Page 1 of ENCORE 450 - DO NOT USE 2.0A FIRMWARE ON THIS PLAYER !!!

Further to my recent warnings about using this firmware (the one to backward flash to a time when Macro could be disabled) I am urging all people to SUSPEND using this firmware for the present time.

There does appear to be a fatal problem when using the 2.0A with 450s that ALREADY HAVE FIRMWARE 3.3 INSTALLED.(check this by tapping 1,2,3,4,5 into the remote and the version will pop up on the telly)

The player will lock up and it seems the only way round it is to call in Encore.

If your player has Firmware 3.0 (like mine did) USE ONLY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Here`s what I told Encore :

"I wonder if your technical guys can help me again.

"Some people have been able to download firmware from a `reputable` German site called version 2.0A which allows the user to access the loopholes menu to disable Macrovision. They have then used a now unavailable firmware download (version 3.3) from the same site, which I know is the current firmware in the player, to reinstate the settings on the player.

"However, as a quasi-authority figure on the 450 (I have been plugging it since I got it from you), people have been e-mailing me stating that their players have frozen up, with the firmware 2.0A trapped inside the player, and all the lights lit up. Is this because they are trying to backward flash on players already fitted with version 3.3. (Some people have had no problems, because their firmware was version 3.0, and it allowed the backward flash to 2.0A to occur without any problems.)

"Some people are now understandably worried that they have invalidated their warranty, bearing in mind the Macrovision situation - what is your stance on this, bearing in mind the firmware was freely available from a German site. What would be the position with these people returning their players to you ? (i.e. how much are we talking ?) Or is there a quick fix to `unlock` the players, either via the remote or by some other means ?"

Encore`s reply, so far :

"I have forward this on to our techno bods, unfortunately they do not work weekends so please allow a little time for a reply.
However, from a company perspective, we have always stated that it is not possible to disable the macrovision on the DV-450. If a purchaser chooses to try to achieve this then it must be at their own risk and accordingly would invalidate their warranty. Any repairs and carriage undertaken as a result of such action on behalf of the purchaser would be chargeable.
Please come back to me if you have any further issues, in the mean time I will have Mark look into the Technical points that you raised to see if their is any other way around this problem.
Thank you for your support and our "quasi-authority figure" it is nice to know that we have a friend out there!!"

So there you have it - if you lock the player up you`re gonna have to pay for it.

I`ll let you know what Mark says.

Incidentally - brilliant customer service yet again : a reply within 12 hours (I sent it at 1am this morning, reply by 1pm this afternoon) - why can`t all companies be this good ?

Just thought I`d let you know I recently got a new silver 450 through QXL (only £150) which came with firmware version 3.3D.

After Bedlam kindly e-mailed me the firmware files for versions 2.0A and 3.3 I followed clayts instructions to the letter, and the process worked perfectly!

I have to admit though the process was a tad nerve racking, especially once version 2.0A was loaded - the picture is so bad it`s almost impossible to read the onscreen menu!

Now that IS interesting !!!!

Take your point about 2.0A rendering the screen a little bit fuzzy !!!

Thank goodness that worked for you, anyway.

However, to the rest of you thinking about it - please hold off for the time being until Encore have come back to me

Hi m8

told you so it ain`t the firmware m8 it has to be the way the disks where burnt i can`t think of anything else m8
oh! clayts me old mucker the boss says shes gonna buy me a white cat for the lap m8 :-)

l8trz

Encore rulz :-)

I got the s***ty picture, just before my tv switched off, and the player locked up, and I`m sure that the disk was burnt OK, as I`ve made a few in my time ;-)

BTW Encore does indeed rule

then i`m stumped as i know some peeps have used the files and it worked great but some have had probs
hope encore are going to let up know the truth bout this.


l8trz

Mine locked up using the discs that you burnt for me mate !!

The "official" line from Encore is that the chipset in the Encore 450 has changed from that which was in the players when the 2.0a firmware was the current version - hence the lockup.

This however doesnt explain why some people get away with doing it whilst others dont !

Just for anyone who is still considering trying it my advice would be not to bother, as you are looking at a £25 - £45 charge for Encore to fix the player if it locks up.

Wow, looks like I was one of the lucky ones!

Lucky for me it worked too since the player is a Xmas gift for my girlfriend, so I had to patch it before giving it to her as she`d never have let me take the risk otherwise!

If these firmware CDs were being sent around could it be they got damaged in transit?