Any real blu-ray players OEM from Asus G73JH?

WinDVD8 provided from their website is a joke. Tried Avatar, tried Xmen, and it did not work. Not to mention it was extremely slow to load even on my SSD. It's asking for an update, which of course I don't have.

Factory settings, the Asus G73JH has powerDVD 9, which did freeze on my initially, but I was able to play avatar on it. I have since then done a clean install, but the driver/utility disc provided by Asus did not have PowerDVD and David here provided a link to WinDVD 8 OEM from Asus, but it's useless.

I actually don't use blu-ray much/at all. I borrowed a couple of blu-rays from my brother now that I'm home for the summer. I feel the expensive 30$ or so that blu-rays sell for are definitely NOT worth it. I would barely even consider 5$. But that's just me.

That said, I just find it unfortunate that I have a blu-ray reader that will have no use at all...

Is there any reason I'll ever need a blu-ray reader in the near future software-wise? Or is it really only practical for movies?

Has anyone tried calling up Asus or the person they bought it through to credit you money to buy a license PowerDVD?

 

I have over 250 blu-rays and never paid $30 for any of them (with the exception of a box set like Band of Brothers). If you're paying that much, you're doing it wrong.

Currently, blu-ray is only worth it for movies, and probably will be that way into the foreseeable future. The storage capabilities are outweighed by the costs. Maybe that will change someday.

That said, PowerDVD 9 should work fine for most everything you throw at it. I use PowerDVD10 but honestly it's not necessary. Total Media is another good one. The WinDVD8 is a joke- I'll agree with you there.

Honestly though, it's not on Asus to do more than provide basic playback software, which they've done. I doubt you'd get very far with that line of thought, but stranger things have occurred.

Hope you see the light with blu-ray if you're a movie-lover. The audio and video quality with the right setup are awesome. (And yes, I'm a fanboy.)

 

If the windvd software is asking for an update it probably needs to access the web and download and install appropriate new software to play the blu rays you have properly.

I had issues playing Avatar at first with powerdvd 9 but it just needed an update and then played it fine.

 

On a similar note, I purchased a couple of OEM bluray drives that came with PowerDVD or similar software for playing bluray movies. All of them needed an update before they were working properly.

 

Guys I never said PowerDVD 9 didn't work.

 

I believe your original issue was related to the clean install and not being able to locate the ASUS provided PowerDVD9 install pkg.

Seems to me we should be able to crack open the disk images on the recovery DVDs and retrieve a good copy of the PowerDVD 9 install. In looking at the boot disk of the set there is a program called imagex.exe which allows the mounting on Microsoft WIM files.

This program will only work from the command prompt with administrator privileges. (right click on the command prompt icon and select run as administrator)

I ran imagex /? to get the commands to list (the files/folders within) and then mount the WIM file.

In the SOURCES directory of Disk 1 there is a file called BOOT.WIM

Upon mounting this file there are several directories related to Windows but also Ghost. Within the Ghost directory there are several cmd files and scripts that indicate the recovery disks are modified spanned ghost images.

Perhaps someone with a bit more programing knowledge and perhaps a full copy of the ghost version that has the image viewer where you can retrieve individual files and folders from within a ghost image will be able to get this moving fwd.

There must be a way to get the PowerDVD install from the recovery DVDs.

Cheers,

 

Powerdvd 10

 

I would love this as well.

 

Is "ASUS DVD" what you are looking for? Doing a Google search seems to indicate that "ASUS DVD" is ASUS's version of PowerDVD. I attempted to download the archive and take a look inside before posting this reply to know for certain, but the ASUS site is totally overwhelmed at the moment.

In any case, if "ASUS DVD" is what you are looking for, you can download it by clicking the direct link here.

 

Checking it out now...

Edit... At work so I don't have my G73 but the readme file on this is from 2006 and makes no mention of BD-Rom support. I'll run the install on one of my VMs to look at the version.

Edit 2... Installing under VMware looks like PowerDVD 7 so not what we are looking for. Still trying to figure out how to crack the recovery files open.

Cheers,

 

I'm only getting the file at 6K, so it's still downloading. If the readme file is from 2006, then I'm having my doubts this was the version included with the other persons G73JH. I thought perhaps with a release date of "2009-04-23 (update)" that it was newer.

 

Install it and let it update.

 

Yeah, it's definitely not PowerDVD 9 which is what he's talking about. I got PowerDVD 9 with my X2 but it only is on the recovery disks. No separate media.

Updating version 7 does not take you up to version 9 and the DVD version of 7 cannot play Blu-ray disks.

I think we still need to figure out how to extract what we need from those spanned ghost images (if that's what they really are).

Cheers,

Cheers,

 

I did archive my original OEM installation via Acronis. When I get a chance I'll look through the archive.

 

I did a complete restore using the recovery disks to a different 500GB drive (still think it's crazy ASUS requires the same size drive as the original to restore to) and while I can find the installed PowerDVD 9 there is no installation media. Let me know what you find. When I get back in town, I'm going to dig through my software archives and find my copy of Ghost Explorer. We will get this media!! -- Of course once we do it'll ask for some software key we don't have!

Cheers,

 

I don't know that much about it, but do you think it would be possible to make a portable application from your install? PowerDVD poops all over the hard drive, and without the PowerDVD installer, there is going to be a lot of things missing.

 

We haven't been able to find an executable file for the WinDVD 9 either. It seems that Asus preinstalls it and apparently it isn't included with the drivers and utilities recovery media. Remember the first G73's came with no software so I imagine that they are using the original press of the drivers and utilities DVD's still around from the first run. The only software available on Asus's website is windvd 8 and as we all know cyberlink has stated they are no longer including updates to windvd 8 for the 2010 Blu-Ray titles.

I would contact Asus, tell them you need to hear from a senior technician and ask that tech to provide you with a link to windvd 9 download and not windvd 8.

Also could you tell me which brand of optical drive they used? Was it the Mata or the LG CT21N, or one of the Sony Optiarcs? Knowing that information will help me with what software is going to be compatible with your drive. Some of the drives that Asus uses are very particular.

Good luck with your problem. This has been a major frustration for many of us. If i can get a link from our contacts at Asus I will make sure to post it up here.

Joseph L

 

Just a slight clarification, because there are mixed products and developers:

Cyberlink = PowerDVD
Corel = WinDVD

ASUS provides links to WinDVD v8 on their website, but for those that had PowerDVD v9 pre-installed it's download is not available.

 

** Double post deleted due to NBR database error this morning **

 

I have the Mata drive according to device manager

 

For PowerDVD, all we really need is the product code for the OEM key. You can then just download the installer from Cyberlink and install using that key.

 

Same here

Cheers,

 

Good thinking. When I get back I'll put the restored version back in and see if the key is in the registry somewhere. Do you think they are all the same since they're using std images to load these? Or do they have some sort of key generator for PowerDVD like the Windows unique SID generators?

Is 9 still available for download. I don't see it on the download page.

Cheers,

 

That's too bad. We have some CT21N software that works, but it recognizes only LG drives and will not install on the Mata drives. Sorry for the misspeak on the windvd vs powerdvd. Blu-ray software is so frustrating to begin with, they all blend together.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Chastity
For PowerDVD, all we really need is the product code for the OEM key. You can then just download the installer from Cyberlink and install using that key.

This is an interesting idea, but Cyberlink will only recognize retail keys for the download. If you can get it to work let us know, but from what we have tried the Key that Asus supplies is OEM and Cyberlink says that they will not accept it.

 

well, my solution was getting PowerDVD Retail Ultra 10 3D online for $42 shipped.

 

Yeah, seems there is no OEM solution for folks who opt for a clean install.

WinDVD 2010 Pro has been fluctuating between $39 & $49 for the last couple of weeks.

Cheers,

 

Reason I went for PowerDVD is because my main rig has an Auzen HT HD card, and it supports HDMI streaming of TrueHD / DTS HD to my receiver.

 

Hi,

I'm struggling with getting Blu-Rays (Avatar, actually) to play on my ASUS G73JH. Here's the story so far:
- Tried to play Avatar, but software delivered with laptop couldn't play it back.
- Bought PowerDVD 10 Ultra 3D: was able to play about 10 minutes of Avatar until it froze. Thereafter, able to play 1 or 2 minutes until movie freezes.
- Did lots of reading in forums and contacted Asus and Cyberlink customer support: updated BIOS, updated VBIOS, ascertained that "most current" (17.12.09!) ATI driver installed. Didn't help.
- In one forum, they said that the problem is with the Mata UJ141a and this must be replaced by a CT21N or later. Does anyone know if this is true?
- At first ASUS said that everyone - not just ASUS customers - was having problems playing Avatar Blu-Ray. Now they say that the problem is with the BD+ copyright protection and they are working on an update (presumably of the ATI driver).
- I downloaded the most recent version of the ATI driver (Mobility Radeon 5850), but it crashed my system and I had to do a rollback.

By the way, I live in Germany and bought the computer here in Germany - so some of the issues may not be the same as the rest of you have been experiencing.

There is also another problem with my laptop. MemTestPro found faulty memory, but can't be sure if it is a problem with the memory or the mother board. Asked ASUS to send me new memory cards, but nothing so far. They want me to send the laptop in for repairs, but I'm hesitant: 4 to 6 weeks repair time, many users say that the laptop gets damaged during transport/repair and/or comes back with other problems. If ASUS can't give me a clear answer on the UJ141A vs. CT21N question (I've asked them), I'm skeptical about them replacing it voluntarily.

Any ideas? What is causing this problem and what can I do to solve it? I'd at least like to enjoy my Blu-Ray drive until I have to give the laptop back - either permanently or for repairs.

Thanks.

 

Can't you just install K-Lite Codec Pack and play using the included Media Player Classic?