Pioneer 420k DVD player for canadians

[victoriabears]

Evidently this can play pal on a ntsc TV and can be made region free.

Future shop canada has plenty at C$89.99 and free shipping for all orders over #39 and they have Verbatim blanks for $29,99 per 100.

[samijubal]

It can easily be made region free and is a lot better player than the cheapo Philips/Funai junk everybody here recommends.

[tigerb]

Great, I was looking high and low for this particular model few months back and was told "no longer carry this model"...and now they got so many in stock .

Care to share the how to make this unit region free?

Thanks.

[victoriabears]

https://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks/pioneer-dv-420v-k-s/10203

[tigerb]

Thanks victoriabears, much appreciated 8)

[victoriabears]

Pioneers own website manual confirms it will play pal on a ntsc TV

This player conforms to NTSC standards.
Discs marked “NTSC” on the disc label,
package or jacket can be played. Discs
recorded in PAL are converted to NTSC for
playback.
 This player does not support multisession

http://www.pioneerelectronics.ca/ephox/StaticFiles/PUSA/Files/DV-420V-K.pdf

BUT it seems making it region free is more of an issue as the links on this site do not work, this is all I can find:=

http://www.pioneerfaq.info/index.php?question=Firmwares

page down to look at the firmwares for 420 dvd player/

DO remember that once you make a backup of a region encoded dvd it IS region free, so for a $0,30 disc you can watch all pal on a ntsc tv

[samijubal]

That is how it's made region free, firmware from pioneerfaq. The new firmware will add some nice features that the original firmware doesn't have. Once that firmware is installed you can go back to the OF and the player will still be region free. I went back to the OF because every time I tried to play a PAL disc the player would change to a PAL output resolution and I'd have to reset it to get it back to NTSC. Not really a big deal but a little annoying.

[victoriabears]

if you can link directly to the firmware download page, that would be great as there are all sorts of warnings,,many thanks

[tigerb]

http://www.pioneerfaq.info/click/click.php?id=450

http://www.pioneerfaq.info/click/click.php?id=453

http://www.pioneerfaq.info/click/click.php?id=455

DO NOT click on the links on https://www.videohelp.com/dvdhacks/pioneer-dv-420v-k-s/10203, just copy as plain text of the above and paste to your browser and you will get the YKB9326C_Multiregional.zip, YKB9326C_V1.0_CP1252.zip and YKB9326C_V1.1_CP1252.zip files (Ops my links above are working!)

Now I have a little problem, I'm done burning discs 2 yrs ago and everything is on USB2.0. I'm wondering since this Pioneer unit has USB port, maybe I can extract the bin file to a USB flash drive and update/flash the FW?

[victoriabears]

The Philips lets you update F/W via usb,,and if Pioneer does not you can always burn to cd?,,many many thanks for the direct links

[samijubal]

I did mine from CD both times, the modded firmware and back to the OF. I don't remember seeing anyone in the thread at AVS say anything about updating from the USB.

[annanas]

HI !


I ve just bought this at Futureshop after my toshiba xde500 died.
So far i ve burned 8 cd's and still get the same "Can't play cd" from the player, so mod wont work


any clue ?

I ve read the "read me" file which said to burn this using nero compilation, i ve tried magic iso etc..no luck...please help me, i have so many region 2 dvd's

[samijubal]

Are you sure you've got the right firmware for the player? What brand of CD-Rs are you using? TDKs don't work very well for firmware updates. You should be burning the update disc at no faster than 4x.

[annanas]

Hi, thanks for answering.

I tried with all the links above, hohw do i know which one i have to take ?
Anyway i tried them all.
My guess is perhaps the brand of the cd (nexxtech), i ll try with verbatim tonight but in the meantime i was wondering if i was doing something wrong.

[victoriabears]

try a cd-rw thats what always works for me, but I have yet to try the pioneer player, on its way as we speak

[annanas]

oh i will try, thanks for the tip.
Has it worked for you ?

[samijubal]

I'd guess it's those CD-Rs. It should work with a decent quality disc. Make SURE you've got the right firmware for the player or you can ruin it.

[victoriabears]

Okay, my new player from Future shop has firmware ykb9326c but I burn the multi region firmware to disc iso9660 etc and it says "won\t play", this player is very nice and it does play region free pal discs onto ntsc TV but getting it region free would be nice, any suggestions?

[victoriabears]

samijubal

If yours is a North American model, could you post exactly how you did it, we would all be very grateful.

Thanks

[billmac]

Since you did not use nero to burn the disc are you sure you had all the settings
in your burn program exactly as they would have been in nero as indicated in the read me file.
I bought my player last week from future shop. I burned the multi-region firmware to a cd using imgburn.
I did not use a cdrw. Worked like a charm!
I was very careful to have all the burn settings as indicated in the read me file.
Good Luck - its a nice player!

[victoriabears]

my read me file says

USE ON OWN RISK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Multiregional when Enter is pushed until the player turns off.
- Original region setting restorde when Clear is pushed until player turns off.
-

please post the firmware link and the readme file you used--thanks

[samijubal]

I looked and mine is a 410 not a 420. I don't think it makes any difference, just different firmware.

Scroll to the last firmware on this page, it has the original and region free firmwares.
http://www.pioneerfaq.info/index.php?question=Firmwares

This tells you how to burn the update disc. I had to install Nero just to do it. Follow the directions exactly.

http://www.pioneerfaq.info/burn_guide.php

If it's in the wrong language and you have the Google toolbar, there will be a translate tab at the top of the page.

It says "use at own risk" probably just in case someone installs the wrong firmware. Be absolutely SURE you get the 420 firmware and you should be fine.

[billmac]

Victoriabears - to burn with imgburn you: download file as listed in samijubals link
http://www.pioneerfaq.info/index.php?question=Firmwares
the firmware I selected was the YKB9326C multiregion - its the one with the most downloads!
When you extract the zip files you will get the .bin file and a read me. The read me lists the instructions for burning with nero. I used imageburn. It proved pretty foolproof for me although I second guessed myself the whole time.
Anyway its burned as an iso. Under device tab on right I set burning to 4x. Under the options tab the file system dropdown selection was ISO9660 + UDF; UDF Revision dropdown was 1.02; I left recursive subdirectories checked but nothing else in the device tab. Under the labels tab I set the Volume Label at the ISO9660 box to PIONEER
The Advanced tab opens tabs for Dates - I set button to Use File Date & Time
Restrictions tab - the ISO9660 tab the Folder/File Name Length set to Level 1 - 11 Characters, 8.3 Format
Character Set button to Standard
Left the Allow Maore than 8 directories and Allow more tha 255 characters in path both checked
the Joliet tab under Folder/file name length I left the Level 1 - 64 Characters button on
the UDF tab I had nothing checked
What I guessed was that all the settings were pretty standard - no oddball stuff - I think I'm right. So I selected the .bin file as downloaded - burned with the selections indicated and it worked great. Sorry for the wordiness.

[victoriabears]

oh you be as wordy as you like, exact instructions are very important, what type of or option of burning did you use, the first step when you chose write image to disc etc (which did not work for me)

Also what brand of cd are you using I only have tdk's, and it said somewhere they are not liked by dvd players for upgrading firmware, seems odd.

I cannot make your instructions work, your is a 420V-K model number?

I have tried making an image file of the bin file, tried burning the bin file to the disc with your settings, it still says :can'T play disc"

[samijubal]

After having problems with updating firmware with a TDK disc I did a search and found that's a common problem with the discs for some reason.

I just used NERO and followed the instructions on the website. I did region free and original firmware discs, both of which worked fine. The link shows you exactly how to make the disc.

[billmac]

In imgburn select "write image file to disc" but under mode tab leave in "Build" mode.
Select .bin file to burn
A dialogue box will open when you attempt to burn saying you are trying to build and would you like to save image
click no
Change Mode tab to Write
You should now be able to click the button at bottom left that you would normally press to write.
That should be it.

I used an Imation disc to write file to - its just what was around.
Dont burn many CD's anymore.
That should do it - good luck

[billmac]

Forgot
Just to cover all the questions - Yes my model is a Pionner dv-420v-k
Purchased last week at Future Shop

I got briefly stuck on one step - its listed in the read me file but separate from burning instructions.
Victoriabears You quoted it "- Multiregional when Enter is pushed until the player turns off"
If the upgrade is finished the unit is not made multi region until you press enter to turn off the machine.
You turn back on and its multiregion!

[victoriabears]

billmac..........thanks i have got stuck on one point, by the way I am using Vista, wonder if thats a problem, anyways when I get to the step,

"A dialogue box will open when you attempt to burn saying you are trying to build and would you like to save image
click no
Change Mode tab to Write"

At that point it "loses" the file to be burnt and adding it does not work as it did not like the bin extension.


The nERO option , ? , is that using nero quick start or nero burning rom?

sorry about all this I am determined to make it work !

[annanas]

Well victoriabears, i will try again tonight and let you know, may the force be with us :P

[annanas]

Ok, I managed to burn the cd at last !
I used an old Sony RW i had in a corner of my desk ( i had to erase Elvira, mistress of the dark lol).
it's workingggggggg yay !


Thanks all



Btw, i tried with imgburn and i failed so i re-tried with nero using the settings in the read me files, as i had done with 8 cds before lol...turns out the brand as not good enough to do this


2.1. How to burn and install the firmware:
-----------------------------------------

BURNING CD:
1. Launch Nero.
2. In the "New Compilation" pannel:
- top left part, choose "CD" in the drop-down list
- bottom left part, choose "CD-ROM (ISO)" in the icon list
In tabs, choose following options:
"Multisession" tab
- "No Multisession" must be selected
"ISO" tab
- File name length: "Max of 11 = 8 +3 chars (ISO level 1)"
- Format: "Mode 1"
- Character set: "ISO 9660"
- "Joliet": this option should be unchecked
"Label" tab
- Volume label - ISO 9660: "PIONEER" (without quotes)
"Burn" tab
- "Write" must be checked
- "Finalize CD" MUST BE checked!!
- Write Speed: "please do not select the maximum speed but rather an other less fast if possible"!
- Write Method: "Disk-at-once"
3. Click on button "New".
4. In the right window, choose the file corresponding to firmware (ex: "Y1B01160.BIN") and drag&drop it in the window most to the left.
5. Choose the menu "Recorder\Burn Compilation..."
6. Launch burning using the "Burn" button.
7. When the burning is launched, please check the box "Verify written data", to be sure of the date written during this session.
UPGRADING:
1. Turn on the player, and open the disc tray.
2. Put the Firmware Update Disc on the tray, and close the tray.
3. A screen will be displayed inviting you to push the "play" button to start the update.
4. The player will load the data, and the tray will open again. Remove the Firmware Update Disc from the tray now. Leave the tray open. The update process will complete in few minutes.
5. Wait until the update process finishes and the DVD logo is shown on the screen.

Attention: DO NOT unplug the power cable or turn off the player during the update process.

dont forget to hold "enter" until the player turns off ( i forgot the first time and thought the update didnt work)