Firmware upgrade crashed Samsung DVD-VR320

[spoonleg]

After [3yrs] of marginal DVD recording & playing performance by this machine, I discovered the "firmware update download" on the Samsung site. Following Samsung's instructions, downloaded the zip file, extracted the 2 files, burned them onto the recommended CD-R disc., popped it into my [still fully functioning abeit quirky DVD-VR320 ]. which happily loaded the disc and asked me if I wanted to install the upgrade!! "yes, why yes of course! it will 'improve recording & playback quality' as stated in my Samsung set-up guide, so YES!!" i said, pressing "enter". Then i let it be for about 5 min returned to find the message "installation failed, call customere service". Then i discovered that NOTHING on my quirky but previously functional machine worked. I had to unplug & replug it to get any response. Now the only functions are power, dvd to vcr switching, and vcr play on which I get sound only. I had to[after a fiasco w/samsung tech] open the case to extract the cd.
Customer service had less knowledge about electronics than I [and I'm a dinosaur!]. The "senior tech" was evasive, obviously knew the fault, attempted to blame me and was downright rude. They want me to send it in and pay for a fix. I don't think I should have to pay but that's beside the point....
MY SINKING FEELING IS THAT THERE IS NO FIX... ANYBODY HAD THIS OR SIMILAR CRASH?
i think it's "hard drive" is wiped out.

[Number Six]

When you say "Quirky" - what do you mean? Was it quirky when reading and / or playing discs? If so, then it was not a good idea to trust it to read a firmware disc because any failure during the process would be, and most likely was fatal.

I did some searching and found out this this is a very bad unit, and all the reviews and customer responses confirm that any attempt to upgrade the firmware will destroy the unit.

Why do you say that it's hard drive is wiped out? This model doesn't seem to have a hard drive - it is a combo VHS / DVD unit.

[spoonleg]

Number Six, thanks for voting. Quirky as in occasionally on a commercial dvd, it would seem to freeze frame and then skip seconds or minutes of movie. Sometimes cleaning the disc fixed it, sometimes not... 1 in 20 discs. never on one i had recorded. Quirky when recording to dvd from tv or a vhs, occasionally would just stop, or when i went to save to disc it wouldn't (it froze on the "saving to disc" screen) or sometimes erase everything including previously saved and/or protected titles. not often.

I'm not surprised that you learned of this happening to others... the "senior tech" just seemed defensive (not to mention deflective) in a "heard this before" kinda' way. Like I mentioned, I'm a dinosaur but the download, instructions etc are so user friendly and the instruction manual so blithely suggested the upgrade, and no warning about "if you're a novice don't try it".
At least I got 3years use before I noticed the "download a firmware update" paragraph in the manual!!HA

I just meant "hard drive" as a euphamism for whatever guts of the machine are now defunct.

thanks again for sharing your research and experience.

[Number Six]

This basically had nothing to do with being a novice - firmware updates are fairly easy, unfortunately this piece of equipment seems to be bottom of the barrel junk. All the problems you stated are the same complaints that I read in the customer reviews - I commend you for having the patience to put up with it as long as you have - I personally would have thrown it out a window.

I myself am using a DVD recorder that is also considered a piece of junk - it is a Cyberhome, but I learned to only use 4x DVD+RW discs - never a coaster. I am very happy with the video quality and features that this unit has. I then edit the disc on my computer and burn the finished video to a permanent DVD+R. I have upgraded the firmware once, before Cyberhome went out of business - I was nervous as hell because I was afraid it would crash, but it worked great. These units also have a junk power supply that blows up, but mine is perfect.

[LCSHG]

Number Six

Please read my post at this thread]
https://forum.videohelp.com/topic366041.html

Those units will play most anything [When working] But that List can heve users say the unit is no longer working when in fact it is and it;s not the unit or disk but the list

[Number Six]

Number Six

Please read my post at this thread]
https://forum.videohelp.com/topic366041.html

Those units will play most anything [When working] But that List can heve users say the unit is no longer working when in fact it is and it;s not the unit or disk but the list

I do not see where your post in the other thread is relevant. I tried different DVD+R media when I bought the unit, and had several problems when burning to them - sometimes OK and sometimes coasters - but 4X DVD+RW have worked perfectly for me. I have not had any problems playing anything that I put into it.

I was just pointing out that a unit that is generally considered to be junk can work very well without any issues or quirkiness. There is a big difference between a unit that is designed poorly and subject to fatal hardware failure - like my Cyberhome, and a unit that will not function properly when you are trying to use it for the purpose that it was intended - like the Samsung DVD-VR320. I never would have put up with the problems that the Samsung in this thread is having - especially if I was just trying to watch a DVD.