So I decided to order an HD-DVD add-on for my 360, and at the same time ordered five discs from a US retailer (I'm in the UK).

Of the five, both Bourne films fail to be read by the drive, and subsequently won't load. The other three discs load and run fine (Batman Begins, Serenity, and V For Vendetta).

Have I just been unlucky, or has anyone else noticed more reliability issues with their HD-DVD purchases?

Alternatively, I guess my drive could be dodgy.

Thanks

So I decided to order an HD-DVD add-on for my 360, and at the same time ordered five discs from a US retailer (I'm in the UK).

Of the five, both Bourne films fail to be read by the drive, and subsequently won't load. The other three discs load and run fine (Batman Begins, Serenity, and V For Vendetta).

Have I just been unlucky, or has anyone else noticed more reliability issues with their HD-DVD purchases?

Alternatively, I guess my drive could be dodgy.

Thanks

Hi and welcome to AVS:)

What release is the firmware on the AO that you bought? It may just need a new updated firmware upgrade (CD or DNL through Ethernet Connection)

I have about 75 discs, only one skipped at one moment (Children of Men). Washing the disc cleared up the problem. Usually, updating the firmware gets rid of most problems.

I've got 19 discs and never had a single problem with loading, skipping, or otherwise, if that means anything. I've got a HD-D2 player.

I've got the HD-A20 and 27 HD flicks and not a one has given me any problem other than Superman Returns, which a firmware upgrade completely fixed.

No problems here. I have the add-on hooked up to my HTPC. Make sure you're connected to live and have all of the HD DVD updates installed. If you're still having problems, you might want to go and get the drive exchanged for a new one.

I have the 360 add on and just picked up the Bourne movies myself last week. No problems for me, but I was asked to update before I could watch them. Maybe the update isn't available for UK yet?

Are HD-DVD discs really unreliable?
Not at all. All the 50+ HD DVDs I've received have played without problems.

The only problematic disk that I own is Smokin' Aces (own about 20 HD-DVDs) but that has since been fixed via a firmware upgrade. I suggest you do the same if you haven't already.

The only other problematic disks that I have encountered have been from Netflix - the Host and... I forget the name but essentially the movie is about Christian Bale in a Training Day-esque setting.

60 discs so far I've had issues with 10 or so but firmware updates and cleaning have fixed all of them. Combos seem to be my biggest issues.

Oddly all 9 of my imports have played flawless. I've got another on order now. So I'm hoping that plans just as good. As it is my first overseas HD import (amazon.fr) all other have come from xploited.

112 disk and one problem with Superman. Firmware fixed that as well.

I've watched tons of disks without any real problems. I can't remember even, the last stutter I had. HD-DVD disks have been completely reliable to me.

So I decided to order an HD-DVD add-on for my 360, and at the same time ordered five discs from a US retailer (I'm in the UK).

Of the five, both Bourne films fail to be read by the drive, and subsequently won't load. The other three discs load and run fine (Batman Begins, Serenity, and V For Vendetta).

Have I just been unlucky, or has anyone else noticed more reliability issues with their HD-DVD purchases?

Alternatively, I guess my drive could be dodgy.

Thanks

if you're using the add-on with the 360, connect your 360 to live and download the latest available firmware update (should be an automatic download when you put in a movie while connected to live)

i've never had any problems, other than the actual drive breaking. but that wasn't anything to do with the discs. the power supply connector broke. i got it fixed for free, though!

I have around 200 HD DVDs including most of the combos released so far. I've had 2 defective discs (Matador and Mallrats). Replacements played perfectly. I've never had a problem with any combo discs. I have 1G Toshiba HD-XA1 with 2.3FW. So, HD DVD has been 99% reliable for me. For comparison, I have little over 100 Blu-ray discs and no defective discs so far. I have ~1400 DVDs and have had ~5 defective discs, so ~99.7% reliability for DVDs.

only problem so far that ive had was with the 2nd Bourne film. I was having an issue with the sound macthing up with the movie. I returned it

I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop - I have a launch day 360 add-on, and I've never had any problems whatsoever with regular HD DVDs, or combo discs. Perhaps it was my pact with Satan...

I have the 360 add on and I've played about 20 HD DVDs on it so far without any problems. Some of those were combos and two or three were netflix.

I have about 75 discs, only one skipped at one moment (Children of Men). Washing the disc cleared up the problem. Usually, updating the firmware gets rid of most problems.

Disc washing procedure please. I have yet to figure out something that does not scratch the disc. thanks.

I've got an XBOX 360 add on hooked up to my HTPC. Zero problems with any of my disks playing back (that wasn't hardware fault of the HTPC itself) in the 10 measly disks that I have.

And apparently the XBOX 360 add on doesn't need to be firmware updated while hooked up to an HTPC.

Xbox 360, 25 HD DVD's, the one skip I had was Superman Returns during the flying scene with Lois.

I've got the XA-2 and 21 HD films and I have not had any problems, other than 'Children of Men' combo disc, which a firmware upgrade fixed. Unreliable? Hardly.

I have the Add-on and HD-A2 and all of the movies I own play just fine, I watched BI tonight without any problems.. I did have to clean one of the rentals

Only real issue I had so far was my wife rented Spider Man 3 on BR and it wouldn't play :) Just a problem with the wife though

Only real issue I had so far was my wife rented Spider Man 3 on BR and it wouldn't play :) Just a problem with the wife though

I assume any bugs that the copy of Spider Man 3 will be worked out over the next two months until the rest of us can get our copies.

Thanks to everyone for your responses!

I'm pretty sure the firmware is up to date as an update occurred when I tried my first disc.

Oddly, Bourne Supremacy now works, so I may get the drive replaced and see whether that fixes it.

Thanks

Thanks to everyone for your responses!

I'm pretty sure the firmware is up to date as an update occurred when I tried my first disc.

Oddly, Bourne Supremacy now works, so I may get the drive replaced and see whether that fixes it.

Thanks

I have the XA2.
I had to return 300. During one scene about 1/2 way through the movie it would skip and hang up. The new movie plays just fine. I bought the XA2 a bit over a week ago and have not done any firmware updates to it.

Craig

I have to say that yes, HD DVD discs are unreliable. None of my HD DVDs so far have gotten jobs and just lay around in their cases all day. Just yesterday I asked them to clean the room for me, and they didnt. Very unreliable.

I have the 360 drive connected to my comp and have not had 1 problem in probably 250 hours of playtime.