Page 1 of Samsung 709 wont play The Matrix!!!

Can anybody here help me? I bought `The Matrix Revisited` this weekend from HMV `coz it was included in a `buy one get one free` offer! Anyway,when I bought my Samsung DVD player 3 years ago I read in the magazines that it had problems playing `The Matrix` but seeing as the film had been re-released I thought it would play ok! Well it doesnt!!!! All that happens is that when I put the disc in and close the door it just displays `load` and nothing else! Just keeps doing that for ages!

Has anyone else had this problem and do they know how to fix this problem? Any suggestions greatly appreciated! P.S. It works fine on the Playstation 2!!!

I had the same problem when I bought my 709 three years ago. It had to be re-chipped to be able to play The Matrix and also Something about Mary. As i had only just bought it this was done free of charge but you`ll probably have to pay some one to do it for you. It may be cheaper to get a new dvd player. There may be another way around this problem but nothing that springs to mind.

Firmware versions earlier than 3.23 won`t play the Matrix. There`s a bit of information about versions and upgrades on my FAQ page at:

http://www.709firmware.fsnet.co.uk/faq.html

You should definitely phone up your nearest Samsung service centre, though, they may be willing to upgrade it for you for free.

A lot of people had a go at Samsung over this problem, but it`s worth remembering that the 709 wasn`t the only player that had difficulties. At some point, there was an independent test done which showed that Warner was in the wrong and that the Matrix DVD actually broke the DVD specification. Of course, by that time, a few million copies had been sold and it was too late to do anything about it.

Mike

Many thanks John and Mike. Yeh I was thinking about getting a new DVD player. Although I`ve had great enjoyment with my Samsung 709 I have started to notice that certain films either do not play or stick in parts of the films! I`ll just put it down to being one of the older generation players. Anyway thanks once again your advice was greatly appreciated!

Have recently bought (after some deliberation....see my thread of a couple of weeks ago) a Samsung 225 from Safeway -- £89.99, and have not had any problems playing `The Matrix` which I bought from safeway at the same time as buying the player.
I`m as pleased with this machine as I am able to say because I only know that it seems to work as it should --at least it plays the matrix and an old Everly Bros. CD...

Hope this might help in your buying decision.
Gerry