HELP - My Toshiba HD-DVD player has died - Any thoughts...

[MJeeves]

I am now having this issue with my Toshiba HD-XE1 (the UK version of the XA2). It seems that I cannot get the HD-DVD player and my TV to "handshake". Please read on and let me know if you have experienced this or know of a cure. Thanks.

I have been very VERY happy with my XE1 and have used it successfully and without major issues since purchase. It always worked fine (except for the occassional lip synch issue and combo issue). The picture was superb, the sound was great and it played everything that I put in the machine (pretty much). I know that some others had some problems but I was lucky enough to escape those problems... or so I thought.

Last night I tried to play some new HD-DVD's ("Streets Of Fire", "The Shooter") and I couldn't get my TV (a Sim2 55 inch rear-projection DLP monitor) and the HD-XE1 to "handshake" via HDMI. This had never been a problem before until I upgraded the Toshiba player to firmware 2.0 (using a disc that Toshiba supplied). Since upgrading to firmware 2.0 my player has been very VERY quirky and seems to have now died. I cannot get a picture via HDMI at all.

I tried again tonight ("Bourne Identity") and once again the TV and HD-XE1 failed to "handshake". Turning one or both appliances off and on made no difference. Changing the order I turned them off or on didn't help either. Neither did swapping HDMI cables which made no difference. My TV still works with ALL my other source appliances (DVD player, VCR, TV signal etc), just NOT the Toshiba HD-XE1. I have read on several forums that other people have experienced HDMI handshake 'issues' and other quirks since the firmware 2.0 upgrade. This is obviously a similar problem.

The player is only a few months old and it is frustrating and annoying that I cannot use it AT ALL. Also, I think Toshiba should check their firmware updates in future. On this occassion it seems that the upgrade has made a perfectly fine player into a doorstop. Not only this "handshake" issue but I have had other weird issues since upgrading to firmware 2.0 (like Weinstein discs freezing up, jerky juddery picture, etc etc).

Please does anyone know anything about these "handshake" issues or shall I just get Toshiba to change it ? Thanks for your input and help. Cheers.

[Grumble]

Hi MJ

What output setting do you have on the XE1? (my pj does not like more than 720p)

What results do you get with a SD DVD?

Try disconnecting all the other devices from the Sim2, leaving just the XE1. (sometimes the HDCP handshake throws a wobbly if it gets a sniff of anything else in the chain)

Or you could try connecting via the Component output.

Other than that, it looks like it may have to visit Toshiba.

Graham

[TrevorS]

HDMI connections can go bad for mechanical reasons. Have you tried disconnecting the cable (both ends) and reconnecting (with full insertion)? Make sure both cable plugs exit the HDMI sockets at right angles to the socket, not skewed/tilted up/down or sideways.

Have you changed anything at all between the last time the HDMI was working properly and it's present apparently innoperative state?

Have you tried rebooting the player (holding in the power button for 10+ seconds), and re-initializing the configuration settings and clearing the persistent memory (yes, I know this is a laundry list approach, but sometimes one of them does the trick.) Perhaps even try unplugging the player for a half hour or so.

Have you verified all is otherwise OK by using component output? If so, that could provide at least an HD workaround while reporting the problem to Toshiba and awaiting a fix.

[MJeeves]

Originally Posted by Grumble

Hi MJ

What output setting do you have on the XE1? (my pj does not like more than 720p)

What results do you get with a SD DVD?

Try disconnecting all the other devices from the Sim2, leaving just the XE1. (sometimes the HDCP handshake throws a wobbly if it gets a sniff of anything else in the chain)

Or you could try connecting via the Component output.

Other than that, it looks like it may have to visit Toshiba.

Graham

I'm currrently outputting 720p (the native res of my Sim 2 monitor). Tried SD. No go. Tried disconnecting everything and re-inserting cables, plugs, devices etc etc. No joy.

I don't have component cables to try the component approach.

[MJeeves]

Originally Posted by TrevorS

HDMI connections can go bad for mechanical reasons. Have you tried disconnecting the cable (both ends) and reconnecting (with full insertion)? Make sure both cable plugs exit the HDMI sockets at right angles to the socket, not skewed/tilted up/down or sideways.

Have you changed anything at all between the last time the HDMI was working properly and it's present apparently innoperative state?

Have you tried rebooting the player (holding in the power button for 10+ seconds), and re-initializing the configuration settings and clearing the persistent memory (yes, I know this is a laundry list approach, but sometimes one of them does the trick.) Perhaps even try unplugging the player for a half hour or so.

Have you verified all is otherwise OK by using component output? If so, that could provide at least an HD workaround while reporting the problem to Toshiba and awaiting a fix.

I think I've done all this.(except the component approach). No joy. The cables are fully inserted and have been unplugged and reinserted again. They are of good quality. Tried rebooting and unplugging. No joy. Unable to get a display so unable to "re-initialise" from the menu. The only thing that has changed over the past few weeks that seems to have had an adverse effect is upgrading to firmware 2.0 using a supplied Toshiba firmware disc. Since then it has been quirky, and now seems to have died (or atleast the HDMI output has).

[MI55ION]

Originally Posted by MJeeves

I don't have component cables to try the component approach.

Sorry to hear that your still having problems.

You don't need dedicated component cables to test if the component output is working. If you have any of those cheap freebie cables e.g. red/white rca cables or composite cables, try connecting them ensuring that you follow the colour codes at both ends... it'll do the job.

[TrevorS]

Originally Posted by MJeeves

I think I've done all this.(except the component approach).

Yes, definitely try the component outputs and make sure the player otherwise functions properly. As MI55ION says, you don't need fancy cables just to check. If it works, then you will have access to the setup menus again and can try the maintenance functions.

If there are still problems even with component connections, then it starts looking like service is needed. However, if all is fine with component, then you could just stay there for the time being (though it'll be a problem for upscaling SD DVD -- component will just default to 480p for copyrighted discs.)

If all continues to point to the HDMI handshake (HDCP), then it's time to report a firmware issue to Toshiba.

[MJeeves]

Thanks guys.

Toshiba are collecting it and getting their engineers to have a look at it. I will let you know how it goes. Fingers crossed

[Brandy3281]

Hi there,

I have just bought my HD XE1 and also just installed firmware 2.0 and i too have noticed that i am having problems getting any output via HDMI. I have also had the machine freeze on the WELCOME stage of booting up. Have had to phone toshiba a couple of times and been told to reboot from switching power off. Have you had any freezes at all of buttons etc. not while playing films but while booting up in the initial 45 seconds or so. This has happened 3 times in nearly a week.

Cheers
Brandy.

[TrevorS]

If I remember correctly, 2.0 also included adjustments to the HDMI, supposedly to further attack HDMI->DVI-D issues. It sounds like a compatibility problem may have been introduced in the process ! As long as the details are reported to Toshiba, there's a good shot of the next firmware cycle correcting it.

When problems like this come up, we just have to perform basic troubleshooting to make sure it's nothing to do with our installation or the disc, and then get-on-the-horn to Toshiba.

[MJeeves]

Originally Posted by TrevorS

If I remember correctly, 2.0 also included adjustments to the HDMI, supposedly to further attack HDMI->DVI-D issues. It sounds like a compatibility problem may have been introduced in the process ! As long as the details are reported to Toshiba, there's a good shot of the next firmware cycle correcting it.

When problems like this come up, we just have to perform basic troubleshooting to make sure it's nothing to do with our installation or the disc, and then get-on-the-horn to Toshiba.

Agreed. Far from ideal I know, but that is the problem with these still new technologies. It's annoying though. Hope you get it sorted Brandy.