Weird Issues playing Transformers and other new HD DVD's!!??

Hoping maybe someone can help me with my problem. I have the Xbox 360 hd dvd add on drive. The first couple movies played flawless. They were King Kong and Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. Problems began when I got a copy of Transformers. First the screen prompted me to do some sort of update or download. I agreed and it took a couple minutes. Two things happen after that. One, the screen goes entirely reddish pink for a split second. Like a frame of film. Then smoothly carries on through the film. This just happens at random, maybe every 20 minutes or so! Second and worse the entire screen will go white with a big Xbox 360 logo, for a split second, then back into the film, quickly followed by a little icon on the bottom of the screen that says "HD CP connection lost." Followed by "HD CP connection reconnected." Towards the heavier action sequences near the end of the film this happned more and more frequently like the tv couldn't handle it. It became unbearable. I watched another new film today Norbit. I did get the issue of the reddish pink frame occaisionally but no where near the trouble I had with Transformers. Any help is appreciated. The only thing I can think of chagng is that my tv is a native 720P but I have the xbox set for 1080i output hooked up via hdmi.

The only other thing I can think of is that I use an hdmi switcher instead of running hdmi straight to the tv. I have my upscaling dvd player, ps3, and xbox 360 hd dvd hooked up via hdmi running into the switcher then one hdmi cable running out to the tv. Perhaps I need to run the hd dvd player directly to the tv? However I have no problems playing blu ray through the switcher.

The only other thing I can think of is that I use an hdmi switcher instead of running hdmi straight to the tv. I have my upscaling dvd player, ps3, and xbox 360 hd dvd hooked up via hdmi running into the switcher then one hdmi cable running out to the tv. Perhaps I need to run the hd dvd player directly to the tv? However I have no problems playing blu ray through the switcher.

You can try it and see. If that fixes it.....Not sure how many HDMI inputs you have, but if 2 you can probably eliminate your UC DVD player. Depending on the player, your PS3 and or addon will do as good a job at upconverting SD DVD's most likely. Or just connect the 360 seperate from the switch. If the issue only happens with that 1 movie, most likely it is a copy issue or something..

Try unplugging the 360 and the hdmi cable for a few minutes and then plug the electric back in and then the hdmi cable. You might be having a handshake problem. I'm not familar with the 360 hd add on but if you can change the setting to 720 then I would do that. Try plugging the hdmi directly into the tv also just to see if it still does that or if it works propertly.

Here what I can tell you about my problem. First Transformers is the most problematic! I have tried another new disc (Norbit) however and have one of the same problems I get with transformers. All other discs new an old seem to play fine so it's kinda down to these two discs. However I have to sit and watch them all straight through to be sure. As for setup I know my 360 Xbox which is what the hd dvd's run through is set for output resolution of 1080i. I have never had any issue playing games ouput at 1080i. My tv's native res is however 720p, which I can set the Xbox 360 to and try to play Transformers again. On a comparitive note I also have a PS3 running into the same hdmi switcher as the 360 and also set to output 1080i. Blu Ray playback is flawless on all discs (I have 10). Also my upconversion Sony carousel (I have about 325 standard dvd's in this) is also set to output 1080i and I have no problems watching anything. All of these devices run into the switcher and out via one hdmi to the tv. I can try to run the 360 straight to the tv as I have one extra available hdmi on the tv.

Disconnect the power to the add on and disconnect the the hdmi cable from it. Leave it off for a few minutes then plug the power back in and then the hdmi cable. You could be having an hdmi problem or a "handshake issue". Play Transformers again to see if that fixed the problem, if it still does it then watch a movie that you have watched before that played fine to see if it is still working properly. If it does then you know you have a problem with the disc. Also be sure your firmware is updated. I have Transformers on HD-DVD and it looks and sounds great. :bowdown:

Took the time to perform a test. I unplugged the hdmi from the 360 to the witcher, and tried running an hdmi straight to the tv. Same results Transformers gives me lots of video problems, Norbit too has similar issues, not as bad. All other HD DVD movies seem to play fine. I have tried these other titles and they seem to play smooth no issues: King Kong, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Top Gun, Dreamgirls, and Four Brothers. So it seems to be firmware issue. I have to research where and how I can update it. I was thinking of maybe trying a componet hookup and see how that works.

Ok I disconnected the hdmi, and replaced it with a componet hookup. All problems ceased. Transformers (most problematic hd dvd) runs flawless now. Why would the problem clear up using a lower video connection? HDMI seems to be the issue. Last time I encountered hdmi issues, I had to update the tv's firmaware via a small memory card that you plug into the set. I checked the manuafacturer and there is a new update available for my tv. I ordered it free. I suspect maybe this is why I am having issues only with hdmi. However it's only on the XBox 360 hd dvd add on drive and hd dvd's. Blu Ray on PS3 and my Sony upscaling dvd carousel have no issues via hdmi. Weird. Your thoughts?

Ok I disconnected the hdmi, and replaced it with a componet hookup. All problems ceased. Transformers (most problematic hd dvd) runs flawless now. Why would the problem clear up using a lower video connection? HDMI seems to be the issue. Last time I encountered hdmi issues, I had to update the tv's firmaware via a small memory card that you plug into the set. I checked the manuafacturer and there is a new update available for my tv. I ordered it free. I suspect maybe this is why I am having issues only with hdmi. However it's only on the XBox 360 hd dvd add on drive and hd dvd's. Blu Ray on PS3 and my Sony upscaling dvd carousel have no issues via hdmi. Weird. Your thoughts?

You only will have HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) handshake issues with digital connection types (HDMI/DVI) only. That is 1 big reason why some people don't like using HDMI, but seems to more of a non issue with newer equiptment. I use VGA and never had an issue other than with 1 or 2 HD DVD's, but both were soon fixed with firmware updates. Do you have your 360 connected to XBL? If not, I would hook it up before you play each movie and see if there is a firmware patch. But I don't remember 1 for Transformers and I didn't have an issue with it. If the firmware update for your TV has a description stating a fix for any issues you are having, I would also update that as well..

Thanks Mr. Bigloww. Since you had no issues playing transformers, can you tell me if you were using hdmi? Are you using a stand alone hd dvd player or the 360 add on? My 360 is hooked up to Xbox live. No way to tell if the 360 hd dvd has the most recent update, Microsoft claims it is supoosed to magically update iteself. I'd love to know if there is a way to tell what firmware the 360 hd dvd is currently running. As mentioned, when I switch to the componet cable there are no more issues, but I go down a hair in video quality. Funny thing is that the 360has no problem playing games via hdmi, problems in video only arise when the hd dvd is used via hdmi. The tv firmare has not yet arrived, but I will install that and try the hdmi again.

Thanks Mr. Bigloww. Since you had no issues playing transformers, can you tell me if you were using hdmi? Are you using a stand alone hd dvd player or the 360 add on? My 360 is hooked up to Xbox live. No way to tell if the 360 hd dvd has the most recent update, Microsoft claims it is supoosed to magically update iteself. I'd love to know if there is a way to tell what firmware the 360 hd dvd is currently running. As mentioned, when I switch to the componet cable there are no more issues, but I go down a hair in video quality. Funny thing is that the 360has no problem playing games via hdmi, problems in video only arise when the hd dvd is used via hdmi. The tv firmare has not yet arrived, but I will install that and try the hdmi again.

No, only VGA/component with my 360 so the HDCP issue would not pertain to that. But I also played it in my A2 with HDMI and didn't have any issues. I didn't have but 1 or 2 issues with HD DVD's playing on my addon over the 3 years. 1 was Planet Earth and I can't remember the other 1. But both issues were fixed within a week or so with a firmware patch. XBL is usually very good about patches and firmware and will automatically check and prompt you if an update is needed.

I see well I guess the HDCP issue is only apparent when hooking up my 360 add on via componet. I have had no problems running games via hdmi cables. The problems come along when you try to play certain movies (transformers, norbit, top gun) via hdmi and the add on drive. Other titles (kong, wonka, four brothers, dreamgirls) seem to run ok via hdmi. Componet cables clear up issue on all titles. Looks like I'll have to stick with componet for the hd add on drive, unless the firmware update for the tv can fix these HDCP handshake issues.