The Pioneer Elite BDP-09FD Owner's Thread... - Page 280

That was my concern as well, posted above.
I love my Pioneer Elite DV-37 DVD player, and was thinking about buying a used BDP-09FD on eBay or Audiogon, but they go for $500-700, and I'm worried about the problems people have talked about in here, having to spend another $500 or so in repairs.
That's why now I'm thinking the best option would be either a Pioneer BDP-05FD, or the Oppo BDP-95.

Has anyone tried reformatting their internal memory after getting this error? I was having loading issues (the disc would not load but I did not get any unknown disc errors) until I reformatted the BD Live memory as well as disabling BD live. It works now with no issues... A friend with same issues reported that his issues has gone away as well....

Wow its so interesting that you say to basically go with a refurbished model! I seriously think if I could find a refurbished model I would not only save money in terms of asking price but I would probably get a better player. I dont know, I have dealt with an abundance of Blu-Ray players over the years and this one has always sparked my interest. Its very unsettling to think that if I do in fact pay hundreds of dollars for a USED unit since no new ones are to be found. I might have to pay hundreds more to get it fixed.

This whole laser rot or failure issue that has been haunting this player, is it in fact a problem that could be from "high usage" on the player itself? For example, if you watch 3-4 full length films a day and over time the drive just gives out from extensive play. Or is it more of a "timing failure" issue where regardless if you used the player extensively or not, over time the drive will just fail on you?

Thanks everyone!

Only Pioneer knows what percentage of 09FDs were manufactured with bad drives and whether they eventually fixed the problem == units manufactured after a certain date and/or serial number would not have the defect. If it helps you, the serial number of my 09FD is IETP001942CC and it was made in May 2009. Because my unit failed under light use (a few films a week, never more than one a day) and because so many other units failed I believe usage level is not a cause. Since my unit was repaired in May 2011 (I first reported the problem to Pioneer months before that and first experienced the problem less than a year after I purchased my 09FD) the only issues I've ever had have been with certain "abused" BDs from Blockbuster at Home.

My Pioneer BDP-09FD does not play the latest James Bond film, "Skyfall". The 20th Cetury Fox splash screen comes up and then, nothing. The display shows BD-ROM MOVIE. Any one else has issues?

I don't own "Skyfall" so I can't tell you what my BD-09FD would do with the title.

Things to consider unless others report a similar experience....

1. Be certain the firmware is up to date at v2.73
   
2. Disconnect your ethernet cable and see if you get any further without a "LAN" connection
   
3. Reformat the data storage
   
4. Try another copy of the BD

Good luck!

Skyfall (retail copy) played perfectly on my 09FD. I also had network connectivity enabled with the latest firmware installed.

Are you using a retail or rental copy? Do you have the latest firmware installed?

Retail copy... latest firmware but I have BD-Live disabledwith no network capability... The internal memory was formatted with no changes.

When you say "disabled BD-Live," how exactly did you disable it? Have you tried re-enabling it just for the heck of it?

I have never had a issue with my player except when sometimes when new BD movies come out they need a firmware update. I know alot of people have had issues with the drives failing or not being able to read disks, but I have never had that problem (YET)......I am wondering if I should get the drive replaced just incase?

No, do not just send it in if its working.

Sometimes it seems that a lot of them are failing but you usually only here from the ones that have had trouble and not from the ones that have had no issues. It is defiantly an issue that has been raised enough that shows Pioneer has a problem but its hard to tell if its actually going to happen to all of them or not. To many variables. I have had issues myself when it would not play a certain disc, but the updates took care of that. Has happen to me 5 or 6 times since I have had the unit, and I got it when they first came out.

Agreed.. Considering the cost, I wouldn't look for trouble.. Don't send it in for work it doesn't need. You just expose it to more risk from getting banged around in shipping etc.

Good afternoon. Sorry to change the subject, just received a call about my 09 and the "UNKNOWN" and the "CAN'T PLAY DISC" error. Was told the cost will be $358 and change. Going back to my original thread and others posted, the price went up from replacing a drive assembly from $340. I spoke with the customer service rep and I informed her about the comments from this forum and others about this particular problem. The operator says "they (Pioneer) never heard and is unaware of that problem" and asked is there some type of recall. NOPE, was the reply. My final question was is there some type of 1-yr guarantee with the repair? SURPRISE, SURPRISE...90-days only for the guarantee So, gotta wait to pay them next week, rent was due last week, and just sitting in my chair looking at the blank, dusty spot where my 09 was. After seeing other similar posts with different problems, I will chuck the thing and go with something else.

Just wanted to get that off my chest. Have a great day, and I am leary about buying Skyfall now. I did update the software to v. 2.73 and we shall see.....

Chueyson

Don't worry about the firmware updates causing the problem, it's drive failure, I had it myself. I haven't watched Skyfall yet (have had it for weeks) so I can't remember if I have updated my firmware...

My big worry is that Pioneer is no longer coming out with firmware updates for newer releases... It's been awhile since an update has been released and there are a quite a few titles that the player will no longer work with, notably the latest Fox titles.

Can you give an example? I haven't had a single playback issue, even with new titles. Latest BD I've watched was Wreck-It Ralph.

Which Fox titles have you been having issues with? I am at 2.73, been on it for a while now and I have not had any firmware related playback issues. I just tested "Skyfall" and it loaded and played flawlessly.

The "unknown disc" error is a hardware problem not a firmware issue, if you have been receiving that error updating firmware does not resolve it at all. I went that route with Pioneer support about 18 months ago and new versions did nothing, my drive needed replacing......

Fred

I can't play Prometheus on my unit...waiting for 2.74...

I own Prometheus on blu-ray and it worked fine on my player on firmware 2.73 without any issues at all. So it is most likely not firmware that is preventing you from playing the disc.

Fred

Yep. I also own that movie and had no issues playing it with firmware 2.73.

My BDP-09 will not play Skyfall or ICe Age: Continental Drift. It is on 2.73... Others have posted similar issues. I can play just about everything else fine.

What kind of error are you getting from Skyfall? I played mine at 2.73 just fine.

Fred

After the 20th Century Fox splash screen, the player freezes. Same thing with Prometheus... Have to play them back on my Oppo. if you go to the Skyfall thread in the Blu-Ray Software forum, you will see several people (some with different players) complaining of the same issue.
Edited by Jon S - 3/13/13 at 9:56am

I am running firmware 2.73 on my BPD-09FD. I don't have any problems with Skyfall or Prometheus Blu-rays.

Jon:

I got farther than that on my player. Maybe clean out the player's memory by deleting all of the BD-Live data.

Fred

I do that all the time whenever I get issues... This time it did not work....

How do you clean out the player's memory?

go to the setup menu and erase the internal memory cache...

btw, Life of Pi also does notwork with the Pioneer.... We really need a new firmware update...

Just got a reply from Pioneer, they tested Skyfall and it works on their in-house player.... They know of no issues with other new Fox titles...

No problem with Skyfall here either. V2.73.