JeffBTX

I "put a plug in" on the AVS forums in the section for this BluRay player. Maybe someone can come here and help. Or you never know, Panasonic might come out with version 1.8+ in the near future... in which case I am very willing to do more experiments.

It's a long shot, but someone in the AVS forums might be willing to experiment if they have a new player (version 1.1 firmware) or they have only upgraded to 1.5. They MIGHT say "NOT on MY player!"; but I point out that I have now tried with a total of 7+ ImgBurn CDs, and nothing bad happened. I will encourage them to visit this forum, maybe the new "Mode 2 / Form 1" stuff will work. This could benefit new owners of the player, and ALL owners of the player when Panasonic comes out with new firmware versions.

Experiment number 2 (for today) I did two things differently... One is that the volume label was simply "DMP". That shouldn't matter... people have reported using Roxio and Nero Express to burn and use their own firmware CDs successfully, it is unlikely that they would have used the exact same volume label that is on the Panasonic CDs. The other thing : RESTRICTIONS -> JOLIET -> Add ";1" Version To Files. In the first experiment for today, this was checked, and the ImgBurn CD "acted like" the Panasonic CD. In this second experiment, I CLEARED it. It still acts like the Panasonic CD. Oh well. It was just a thought. If it had caused "wackyness", forcing the player to be in "update mode" for a while, it would have been an interesting and valuable piece of info. It LOOKS like (to my untrained, uniformed, uneducated mind on this subject) that the Blu-ray player somehow extracts the filename from the ImgBurn CD (invoking update mode) but ALSO extracts the version number (somehow).... BEFORE attempting the actual update. If the firmware version in the player is the same or higher than the CD, it doesn't even go into update mode; we don't get to see if anything goes wrong during the update procedure. Since my player is already at 1.7, I don't know what else I can do, but I hope some info from the previous few posts helps. The only way to definitively test is to find a player that is still at firmware version 1.1 or 1.5. (until Panasonic comes out with 1.8+)

I am in the middle of another burn experiment... that option that I did differently... it was in RESTRICTIONS -> JOLIET -> Add ";1" Version To Files. I set it to checked. I will burn another one, all settings as they were the last time, but with this option cleared. EDIT Also - I am setting the volume label (both labels) to "DMP"

I had thrown away all of the ImgBurn CDs that I had created so far (I've lost track, but I think it was 5 attempts). They are still in the trash can, but they are covered in coffee grounds, and I think that "violates specifications". During this whole problem, I was keeping a folder on my hard drive... with a copy of firmware 1.5, 1.7; copies of posts from this and from another forum, etc. After I updated the firmware to 1.7 yesterday, I wiped that folder. I went to the Panasonic USA site a few minutes ago... they only have 1.5 listed, even though they sent me 1.7 through the mail (but who knows, maybe their download IS 1.7, they just might not have completely updated the site). I went to Panasonic Global -> for North and Latin America -> firmware 1.7, and re-downloaded 1.7. Okay... attempting to RE-update to firmware 1.7, when 1.7 has already been installed, from the Panasonic CD: Upon inserting the CD and closing the tray, the message "No UP DA" shows up in the flourescent front panel, the unit DOES NOT power down, AND a message panel pops up (all too briefly) on the television screen. The television panel is to the effect that " The firmware you are trying to update is already .... (bla bla bla etc) ". According to the documentation that was mailed with this CD, the front panel display is one of TWO messages that can be in the front panel - the other one being "UNSUP PORT". The player does not power down, it is in normal operational mode, and one can procede without needing to do anything "strange". I created another ImgBurn CD. NOTE: after it was created, I checked the file system: CDFS. Note that when I create a "Mastered" CD using Vista (for my DOS computer), even though it is "Mastered", it says the file system is UDP (I just double checked to be sure). This time I did THREE THINGS differently than I had done before: (1) I duplicated the volume name that was on the Pansonic CD ( "DMPBD60_1_7" ) (2) I set the write speed to 2x (previously I had gone down to 4x) (3) Lightning UK; From this statement in one of your posts above: I have an image made using the built in XP burning tool right infront of me (for 1.5 and 1.7)... I built them via an XP machine in VMWare. The Joliet file system IS present and the file names have the ';1' version appended to them. That is an option you'd need to enable because it's not normal for the Joliet file system to have those. .... I did that for this new ImgBurn CD, I'm pretty sure I found the right option to set. VERY interesting, the ImgBurn CD invoked the ** SAME ** responses as the Panasonic CD! So I am wondering how important item (3) above is to all of this, and if that might have been the problem all along. SO... I will create another ImgBurn CD, and CLEAR that option related to (3) above. I will try it and get back soon. In the meantime... here is teh ImgBurn Log for this new CD that I used: I 11:30:51 ImgBurn Version 2.4.4.0 started! I 11:30:51 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium x64 Edition (6.0, Build 6002 : Service Pack 2) I 11:30:51 Total Physical Memory: 8,386,108 KB - Available: 7,043,108 KB I 11:30:51 Initialising SPTI... I 11:30:51 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices... I 11:30:51 Found 1 DVD

Lightning UK.... ooops .... sorry .... I re-read your post, you said " ... attempt to update AGAIN .... "... I will check that.

Lightning UK; Sorry about the delay - had to sleep, and then drink coffee. ===== ===== First... ImgBurn Read Mode, mouse over label... I did this and did a screen shot, extracted the little yellow information panel that pops up. The bottom line answer to your question is "Roxio", I think. Here is the entire panel (I am typing this in manually from the screenshot, you never know if the extra info might help): Volume Identifier: DMPBD60_1_7 Volume Set Identifier: Unknown Application Identifier: ++++++ (a long line of "crosses") +++ Data Preparer Identifier: IMAPI Joliet Formatter Copyright

MMALVES: Okay... I hope this helps... ... if you need anything else, please let me know ... After inserting the Panasonic 1.7 firmware CD into my PC... ======================= clicking "Properties": Volume Label: DMPVD60_1_7 File System: CDFS Used Space: 62,185,472 bytes (59.3 Mb) Free Space: 674,782,184 bytes (643 Mb) Capacity: 736,966,656 bytes (702 Mb) Directory (no subdirectories): PANA_DVD.FRM 37,548 KB PANA_DVD.FRM; "Properties"; Size: 36.6 MB (38,448,840 bytes) Size on disk: 36.6 MB (38,449,152 bytes) (I noticed a slightly unusual lag in time for the PC to do this, as if it takes a bit longer to read than most media). From Properities -> Details for the .FRM file: Date Created and Date Modified; 06/01/2009 ======================= In Image Burn, Toolbar / Mode / Read: ASUS DRW-1612BL 1.10 (ATA) Current Profile: CD-R Disc Information: Status: Incomplete Erasable: No Sessions: 2 Sectors: 18,964 Size: 38,838,272 bytes Time: 04:14:64 (MM:SS:FF) TOC Information: Session 1... (LBA: 0 - 18963) -> Track 01 (Mode 2, Form 1, LBA: 0 - 18963) -> LeadOut (LBA: 18964) Track Information: Session 1... -> Track 01 (LTSA: 0, TS: 18962, LRA: 0) ATIP Information: Start Time of LeadIn (MID): 97m17s06f Last Possible Start Time of LeadOut: 79m59s74f ======================= In Image Burn, Mode EZ-Mode Picker -> Discovery: ASUS DRW-1612BL 1.10 (ATA) Current Profile: CD-R Disc Information: Status: Incomplete Erasable: No Sessions: 2 Sectors: 18,964 Size: 38,838,272 bytes Time: 04:14:64 (MM:SS:FF) Supported Write Speeds: 8x, 16x, 24x, 32x, 40x, 48x TOC Information: Session 1... (LBA: 0 - 18963) -> Track 01 (Mode 2, Form 1, LBA: 0 - 18963) -> LeadOut (LBA: 18964) ATIP Information: Start Time of LeadIn (MID): 97m17s06f Last Possible Start Time of LeadOut: 79m59s74f Performance (Write Speed): Descriptor 1... -> B0: 0x00, B1: 0x00, B2: 0x00, B3: 0x00 -> EL: 359834 (0x00057D9A) -> RS: 2,816 KB/s (16x) - WS: 1,408 KB/s (8x) Descriptor 2... -> B0: 0x00, B1: 0x00, B2: 0x00, B3: 0x00 -> EL: 359834 (0x00057D9A) -> RS: 2,816 KB/s (16x) - WS: 2,816 KB/s (16x) Descriptor 3... -> B0: 0x08, B1: 0x00, B2: 0x00, B3: 0x00 -> EL: 359834 (0x00057D9A) -> RS: 2,816 KB/s (16x) - WS: 4,224 KB/s (24x) Descriptor 4... -> B0: 0x08, B1: 0x00, B2: 0x00, B3: 0x00 -> EL: 359834 (0x00057D9A) -> RS: 2,816 KB/s (16x) - WS: 5,632 KB/s (32x) Descriptor 5... -> B0: 0x08, B1: 0x00, B2: 0x00, B3: 0x00 -> EL: 359834 (0x00057D9A) -> RS: 2,816 KB/s (16x) - WS: 7,040 KB/s (40x) Descriptor 6... -> B0: 0x08, B1: 0x00, B2: 0x00, B3: 0x00 -> EL: 359834 (0x00057D9A) -> RS: 2,816 KB/s (16x) - WS: 8,448 KB/s (48x) =======================

Lightning UK; Argh... sorry... its all about timing. I should have been a bit more patient - for a sure-fire "litmus test". I wasn't sure if you were actively working on it yet. The CD that Panasonic sent me was indeed version 1.7, and I have already upgraded (worked flawlessy). According to documentation, the BluRay player will summarily reject any attempted firmware install if it has already been upgraded to a version equal to or greater than the version being loaded. All I can say is that if / when Panasonic releases another firmware upgrade, I can test it. It's inevitable, apparantly, due to the nature of Blu-ray ("always evolving"). There are forums that focus on this specific Blu-ray player, though, and I KNOW that people are interested. Here is one: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1131783

Okay, no problem... no response to my last post about "holding off" ... I really do realize that this is a low priority thing. In the ~4+ years (?) that Image Burn has been available, I am probably the only one that has posted on this problem (in THIS forum), and apparantly the firmware CD must be in "a really weird format". I received three "presents" today. The two ethernet cables that I ordered were delivered, and the CD from Panasonic arrived in the mail - apparantly with firmware 1.7 according to the label. That was fast! (faster than I expected). After this post and I log off the internet, I will upgrade the firmware via the Panasonic CD (most convenient), if that fails for some reason I can hook this Blu-ray Player to the internet with the 50 foot ethernet cable. Please be aware though; in at least one forum I know that is dedicated to my exact model of Blu-ray player, Image Burn comes up now and then. "I tried to burn a firmware update with Image Burn, but it doesn't work". Much of the time the advice there is useless ( people that don't even have ImgBurn making suggestions about settings that don't work, or even worse - I wouldn't be suprised if someone suggested using voodoo ). Sometimes the advice is useful to varying degrees ( "just get an ethernet cable" "use Roxio" "use Nero Express" "email Panasonic and get a CD, but it will take forever" (apparantly NOT true, I got my Panasonic CD 6 days after I first asked for it via email)). An informal announcement to the effect that imgburn now works for firmware updates for this Blu-ray player (and perhaps other players) would probably "go over real big".

LIGHTNING UK; Thank you, your efforts are appreciated; I am too inexperienced to understand what you mean; I've just never had to deal with it before. I've only used burning CD's for data backups; with this current Vista computer (purchased / built in 2007), and my previous computer (I used an external USB CD burner). I've never authored CD-R/RWs (for, say, music) or DVD-R/RWs for video (I don't have a Blu-Ray burner). "The Joliet file system IS present and the file names have the ';1' version appended to them. That is an option you'd need to enable because it's not normal for the Joliet file system to have those." I opened ImgBurn and looked thru the SETTINGS tab, I guess you have to have a blank disc inserted, and in the middle of a build to see that settings option. Is this something I should try (leading to possible success), or do your next statements indicate that this probably won't work until "support for building Mode 2 / Form 1 discs" is added to ImgBurn? "It's a shame they're 40MB each or I'd upload them so you could test things." Not asking you to, but I just don't understand - then are those two things "pre-built ISO images" (that you created under WinXP)? If they are then MAYBE I am starting to understand a couple of things. "I guess the next thing for me to do is add support for building Mode 2 / Form 1 discs. Of course if you're all sorted by the time I finish doing that, I won't have anyone to test it out for me " Bottom line - I can wait, depending on how long you think it might take? No pressure, I realize software development is complicated and takes a while. For the time being it is not a *necessity*, it's just something I have to resolve sooner or later - because at some time, I am bound to get a BluRay disc that won't work properly because the firmware is obsolete. The ONE Blu-ray title I have (along with my huge collection of DVDs) works just fine; apparantly it was released last september. I played a few commercial DVDs (with this new player), and some commercial CDs, no problems, but I expect that they would, even with obsolete firmware. I emailed Panasonic last friday and asked for a firmware update CD (Panasonic USA only recognizes 1.5 for now). Their tech support is very busy, it takes a long time to get through on the telephone. Saturday morning I called them on the telephone * as soon as the user manual siad that they were open for business *; it took over 2 hours of waiting, but I asked the Panasonic representative some questions, and ALSO asked for a firmware update CD (again - just to be sure). She said that they would be happy to send one, it would take "7 to 10 days" to reach me. Saturday afternoon I recieved 2 emails, both stating that I would have a firmware update CD "in about 7 days". I assume that one email was the result of MY email to their tech support, and the other one was the result of my phone call. I ordered a 6 foot ethernet cable online for upgrading the firmware by connecting the Blu-Ray player to the internet, that should be here thursday or friday. Then after discussion in another forum last night I ordered a 50 foot ethernet cable so that I wouldn't have to physically move my television and Blu-ray player into my "computer room" temporarily (I measured the distance, its about 35 feet from the player to my router, and the cable would go under the door - I try to keep my cat out of this room). That 50 foot cable hasn't shipped yet, but I specified 1 day priority shipping; so, say, thursday or friday or maybe tomorrow. BUT I can hold off on upgrading the firmware for a while. Please advise. I don't have a paypal account. I USED to, but there was a scandal a few years ago about hackers working Amazon / PayPal / eBay, so I cancelled that PayPal account. With this effort, if it works, I am obligated to GET a new PayPal account and donate what I can (though a disabled military retiree's income is not a lot - I CAN make a donation, even in installments). - Thanks

Hmmm... you're right... how does the player KNOW to invoke the update procedure in the first place if the burn is "bad" (or in an inappropriate format)? It would seem that it wouldn't be able to even read the filename (PANA_DVD.FRM)? I don't know enough about it. I hardly know ANYTHING about this subject. If the CD is in the wrong "mode" or "form", then is the CD-R DIRECTORY still readable? Maybe the Blu-Ray player can see the filename, goes into update mode, and then rejects the actual firmware load because the data is "bad" (from the viewpoint of the Blu-Ray player). Cat 7 cable; I don't know. I didn't even know it existed until the Blu-Ray player arrived last friday and I read the user's manual. But I looked it up - wikipedia has an entry on it, and there are a FEW websites that sell it. From what I can tell, most of the sites are based from China or Japan. There is ONE company in California / USA, but some things make me mistrust them - I wouldn't want to give them my credit card number. Apparantly Cat 7 cable was invented in 2006, so right now it is rare. Yes, either it is a misprint or that is just a case of overkill on Panasonic's part.

LIGHTNING UK; Thanks... sorry, I have since (over the past day) found more data... When I put in the disc (burn attempt by me) the player says: L FVU (whatever that is...) L DRV (load drive?) UPDAT NG ... and so on. I have since found out from others that have this BluRay player that "UPDAT NG" means "Update No Good". I was assuming that it was an abbreviation for "Updating". So apparantly, the disc (all three attempts so far - I don't want to mess with this too much, could result in a necessity to send the player in for repair)... was NEVER correct. So far, the only CONSISTANT things I have found (I will paraphrase, but the details are accurate): "I tried Image Burn, that didn't work, so I bought Roxio - that worked" "I tried Image Burn, that didn't work, so I used Nero Express". I've yet to find anyone who says that they specifically used a *free* burning app to burn and install this firmware. I insist on free because the native WinVista system works just fine for backing up - I don't want to buy something just to update firmware for one BluRay player. I DID find out, though, that Cat 7 cable to connect between the Player and the internet (for firmware update) is not necessary - the user manual says to use Cat 7 ... but I asked about this in another forum, users say they use Cat 5 all the time ... Cat 5e is considered overkill by one person. I am going to order Cat 6 cable (just to be sure) - I should have it in two days. The only hassle is temporarily moving my 26 inch TV (not THAT heavy) and BluRay player into my "computer room" near my router... but firmware updates do not occur that often. My computer has to be kept separate from the rest of my apartment to keep cat fur out of it, and cat spit off of my monitor. My cat likes to lick screens for some reason. My TV is up too high for him to reach it. I would RATHER download the firmware and use a CD-R, but I have a firmware disk on the way from Panasonic, and will have an ethernet cable for the Player soon.

So how do I emulate that in ImgBurn?

I just registered on the "AVS Home Theatre forums". I searched in the forums, mainly in a specific section focused on my specific BluRay player, and searched using keywords that would bring up burning firmware with IMgBurn. I'll post some copy / pastes I made, they might be helpful. Specifically, again, I DON'T know what file options to set, that is what I need help with. - From "RBTO" I gave myself a scare tonight when I tried to update my new BD60 firmware from version 1.1 (supplied with the player) to 1.5 which is currently offered through Panasonic's web site. I downloaded the .exe file, unzipped it and burned a CD with Image Burn as I thought I had done for my BD 35 updates. When I loaded it into the BD 60 it came up with the error message "UP D NG" which I assume means the update is no good. Image burn had verified the integrity of the disk file and it would show up as the proper .FRM file when I opened the disk so I was almost certain the disk was good - NOT. After this error message was displayed, all the player would do was call for a disk to be inserted with "INSERT" and then it would spit the disk back out. Powering down did no good and it wouldn't take any CD, DVD or BD. I was about to give up when I decided to burn the update using my old standby, Roxio. I did that, and presto, the update worked fine. Apparently Roxio is what I used for my previous updates with my BD35 and it DOES make a difference (anyone care to explain?). Thought members might want to know, now that firmware updates are being issued for the BD60. - "moviegeek"'s response to RBTO IMGBURN only writes to CD's with image files,the FRM file needs to be burned in data mode. Also Panasonic requires the CD to be ISO9660 not UDF. -from wymann Originally Posted by moviegeek / IMGBURN only writes to CD's with image files,the FRM file needs to be burned in data mode. Not true. Click "write files/folders to disc" to burn data or select Mode: Build and Output: Device. Set file system options in the options tab. * Note inserted here by JeffBTX: " ... or select Mode: Build and Output: Device" ... that is what I have been trying. WHICH FILE SYSTEM OPTIONS DO I NEED TO SET IN THE OPTIONS TAB??????? ... I only post these next two because I mentioned 1.7 earlier. I will *try* to update to 1.5 from the USA site, if I get any solutions here in the ImgBurn forum. If it works, THEN maybe I will decide concerning 1.7 from the global site. -from daakness I called Panasonic this morning about the firmware upgrade for the DMP-60K. They said the firmware upgrade that is on the global website is NOT for US models. This would explain why my unit would not accept it when I burned it onto a disc off of the global website. So far I have not had any issues. -from rwestly The firmware on the Global Website is compatible with the US units. Select North American from the region list. ( there are a few other references to firmware version 1.7 ; those that say they have installed it ( the NORTH AMERICA version ) are having no problems ) From another section of the AVS forum. This is NOT my opinion... I am too inexperienced to have an opinion... I am just pasting in the comment: I build all of my computers from scratch so I don't have to worry about uninstalling Dell bloatware. However the fact remains that among CE equipment firmware ISO Recorder retains the best compatibility. For instance, with Toshiba firmware ISOs ImgBurn struggles and burns coasters with default settings, while ISO Recorder works fine with changes whatsoever to default settings. I have not found a CE firmware where ISO Recorder does not work with literally a few clicks of the mouse. ISO Recorder is much easier to use than ImgBurn and has better compatibility with CE manufacturers across the board. While ImgBurn is nice for power users, for people who don't know how to record an ISO in the first place I feel ISO Recorder is a far simpler, easier, and more reliable tool to recommend. While ImgBurn offers advanced options, if you dont know what to do with an ISO in the first place then its probably not the best recommendation IMO. A response: I have never used ISO RECORDER, but I would give it a try on your recommendation. However, I would agree, Imgburn has been the best burner I have ever used, hands down. Never had a coaster with it. And it now does blu-ray too. Another response:Well my friend Im glad to hear you build your computers. And that is what I do with my Dells, I find it cheaper to do it that way. So what program do you use to burn your media with? From what you are saying about ImgBurn "While ImgBurn is nice for power users" I would think you would fall into the power user category. I would think that someone "I build all of my computers" would not use a Toshiba burner.(maybe benQ, lite-on or go high end) And also someone that is into computers as it would seem you are would know about Taiyo Yuden CD/SL DVD. However I do agree with you about Verbatim but only for DL DVD. So what burners do you use? I already know what media you use. And clearly you do not have the latest version of ImgBurn because it also "literally a few clicks of the mouse" Its that easy also when you use EZ-Mode Picker (default). But it is very easy to find out what burning software works better. Nero tool kit. Update; here are two links. 1st one is for ISO Recorder. 2nd For ImgBurn and how they are raeted on Cnet/Download.com. I rest my case.

Again... the instructions (again and again, and in the BluRay Player user's manual) state that ONLY a CD-R can be used for installing the firmware update this way ( ... with a user-created firmware update CD. ) One source of frustration ( and criticism against Vista that I have seen in various forums ) is that Vista ONLY uses "UDF format", whereas WinXP uses "ISO format". It doesn't matter to me ( until now ) ; the data backups that I make for my Vista computer are usable in my Vista computer. But the firmware CD for the BluRay player needs to be in ISO format, and apparantly WinXP can do that natively. That is why I needed to look for a CD burner program, and why I have now installed ImgBurn. There is * something different * between the way that ImgBurn is burning the CD-R, and the way that WinXP burns natively. I have two computers; one is an antique DOS 6.22 system, the other one is Vista Home Premium 64. If I had WinXP and knew more about ImgBurn, I might be able to figure out the settings / options to get this to work. Please read these two extracts from Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) files: ===== Extract from the Adobe Acrobat .PDF instructions for burning the 1.5 firmware to a blank CD-R using WinXP. From the Panasonic USA support website. They list 1.5 as the most recent version of the firmware. ===== 4 Burn Firmware NOTES:

Dropping the write speed to 16x didn't help - same behavior as before.

There's newer firmware available for your burner (remove any disc and close the tray before updating then reboot after it's finished). Also I would burn at 8x or 16x MMALVES; Thank you, I downloaded that drive firmware and I will check it out shortly. I made a note of your recommendation for write speed. (edit) I installed the CD/DVD drive firmware OK (of course I virus scanned it first). It seems to have installed correctly.... I started ImgBurn, and it does indicate that now the drive is at 1.10. MMalves ; again, thanks for the tip.

I found out that the "Global" Panasonic support website has verson 1.7 of the firmware, while the USA Panasonic still has 1.5. On the Amazon site for this player, in a customer review, it said that this is because the USA site is slow in updating their servers. Version 1.7 improves compatibility with newer Blu-Ray disks even more than 1.5. I downloaded 1.7 (North America / Latin America version), and made a copy of the instructions for burning and installing the firmware. There was this cryptic (to me) statement: When using writing software, please follow the operating instructions provided for the writing software. Please be aware that "packet-writing" is not supported. I don't know if this bit of information would help.....

I figured out where WinVista keeps the logs on the hard drive ( ...AppData\Roaming\ImgBurn\Log Files\ImgBurn.log In the meantime, for this second attempt, I copied and pasted the log from within ImgBurn into a .txt file. This second attempt did not work either. If anything, it might have rejected the CD-R "a bit sooner" (but it is hard to say). What I did differently than the first time: ( 1 ) Gave my CD/DVD drive a good cleaning (using a reliable method that I have always used, and never caused problems; I back up data frequently to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW) ( 2 ) Changed the Write Type from DAO/SAO to TAO ( 3 ) Changed the Write Speed from AWS (MAX) to 52x (but see the log below, the ImgBurn log has this : (Speeds: 8x, 16x, 24x, 32x, 40x, 48x)) (should I drop the speed down? any recommendations?) (I know from experience that when I burn a CD-R for my antique DOS computer (mostly old DOS games that I might download now and then), I use the "Mastered" format from WinVista, and I have to force a speed of 16x. I derived that through experimentation). Here is the ImgBurn log for this second attempt: ================================ I 14:41:46 ImgBurn Version 2.4.4.0 started! I 14:41:46 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium x64 Edition (6.0, Build 6002 : Service Pack 2) I 14:41:46 Total Physical Memory: 8,386,108 KB - Available: 7,036,764 KB I 14:41:46 Initialising SPTI... I 14:41:46 Searching for SCSI / ATAPI devices... I 14:41:46 Found 1 DVD

LIGHTNING UK; Thank you for your reply... Unfortunately I do not have a log for the CD-R I burned. I didn't know, but I did just check the ImgBurn directory to see if it "kept the last log" or something (no). I can burn another one, and keep the log and post it. All things considered, though, including the next statement, I don't know if the log would help... but I WILL try again and keep the log. I DID verify the burn. At the end of the procedure, ImgBurn reported "success" and played a short tune. Speed was "Auto". The disc I used : Memorex CD-R (the BluRay player *specifically* says to use CD-R for firmware updating), ratings: 52x, 700MB, 80 minutes I will try to burn another disc shortly. I will leave the speed to "Auto" for now (unless anyone has advice for yet another attempt... to tell you the truth, I wouldn't know where to start on forcing a speed, it depends on the Blu-Ray player (?) and I don't have data on that ...). This time I will set the Write Type to TAO (versus the default of DAO/SAO); since that other BluRay Player Owner set to TAO under Roxio for his successful burn and firmware update. Should I set the write mode to "CD" instead of "Auto"? (I will leave it on Auto for this second attempt - by the time I've tried it; I will wait for advice on this - unless this second attempt is successful). I will post the results, along with the burn log. ===== Not specifically relevant: there is another way to update the firmware, and that is to connect the Player to the internet (just in case someone responds and mentions it). The problem is that my computer is in one room, my television / BluRay player in another. Okay - the player and television are not that heavy, and I CAN temporarily move both so that the player has access to my router. I wouldn't be doing it all that often - just when there is new firmware. BUT: on page 16 of the user manual it says to "use Category 7 straight LAN cable (STP)". I cannot find a reliable source of that (never even heared of it until I got the Bluray player). I am an Amateur Radio Operator... I have a LOT of bookmarks to electronics suppliers, none of them carry it. I did a google search - VERY FEW (less than 1 page) of links came back. The ONE semi-reliable-looking USA supplier in California looks ... "shady" (they ONLY take online orders, DO NOT take telephone orders, their pages on payment -> credit cards looks suspicious). The BluRay player manual says that the DSL connection must be at least 1.5 mbps for "BD Live" and "VieraCast" (neither of which I am interested in)... my DSL connection is 6 mbps... between my internet connect point, DSL Modem, and router, there are two CAT 5 cables and a CAT 5e cable... my computer runs just fine, I've monitored my connect speed frequently and it is always 6 mbps. I am going to email Panasonic Tech Support shortly, and ask them if they are SURE I can't use CAT 5 / 5e / 6 if I *just* intend to upgrade the firmware now and then (and not stream HI DEF through everything). In the meantime, I am focusing on the: download the firmware / burn the CD-R method, it is best for my situation. (edit) I just emailed Panasonic Support about the ethernet cable. I should have a reply in 2-3 days. Meanwhile, there was a tutorial on the site on how to connect for "BD Live"... it didn't mention the cable category ... it just says " ... plug an ethernet cable ... "; there were three methods, and one was using a *wireless* link (using a wireless router and repeater), so I still don't see for myself why a "CAT 7" cable should be required, if the Blu-Ray player is supposed to be able to work over wireless.

I found a customer review on Amazon, for the same BluRay player I have, and he describes symptoms VERY similar to mine. In his case, he was trying to use a burner called "Express Burn", and the firmware CD it produced was behaving very similar to what I described. He finally solved the problem by getting the Roxio burner, and he used these settings (copied / pasted from his post): My Roxio CD write settings were TAO Open, Mode 1, ISO+Juliet, and Use Disc for Only One Recording. (I think he means ISO+Joliet. BUT... Panasonic says NOT to use Joliet???? I am too new to this, in my researches I read that "Joliet" has something to do with longer filenames, but beyond that I am lost here...) This apparantly worked, he was able to update his firmware. I looked through the ImgBurn settings and options. The only thing that is easily obvious is that TOOLS -> SETTINGS -> WRITE -> OPTIONS, Write Type default = DAO/SAO. There is a TAO setting, and the person i refer to in the review says " ... TAO Open ... ". Could this be the problem? Updating firmware is very tricky... I don't want to experiment (much) without some advice, here... otherwise i could end up with a "dead" Blu-ray player.

It didn't QUITE work, but the behavior was different this time. I installed ImgBurn. Followed all instructions exactly. Before, with a "Mastered" UDP CD-R created with the native Vista burning system, the BluRay player quickly rejected and ejected the CD-R. When the CD-R was burned with ImgBurn, the BluRay player spun the disk for a while. Then the message "UPDAT NG" showed up in the fluorescent display panel (so far, this proves that the CD-R is basically in the right format this time). About a minute went by. Then the tray opened. I took out the CD-R, and closed the tray. Then the BluRay player opened the tray again, and the fluorescent display panel on the player said "INSERT DISK", and the video signal to my television cut off - I just get a black screen with "NO SIGNAL" indication on my television. I closed the (empty) tray, but the BluRay player opened the tray again, with the message "INSERT DISK". It refused to keep the tray closed, and refused to power down. I even put a Blu-ray disk in, tried a DVD and a music CD - and in the meantime, I have a black screen / no signal. Finally, after closing the tray about three times, the message "E DISK" was in the display, followed by "HELLO" (the message that occurs when the player is powered up), but STILL a black screen. BUT I could power down the player. When I powered up again, the player was acting normally, and sending an HDMI signal to the television. So I check the firmware status in the on screen menu - it was still version 1.1, indicating that it rejected the 1.5 version that I attempted to load? (hopefully, because I don't want to corrupt whatever firmware is in the BluRay player) I tried several variations of this. I turned off "Automatic Firmware Updates", and tried to manually start the firmware update through the on screen menu - but the BluRay player still tries to install from the CD-R automatically. I THINK it is rejecting the burn for some reason. But the BluRay player is now acting normally, and it still says that the firmware version is 1.1, so I am glad that the firmware that is already installed (default 1.1) isn't (apparantly) corrupted... this CAN be a tricky thing. It plays BluRay disks OK, so I don't THINK I caused any damage. It could be due to another setting that I have to make in ImgBurn -> options. It could be the write speed - maybe it needs to be slowed down from the default speed. OR it could be the BluRay player, and the Panasonic documentation (the users manual, and the .PDF file explaining how to install new firmware) is incomplete and leaving out some details. Oh well. I will wait for the Panasonic firmware disc, and try that (it SHOULD work). If the Panasonic disk works, it means that my home-made burn is incorrect. If it DOESN'T work, then I will have to call Panasonic again and ask for assistance (I hate doing that, the last time I was on hold waiting for tech support for over TWO HOURS). If anyone has anything helpful to add, from your experience, it would be appreciated. (edit) I should be more specific about details; Here is an extract from the last page of the .PDF file instructing how to download, burn and install the firmware (which, by the way, DOES NOT match what is said in the BluRay Player User Manual): ================== 5 Install Firmware CAUTIONS: • The firmware update may take up to 10 minutes to install. Please be patient during the firmware installation. • Do NOT press any other buttons during the firmware update. • Do NOT power the player OFF during the firmware update. 1) Press the [POWER] button on the Blu-Ray Disc Player to turn it ON, if it is not already powered ON. 2) Press the [OPEN/CLOSE] button to open the disc tray. 3) Load the CD with the firmware update into the disc tray. 4) Press the [OPEN/CLOSE] button to close the disc tray. NOTES: • After the disc tray closes, the player will first display BYE on the front panel display, automatically turn itself OFF, restart again within a few seconds, and begin installing the firmware update from the CD. • If the player does not restart automatically following powering OFF, press the [POWER] button on the main unit to turn it ON. • During the installation process you’ll see various messages flash on the front panel display. • If the firmware version in the unit is the same as or higher than the firmware CD, UNSUPPORT will scroll across the front panel display. In this case, an update is unnecessary. Please remove the disc. (here there is a picture in the .PDF of the fluorescent display showing "UNSUP PORT") 5) When the firmware installation is complete, FINISH will be displayed on the front panel and the disc tray will open automatically. (If it doesn’t, press the [OPEN/CLOSE] button.) (here there is a picture in the .PDF of the fluorescent display showing "FINISH") 6) Remove the firmware update CD, but do not close the disc tray. 7) Press the [POWER] button to turn the power OFF. The disc tray will automatically close and the unit will power OFF. DMP-BD60 Blu-Ray Disc Player Firmware Installation Instructions Page 8 of 8 ================== Here is what actually occurs when I try it with the CD-R I created with ImgBurn: First, about the time it takes to install. It IS NOT taking 10 minutes. It's more like about 50 seconds or so. Indicating that it is rejecting the burn/update? When I insert the CD-R, after it spins momentarily, the video/audio HDMI signal to the television cuts off. The fluorescent panel says "BYE", and the BluRay player does power down momentarily and then powers up. Just as in the .PDF user instructions... and the HDMI audiovisual signal remains off, the television screen remains black with a "NO SIGNAL" indication. This persists throughout the procedure. On the front panel (fluorescent display) I get the message "L FVU". ("Load FVU"? What is an "FVU"?) A few seconds... Then the message "L DRV" appears ("Load Drive"?) A few seconds... The message "UPDAT NG" (which I assume means "UPDATING"). After about 50 seconds (NOT 10 minutes) the tray opens. The message "UPDAT NG" remains. I take out the CD-R, press the power button without closing the tray (just as the instructions say to do). The tray closes. BUT the player does not power down. Instead, the tray opens again with the message "INSERT DISK". I close the tray 3 or 4 times, and the Player front panel displays "E DISK". The tray remains closed this time. Then the message "HELLO" appears, BUT there is no HDMI signal to the television. THIS TIME, though, I can power down. The front panel says "BYE" and the player powers down. When I power up again, the player acts normally, and in the appropriate menu / status display, it indicates firmware version 1.1 (the old version... not the new version 1.5). So... ... it does in fact look like it STARTS to accept the burn, but then rejects installing the firmware for some reason.

Cynthia: Thank you very, very, very, VERY much!