HD5 Freezing and LCD probs -- how widespread?

[BROUGHCUT]

I have just ordered a chargeback on my red NW-HD5 player, not because it has cracked buttons (unhappy, but could live with), but because it keeps freezing up.

I would like to get a replacement HD5 (I will be nice and send the defective one back to the "authorised" Sony retailer with indifferent CS and obnoxious return and warranty policies once it goes through) -- probably one with black buttons to avoid the cracking problem as best as possible.

Before I make the decision to buy another, it would be good to know how widespread the various system errors I've experienced are (note I have never got an actual system error message):

1) It freezes quite frequently during playback. Usually no buttons work (including hold), sometimes the stop button will begin a shutdown -- but it will freeze indefinitely on the Walkman logo. Only way to reset is to remove the battery cover.

2) I also have the problem of the LCD screen (including backlight) shutting down completely from time to time. When this happens playback/functions are not impaired, but I need to reboot to get the display to come back on.

Are these two faults likely to reoccur on a new player, or do I just have a lemon here?

Thanks for any info, appreciated

[Sasso]

There is a firmware update to stop freezing. ( http://www.css.ap.sony.com/consumer/...Personal+Audio )
Mine has never frozen.

[Hrochnick]

Originally Posted by BROUGHCUT

1) It freezes quite frequently during playback. Usually no buttons work (including hold), sometimes the stop button will begin a shutdown -- but it will freeze indefinitely on the Walkman logo. Only way to reset is to remove the battery cover.

I've not had this problem since updating the firmware (well I have, once but instead of freezing the machine re-set itself and switched back on - better)

Originally Posted by BROUGHCUT

2) I also have the problem of the LCD screen (including backlight) shutting down completely from time to time. When this happens playback/functions are not impaired, but I need to reboot to get the display to come back on.

Iv'e only had this problem since updating the firmware (only two or three times so far, but still...)

So, erm...

[BROUGHCUT]

seems to crash at least once on every run I take it on. Never happened with the ipod mini. It did reboot after a fashion but the firmware upgrade clearly doesn't address the underlying problem....

[David Mackenzie]

Mine's frozen once or twice - but never since I upgraded the firmware. The backlight cutting out sounds very strange.

[shadowritten]

Upgraded FW immediately I got the thing, so can't say I've yet had a freezing problem. Or cracked buttons, for that matter - but that's for a different thread ...

[justdoit]

Not had any of the above but mine has played with no display whatsoever once, hows that for freaky. Nice to be different!!

[BROUGHCUT]

no display whatsoever is the same error I was getting (backlight and actual LCD shut off). Still crashed with the firmware update, although it did reboot after a minute or two (so they haven't addressed the underlying problem, in fact I recall reading this fix was to prevent the machine freezing at start-up, not during playback).

Anyway it has been charged-back and is in the post to dixmania.com today.

Not sure about getting a replacement.... Shame the Dixons/Currys £189 deal on the HD5H was so short lived, I may have given it a try.