plays in our player.” I asked why they wondered that. They proceed to tell me that many, if not all, bluray disks do not play in their player. They’d gotten so frustrated that they told Netflix to not send them blurays any longer; only DVDs. I said that they probably just needed to update their firmware and that I would look it up, prepare the disk and install it for them. I did that. After the firmware update, I put Public Enemies in the tray. “This disk cannot be used.” I put in Master and Commander. “This disk cannot be used.” I put in A Bridge too Far. “This disk cannot be used.” I put in The Dark Knight. “This disk cannot be used.” See a pattern here?

I went to do some research and found out that the BD-P1000 was designed to only read single layer (25G) bluray disks not dual layer (50G) disks and that no firmware update was going to fix this MAJOR design flaw. I was incensed. Here is a huge corporation selling over-priced, flawed technology to people who didn’t know any better. Additionally, I was confident that the Uniform Commercial Code’s (UCC) section on Implied Warranty of Merchantability (IWM) was being violated. In essence, isn’t it a reasonable expectation of the consumer that something performs the task for which it was designed for a reasonable period of time? The period of time of that expectation correlates to the cost of the item. So, for a $1,000 bluray player, shouldn’t it be expected to play bluray disks for a period longer than three years? I certainly believed so.

I contacted Samsung Customer Service (just the standard number on the web site) and told them the problem and mentioned the UCC IWM. I was told that the player should be sent in for repair but that since it was out of warranty, my parents would be charged for the repair. Repair!? I told them that the player is not broken, it has a design flaw that makes it unfit for the purpose for which it was designed and marketed. “I’m sorry sir, but that is all we can do.” I say, “Well, I don’t think you understand. I guess I will have to speak to a supervisor.” They put me on hold (they did this many times for many minutes at a time. Of course, they’re hoping that you get frustrated, give up and go away). After several minutes, I was told to contact Executive Support. Whoa! Now I’m getting somewhere, right?

Not! So, I contacted the 800 number for Executive Support. I have to go through the entire story, all of the same steps I went through with general support and get told that the player has to be sent in for repair. I say, “No, it does not need repair. It needs replacement because it won’t play blurays; no way, no how.” I am told to provide the serial and model numbers and he will get back to me. A week goes by. I’ve emailed the rep a few times asking for a response. I finally get a response that the rep has been out sick and that he’s working on the problem now. Later that day I get an email saying the system will not take the serial number. Can I reconfirm the number and send it again. I do. It still won’t go. The system is saying that it is an invalid serial number. I take a freakin’ picture of the serial number plate with my Blackberry and email it to him. Three days later I get an email saying he’s still working on the problem. 10 days! after I sent the picture, I get an email saying he will call me later that day. He calls to tell me that they have to have it in for repair but since it is out of warranty my parents will have to pay for the repair. WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO FREAKIN’ REPAIR!? I say this is totally unacceptable and that I need to be escalated to the next level of supervision. “Okay, I will get a supervisor for you. May I put you on hold?” I wait five minutes to have him come back on the line and say that all of his supervisors are in a meeting but that one will call me later.

Next day, still no call from said supervisor. I email the contact. The supervisor will call in 24 – 48 hours. Okay, so here I am, three weeks into this process and I’ve made NO PROGRESS! I’m beginning to get PO’d. Well, actually, I was PO’d at many points during this process but now I’m really mad. I do some more research and find that there is at least one class-action suit (in New Jersey) regarding this same issue (citing the UCC IWM, by the way). I also find a case where an industrious consumer who found the name and email address of a high-level executive and told him of his troubles. He got a replacement!

I call back to Executive Support and give them my case number and say that a supervisor was supposed to contact me and that I’ve never heard from a supervisor. Basically, I get the runaround and am finally told that I’m at the end. If I don’t like it, I can write the CEO of Customer Service. No email. Snail mail only. Too bad, so sad. “Have a nice day, sir.” Okay, time for more sleuthing.

I find the Holy Grail in a google search. Tier 3 support! I call the number and get real person answering the phone on like the second ring. I tell the entire story, mention the UCC IWM, the class-action suit, the example of someone that received a replacement (dropped the word discrimination), etc. After the story, the first words out of the rep’s mouth are “Where did you get this number?” LOL!!! I told him that I’m a pretty good detective. I am put on hold for about two minutes. He comes back and says that since they are not updating the firmware and the player won’t play blurays, they are obligated to replace the player with a refurbished unit (they offer a 1590 or 1600; whatever they have in stock). I said, I don’t care what it is so long as it plays bluray disks.

Yesterday I received the replacement player and the UPS tag to return their 1000! I’ve installed the player and they are now able to play the disks that have been sitting around their home collecting dust. I feel vindicated yet angry that this much time and effort had to be expended to make some elderly people whole from their large investment such a short time ago. Samsung (they’ve earned their nickname, SamSUCK, in my book) has no conscience. They hope you go away. They know that if they stall long enough, make it hard enough, etc. that most everyone will give up and just buy more crap from them. Well, I say, DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT! Stick to your guns and use the tools below to get them to back up their products. They only thing is start at Tier 1, and jump through the hoops building your case as you go. If you jump straight to Tier 3 they’ll just close up shop, change the number and deny your claim.

Summary—
Total time from first contact to receipt of replacement is 25 days.
Tier 1 support—800-747-5618
Tier 2 “Executive Support” (what a joke that name is!)—800-522-7341
Tier 3 Case Management—888-685-1358

Stephen Hopkins' attitude is what SamSUCK is counting on. I'm sorry, but when you spend this much on an item it should perform longer than three and a half years (it isn't four yet...not until June or July).

I feel for you and have had some problems with LG and one of it's newer players (BD390). It wouldn't play my own authored blu-ray disks. The disks did play on my Samsung 1400, my Panasonic BD35 and my cheapo Magnovox players but not the LG. I finally sent an email to the President of LG USA and they finally agreed to buy back the player for what I paid for it. It probably took longer than 25 days including all the chats, emails and phone calls that I had prior to contacting the president.

PS. I gave my BDP-1000 to my brother but he never buys or rents blu-ray disks so don't think he's had issues with it yet.

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a consumer electronics device to last 3, 4, 5, or more years. I also don't think a federal case should be made if it doesn't. It's the disproportional anger that people are throwing around that I don't understand. It's a CE device from a mid-tier manufacturer and a new technology at that. Expecting it to last is understandable. Lambasting an entire company when it doesn't is a bit much.

I'm all for principles, but I'm a pragmatist as well, and replacing a P1000 with something 10 times better (in terms of scaling, speed, streaming, codec support, networking, etc) can cost as little as $100 right now. Is that really worth the effort of trolling and crusading when you're going to end up with a much more capable device anyway?

For what it's worth my BD-P1000 played BD50s with no problem. For example I remember doing a Harry Potter marathon and all of the releases that were available at the time were BD50s. So I'm not sure where the dual layer problem comes from. Never heard of that being a problem.

There were some releases from specific studios that gave it problems (can't remember if it was MGM, Fox or Lions Gate at the moment). If I remember correctly the first few Bond releases would not play on the P1000. But a firmware update fixed that.

If a BD player has a problem reading multiple BDs the problem is most likely a bad optical drive. A failure of the blu laser. DVDs will play fine because the red laser is still working. Sometime this is reversed. A red laser will go bad and the player will not play DVDs. Either way an optical drive swap will usually fix the problem.

I paid $230 for a referb and sold it a year and a half later for $150.

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a consumer electronics device to last 3, 4, 5, or more years. I also don't think a federal case should be made if it doesn't.

Then you're in disagreement with the Uniform Commerical Code (and the class-action suit in New Jersey).

It's the disproportional anger that people are throwing around that I don't understand. It's a CE device from a mid-tier manufacturer and a new technology at that. Expecting it to last is understandable. Lambasting an entire company when it doesn't is a bit much.

When the company stands behind the product for some and not others and makes you jump through hoops to get the service that they're ultimately willing to give deserves lambasting. PERIOD.

I'm all for principles, but I'm a pragmatist as well, and replacing a P1000 with something 10 times better (in terms of scaling, speed, streaming, codec support, networking, etc) can cost as little as $100 right now. Is that really worth the effort of trolling and crusading when you're going to end up with a much more capable device anyway?

What you're saying is that you're willing to take it where the sun doesn't shine if the company that you're dealing with is telling you to do that. That's not pragmatism, that's being weak and not standing up for your principles. Why should people have to spend more $$$ for something they should already have. P. S. You ever consider the fact that elderly people don't really give a crap about streaming video? They just want to watch their disks.

I'm not trolling by the way, I'm sharing my experience in the hopes of helping others deal with the same or similar problem. To portray that as trolling is offensive.

I am willing to forgive Samsung on this product.
Rushed out the door to literally save the Bluray format.


Not sure what else to say. If it lasted past the warranty your a head of many that purchased this product in all honesty.

...

Here, here!!!

Here, here!!!

Perhaps.

But you do realize that the argument that the P1000 could only play BD25s is a false premise. BD50s played fine on my P1000. So the rant loses much of its thunder. Much of its credibility.

I agree with JohnnDenver on this. The P1000 was in fact rushed to market. It was a profile 1.0 player. It was priced high as all early adopter technology typically is.

And I also remember my first DVD player which was priced around $600. When seamless branching emerged the player choked. I didn't go into a tirade as a result. I moved on. To reasonably priced DVD players that could handle seamless branching.

It happens. It's the way things work especially when considering one of the first players released for a brand new format. Class action lawsuits? There was a time when I thought my x286 cpu was overkill. It turned out not to be. And it wasn't cheap.

This is an accounting of my odyssey in dealing with Samsung about one of their awful bluray players.

My parents who are elderly purchased a Samsung BD-P1000 Bluray player in the late fall of 2006 in conjunction with the purchase of a Sony XBR LCD TV. The salesperson gave them the big spiel on Bluray and why they needed to have it and how he’d cut them a heck of a deal by knocking 50% off the price of the latest and greatest. The retail on this piece of garbage was $1,000. They paid a whopping $500!

Fast forward to this Christmas. As one of their Christmas gifts, I gave them a Bluray version of Public Enemies. They said, “I hope it plays in our player.” I asked why they wondered that. They proceed to tell me that many, if not all, bluray disks do not play in their player. They’d gotten so frustrated that they told Netflix to not send them blurays any longer; only DVDs. I said that they probably just needed to update their firmware and that I would look it up, prepare the disk and install it for them. I did that. After the firmware update, I put Public Enemies in the tray. “This disk cannot be used.” I put in Master and Commander. “This disk cannot be used.” I put in A Bridge too Far. “This disk cannot be used.” I put in The Dark Knight. “This disk cannot be used.” See a pattern here?

I went to do some research and found out that the BD-P1000 was designed to only read single layer (25G) bluray disks not dual layer (50G) disks and that no firmware update was going to fix this MAJOR design flaw. I was incensed. Here is a huge corporation selling over-priced, flawed technology to people who didn’t know any better. Additionally, I was confident that the Uniform Commercial Code’s (UCC) section on Implied Warranty of Merchantability (IWM) was being violated. In essence, isn’t it a reasonable expectation of the consumer that something performs the task for which it was designed for a reasonable period of time? The period of time of that expectation correlates to the cost of the item. So, for a $1,000 bluray player, shouldn’t it be expected to play bluray disks for a period longer than three years? I certainly believed so.

I contacted Samsung Customer Service (just the standard number on the web site) and told them the problem and mentioned the UCC IWM. I was told that the player should be sent in for repair but that since it was out of warranty, my parents would be charged for the repair. Repair!? I told them that the player is not broken, it has a design flaw that makes it unfit for the purpose for which it was designed and marketed. “I’m sorry sir, but that is all we can do.” I say, “Well, I don’t think you understand. I guess I will have to speak to a supervisor.” They put me on hold (they did this many times for many minutes at a time. Of course, they’re hoping that you get frustrated, give up and go away). After several minutes, I was told to contact Executive Support. Whoa! Now I’m getting somewhere, right?

Not! So, I contacted the 800 number for Executive Support. I have to go through the entire story, all of the same steps I went through with general support and get told that the player has to be sent in for repair. I say, “No, it does not need repair. It needs replacement because it won’t play blurays; no way, no how.” I am told to provide the serial and model numbers and he will get back to me. A week goes by. I’ve emailed the rep a few times asking for a response. I finally get a response that the rep has been out sick and that he’s working on the problem now. Later that day I get an email saying the system will not take the serial number. Can I reconfirm the number and send it again. I do. It still won’t go. The system is saying that it is an invalid serial number. I take a freakin’ picture of the serial number plate with my Blackberry and email it to him. Three days later I get an email saying he’s still working on the problem. 10 days! after I sent the picture, I get an email saying he will call me later that day. He calls to tell me that they have to have it in for repair but since it is out of warranty my parents will have to pay for the repair. WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO FREAKIN’ REPAIR!? I say this is totally unacceptable and that I need to be escalated to the next level of supervision. “Okay, I will get a supervisor for you. May I put you on hold?” I wait five minutes to have him come back on the line and say that all of his supervisors are in a meeting but that one will call me later.

Next day, still no call from said supervisor. I email the contact. The supervisor will call in 24 – 48 hours. Okay, so here I am, three weeks into this process and I’ve made NO PROGRESS! I’m beginning to get PO’d. Well, actually, I was PO’d at many points during this process but now I’m really mad. I do some more research and find that there is at least one class-action suit (in New Jersey) regarding this same issue (citing the UCC IWM, by the way). I also find a case where an industrious consumer who found the name and email address of a high-level executive and told him of his troubles. He got a replacement!

I call back to Executive Support and give them my case number and say that a supervisor was supposed to contact me and that I’ve never heard from a supervisor. Basically, I get the runaround and am finally told that I’m at the end. If I don’t like it, I can write the CEO of Customer Service. No email. Snail mail only. Too bad, so sad. “Have a nice day, sir.” Okay, time for more sleuthing.

I find the Holy Grail in a google search. Tier 3 support! I call the number and get real person answering the phone on like the second ring. I tell the entire story, mention the UCC IWM, the class-action suit, the example of someone that received a replacement (dropped the word discrimination), etc. After the story, the first words out of the rep’s mouth are “Where did you get this number?” LOL!!! I told him that I’m a pretty good detective. I am put on hold for about two minutes. He comes back and says that since they are not updating the firmware and the player won’t play blurays, they are obligated to replace the player with a refurbished unit (they offer a 1590 or 1600; whatever they have in stock). I said, I don’t care what it is so long as it plays bluray disks.

Yesterday I received the replacement player and the UPS tag to return their 1000! I’ve installed the player and they are now able to play the disks that have been sitting around their home collecting dust. I feel vindicated yet angry that this much time and effort had to be expended to make some elderly people whole from their large investment such a short time ago. Samsung (they’ve earned their nickname, SamSUCK, in my book) has no conscience. They hope you go away. They know that if they stall long enough, make it hard enough, etc. that most everyone will give up and just buy more crap from them. Well, I say, DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH IT! Stick to your guns and use the tools below to get them to back up their products. They only thing is start at Tier 1, and jump through the hoops building your case as you go. If you jump straight to Tier 3 they’ll just close up shop, change the number and deny your claim.

Summary—
Total time from first contact to receipt of replacement is 25 days.
Tier 1 support—800-747-5618
Tier 2 “Executive Support” (what a joke that name is!)—800-522-7341
Tier 3 Case Management—888-685-1358

The BD-P1000 would not play BD discs via standard resolution outputs. Meaning the standard resolution outputs (s-video and composite) were restricted when playing a BD disc. Only DVDs could be played when using s-video or composite outputs.

An alert would come up when attempting to play a BD via s-video or composite outputs which sounds very similar to your complaint.

The alert went something like "This disc cannot be played at this resolution". Or something very similar.

My parents have this player and it plays BD50s just fine. In fact, with the latest firmware update it plays everything fine.

My parents have this player and it plays BD50s just fine. In fact, with the latest firmware update it plays everything fine.

My guess is that if one follows the "Quick Set Up Guide" we would all agree.

I agree.

My guess is that if one follows the "Quick Set Up Guide" we would all agree.

I agree.

Absolutely NOT with my parents' player. And, I'm no neophite to this stuff. I have a Pioneer Elite (my third HD TV) that I installed myself (wires in wall, etc.). I've set up three other home theaters for family and friends. I've updated a number of components' firmware, etc.

This player does not, cannot and will not play virtually any bluray disk that was produced in the past year maybe two. I don't know what's going on with yours but this one does not even with the latest and greatest firmware (installed and verfified). And, to top it off, SAMSUNG ADMITTED THAT when I spoke with Case Management. Maybe it's when it was produced that makes a difference. I do know that the manufacture date of this one was July 2006. To stand there and accuse me of not knowing what I'm speaking of is ridiculous.

The BD-P1000 would not play BD discs via standard resolution outputs. Meaning the standard resolution outputs (s-video and composite) were restricted when playing a BD disc. Only DVDs could be played when using s-video or composite outputs.

An alert would come up when attempting to play a BD via s-video or composite outputs which sounds very similar to your complaint.

The alert went something like "This disc cannot be played at this resolution". Or something very similar.

Well, since it is connected via HDMI, that doesn't apply. Also, you will note that it DID read blurays just not newer blurays.

Perhaps.

But you do realize that the argument that the P1000 could only play BD25s is a false premise. BD50s played fine on my P1000. So the rant loses much of its thunder. Much of its credibility.

I agree with JohnnDenver on this. The P1000 was in fact rushed to market. It was a profile 1.0 player. It was priced high as all early adopter technology typically is.

And I also remember my first DVD player which was priced around $600. When seamless branching emerged the player choked. I didn't go into a tirade as a result. I moved on. To reasonably priced DVD players that could handle seamless branching.

It happens. It's the way things work especially when considering one of the first players released for a brand new format. Class action lawsuits? There was a time when I thought my x286 cpu was overkill. It turned out not to be. And it wasn't cheap.

I was agreeing with tvshopper in principle and not for one specific arguement about whether it plays BD50's or not.

Absolutely NOT with my parents' player. And, I'm no neophite to this stuff. I have a Pioneer Elite (my third HD TV) that I installed myself (wires in wall, etc.). I've set up three other home theaters for family and friends. I've updated a number of components' firmware, etc.

This player does not, cannot and will not play virtually any bluray disk that was produced in the past year maybe two. I don't know what's going on with yours but this one does not even with the latest and greatest firmware (installed and verfified). And, to top it off, SAMSUNG ADMITTED THAT when I spoke with Case Management. Maybe it's when it was produced that makes a difference. I do know that the manufacture date of this one was July 2006. To stand there and accuse me of not knowing what I'm speaking of is ridiculous.

Obviously their player has a bad optical drive. However, I wanted to let anyone else reading this thread know that it is not correct that these players cannot play BD50. Samsung support is clueless if they told you that. BD50s have been out since the beginning of the format and even profile 1.0 players are required to play them.

If the player is working properly it should be able to play most everything, if not everything out. One disc my parents player had a problem with was one of the Bond discs, but thats because it was an authoring error and was the movie studio's fault. Samsung released a firmware update and it plays fine now.

However, I wanted to let anyone else reading this thread know that it is not correct that these players cannot play BD50.

Read this....

http://hd.engadget.com/2006/08/29/samsung-bd-p1000-and-50gb-blu-ray-incompatibility-rumors-continue/

Go through this forum...

http://forums.highdefdigest.com/blu-ray-hardware-general-discussion/62157-sad-but-true-story-my-increasingly-useless-samsung-bd-p1000.html

My point is that your player is the exception, not the rule. I'm also curious. Why defend Samsung? It is well documented that a number of their products have been less than stellar and their customer service has been notoriously bad FOREVER!

I'd rate Samsung support at average for the entire industry these days.

Only real defense of Samsung is that they saved Blu-ray with this player. I owned one for quite a while. Of course, mine was a bay special so I did not pay a lot for it, that helps ease the attitude towards it for me.

This is an accounting of my odyssey in dealing with Samsung about one of their awful bluray players.

My parents who are elderly purchased a Samsung BD-P1000 Bluray player in the late fall of 2006 in conjunction with the purchase of a Sony XBR LCD TV. The salesperson gave them the big spiel on Bluray and why they needed to have it and how he’d cut them a heck of a deal by knocking 50% off the price of the latest and greatest. The retail on this piece of garbage was $1,000. They paid a whopping $500!

Fast forward to this Christmas. As one of their Christmas gifts, I gave them a Bluray version of Public Enemies. They said, “I hope it plays in our player.” I asked why they wondered that. They proceed to tell me that many, if not all, bluray disks do not play in their player. They’d gotten so frustrated that they told Netflix to not send them blurays any longer; only DVDs. I said that they probably just needed to update their firmware and that I would look it up, prepare the disk and install it for them. I did that. After the firmware update, I put Public Enemies in the tray. “This disk cannot be used.” I put in Master and Commander. “This disk cannot be used.” I put in A Bridge too Far. “This disk cannot be used.” I put in The Dark Knight. “This disk cannot be used.” See a pattern here?

I went to do some research and found out that the BD-P1000 was designed to only read single layer (25G) bluray disks not dual layer (50G) disks and that no firmware update was going to fix this MAJOR design flaw. I was incensed.
FWIW -- I have two BDP-1000 players and generally speaking, they play BD50 disks just fine. What you're saying is totally foreign to me. The only issue I'm aware of is BD+ and that seems to be something of a hit or miss, fortunately, mostly hit :)!

I wonder if there will ever be another firmware update for the BD-P1000?

I bought mine a little over two years ago, and it ran beautifully for the first year. I never had the problems that other people experienced - it played every disc flawlessly.

Unfortunately, Samsung has not released a firmware update for it in over a year. I've contact customer support, and they've assured me that "it will continue to be supported," but I have yet to see an update. Because of this it is unable to play many recent discs.

Due to the way that copy protection is constantly changing, players require constant updates to work. Frankly, I am disgusted with Samsung for rendering this player useless by ceasing to update it. I will never by another Samsung product again.

Thankfully, my primary blu-ray player is a PS3. It's always up to date.

BTW, a thought occurred to me. Is there such a thing as "custom firmware" for blu-ray players? If so, is it possible to load a different firmware onto this thing so that it can play recent discs? Would firmware for a different Samsung model work with this?

fwiw -- i have two bdp-1000 players and generally speaking, they play bd50 disks just fine. What you're saying is totally foreign to me. The only issue i'm aware of is bd+ and that seems to be something of a hit or miss, fortunately, mostly hit :)!

+1

I just saw firmware version 2.2 is out and just one or two months ago that 2.1 was released. Did they take it seriously now or it's because of the release of Avatar...

Avatar doesn't work for me using component. I haven't tried HDMI, but the way my media room is set up, we have a projector from when there was no HDMI yet. We do have an HDMI TV upstairs I can try. My solution, based on users saying that Avatar works with the 1000 ONLY with HDMI, is to get a new player or a new projector.

Venejo,

Thanks for letting us know about the firmware update. Wow. Talk about a surprise. Let's hope its not another year until the next one.

Avatar doesn't work for me using component. I haven't tried HDMI, but the way my media room is set up, we have a projector from when there was no HDMI yet. We do have an HDMI TV upstairs I can try. My solution, based on users saying that Avatar works with the 1000 ONLY with HDMI, is to get a new player or a new projector.
There's also the possibility of using an HDMI->DVI-D adapter and a DVI-D input video converter box to drive the projector. At least, I know you can do that if the projector accepts RGB input. That's how people with CRT projectors drive them from HDMI.

I just saw firmware version 2.2 is out and just one or two months ago that 2.1 was released. Did they take it seriously now or it's because of the release of Avatar...
I see no reference at the US site to a 2.1, just 2.0 and 2.2. I tried several times yesterday to download 2.2, and just now several times more, but can't get download -- always unavailable :(! This is as far as I can get (that is, the firmware mode of this page):

http://www.samsung.com/us/support/search/supportSearchModelResult.do?menu=SP01&searchWord=bdp1000&searchInputBox=bd-p1000&find_button=See+all+results

PS. Here is the name of the file and the download link (but it always times out on me):

100409_01_BDP1000_XAA_ISO.zip

http://org.downloadcenter.samsung.com/downloadfile/ContentsFile.aspx?CDSite=US&CttFileID=1191071&CDCttType=FM&ModelType=N&ModelName=BD-P1000&VPath=FM/201004/20100424125042312/100409_01_BDP1000_XAA_ISO.zip

I tried going HDMI->DVI, but my Yamaha projector says that the signal isn't supported.

So, I went with my PS3 and that worked perfectly. It also works perfectly with the other BR discs that the P1000 hates.

I haven't yet checked if the P1000 works with Avatar via HDMI. I'll get to that as soon as I can.

I tried going HDMI->DVI, but my Yamaha projector says that the signal isn't supported.
To be sure, you're inherently limited to what your projector supports. I gather HDMI isn't supported or you'd be using it. I'm not clear how you'd directly use DVI-D unless your projector explicitly supports it (manual should cover this one way or the other). On the other hand, as I said, HDMI->DVI-D->RGB is a viable solution for projectors that support RGB, if they don't, it's clearly no solution at all :)!

I see no reference at the US site to a 2.1, just 2.0 and 2.2.

As i said these versions were released here in Europe and since you mention that you never saw 2.1 f/w available in Samsung's US site maybe it was released for Europe only.

Sounds likely, unfortunately for me, I'm still getting nowhere trying to download 2.2 from the US site :(.

Following continued FW download server timeouts (just can't connect to that thing -- no problems in the past), I finally went "online chat" for assistance. The link I was given also timed out, and so I'm now expecting to receive a copy of 2.2 by mail -- thanks Samsung :)!

My copy of FW rev 2.2 arrived this week -- took roughly three weeks from when Samsung said they were shipping it (thanks again, Samsung :))! Nobody's commented on my problem with downloading the firmware (which I just now again was unable to do). Does that mean no-one else has tried?

Hold it gang -- I really don't believe I'm the only one here still enjoying BD films on a BD-P1000, even if it isn't your primary player! Come on now, identify yourselves :).

Who still spins BD on a BD-P1000 at least some of the time (vacation home or whatever)?

Hold it gang -- I really don't believe I'm the only one here still enjoying BD films on a BD-P1000, even if it isn't your primary player! Come on now, identify yourselves :).

Who still spins BD on a BD-P1000 at least some of the time (vacation home or whatever)?

I gave my BD-P1000 to my Mom and brother (I know they'll probably hate me for it) but they haven't used it yet because they haven't bought or rented a blu-ray movie yet.

Hold it gang -- I really don't believe I'm the only one here still enjoying BD films on a BD-P1000, even if it isn't your primary player! Come on now, identify yourselves :).

Who still spins BD on a BD-P1000 at least some of the time (vacation home or whatever)?
My son gave me my BD-P1000 back. He said it won't play any current BD discs or any that have Java software embedded on the disc.
My daughter and son-in-law want a BD player, but passed on the my offer to give them the unit.

Paying full price, I feel I got burnt by the company. When I think of Samsung now, I think of lack of consumer product support. Guess that is why I will not consider a Samsung 3D player or Flat panel.

Paul

...

Paying full price, I feel I got burnt by the company. When I think of Samsung now, I think of lack of consumer product support. Guess that is why I will not consider a Samsung 3D player or Flat panel.

Paul

Thank God I only paid $579.00 for mine but it was still a lot of money back then. I'm just the impatient type that likes to buy the bleeding edge type of technology and it was the very first blu-ray player out. I also got a BD-P1400 but will not buy another Samsung blu-ray player.

I tried downloading the firmware update, and it keeps timing out for me as well. Geez, you would think that they would have fixed it by now. I've given up on Samsung. They just lost a customer for life.

I tried downloading the firmware update, and it keeps timing out for me as well. Geez, you would think that they would have fixed it by now. I've given up on Samsung. They just lost a customer for life.
For support, I used "live chat" (http://www.samsung.com/us/info/contactus.html), but there's also phone 1-800-726-7864. (Time-out again for email :(.) Have your serial number handy and explain the problem -- I'd expect them to send you a disc like they did with me.

I bought my BD-P1000 for US$400 the day the Playstation 3 was released and I decided it was time to have both HD disc formats. Now, the machine is in its original box as a collectors' item, next to my Toshiba HD-A1.

I just downloaded the firmware update using the direct link in TrevorS's post #1884. I had no problem doing so.

Must be nice! I just read your post and tried again -- continued lack of dice :(!

Must be nice! I just read your post and tried again -- continued lack of dice :(!
I tried yesterday and today and now the download seems to work fine.

You must use a different download center, I just had their download page (US) timeout again three times in a row.

If you still cannot download the file, I could burn a disc and send it to you.

If you still cannot download the file, I could burn a disc and send it to you.
Thanks awfully for volunteering that -- very good of you :)! I ended up getting a copy directly from Samsung support, but this is the first time I've been unable to download updates (neither UP5000 nor BDP1000) and it just seems very peculiar -- I can still download from other companies and so why not anymore with Samsung (rhetorical question)? So, when someone reports success, I try yet again :).

Well as i said before i gave this player to my sister which she's not using it at all. I tried to open it yesterday to update it to 2.2 f/w and it started to load but even though i could see the blue bluray logo and the round multi-key light up the LCD display was not showing anything, "wait" or "open". The unit was not responding to anything, so i pull the plug. After that the red standby light was continiously flashing fast. I call at the service center and they told me to pull the mains and let it lots of minutes out but i had already done that leaving the machine without power for 20 hours. So i turned the unit to the service and today they called me back and told me that the power supply board needed an exchange with a new one. All that cost me 55euros +23% vat 67 euros in total. apparently when the unit stays unused it gathers a lot of power that's why they told me that i should at least open/use the unit for 5 minutes a month....!
Anyway i will pickup the unit tomorrow and since my sister is not using it so much she will keep it without the mains connected, only when she's gonna use it she will put the plug in the wall. The damn thing is that i bought this unit when it come out for about 1400 euros and it's not used so far for more than 50 play hours so far, it's still brand new.

My son gave me my BD-P1000 back. He said it won't play any current BD discs or any that have Java software embedded on the disc.
My daughter and son-in-law want a BD player, but passed on the my offer to give them the unit.

Paying full price, I feel I got burnt by the company. When I think of Samsung now, I think of lack of consumer product support. Guess that is why I will not consider a Samsung 3D player or Flat panel.

Paul

In this exact base, but I paid around $400 for the BD-P1000. Wouldn't consider another Samsung player or display!

You could recommend updating to the latest "Avatar" FW update, which should solve a few discs. I know the Firefly set wouldn't play, but I haven't tried since updating to the April 2010 update. Currently using my Panasonic BD35!

In this exact base, but I paid around $400 for the BD-P1000. Wouldn't consider another Samsung player or display!

You could recommend updating to the latest "Avatar" FW update, which should solve a few discs. I know the Firefly set wouldn't play, but I haven't tried since updating to the April 2010 update. Currently using my Panasonic BD35!
Hah! Was finally able to download rev2.2 from Samsung :D. That April 9,2010 release is the only one I see since Feb 29,2008, so I'm guessing that's the Avatar fix. Did I miss any?

It should not matter if you "missed" other firmware updates. Each update released also has the changes from previous updates included.

It should not matter if you "missed" other firmware updates. Each update released also has the changes from previous updates included.
I'm aware that each release "builds" on the previous, but when the "build" loses something that was previously there, having the previous release on hand can be very useful :)! I'm just trying to find out whether or not I have all the incremental releases.

Don't know if there are still people on this site that own a Samsung BD-P1000, but if there are, a new firmware version was released in April of this year (2011) -- version 110324. If you're unable to download it (my first tries failed, but it seems they were having server issues and I later succeeded), they'll send you a copy if you alert them to the problem.

Awesome. I still use mine. Thanks for that.

It plays most anything these days. Slow as a wet week but it plays

BTW if anyone wants any parts out of a BDP-1000. I have a dud US spec one here with a trashed bluray pickup. Still plays DVD's fine.

I am also looking for a 240V power supply so if anyone in Europe, Asia or Australia has a trashed set I can get the power supply out of. Can you send me a PM ??

Awesome. I still use mine. Thanks for that.

It plays most anything these days. Slow as a wet week but it plays
I still have my two and they work fine generally, but I get inconvenient scene repeat behavior with both "Watchmen" and most recently with "HP and the Deathly Hallows I". I'm wondering if this corrects that, but don't know yet. Just picked up a Panasonic 110 and it wins the contest, but I still like the BD-P1000, sort of the elder statesman effect, I guess :)!

Given it's about to be five years since the player was introduced, I'm suspecting this'll be the last update (end of support life).