Some of my old players (about 5 years old and above) can't seem to play certain dvds.

I'm suspecting outdated firmware.

What do you do..... send to service center to update firmware, scour the net for firmware or just scrap it?

Anyway, these are the old players :-
1) Kenwood DV-5010
2) Pioneer DV-626D

First thing I would try is to see if they might have a down-loadable firmware upgrade. Typically, when offered, it's a file that you burn to the root of a blank CD or DVD and then place that in your player and it does the upgrade from there. They are usually free so certainly try that first.

I wouldn't send anything to the manufacturer because then you are getting involved with shipping money spent and time without your player.

The good news is that if it's time for new ones they will more than likely be cheaper than what you paid for your old ones and do much more. It really might be worth it for you to get new ones, unless you can upgrade via free download which would be a good enough reason to hang on to your current ones a little longer.

I am in a similar boat to you with my Samsung DVD-M301. Once in a while there is a DVD it won't play, and then I look in the local ad's and see DVD Players for under $100, and think to myself: "What am I waiting for?". I know I will replace it someday, probably with the Panasonic DVD-S52K.

Does anyone knows where I can find firmware update for the 626D?

Does anyone knows where I can find firmware update for the 626D?Did you try Pioneer? They have listings for older equipment.

I would scrap it and get a better dvd player like an Oppo since the newer players have more features better picture quality and plays just about any dvd.