error in TOSHIBA HD-a3

[dmaximus]

anyone here ever experienced error code? i asked my cousin to get me an a3. they tried to play an hd dvd movie eto sabi nya
"nung tinry ko eh it was loading for a while then may message na 100 040 50 tapos
 ayaw na mag respond kahit sa ano"

anyone? meed help.  thanks.

[Marl☆1]

wow is that right?  not good.  In AVS forums there have been a range of A3 defects quoted ranging from stalled images, to popping error codes to pixelized images.  Most of them attribute it to either the firmware or the disc (some titles were released with noted errors/incompatibilities).  It may be worth your while to check with your cousin on what firmware is uploaded in the A3 and what HD-DVD title he's playing, cause it may be the source of the issue.  You may want to check out the AVS forum's on-going thread on the A3 players HERE.

Hope you get to resove it bud, and feed us back as well.  Just availed of the A3 promo + 10 so it should be arriving early next year - hope this issue gets threshed out soon.

Regards - Marl1

[dmaximus]

sir ok na.  we just updated the software. where did u get the a3+10? i only got the free 2 hd dvds and 5 rebates.

[Marl☆1]

sir ok na.  we just updated the software. where did u get the a3+10? i only got the free 2 hd dvds and 5 rebates.

Wow your A3 is fixed already - very quick - good for you bro   

A3 + 10 is the current promo @ Amazon.  10+2 Free Discs (300 & Bourne Identity) and get to choose 3 more discs for the promotional discount (that's 5).  Then once you have the package, you can order 5 more discs via the mail-in rebate form with proof of purchase (another 5). 


For the link CLICK HERE.

[dmaximus]

Sir a3 po hindi ps3 Sayang i should've waited for this promo. I'll just borrow from you. 

[Marl☆1]

Sir a3 po hindi ps3 Sayang i should've waited for this promo. I'll just borrow from you. 

Sorry, I stand corrected - tama ka sir.  This HD-Format war is really ending up pretty confusing. 
Thanks buddy!

[ESi]

 

Kinabahan ako dito marl1!!!

Buti nalang binasa ko lahat!

[Marl☆1]

hehe... too late for that.     am sure the A3 will hold just fine.

[dmaximus]

haha. i hope so too. 

[Marl☆1]

Yup, let's just focus on the positives bro. This value-for-money player garnered great reviews on Amazon and C/NET.

Plus the current deal is just so tempting - it's worth all the risk.  Let's just treat it like we're just buying a couple of HD-DVD discs and getting a free player with it.  Getting 10 free/discounted discs is practically 100% 'cost to sales' on their end 

[dmaximus]

now that's a great way to view it. a "free" hd dvd plater.  now i will have to focus on building my HT. Dami kasing reregaluhan nadamay tuloy yung pangbili ko ng HT.

[dmaximus]

Wow your A3 is fixed already - very quick - good for you bro   

A3 + 10 is the current promo @ Amazon.  10+2 Free Discs (300 & Bourne Identity) and get to choose 3 more discs for the promotional discount (that's 5).  Then once you have the package, you can order 5 more discs via the mail-in rebate form with proof of purchase (another 5). 


For the link CLICK HERE.

Sir mar1 when you avail the a3+10 at amazon, when you checked out was the total price includes the 3 free hd dvds? or yung price lang ng a3 ang lumabas? $290 kasi nagaappear sakin e. thanks.

[escy77]

Can I ask your help guys? My HD-A3 when stopped and played again it does not return to the last scene but rather start at the beginning. I checked the manual, it s states there that this will happen if the language or setting was changed. I have not change a bit. Thank you!

[Marl☆1]

Sir mar1 when you avail the a3+10 at amazon, when you checked out was the total price includes the 3 free hd dvds? or yung price lang ng a3 ang lumabas? $290 kasi nagaappear sakin e. thanks.

Hi bro, I actually had my bro-in-law Esi place the order for me but to answer your query up front, dapat yung presyo lang ng A3 and lumabas.  Here's the summary I got:

Items Ordered  Price 
  1 of: Toshiba HD-A3 720p/1080i HD DVD Player [Electronics]
Sold by: Amazon.com, LLC
 $199.98
 
- 1 item(s) Gift options: None
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Item(s) Subtotal: $199.98
Shipping & Handling: $11.48
Super Saver Discount:  -$11.48
Promotion Applied:  -$50.09
  -----
Total Before Tax: $149.89
Sales tax: $0.00
  -----
Total for this Shipment: $149.89

__________________________________________________________________

Items Ordered  Price 
  1 of: The Bourne Supremacy [HD DVD] [HD DVD]
By: Matt Damon (Actor), et al
Sold by: Amazon.com, LLC
 $19.95
 
- 1 item(s) Gift options: None
 
 
 
  1 of: Transformers (Two-Disc Special Edition) [HD DVD] [HD DVD]
By: Shia LaBeouf (Actor), et al
Sold by: Amazon.com, LLC
 $27.95
 
- 1 item(s) Gift options: None
 
 
 
  1 of: Batman Begins [HD DVD] [HD DVD]
By: Christian Bale (Actor), et al
Sold by: Amazon.com, LLC
 $18.95
 
- 1 item(s) Gift options: None
 
 
 
  1 of: Hot Fuzz (Combo HD DVD and Standard DVD) [HD DVD] [HD DVD]
By: Jim Broadbent (Actor), et al
Sold by: Amazon.com, LLC
 $27.95
 
- 1 item(s) Gift options: None
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Item(s) Subtotal: $94.80
Shipping & Handling: $5.95
Super Saver Discount:  -$5.95
Promotion Applied:  -$16.76
  -----
Total Before Tax: $78.04
Sales tax: $0.00
  -----
Total for this Shipment: $78.04

__________________________________________________________________

GRAND TOTAL SUMMARY:
Item(s) Subtotal: $294.78
Shipping & Handling: $17.43
Super Saver Discount:  -$17.43
Promotion Applied:  -$66.85
  -----
Total Before Tax: $227.93
Estimated Tax: $0.00
  -----
Grand Total: $227.93

As you can see here. My total bill rounded up to $227.93, but that's because I ordered "The Transformers HD-DVD which wasn't in the promoted list, thus has a regular price tag. The Toshiba HD-A3 is $199.98 plus Transformers $27.95 comprises my total bill (the other five promo discs were not included in the valuation).

You may have to double check your billing and the conditions of that particular sale you availed. Hope this helps.

[hubes]

wow is that right?  not good.  In AVS forums there have been a range of A3 defects quoted ranging from stalled images, to popping error codes to pixelized images.  Most of them attribute it to either the firmware or the disc (some titles were released with noted errors/incompatibilities).  It may be worth your while to check with your cousin on what firmware is uploaded in the A3 and what HD-DVD title he's playing, cause it may be the source of the issue.  You may want to check out the AVS forum's on-going thread on the A3 players HERE.

Hope you get to resove it bud, and feed us back as well.  Just availed of the A3 promo + 10 so it should be arriving early next year - hope this issue gets threshed out soon.

Regards - Marl1

I also experiended freeze, pixelations in my Knock Up and Fearless HD-DVDs. Are these errors title or firmware related? I have updated my firmware already.

[Marl☆1]

I also experiended freeze, pixelations in my Knock Up and Fearless HD-DVDs. Are these errors title or firmware related? I have updated my firmware already.

Offhand in the forums I've visited, I haven't come across any playback issues with those two titles you've mentioned, BUT Children of Men and The Good Shepherd are two acknowledged problem discs on the part of Universal, which they started a disc-replacement program on already.  Here's the link > Universal breaks silence on HD-DVD Playback Issues

In the previous AVS Forum thread I attached "Evan Almighty" and "I Now Pronounce You Larry and Chuck" were the 'error' titles listed, again both from Universal.  Hmmm, now since both the titles you mentioned are also from Universal...   

Well, meantime IMHO, it would be "less risky" to get Paramount/ Warner HD-DVD discs first until Universal sorts out this bug.  But then again, when the Amazon offers roll-in, who has the restraint to actually shelve the Universal titles?  I'd probably fall into the trap intentionally.   

PS: On a more optimistic perspective, a number of individuals have likewise actually cited improved performances upon the upgrading of their firmwares so I hope this eventually solves the problem - if not with the current upgrade, the next one in the pipeline I hope. 

[caycski]

Guys question, when I played Bourne Ultimatum HD DVD on my Toshiba HD-A35 player, the last 6 chapters got freeze actions and sometimes no sounds as well. When the movie freeze, I've got this message in my TV display "Error Code: 408bc504".....then I can't do anything but to eject the disc.

Upgraded the firmware via web to confirm if it's firmware or DVD disc problem. The error message is now gone but the freeze action and no sound remains. By the way, it has no particular scenes, it's randomly happening all of a sudden. One way of moving forward after freezing is to press fast forward a little then play again. But that is no solution.

Do you have the same experience? Is it firmware or disc problem. Got no problem on my other HD DVD disc, just this Bourne Ultimatum Combo Format. Should I return it and ask for a replacement? Oh by the way Bourne Ultimatum Combo Format is also by Universal Pictures.

Any inputs will be highly appreciated. Thanks.

caycski 

[streetsmart]

I have been following the Toshiba HD-A35 thread at AVS Forum for some time now. There are many reports of unreadable discs. Aside from the firmware update, the solution is light soap and warm water. It appears that the latest HD players are very sensitive to any disc defect, including smudges, scratches, dirt, etc. You got to be really careful.

In my case, my A35 can't read Alexander Revisited, even if I have an updated firmware. I'll try to clean the disc today and then see what happens.

[Marl☆1]

Hi guys, this may skew a bit OT but it still covers the A3 anyway.  This infamous code "408bc504" has been there since the earlier Tosh players like the XA2 (thread HERE.  Now there seems to be three plausible culprits at the outset - the disc, the player, and the firmware. 

THE DISC 
It's no secret that HD-DVD discs have amassed a number of disc replacement programs, specifically the titles from Universal.  Coupled with the feedback that an HD-DVDs material make-up is likewise more sensitive vs. blurays, bad discs will always be a possible reason.  Well the suggestion of washing it above has solved the problem for some guys, worth a try, but the wear & tear (including hassles) of going through that process will not exactly make you a 'happy camper.'

THE PLAYER 
The Tosh players likewise have a number of bad write-ups from the other A/V threads in and out of PDVD (From the A3 and yes up to the A35.). It was likewise mentioned that HD DVD players have less tolerance with the slightest imperfections on a HD DVD disk.   Some enthusiasts have returned their units outright after trying a number of (futile) solutions. If you look at the feedback forum in Amazon, there have been a number of notorious 1 star out of 5 rating for the A3s or A35 at that.  See HERE, to check some of the 1-star feedback.  Again it's sporadic and very polarized.  While some have given it a 5-star and excellent value for money rating, quite a number of 1-star ratings have become evident as well.  Suerte-suerte lang it seems on what unit you get - sometimes you do end up with a 'lemon.'

THE FIRMWARE 
Now let's talk firware - there have been a number of situations where this has solved the problem. In some threads, the firmware fix coupled with some disc 'washing' solved the problem (see HERE). Well as a premise, it's best that you have the latest firmware to begin with so you can take out that factor and just focus on either the disc or the player as the culprit.

To sum up, hate to say this but there is no definite answer.  It seems like the three factors mentioned above will always be viable issues to contend with whenever you come across that infamous error code.  Going forward, I am still optimistic about the entire HD-DVD situation.  Assuming the studios releasing the discs get their act together and flush out bad discs, am hopeful that a future firmware fix is loomin on the horizon.  Except for a few cases, I don't believe it's a mechanical problem with the player.  Otherwise, be thankful na lang na you got a couple of HD-DVDs for free to compensate for the player outlay.  Let's see how things pan out - hang in there buddy. 

PS: Specific to your case on the Bourne Ultimatum combo, you will see a dude in the same boat HERE.   Why do you think they issued a combo disc in the first place - the SD disc acts as a back up!  Just kidding. Cheers! 

[caycski]

Thanks for the insights re: problems with either the player, the disc or the firmware. Firmware update eliminate the error problem pop up so I guess one problem down. Haven't tried the "washing" technique yet co'z the disc was played direct from a sealed box. I guess I got a lemon disc co'z there's no issue on other titles so far. My dilemma now is wether the store will accept a replacement for this Bourne combo or they will just tell me that they can't do anything about it. Sayang 2K pag nagkataon