Xbox 360 HD-DVD player won't play HD-DVD's

Larry C. · 11-23-08, 04:27 AM

Hey guys I have a buddy who just got the add on for his 360. The HD player plays SD discs but not HD discs. He brought it over my house and it worked fine. He did install the installation disc on his xbox. Why in the world would this appen?

Anyone have any troubleshooting tips?

Drexl · 11-23-08, 12:01 PM

Just to get this out of the way, he's not trying to play a Blu-ray Disc, right? It may be a stupid thing to ask, but I wanted to be sure that's not it.

Which disc(s) won't work?

darkside · 11-23-08, 01:17 PM

Did he do the update? I bought the HD DVD add on for my 360 and I had to do an update the first time I used it. Weird it works on your 360 and not his.

RyoHazuki · 11-23-08, 01:23 PM

Have you tried multiple discs? I have a National Geographic HD that my player won't load at all.

sniper308 · 11-23-08, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry C.

Hey guys I have a buddy who just got the add on for his 360. The HD player plays SD discs but not HD discs. He brought it over my house and it worked fine. He did install the installation disc on his xbox. Why in the world would this appen?

Anyone have any troubleshooting tips?

Okay, so I don't have one of the add on drives for my 360, so not sure this is required, but is the output from the Xbox set to HD?

emachine12 · 11-23-08, 09:54 PM

You don't have to set the output to HD. The XBox will downcovert the 1080i/1080p to 480i just fine.

Although you do have to make sure you are using the USB cable that came with it, software is installed on the 360, and you are playing the HD DVD in the add-on itself.

Larry C. · 11-24-08, 10:03 AM

Yes he is playing HD-DVD's LOL and we have tried many different ones. And now for some reason its not playing on mine anymore. Now I do have my install disc I put in his but it didn't make a difference. Is there some new updated that might be needed. My disc is from 2006 but I see there is a 2007 update???

nemein · 11-24-08, 10:09 AM

Are either of you running the NXE desktop? I was having some problems w/ my HD drive until the update. Since then everything (well so far

) has been fine.

Larry C. · 11-24-08, 10:15 AM

well maybe i should have said this before what he doesn't have his 360 connected online. He moved in with a chick that doesn't have internet. Yea he's a douche.... He brought his system to my house and we did the new dash update but still nothing!!!!

nemein · 11-24-08, 10:24 AM

One other thing (and one of the problems the NXE seems to have fixed) is what USB port are you trying it in? Originally mine would not work in the back port at all. On the 360 Elite version that I have there's front ports[1] on which the HD drive would work about 1/2 the time.

[1] I'm not that familiar w/ the hardware layout of all the versions so I don't know if all of them have these.

Larry C. · 11-24-08, 10:30 AM

nah we don't have the elite. My works perfectly in the back, but on his we tried all. But what I don't get is the standard dvd's work perfect but HD DVD say unplayable disc.

emachine12 · 11-24-08, 12:34 PM

Ahh...

Since his unit is not connected to the internet, he is not getting the automatic update file for HD DVD playback. Although he has the new NXE, he needs to be connected to internet when loading an HD DVD. It will automatically load the newest HD DVD update.

Go here for the update file.

Its best to burn a CD for this one.

If it still does not work after the update, you may have to contact Microsoft since they still support the drive.

Draven · 11-24-08, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemein

One other thing (and one of the problems the NXE seems to have fixed) is what USB port are you trying it in? Originally mine would not work in the back port at all. On the 360 Elite version that I have there's front ports[1] on which the HD drive would work about 1/2 the time.

[1] I'm not that familiar w/ the hardware layout of all the versions so I don't know if all of them have these.

Oh man, I thought that was just me. The functionality for my HD-DVD drive and Rock Band instruments have gotten wonky and switching the ports fixed it. Then they would get wonky again and I'd switch them back. Haven't played many games since I put the NXE on but I'll be happy if that issue goes away.

Larry C. · 11-24-08, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emachine12

Ahh...

Since his unit is not connected to the internet, he is not getting the automatic update file for HD DVD playback. Although he has the new NXE, he needs to be connected to internet when loading an HD DVD. It will automatically load the newest HD DVD update.

Go here for the update file.

Its best to burn a CD for this one.

If it still does not work after the update, you may have to contact Microsoft since they still support the drive.

Yes but why would it not work at my house. He had both the player and 360 we hooked it up and nothing... I have everything hooked up to the internet so his unit should have taken an update.

Still baffled how SD dvd's WORK but HD dvd do not!!!

Drexl · 11-24-08, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry C.

Yes he is playing HD-DVD's LOL and we have tried many different ones.

I just wanted to be sure. FWIW, there is a thread in HD Talk where someone is asking about an "HD DVD player" and really means Blu-ray.

nemein · 11-24-08, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Still baffled how SD dvd's WORK but HD dvd do not!!!

At this point I suspect you are looking at a hardware malfunction. I don't know the specifics of the HD drive but it wouldn't surprise me if there are in fact two lasers (one for SD and one for HD). If that is the case then the HD laser is probably the one w/ the problem. BTW does it not even recognize an HD dvd is in there or does it see it but not play it?

EDIT

Quote:

but HD DVD say unplayable disc

Ok so it sounds like it sees there is something but it just can't do anything w/ it. Do you have another HD player around to make sure the DVDs are ok? I still think you're looking at a screwed up drive though.

Larry C. · 11-25-08, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drexl

I just wanted to be sure. FWIW, there is a thread in HD Talk where someone is asking about an "HD DVD player" and really means Blu-ray.

Thats funny!

Larry C. · 11-25-08, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemein

At this point I suspect you are looking at a hardware malfunction. I don't know the specifics of the HD drive but it wouldn't surprise me if there are in fact two lasers (one for SD and one for HD). If that is the case then the HD laser is probably the one w/ the problem. BTW does it not even recognize an HD dvd is in there or does it see it but not play it?

EDIT
Ok so it sounds like it sees there is something but it just can't do anything w/ it. Do you have another HD player around to make sure the DVDs are ok? I still think you're looking at a screwed up drive though.

Yeah I have mine. All discs work perfectly on my player. Also whats werid is that the first time we put his hd dvd player on my xbox it didn't work. So then I put a different HD movie in there and it worked. All hd movies worked on his player from my xbox. He took it home and nothing. Thats when he brought his whole system over and we could not get it to play again.

nemein · 11-25-08, 04:56 PM

It's getting a little confusing, just to make sure we have the story straight...

Tried HD player on his Xbox, didn't work
Tried HD player on your Xbox, it worked
Tried HD player on his Xbox again it didn't work
Brought whole system to your house, HD player didn't work on either system now

SD DVDs work in the player on both systems
HD DVDs come up as unrecognized on the dashboard
Both Xboxes are running NXE
HD DVDs play fine on a console player you have

Does that sound about right? Again my guess is the HD laser in the drive is toast. Why it initially worked on your machine is anyone's guess... one final attempt at life maybe

Drexl · 11-25-08, 05:08 PM

Have you tried connecting it to a PC to see if it recognizes the discs? Vista will work right away, but if you have XP you'll need to look for some UDF driver.

Larry C. · 11-25-08, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nemein

it's getting a little confusing, just to make sure we have the story straight...

Tried hd player on his xbox, didn't work
tried hd player on your xbox, it worked
tried hd player on his xbox again it didn't work
brought whole system to your house, hd player didn't work on either system now

sd dvds work in the player on both systems
hd dvds come up as unrecognized on the dashboard
both xboxes are running nxe
hd dvds play fine on a console player you have

does that sound about right? Again my guess is the hd laser in the drive is toast. Why it initially worked on your machine is anyone's guess... One final attempt at life maybe

you got it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Larry C. · 11-25-08, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drexl

Have you tried connecting it to a PC to see if it recognizes the discs? Vista will work right away, but if you have XP you'll need to look for some UDF driver.

LOL this is his problem I told him I through a line and see if my boys here can try and figure it out. You start talking about drivers and patches and crap and my boner goes away.

But thanks Drexl I will LMK

GizmoDVD · 11-25-08, 07:10 PM

Go spend $40 on a brand new one. Problem solved

Or, go to Craigslist and pick up an A2/A3 for $70 or so and be happier.

Larry C. · 11-25-08, 07:41 PM

He just got that one. I think he is calling xbox again today

11-23-08, 04:27 AM	#1
Larry C. DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: May 2001 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,355	Xbox 360 HD-DVD player won't play HD-DVD's Hey guys I have a buddy who just got the add on for his 360. The HD player plays SD discs but not HD discs. He brought it over my house and it worked fine. He did install the installation disc on his xbox. Why in the world would this appen? Anyone have any troubleshooting tips? __________________ "I'd rather be a nation of Chinese than an unethical dick shooter." - Eric Theodore Cartman Xbox360 Gamertag = Jackal666666 My Countdown Counting down to: 100 Movies. 31 Days. The 5th Annual "October Horror Movie Challenge" Let the Horror Begin!!!

11-23-08, 01:17 PM	#3
darkside DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: San Antonio Posts: 19,105	Did he do the update? I bought the HD DVD add on for my 360 and I had to do an update the first time I used it. Weird it works on your 360 and not his. __________________ DVDAF/DVD Profiler/Games Wii Code: 6061 0636 6661 8088 PSN & XBL: aagstn

11-23-08, 01:23 PM	#4
RyoHazuki DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Phoenix Posts: 7,795	Have you tried multiple discs? I have a National Geographic HD that my player won't load at all. __________________ When in Rome, go back home and get real dome from a well known crack gnome. Xbox Live: CookinBooks

11-24-08, 10:03 AM	#7
Larry C. DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: May 2001 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,355	Yes he is playing HD-DVD's LOL and we have tried many different ones. And now for some reason its not playing on mine anymore. Now I do have my install disc I put in his but it didn't make a difference. Is there some new updated that might be needed. My disc is from 2006 but I see there is a 2007 update??? __________________ "I'd rather be a nation of Chinese than an unethical dick shooter." - Eric Theodore Cartman Xbox360 Gamertag = Jackal666666 My Countdown Counting down to: 100 Movies. 31 Days. The 5th Annual "October Horror Movie Challenge" Let the Horror Begin!!!

11-24-08, 10:09 AM	#8
nemein Moderator Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: 1bit away from total disaster Posts: 32,703	Are either of you running the NXE desktop? I was having some problems w/ my HD drive until the update. Since then everything (well so far ) has been fine. __________________ "The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name of liberalism, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened." -- Norman Thomas, Socialist Party of America "Do the right thing even if it means dying like a dog when no one's there to see you do it." - Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale My Countdown Counting down to: End of the 5th world age 1124 days 10 hours 45 minutes

11-23-08, 12:01 PM	#2
Drexl DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 10,371	Just to get this out of the way, he's not trying to play a Blu-ray Disc, right? It may be a stupid thing to ask, but I wanted to be sure that's not it. Which disc(s) won't work?

11-23-08, 09:54 PM	#6
emachine12 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 898	You don't have to set the output to HD. The XBox will downcovert the 1080i/1080p to 480i just fine. Although you do have to make sure you are using the USB cable that came with it, software is installed on the 360, and you are playing the HD DVD in the add-on itself.

11-24-08, 10:15 AM	#9
Larry C. DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: May 2001 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,355	well maybe i should have said this before what he doesn't have his 360 connected online. He moved in with a chick that doesn't have internet. Yea he's a douche.... He brought his system to my house and we did the new dash update but still nothing!!!! __________________ "I'd rather be a nation of Chinese than an unethical dick shooter." - Eric Theodore Cartman Xbox360 Gamertag = Jackal666666 My Countdown Counting down to: 100 Movies. 31 Days. The 5th Annual "October Horror Movie Challenge" Let the Horror Begin!!!

11-24-08, 10:24 AM	#10
nemein Moderator Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: 1bit away from total disaster Posts: 32,703	One other thing (and one of the problems the NXE seems to have fixed) is what USB port are you trying it in? Originally mine would not work in the back port at all. On the 360 Elite version that I have there's front ports[1] on which the HD drive would work about 1/2 the time. [1] I'm not that familiar w/ the hardware layout of all the versions so I don't know if all of them have these. __________________ "The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name of liberalism, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened." -- Norman Thomas, Socialist Party of America "Do the right thing even if it means dying like a dog when no one's there to see you do it." - Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale My Countdown Counting down to: End of the 5th world age 1124 days 10 hours 45 minutes

11-24-08, 10:30 AM	#11
Larry C. DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: May 2001 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,355	nah we don't have the elite. My works perfectly in the back, but on his we tried all. But what I don't get is the standard dvd's work perfect but HD DVD say unplayable disc. __________________ "I'd rather be a nation of Chinese than an unethical dick shooter." - Eric Theodore Cartman Xbox360 Gamertag = Jackal666666 My Countdown Counting down to: 100 Movies. 31 Days. The 5th Annual "October Horror Movie Challenge" Let the Horror Begin!!!

11-24-08, 12:34 PM	#12
emachine12 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 898	Ahh... Since his unit is not connected to the internet, he is not getting the automatic update file for HD DVD playback. Although he has the new NXE, he needs to be connected to internet when loading an HD DVD. It will automatically load the newest HD DVD update. Go here for the update file. Its best to burn a CD for this one. If it still does not work after the update, you may have to contact Microsoft since they still support the drive.

11-25-08, 04:56 PM	#19
nemein Moderator Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: 1bit away from total disaster Posts: 32,703	It's getting a little confusing, just to make sure we have the story straight... Tried HD player on his Xbox, didn't work Tried HD player on your Xbox, it worked Tried HD player on his Xbox again it didn't work Brought whole system to your house, HD player didn't work on either system now SD DVDs work in the player on both systems HD DVDs come up as unrecognized on the dashboard Both Xboxes are running NXE HD DVDs play fine on a console player you have Does that sound about right? Again my guess is the HD laser in the drive is toast. Why it initially worked on your machine is anyone's guess... one final attempt at life maybe __________________ "The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name of liberalism, they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened." -- Norman Thomas, Socialist Party of America "Do the right thing even if it means dying like a dog when no one's there to see you do it." - Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale My Countdown Counting down to: End of the 5th world age 1124 days 10 hours 45 minutes

11-25-08, 05:08 PM	#20
Drexl DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 10,371	Have you tried connecting it to a PC to see if it recognizes the discs? Vista will work right away, but if you have XP you'll need to look for some UDF driver.

11-25-08, 07:10 PM	#23
GizmoDVD DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Southern CA Posts: 21,242	Go spend $40 on a brand new one. Problem solved Or, go to Craigslist and pick up an A2/A3 for $70 or so and be happier. __________________ HD DVD = XA1, A30 / 351 Discs Blu-ray = LG BD390 / 263 Discs (As of 9/13/09) XBL: SharpWoodenStke

11-25-08, 07:41 PM	#24
Larry C. DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: May 2001 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,355	He just got that one. I think he is calling xbox again today __________________ "I'd rather be a nation of Chinese than an unethical dick shooter." - Eric Theodore Cartman Xbox360 Gamertag = Jackal666666 My Countdown Counting down to: 100 Movies. 31 Days. The 5th Annual "October Horror Movie Challenge" Let the Horror Begin!!!