LG BD300 Won't play normal DVD after firmware update

Millertime1414

I am having a similar issue to those above. I was only using the BD300 for Blu Rays and standard DVD's, so never did any firmware update. Everything was working great until a month ago when standard DVD's kept getting spit out. I downloaded the software updates to the USB drive and still would not play standard DVD's. I tried the live chat and while it said my wait time was 2 minutes, I waited for 30 and nothing. I then called into customer service, they tried to do the unplug and plug it back in thing...nothing. He then said I need to send it in but since it was out of warranty he said that there would be a repair charge, shipping charge, and charge for any parts. I informed him of this forum and the over 50 posts with the exact same issue and each one getting fee waived and he just said "uhhhh, well I'm sorry sir.." I asked to speak to a supervisor, but after 5 minutes on hold supervisor was too busy and would "call me back".

I bought this BD300 to go with an LG 42" 120HZ LCD. I actually was looking at the LG LED TV, but after this experience if this fee is not waived I would rather spend money to buy a new Blu Ray player from a different manufacturer rather than give another penny to to a company that doesn't stand by their products. I will never buy LG again and I will do all that I can to share this experience with other consumers and sway them away from LG!

pixel11

Just got my BD300 back from LG, its running the latest firmware w/ youtube AND plays normal DVDs again. LG waived the fee as a one time courtesy.

Millertime1414

6 days and counting for that supervisor to call me back! What a joke!

brilliantmadness

I just got mine back today and it is working great. This is what I did , I emailed customer service and explained to them that I'm a loyal LG customer and plan on buying other products ( I just purchased the BD 570) I also explained that the blu player only went faulty After I did the firmware update. I asked If LG had a goodwill or customer loyalty programm and thanked them. Then I waited. Around ten days later they emailed to ship the blu ray player with labels they supplied. Anyways it all worked out and good luck.

mattyyg

I am having the same issue as well. I tried calling the customer service number but they denied my request since I was out of warranty. So I tried the online chat immediately after I got off the phone, and they honored the request without a problem. They are sending shipping labels to have it sent out and be repaired. From some of the feedback here, it looks like there is good results.

timwdick

Does anyone have experience with the firmware update issued on June 10, 2010? Does it improve DVD play? No new features have appeared so it must be an improvement to existing feature(s).

timwdick

The new software is version BD 8.16.556 - Netflix fast-forward / rewind has improved functionality. Has anyone noticed a change in DVD play reliability?

mr_magoo101

F/W V.8.16.556 wrecked my player when I updated from the factory loaded FW two weeks ago. DVD's wouldn't play <sarcasm>but I could watch Youtube!</sarcasm> I'm in Canada FYI, no netflix... yet.

LG warranty repaired the unit at no charge even with it being purchased about 1.5 years ago. I just got the player back today. The part labeled as being replaced is "Pickup (RAM)"

I have no idea what that is but the woman on the phone when I called for a status update the day before said they were waiting on the "optical pickup."

Either way I'm happy it's working again. And good on LG for repairing it at no cost, out of warranty.

debplume

Hi Gang,

Thanks all for your posts! My player just stopped playing DVDs with that update. I have not had a moment until now to hunt down the fix. Your posts helped A LOT!

I have just did an online chat with rep and referenced these posts and I am getting labels shipped to me. We shall see how that goes. NO FEE FIX. If LG does this right then they deserve one point. BUT IF THEY HAD PUT an announcement directly on their web site they would have deserved a Gold Medal for being a responsible electronics company. I will post when I see the results!

Thanks again folks your active posting!

800Tech_Hater

Regarding the F/W V.8.16.556 issues...

My LG BD300 experienced the same issues after installing the F/W V.8.16.556 upgrade. After numerous calls and references to this site, LG finally sent me F/W V.8.16.557. Yes it does exist and NO they will not be posting it on their support page for a product that has "end of lifed."

After installing the .557 upgrade, I was able to play SD DVDs again. It took over 3 weeks to get this DVD, however it did seem to get the job done.

If you live in the US and are experiencing these same issues, I would suggest calling LG Tech Support:
1-800-243-0000 automated menu path 1, 3, 4

They should have this documented and accessible, however this definitely motivates me to purchase a brand other than LG for my next home theater product.

I do appreciate all the previous contributors to this thread.

tallguy77

OK, so LG Support just treated me like an idiot on the first call about my no-DVD issue... Said there is no known problem of this kind, but it's probably a power issue or firmware not updated. I could not talk any sense into them including referring them to this thread. But we did unplug and re-plug in the power cord so that was great. They won't consider talking about service until I try a DVD lens cleaner. Of course Blu-Rays play fine with my dirty lens... ARGH!

So my questions are:

1 - Is there a way to get to a different support level or point the CSR to look in the right place to see how this problem needs to be fixed? Looking for some magic words here!

2 - Could you possibly put the .557 firmware online somewhere?
I would pay for it if I could just get the newer firmware file without having to deal with LG and (if I luck out next time) send in my player for repair.

Ridiculous!

tallguy77

First call into LG..."We have no known problem with the BD300. Power cycle please. Still not working? You need to try a DVD lens cleaner." Just to humor them, I did. Second call to LG..."We have no known problem with the BD300. We will send you the secret .557 firmware" (that is not available when the player connects via software update) There is no level 2 or 3 technical support... ugh... how did the rest of you get LG to agree to fix the hardware? They will not admit to me that there could be a problem, and they will not listen to the fact that many other people online have had this issue fixed by LG. At this point, I'm unlikely to ever buy an LG again.

tallguy77

And it's over. Firmware DVD can't be read, because of course no DVDs can be read. Third call to customer service yields the same result - there is nothing wrong with your DVD player but you can send it in for service for $69 + shipping + something else... We extended the warranty from 1 year to 2 years, but since I'm at 2 years and 5 months, I'm hosed. They won't admit there's a problem that they fixed for others in 2009 and 2010.

Never buy an LG again.

sethmorgan

Have you tried copying the contents of the DVD onto a USB flash drive?

Also, my BD300 discovered a 561 firmware update and applied it a week or two ago. I was hoping this would enable subtitles in Netflix but it doesn't. I didn't notice any functionality changes. And LG hasn't posted this one to the support page either.

tallguy77

Update - I actually got the .561 firmware update to install from the internet - but still no DVDs will play. Thanks LG.

jborean

How did you get an older version? I do not see anyway of finding old firmware...

allenathomas

I made the mistake (without knowing, of course) of updating the firmware just a few months ago, and since I normally just watch Blu-Rays, I didn't notice this problem with normal DVD's until the last couple of weeks. But it's no joke, the thing won't play normal DVD's anymore, even ones that I played on it last year and are clearly pristine discs. Not surprising they discontinued this piece of junk. And I have no interest in wasting time talking to them. Looks like it's time for a new player, but I can assure you it won't be an LG. I hope they go out of business.

DigtlLogic

Found this player in a 2nd hand shop for a good price and it worked great. then I got hit with the dreaded firmware update. the latest on the LG site is 8.16.567 and after going thru threads, everyone says to call LG and make them fix it.

Has someone been able to obtain & flash the drive with proper firmware using a PC? I've opened it up and it has a SATA connector on it but looks to be a proprietary power cord. is the drive a clone of another drive that we can cross-flash it?

CpmFinster

Picked this up at a garage sale for $10. When I first plugged it in I let the update go through. It didn't play DVDs and I don't know if it played them before the update...my guess is no or it wouldn't have been 10 bucks.

It's working now.

I put in a blu-ray disc, and, for some reason the player thought it was a region other than US. The only subtitle option was Thai. I noticed that English was an option and then it quickly switched to Thai.

I did a factory reset on the machine. That didn't help with playing DVDs but the blu-ray disc now shows English subtitles.

I downloaded the LG_BD_LV321BP.zip to a USB drive, plugged it in, and after the update I can now play DVDs!

CpmFinster

Well, my exuberance was short lived. The first DVD I put in after the update worked. I tried about 10 others and got 'No Disc'.

I don't think it's worth keeping the unit connected just so I can watch The Brady Bunch Movie!

DigtlLogic

So i tried calling LG Tech support earlier and no dice. they still want the service fee. I hung up on them. no use trying to talk to them.

Got an idea though... what would it take to wire the drive up with a SATA power cable to connect to a PC and get the drive's make & model? or better yet, replace the interal drive with a PC blu/ray drive? i came a parts website that had discontinued this drive and they were selling another drive in its place.

The PC board on the inside of this unit has Pin-out data printed on it. I'm assuming pin 1 has to do with the physical eject button on the front of the unit. can anyone figure out the color matching of the cables/pins? Im guessing you'd use red/yellow for positives and black for negative. would pin 1 be the blue cable?

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