WDTV Live needs to be physically disconnected when it couldn't play a file

[tigerb]

I find a strange behavior of my WDTV Live (FW 1.01.11)...when it couldn't play a video for whatever reasons AND it freezes/hangs, then the only way for it to play again is to physically unplug the power source and reconnect it again, just by simply power down the "Power" button on the remote wouldn't do it.

To be clear:
1) WDTV Live couldn't play a file, no freezes/hangs and a tiny popup saying something refer to supported format......I can simply press stop or press "Power" off/on button on remote and WDTV Live could start playing files again.

2) WDTV Live couldn't play a file, freezes/hangs and NO tiny popup......just blank screen...... power down/on the "Power" button on the remote would bring back WDTV Live but now it couldn't play any file anymore, had to physically unplug the power source at the back and reconnect it again and now WDTV Live can plays again.

I'm not complaining here, just want to know if this is "normal" for WDTV Live to behave?

I'm sure lots of you have WDTV Live and tons of vids...just test one of the vid that you know for sure WDTV Live couldn't play and PROVIDED it freezes/hangs (if it's just NOT supported media with a tiny popup windows WITHOUT freezes/hangs wouldn't do) and see if you have the same problem as my WDTV Live does.

Thanks.

[jagabo]

I've had the same thing happen on occasion. One file in particular would cause it every time. But of the hundreds of files I've played I think only that file and maybe one other caused the problem.

[TJohns]

Don't know if it's "normal", but it sounds like the files that don't play are "crashing" the WDTV's internal decoder chip to the extent it needs a hard power off to reset it.

Trevor

[tigerb]

Thanks jagabo, Trevor!

the files that don't play are "crashing" the WDTV's internal decoder chip to the extent it needs a hard power off to reset it.

Very interesting idea and maybe this is it!

Of all my vid files, only all the 1080p files from one very specific studio would render WDTV Live to crash and needing a hard reset!...so I would take it that my WDTV Live is behaving normally :P .

Thanks again for the feedback!

[jagabo]

it sounds like the files that don't play are "crashing" the WDTV's internal decoder chip to the extent it needs a hard power off to reset it.

Yes, that's my guess too. There is a CPU and an A/V decoder chip. The CPU continues running so you can navigate but the decoder chip has crashed and stopped decoding. Powering down with the remote only puts the device in a standby state. The decoder chip is still borked when the WDTV comes out of standby. You have to unplug the power to reset the decoder chip.

[ron spencer]

stupid though...

[tigerb]

Yes, that's my guess too. There is a CPU and an A/V decoder chip. The CPU continues running so you can navigate but the decoder chip has crashed and stopped decoding. Powering down with the remote only puts the device in a standby state. The decoder chip is still borked when the WDTV comes out of standby. You have to unplug the power to reset the decoder chip.

Very logical!

You guys are GOOD!

[jagabo]

stupid though...

Along with all the other stupid bugs and shortcomings of the WDTV Live.

[MJA]

it happened to me too when I forced the player to play some video clips.even youtube will not work.

[Soopafresh]

I've found remuxing into a different container will sometimes "fix" the file.

mkvmerge, Tsmuxer

[duhmez]

I have the problem with many specific wmv files. The files that do it will always crtash the player 100% of the time. Only solution to reencode I figure.

[Seanwdtv]

I also am experiencing this problem.

I was an early adopter and have owned the WDTV gen1 for a long time. It works OK and I have converted many people to WDTV so I am not some inexperienced newbie. This week I decided to upgrade to the latest WDTV Live SMP for its network capabilities and built in wireless, simply because my content has outgrown the two USB connections and I am moving to a storage area network for my media library, however I am still using direct connected USB drive (WD elements) at this time.

I was disappointed to find a major bug in this. Here is what is happening:

1. I press to play a supported file type (a MKV container with an AVC video stream and AAC audio and with NO header compression).

2. The WDTV then gives an error: file type not supported.

3. Following this error no other files will play (including ones that played on it earlier) and all attempts to play any file give the same error.

I checked the media info for the file, and it meets all of the WDTV specs for supported files. Also note that the file did not have header compression. I have examined the drive for errors and it is fine. I have tried the drive on the gen 1 player and it is fine and it plays.

The only solution is to unplug the WDTV (powering down does not work, you must unplug so the device resets). I identified a second MKV file that also caused this error to occur. But this problem seems to be unrelated to the supported file types since in both cases the problem file met with all of WDTV published requirements.

While unplugging the WDTV resolved the problem, the identical problem re-occurred when when trying to play this file again. This happened 4-times in a row. So I remuxed the file, making no changes to the container. This time the file did not cause the fault. Note that for the other file that also caused this fault, I left it unchanged and did not remux it, and the problem just vanished on its own after resetting the device.

I can see no reason for this fault to occur. It seems to me that there is some sort of problem with this device and it is not related to supported file types.

While I quite liked the old player, and recommended it to others, I found that WDTV did not support it very well and stopped making firmware updates within months of launching it, leaving many bugs unresolved. I am hoping that this problem is resolved, It would be a shame to have to return this and to stop recommending this product to others.

[cal_tony]

My only comment would be that MY WD doesn't freeze up as much as my Seagate players. However, both brands seem to need a plug pull to get back to operation.

Tony

[_Al_]

If I ever encounter anything "weird" with WDTV Live Plus I "Factory Reset" the unit. It seems to be highly effective solution for most problems. At least for older models, not sure with new model WDTV Live SMP.

[quazzar]

If I ever encounter anything "weird" with WDTV Live Plus I "Factory Reset" the unit. It seems to be highly effective solution for most problems. At least for older models, not sure with new model WDTV Live SMP.

I did a factory reset, did not resolve issue

Unplug and re-power is the only way it seems so far

[lanset]

I have this freez problem with my wdtv live player for sometimes, and I find that this happens when I try to play youtube videos, after that I can not play movies on my hard, but I can view pictures, an the only way is to re-power player.

If I ever encounter anything "weird" with WDTV Live Plus I "Factory Reset" the unit. It seems to be highly effective solution for most problems. At least for older models, not sure with new model WDTV Live SMP.

I did a factory reset, did not resolve issue

Unplug and re-power is the only way it seems so far