PHILIPS DVP642... how do I upgrade the firmware?

[mummer43]

I need help with upgrading the firmware on my new PHILIPS DVP642.

[tjpark1111]

burn a regular data cd with the firmware files, finalize it, and just pop it in the dvp642 and let it do its thing.

[mummer43]

burn a regular data cd with the firmware files, finalize it, and just pop it in the dvp642 and let it do its thing.

Thanks. How do I know when ot upgrade and where do I get the firmware?

[giannid]

Do this first:

1 Open loading tray
2 Press the following buttons on remote: 5, 6, 9, OK

Your version of the DVP642 should be displayed on the screen.

It should say something like ver0112 DVP642/37

Write this down and post what it says (like above)

Power off your machine.

[Junpei]

I think mine came with a slip of paper that described the firmware upgrade process. I believe the same thing is available online from Philips site, but it's tricky to find their DVP-642 downloads area (also last I checked, all firmware upgrades for this player had been removed from the site). As I recall the upgrade instructions for this player were VERY SPECIFIC in how you burn and use the CD with the upgrade on it, but maybe they're just being careful?

[mummer43]

Do this first:

1 Open loading tray
2 Press the following buttons on remote: 5, 6, 9, OK

Your version of the DVP642 should be displayed on the screen.

It should say something like ver0112 DVP642/37

Write this down and post what it says (like above)

Power off your machine.

Ok, here is what it says:

CURRENT MODEL: 642/37
VER1223 642/37 01 E1

[Bodyslide]

Not Sure how to install or what it does..

Philips Player Firmware for: -
Philips: DVP630/00, 630/02, 630/04, 630/05 | DVP632/00, 632/02, 632/04, 632/05 |
Philips: DVP640K/69, 640K/75 | DVP642/17, 642/37 |

Version No: 0112 - Released 22/23 Feb 2005

http://www.p4c.philips.com/files/d/dvp630_05/dvp630_05_fus_eng.zip

[giannid]

Mummer, you have 1223 (dec. 23, 2004) firmware which came with the dvd player. The latest official firmware is the 0112 (Jan 12, 2005). You can use the link above (in bodyslide's post) to upgrade if you want.

Follow the instructions and burn CD as a data CD (ISO). Finalize it and make sure you do NOT interrupt the firmware updating process or you will ruin your DVD player.

The most important difference between 1130 and 0112 firmware is that the latest 0112 firmware adds a semi-transparent background for divx (xvid) subtitles.

[mummer43]

Mummer, you have 1223 (dec. 23, 2004) firmware which came with the dvd player. The latest official firmware is the 0112 (Jan 12, 2005). You can use the link above (in bodyslide's post) to upgrade if you want.

Follow the instructions and burn CD as a data CD (ISO). Finalize it and make sure you do NOT interrupt the firmware updating process or you will ruin your DVD player.

The most important difference between 1130 and 0112 firmware is that the latest 0112 firmware adds a semi-transparent background for divx (xvid) subtitles.

I don't anticipate plying Divx. Is there any reason for me to upgrade at this time?

[giannid]

No, I wouldn't upgrade. Your software should be nearly the same as the latest official release and perhaps it shades the subtitles on divx too.

When you do an upgrade, you run the risk of interrupting the process and ruining your machine. This can be due to power outage or human error (e.g. unplugging the machine or hitting eject while updating). The risk is probably small, but it can happen.

[mummer43]

No, I wouldn't upgrade. Your software should be nearly the same as the latest official release and perhaps it shades the subtitles on divx too.

When you do an upgrade, you run the risk of interrupting the process and ruining your machine. This can be due to power outage or human error (e.g. unplugging the machine or hitting eject while updating). The risk is probably small, but it can happen.

Ok, I won't upgrade. All I am going to play are my recorded TV shows and rented movies.

[mummer43]

Ok, I burned some shows I recorded onto a DVD+RW and it plays, but it keeps hanging up. Would a firmware upgrade help this?

[mummer43]

Mummer, you have 1223 (dec. 23, 2004) firmware which came with the dvd player. The latest official firmware is the 0112 (Jan 12, 2005). You can use the link above (in bodyslide's post) to upgrade if you want.

Follow the instructions and burn CD as a data CD (ISO). Finalize it and make sure you do NOT interrupt the firmware updating process or you will ruin your DVD player.

The most important difference between 1130 and 0112 firmware is that the latest 0112 firmware adds a semi-transparent background for divx (xvid) subtitles.

Ok, I am going to upgrade the firmware... can someone please walk me through the steps? I am going to be using Nero Burning ROM.

[giannid]

If you still want to upgrade, just follow the instructions in the .pdf file.

Here is a link of how my Nero is configured:
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1320169

So configure your Nero accordingly for ISO data mode. Then proceed to make a data (ISO) CD.

Add the three files from the firmware update file. This is zipped when you download it, so unzip the files somewhere like on your desktop.

So add the files and then burn them to a CD. They say you should use a slower speed like 16x or something.

When it's finished, take the CD and put it into the DVP642. It will work on its own - erasing the old, writing the new. This should take a few minutes.

Whatever you do, DO NOT INTERUPT THIS UPDATE PROCESS. If you hit eject, unplug the machine, or God forbid the power goes out while you are updating, you will ruin the machine. So let it go until it finishes.

When it finishes, it will power itself off (standby). Hit the eject button and remove the CD.

Unplug the machine and wait for 10 seconds or so. Then plug the machine back in, and it should be updated. You will have to reapply the region hack after updating if that is important for you.

Personally, I don't think you need to update because you probably have something quite similar to the 0112 and your problems are probably caused by limitations in the ESS chipset in the DVP642 such as not handling QPEL.

[scottymac]

First, the DVP642 does not handle rewritable discs very well. You should only use DVD-R or DVD+R or CD-R, but not DVD+RW...

Huh? I've owned my 642 for over a year now, continually use DVD-RW and DVD+RW and have never had any problems.

I've used different media and different burners too. Sounds like an ID-ten-T error to me...

[canadateck]

First, the DVP642 does not handle rewritable discs very well. You should only use DVD-R or DVD+R or CD-R, but not DVD+RW...

Huh? I've owned my 642 for over a year now, continually use DVD-RW and DVD+RW and have never had any problems.

I've used different media and different burners too. Sounds like an ID-ten-T error to me...

Same here.

[elec999]

What inprovements do you get from updating the firmware. Is there any way to make the player read more then 8 characters.
Thanks

[giannid]

About DVD-RW's, so have you guys burned something onto a DVD-RW and then wrote something over it, and it played fine?

[gll99]

First, the DVP642 does not handle rewritable discs very well. You should only use DVD-R or DVD+R or CD-R, but not DVD+RW...

Huh? I've owned my 642 for over a year now, continually use DVD-RW and DVD+RW and have never had any problems.

I've used different media and different burners too. Sounds like an ID-ten-T error to me...

Ditto

I use Memorex 2.4x and 4x DVD+RW all the time for tv shows and just overwrite in my capture app (NeoDVD) or in Nero as needed.

I have 2 writers (LG and NEC) and use my NEC1300 to bitset the RW discs as DVD-ROM the first time I use a new disc. After that they usually retain the DVD-rom bitset code on rewrite. This may make my +RW discs more compatible but I don't recall any problems even when I didn't set the code.

[zod5000]

i have no experience with -rw's in the dvd642, but i use +rw's all the time. (i use them because my burner can burn them faster the -rw).

there 4x maxell discs, and i've erased them and reburned them many times. I really don't think the dvd player has any problems playing any format. I pretty much bought it because of how well the drive supports dvd writable media.

i'm guess if you were to use crappy media it might hiccup, but crappy media is crappy media. If the dye is bad, alot of things are going to to have issues reading it.

[giannid]

Not related to RW's but a problem I had with a DVD-R was that I put a few films on it but didn't finalize it. Then I added another film later. When I tried to play it, the player would only recognize the last film and not the original 3.

[NeoCverA]

I upgraded tonight thinking it would solve my problem with subtitles but it still did not help me.

Using the disc menu, it shows the movie file and the subtitle file but when I play the divx film, the subtitles do not show up.

I have no idea what i am doing wrong. (both the divx file and subtitle file are named the same except for the extention - (.srt)

The disc burned with the divx and .srt show both files within the disc menu system. Loading up the movie it says "loading .........." - i forgot what it says.

the disc burned with the divx and .sas show only the divx file on the disc menu system but also displays the "loading........." before play.

both discs play the movie just fine (video and audio) but the subtitles just do not show up.

I turned off closed caption, when i push the subtitle button i just get the hand icon.

please help me.

[MJA]

1109 only appeared to add MacroVision

[GullyFoyle]

I upgraded tonight thinking it would solve my problem with subtitles but it still did not help me.

Using the disc menu, it shows the movie file and the subtitle file but when I play the divx film, the subtitles do not show up.

I have no idea what i am doing wrong. (both the divx file and subtitle file are named the same except for the extention - (.srt)

The disc burned with the divx and .srt show both files within the disc menu system. Loading up the movie it says "loading .........." - i forgot what it says.

the disc burned with the divx and .sas show only the divx file on the disc menu system but also displays the "loading........." before play.

both discs play the movie just fine (video and audio) but the subtitles just do not show up.

I turned off closed caption, when i push the subtitle button i just get the hand icon.

please help me.

When you are in the folder with the subtitle you need to highlight the subtitle and press the subtitle button on the remote. At the top of the screen will appear something like DIVX subtitle now selected. Then highlight the movie file and press play. Subs will appear.
So far only .srt subs have worked for me.

[naruto555]

sorry to bump such an old post but if I burn the firmware update on a DVD+r could i also burn a few videos onto it as well or should I just burn the firmware update on it and nothing else? I just dont feel like wasting a dvd on such a small file and I dont have any cdrs handy.

[Ai Haibara]

I wouldn't... I'm not familiar with the firmware updating process on the 642 (probably should see what version I have), but I imagine that every time you insert the disc with the firmware update (why not use a blank CD? A DVD for just a firmware upgrade seems like a bit of a waste. ) the 642 will recognize ONLY that part of the disc, and therefore try to start the upgrade again every time you insert the disc.

[naruto555]

you're probably right. Its jsut that I dont have any spare CDrs with me and I dont want to buy a bunch just for that reason. I'd rather use DVDs and burn a bunch of videos onto one DVD then use like 4 CDrs. I dont mind combining different videos

[Ai Haibara]

To be honest, I'm not even sure the 642 would accept the firmware update burned on a DVD-R. If it does, however, you can always still add whatever files you want to fill up a data disc... I just can't make any guarantees the 642 will play them. ^_^

[arie01]

Hello, I don't know if I'm at the right place or not. But I have a problem with my Philips DVP642/37 DVD player. It has serious problems reading DVD+RW discs that I burn movies on. It either tries forever with no success or I have to turn it off and then on a few times until it finally reads it. The disc I'm using was used many times in the past. Every time I used it to burn movies, I finalize it.

I also have problem with regular CD-RW discs. Sometimes the player's display show No Disc and I know I entered a disc into the player.

Would a firmware upgrade help me solve this issue? I bought the player about 11 months ago.

Please help,
Thank you.

[Ai Haibara]

I doubt a firmware update would help, in your case. Chances are, however, that you probably should try cleaning the lens.