BBrownlie

d_man_n_d_mand, you may be right.

Thanks for the 'heads up'.

I know PC Friendly's web site is fairly informative. Maybe it would be of some help.

Thanks again.

Barry

Easy

So this mess is entirely Disney's fault? They failed to adhere to current standards for DVD?

BBrownlie

Easy -

Well, I do think when a software manufacturer comes out with a new product that causes hardware to not work properly, and, does not inform said hardware manufacturers or the public, then it's that software manufacturers fault.

It seems like such a waste of money.

Now with "Dinosaur", Disney is talking about replacements.

I do believe anyone in this scenario can make improvements in the product they offer. I don't expect standards to remain stable. I expect them to change. In the end, I do believe it benefits us consumers. But, geez, would it be so difficult to let us know.

To be honest, as far as "Dinosaur" goes, I think someone in the process of creating this DVD changed the character format/length for the copyright information and did not tell anyone, or, did not abide by the present standard. So, it's very possible no one else at Disney knew what happened til it hit the marketplace.

Barry

knitewing

I'm not trying to be confrontational, but I have a question...

You've posted in a couple of threads that the Dino DVD is an improvement in the technology. But after you pay for the upgrade (if out of warranty), does your DVD look better or sound better that all of the other DVDs that played before the upgrade? If not, than how did it benefit you.

Maybe the real problem is that Disney tried to squeeze too much crap (the neverending promos, games, standard/widescreen versions, ect) onto one disc. I would have been much happier with a disc with just the widescreen version, that played flawlessly. Or at the very least, would have liked the option of making a choice between a basic and deluxe edition.

Ricco

I'll be honest. I haven't read every single reply in this thread. But does anyone know what it is about this disc that causes it not to play on so many different players?

BBrownlie

knitewing -

A firmware upgrade does not mean that there is an improvement in anything, especially the DVD itself. And, in this case, that is true. Disney changed the format/character length of the copyright information that the firmware 'reads'. Thus, changing a 'standard'.

Yamaha and the service center have an upgrade, much like one you get from Microsoft for windows. I hope this is a good analogy - you'll still have windows even if you choose not to upgrade to the 98 version. But if there is software that is only compatible with Windows 98, then you'll have to upgrade. Well, the same thing happened here with "Dinosaur" and previously with "The Matrix".

This does not affect all players, etc. It usually affects older players, but I have no specific dates. Each manufacturer is different on how they handle these problems. Yamaha will do the upgrade for free as long as you have your receipt from an authorized Yamaha dealer. Toshiba sounds like they will not be as accomodating.

In the end, the result was that the DVD played properly in my older Yamaha C900. That was it. There is nothing special about the DVD other than that.

Please, I don't take it as confrontational. I want to help when I learn something.

Barry

d_man_n_d_mand

I smell this as another issue with copyright protection not an attempt to improve the quality. I may be incorrect here but isnt this an attempt that you use PC friendly software as suppose to your software in your machine? Why include it on the disk, if there was any other purpose for it. Fine, do it BUT PUT SOMETHING ON THE BOX, and then I'll order a capture card so they will have to something new to fight next month.

Easy

Frankly, I was more than a little concerned there was no established standard at all. Computers are like the wild west - anything goes. I have owned motherboards in which I flashed the BIOS 6 or 8 times during it's useful life to correct problems and/or make it compatible with new/other equipment. That is what sprang immediately to mind when I read this thread. No standards. Industry moving to fast with no governing body. Who controls the standards and where can they be found? No, I don't want to inspect them - I just want to know that standards exist. I have to wonder what possessed Disney to think they could simply decide to change the standard without coordination with hardware manufactures or warning the public. At least that is the way it appears. It seems insane that they would knowingly do that. A little voice in the back of my mind keeps reminding me that DVDs are software. They have a lot in common with computer programs. Will there come a time when new DVDs will not work in my current player? How will I identify the DVDs that will work from the ones that won't? If future purchases don't run I wonder if I will hear the familiar refrain "You can't return open softwaresir". I am not willing to get on another upgrade merry-go-round. If that is what manufacurers have in mind they had better think again.

BBrownlie

Easy -

You may be right. The word 'standard' may be getting tossed around here a bit too loosely. It was Yamaha that referred to Disney changing the 'standard'. I did not follow up with the gentleman I was talking to to find out exactly what the standard was/is and where it came from.

Also, this firmware upgrade was to be able to play the disc in a DVD player, not a PC (as far as I know, no one's complained of PC loading problems - I haven't re-read, or recall, all the posts here). This has nothing to do with copyright protection. It's more like going from 'mmddyy' to 'mmddyyyy' when there was only room for the first one (this may be too simple an explanation, not being terribly technically-minded). Thus, the player can't read the field and 'thinks' there is no disc present.

Again, I could not load "Dinosaur" in my Yamaha player. I took it to the service center, they did a firmware upgrade. Now, it works fine. Nothing special other than that. I am sure there will be discs that have similar problems in the future as the technology for software and hardware 'improves'. At least, we hope it is an improvement.

Barry

d_man_n_d_mand

Well actually I have two PC with DVD drives. Again, I dont have multiple examples here but with Dinosaur I was unable to use my PC DVD software, it wanted me to install theirs. I have a 633 Celeron with a MPEG2 SD card and a 650 PIII with a SD MPEG2 card. On my celeron, I wasnt unable to use the DVD at all because the PC friendly didnt use my hardware and a celeron can run DVD alone. On the 650, I was able to watch the movie (with problems) but not through the TV out only on the PC. All DVD consoles have the necessary software to run the software and PC that have DVD drives have software too. To set an .inf to load their software (TO ME) smells fishy.
If I could have been able to watch the movie AND had the option to have extra features by loading the software (again) referenced on the box, I wouldn't be complaining.

ILikeDVD

Well it's been about a month since the last post. Any news about a reauthoring of the dvd? Do i keep it and exchange for a new one? or should i just get my $$ back? Thanks.

Dirt-Boy

I've been in contact with Buena Vista a couple times and they assure me the re-authoring should be completed hopefully in the next couple weeks. I just put it in my planner to call them every two weeks, or until I read here it worked for someone else.

Kevin M. Dean

Just in case others were curious about the status of the Dinosaur DVD re-pressing like I was since there hadn't been an update in a while. I spoke with Disney's Customer Service Department today and they still do not have an exact date. They say they are working on a repressed version of the movie that will be released in the near future.

So, I know it's not much of an update, but at least you know you haven't missed it yet and something is being done.

I recommend calling Disney's Customer Service Department if you haven't already at 1-800-723-4763, 9:30-7:30cst. They'll take your information and will supposedly notify you when the repress is ready so you can trade it out.

Dirt-Boy

I've been calling them every two weeks and have it my planner to keep contacting them. Just a quick synopsis of my calls: About a month ago or so they had it all finished up and were going to be sending them out, but then they changed their minds during the testing. I guess it still wasn't perfect. They destroyed all they had done and started fresh. If I ever hear anything good, I'll let you know. I'll be calling them again next Tuesday. Wish me luck!

Tripletdad

Count me in as a Toshiba 3109 failure for Dinosaur. Disk only shows loading and does not continue.
Disney will be getting a call from me today!
Tripletdad

imp66

Well, I finally gave in and spent the $49.95 for the firmware upgrade for my Toshiba. If you want my opinion, don't bother. Althought the disk now runs, all the menus are V E R Y S L O W. It's almost like the player has to stop and think about it. It makes the extras pretty much useless. I'll stick with Sony next time.

ILikeDVD

I am tired of waiting. I am gonna ask for a refund. By the way, how much $$ will they give back to me for the Dvd?? Anyone know? i dont have the original receipt. Thanks

John DVDz

Any official Disney update on the Dinosaur re-authoring? What's their service number for this? Thanks.

acostigan

No problems on my Sony DVP-NS700P.

Tripletdad

Disney's phone number is 1-800-723-4763. I called 8/7/2001 and was told that disk is not ready yet.
Good luck Tripletdad

MisterPib

My son loves this game. Once you find the water, you have to hit
Enter to get the "marks" for it.

jasn

Just called again, and it still hasn't been sent out. The woman I talked to said it was done but that they hadn't received any copies yet to send out. She didn't want to speculate when that might be.

Tripletdad

jasn
Thanks for the update. I too am looking for the new copy of Dinosaur.
Tripletdad

DVDRules1

Might as well add "Dumbo" to this topic. Title didn't get past the blue warning screens on my JVC. Attempted to work-around by hitting stop during these screens, then play - seemed to work.

Kevin M. Dean

Well, here we are a year later and as far as I know, no sign of the new Dinosaur disc. Does anyone know what the hell Disney is up to?