For you techies out there, I don't if this has been reported before but yesterday I found this link to the service manual for the HD-A1, D1 and XA1:

http://www7.toshiba.com/secured/tass/technical/dvd/HDA1_HDXA1_HDD1_SVM.pdf

Thanks for posting the manual. It is interesting that to replace the drive one must enter an encryption key.

Thanks, Nice find!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rew

Thanks for posting service manual.....

rwestley,

can you guide me to the page on the service manual specifies encryption key for the hd-dvd drive replacement?

TIA

Thanks for posting service manual.....

rwestley,

can you guide me to the page on the service manual specifies encryption key for the hd-dvd drive replacement?

TIA

Page 22.

I find it disheartening to learn that drive replacement may not be so simple. One of the selling points for this player (for me) is the fact that the item that has the most potential to fail (the drive) should be able to be easily and cheaply replaced in the future.

Now it appears that may not be the case....

And there go the ideas of speeding it up by adding a new drive.

And there go the ideas of speeding it up by adding a new drive.

I'm not sure if a faster drive would even help so much with speed. A faster processor and more RAM could likely yield tangible improvements, but I haven't seen anyone attempt this yet.

Page 22.

I find it disheartening to learn that drive replacement may not be so simple. One of the selling points for this player (for me) is the fact that the item that has the most potential to fail (the drive) should be able to be easily and cheaply replaced in the future.

Now it appears that may not be the case....


thanks... Now, someone needs to call the service desk and get the encryption key. :) Most of the time, all we need to do is just ask the right person. I'm sure it will be available upon request, I hope.

Well, moblie pentium4 2.5GHz CPU with 1GB of ram isn't that slow when used only for house keeping. I think it just requires OS optimization and faster access time HD-DVD drive to see significant improvement.

That's what I thought. I'm sure a 3.2 or 3.4 CPU (these are off the shelf socket 478 P4's, no?) and more RAM wouldn't hurt, though. But then I'm gonna want to liquid cool it, too.

Sounds like a fun project, anyway. :)

I think the simplest thing is the fan replacement. I have no problem with my Sep build HD XA1 but others may like a more silent fan. That seems doable, along with the RAM replacement.

Aha! A fully functional ATAPI hard drive interface complete with +12V and +5V power connections. Connect up to PJ5 (page 38) and able to download additional content? Wonder what might be possible given a better understanding of the software capabilities, since now we know a few more of the hardware's? We need a major leak of the firmware -- but that might be a HDCP or AACS issue.

Bob

Wow! great find

pretty much all I need to do a HD-SDI mod on these babies :eek:

thanks a million

-Gary

Yeah, great find! Time to go do some reading.... :)

Thanks for the link rjruby ;)

Looks like Tosh removed the Digital PCB schematic diagram... Maybe they're affraid of MPEG-2/VC-1/AVC stream hack :( ...

Looking / awaiting for XE1 SM as well since I've ordered the XE1 in France ;)

John

Thank you so much for posting that. What a great find.

John

Still available. Thanks for sharing this great find.

Now about the link for the HDXA2 manual, thanks for the XA1.

Thanks for posting the manual. It is interesting that to replace the drive one must enter an encryption key.
The encryption key is stored in the usb chip (flash rom), and is tied the the player I.D.
You can view the key if you connect the usb chip to pc using linux tools or ext2fsd.
hope this helps!