Fake Blu-Ray Drive?

Hey NBR,

About 2 months ago, I made a purchase off eBay (First mistake). I bought a 12.7 SATA Blu-Ray drive from a seller in China (Except for the fact he had very good feedback). The device in question is supposed to be a DS-4E1S LiteOn.

Well, long story short, I get the drive for my ASUS W90VP, install it, try playing a movie in ASUS' media player, and get an error that says AVCRECDEVICENOTSUPPORT. Tried it in PowerDVD. Keep getting requests to update my software so that it can play my movie. AVCREC is the variant of Blu-Ray that allows a drive to play Blu-Ray content off of a DVD (Or at least this is what I've read).

I can read files off blu-ray discs though via My Computer. So I know I have access to whatever is on a BD. Just can't actually stream a movie from it.

I have a claim open with PayPal. So far, it's reached the point to where they need me to find a third party to write a letterhead stating they agree that the drive is a fake. I'm in the process of finding someone locally that can assist me, but as AVCREC isn't a format necessarily used here in the US, I was hoping someone could perhaps assist me with any information they had. I've included pictures of the drive (Note: The drive arrived without any labeling whatsoever. Nothing has been changed by me)

MODS: If this is in the wrong forum, could you please move it for me? Thanks.

Links to pictures (So I dont destroy anyones bandwith):

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/tabrisnightwind/DSC00184.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/tabrisnightwind/DSC00185.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/tabrisnightwind/DSC00187.jpg

 

Do you have the exact error message?
Do you use modded video drivers? Are your graphics drivers signed?
What version of Windows are you using?
Could you do a scan of the drive using Nero Infotool or better program?

 

Dunno about fake or not but it would be good if you'd post the ebay sellers name at least until we clear this out :-s

Thanks

 

One thing I don't get: if it's fake, how can you read files off blu-ray discs?

 

yea... maybe try another disk?

or maybe another software to view the BR

 

I find the lack of the usual on the top label or any other present labeling a bit discouraging. If its a commercial BD disc then i find the error weird, though as far as AVREC support goes its not a standard part of bluray players and unless your sony or panasonic not likley to have it. That said OS support is more likley then player support.

 

namaiki: Exact error message from AI TouchMedia (ASUS' media center) is $AACS.AVCRECDEVICENOTSUPPORT.

vadimpelau: Seller is sh2pc (He has a 1666 feedback rating. But support from this guy is god-awful. You should see the emails)

Phil: And that's why I came here. I can view actual files via Windows Explorer and everything. But no program with Blu-Ray capabilities will play any movie I put in (Have tried 7 movies so far)


Just want to go back and mention this guys "Customer Service". When I first sent him an e-mail letting him know I feel like I didn't receive what I ordered (I even went to say I felt I got a defective unit), he claimed I was LYING to him. That he had sold 20 or so other units and no one complained. (This seems to be a common defense for him. Check the 2 recent neg feedbacks he has). I told him that's not the case, that I felt my unit was defective and that I'd like to get a refund.

He then writes back saying that he can send me a DVD burner if I go ahead and send the drive I received to another person that won a similar auction so he could avoid international shipping costs. (Yea. What the hell?)

I tell him that's definately not an option, so he sends me a pirated copy of PowerDVD 7 (Wait wait. It gets better!)

I write him back. Tell him that he's now offering me illegal support, and that if I don't get my refund, I'm going to have to open a claim via PayPal. He says he wants to try one more thing before submitting the refund. Sends me a link to download another media player (I forget what. Started with a K).

It was a trojan. I write back, tell him I'm opening a claim, but I havent heard from him since.


Yea. I <3 Ebay.

Edit: CluthX2 - I figured it may be something with OS support as well. Before I started my onslaught of emails with this guy, I attempted reinstalling Vista with the drive installed. Even tried Windows 7 RC. Same errors on each installation.

Edit 2: Going back to Namaiki's reply...Signed drivers. Is that required to play content protected via AACS? I'm using modded ATI drivers from E-Wrecked because ASUS is slow as hell when it comes to updating their own. Either way, I figured anything having to do with playing AACS protected material had to do with decoding in the hardware. Perhaps I was mistakened. If that's the case, I'm definately going to owe sh2pc an apology for believing I received a counterfit drive. (But the fact he tried to cover me with pirated software and then also send me a trojan still concerns me.) I'm in the process now of reverting my drivers back to the ASUS brand (Though I'll lose crossfire in the process ). I'll write back with my results.

 

Installed the latest 9.6 driver directly from ATI's website (Still won't let me use Crossfire =( ). No luck though getting BDs to play. Still the same errors. $AACS.AVCRECDEVICENOTSUPPORT and PowerDVD continously saying it needs to update to play the content.

 

Well since its a commericial BD movie then my only thought goes out the window as this wouldnt apply.

Shame, how much did it go for as I have started to see legit retailers with drives in the 80-100 dollar range. Still waiting for a burner to get to 100 though.... good luck with that right lol.

 

would it be a region thing.

 

try it with anydvd hd, if it works then, it's some sort of copyright restriction. maybe a regional thing, maybe something else..

 

Isn't it to do with HDCP?

 

i don't know. that's why i suggested anydvd hd first of all, to see if he gets it working at all at least. that would be good news and helpful.

in anydvd hd, he can actually say if it should "fix region problems" or not, as well as other stuff, so he could try step by step where it fails. maybe helps to pin down the problem.

but yes, i think the problem is, the system never was made for bluray => doesn't have a proper signed secured pathway for the movie to go to screen. maybe..

 

That's my thoughts exactly.

With blu ray video the image data is encrypted which is probably where the problem arises as his laptops screen isn't HDCP compliant maybe?

 

yep, by a good chance. then, maybe, anydvd will be the only option. obviously illegal depending on the country (not here, hrrhrr, i love it.. there are some bd that just don't work, even while bought here, without it ).

 

'ey guys. Just woke up. I'm going to make an attempt with AnyDVD and see if that gives me any luck. Region-wise, yea, the drive was originally set to whichever region number Taiwan is in. Used one of my 5 changes to put it back to Region 1 before I e-mailed the seller. No luck though.

I'll get back on later today to give the results of AnyDVD. Oh, and in terms of HDCP, the BD_Advisor from Cyberlink says everything checks out.

 

So. Downloaded AnyDVD. Downloaded the Trial for PowerDVD 9.

Blu-Ray is now working. Which means somethings up with my being able to decrypt protection on the drive.

Ideas?

 

as stated, maybe your notebook is not built with blueray playback in mind => it doesn't have the required hdcp secure path for content blabla.

and that means, except for anydvd, there is no way.

 

The laptop I bought comes in 3 different models. X1, X2, and A1. They are supposedly all the exact same hardware-wise except for they either have dual / quad core, 1 hard drive or 2, or blu-ray or a DVD-RW drive. I was actually told by ASUS that if I ever wanted to play Blu-Ray, I had to simply put in a drive.

The cards I'm almost 100% sure are HDCP compliant, because they're the newest mobility cards out and as far as I'm aware any enthusiast card that comes out now-a-days will be HDCP.

The screen was confirmed HDCP by the Blu-Ray advisor from Cyberlink.

And besides....I thought that if something wasn't HDCP along the line, the movie would simply show up as a black screen. (This is also something I was told, so yea.)

 

hm.. you are right. still, something is wrong on the whole secure path, and anydvd fixes it.

try to disable parts of anydvd to see when it fails.

 

Will do. I'll reply back in a few minutes.

Edit: Only thing I can disable Blu-Ray-wise with AnyDVD is BD Support in whole. =\

 

i thought so too, that it would be blank.... try a 'selected' movie from itunes if you think this is the case

http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/17/apple-itunes-multimedia-throwing-hdcp-flags-on-new-macbook-mac/

i wouldn't trust 1st level reps... try getting to their 2nd tier or 3rd tier support as those techs should know better

Example A for why DRM is screwing around with legit customers while piracy doesn't care...

 

well, while an example, not a prime example. when someone buys some blueray solution that gets sold as that and it doesn't work, then yes. in this case, it's some homebrew modification. no one can guarantee that works.

but btw, we bought blueray drives for our pc's at home, and the movie that came with it (james bond crap, 2) can't get played back without anydvd. the movie that CAME WITH THE DRIVE. every other blueray movie works without any problem.

so the drm issue exists even in "valid" cases, namely when you go into your local shop that sells you some solution that should work

 

so we're not supposed to DIY any more?

tekian showed us that AnyDVDHD, that stripped out the protection, made the movie work... with DRM, the movie wouldn't work... QED, DRM is stopping a legitmate consumer from using the parts he paid for...



@OP, i guess the only viable option is to purchase AnyDVD HD.. go send the AnyDVDHD bill to the ebay seller



try disabling the region encoding option

 

Yea, most likely going to have to. Which sucks.

But I still don't see any reason as to why I'm not able to decode decryption right off. Both my cards and monitor have been confirmed as HDCP compliant. What else could be the problem? Where exactly does that decryption take place?

Edit: It has to be something non-HDCP related, I think. As I said, the cards I have I can almost 100% promise are HDCP, and while the monitor I can't actually check and confirm myself, when I connect the laptop to my HDTV via HDMI (My HDTV is obviously HDCP compliant ), I still receive the error.

Unless of course the actual HDMI cable needs to be HDCP compliant as well, which would render my "test" pointless.

Stupid DRM.

Edit 2: The only thing enabled on my Blu-Ray tab is "Enable Blu-Ray Support". Which plays the movie fine.

 

The drive itself could not be compliant in that respect either. BDrom drive doesnt have to be though I cant say that I have seen any that arent. If the company that actually manufactred it was able to source the hardware necessary to read the discs but was not apart of the BluRay group and couldnt handle the DRM.

 

I honestly never thought that the drive had to be compliant as well. Can anyone else confirm this?

Also, while I can easily buy AnyDVD HD and have this drive work, I think I'd much rather buy a drive I know that won't give me problems.

Only this time from a more reputable seller.

Does anyone know any resellers that carry 12.7mm sata blu-ray drives?

 

I am trying to research it, HDCP seems to only be part of the from the player/hardware to the screen problem. AACS on the other hand is my first thought when it comes to player compliance.

Both are licensed and could prevent a counterfeit manufacturer with getting away with making good drives, also both problems are fixed by AnyDVD.

 

Thanks so much for looking into that, Clutch. Let me know what you find out. I'll most likely stay on the trial for AnyDVD until I can find a drive that has all the consumer ball-n-chain features.

 

Not a problem, looking to get one myself sooner or later. If its the W90 you have, pm GenTechPC get his recommendation on a drive, price and where. I doubt he will have anything at work for cheap as they generally buy new and would only have dvd writer pulls laying around. But he does alot of bluray swaps.

 

One last thing.


Your drivers are WHQL certified right?

 

we are, but DIY never was supported by the media industry, and never liked for that matter and i see how they don't see any sence in supporting such "crazy" special situations, and just say "buy stuff we certify as a whole, then it works". its simple, it works, no user complaints, then.

this doesn't mean that i think DRM is right, but with DRM as a given, what we see is quite understandable.

and yep, i would just say "use anydvd" and be happy. I do the same..

and next year, or so, I'll travel to their island. can't wait. it's a funny island, just check it on google maps all the names of the villages and beaches, too much geekness down there




sooo.. have to continue reading the rest of the thread

 

btw, i even use anydvd while all my stuff is fully compliant. and here around, pcs get even sold with it preinstalled.

why? just in case. as stated before, i have one blueray movie which just doesn't work without anydvd, while all others play well. (james bond casino royale crapedibabedy).

i have it just to toggle on and off, depending on what doesn't work..

 

to avoid DRM I just buy the DVD/and or Blu ray. and then download the digital version... no DRM. problem solved.

 

or just use anydvd. just as 'legal' and thus not really to discussion in here, except for stuff like the actual troubleshoot.

 

I know that's way I didn't discuss the 'how-to'. by the way from my experience anyDVD doesn't work all the time either. I have it installed on my HTPC and there are still select DVD's that won't play. I'm still waiting for a Canadian website to offer Digital media DRM free at a decent price here.

 

Yep. My drivers are WHQL. I'm using the same drivers that the other A1 model that comes with Blu-Ray use.

At this point, I'm near positive it has to do with my Blu-Ray drive not being compliant. Waiting on a response from Ken Lee at GenTechPC to see if they have any drives in stock.

 

Couple of things of note...

1 - how is the drive identified in device manager? Can you get a valid hardware id off of it?

2 - you might want to head over to ClubCD freaks forums. Not to disrespect anyone here, but there may be some knowledge, tools, or software available there that we just haven't crossed yet.

http://club.cdfreaks.com/f142/

I know that I had an old HP burner once, that was manufactured by Sony, and with a little toolage here, and a firmware flash there, I made my HP back into a Sony. Could be that a firmware update (if the original hardware can be identified, and is compatible) would bring it back into spec to watch regular region 1 BDs without having to fudge the decryption.

 

Started a thread on CDFreaks as welll.

http://club.cdfreaks.com/f142/blu-ray-drive-not-hdcp-ready-277383/#post2293882

As well, here are my Hardware IDs if anyone needs them.

IDE\CdRomPLDS_DVDRWBD_DS-4E1S____________________ED11____
IDE\PLDS_DVDRWBD_DS-4E1S____________________ED11____
IDE\CdRomPLDS_DVDRWBD_DS-4E1S____________________
PLDS_DVDRWBD_DS-4E1S____________________ED11____
GenCdRom

These come directly from the Device Manager "Details" tab for the drive.

 

Interesting info when searching on the error you were getting:

AVCREC

"AVCREC is an official lower capacity variant of the Blu-ray Disc used for storing Blu-ray Disc compatible content on conventional DVD discs. This variant is being promoted for use in camcorders, distribution of short HD broadcast content and other cost-sensitive distribution needs. "

http://it.toolbox.com/wiki/index.php/Blu-ray

 

He actually already described AVCREC to everyone in the original posting and it has nothing todo with normal bluray discs.

Useful format for those of us who have a small amount of HD content to distribute but dont have bluray burners. HD DVD supported the same concept where HD DVD compatible content could be burned to DVD's in its limited capacity.

Outside of the error possibly pointing to the support issue, AVREC has nothing todo with this.

 

What annoys me is that I can't find a product page for this drive at all. LITE-ON IT doesn't even have it listed. So any chance of updating firmware is kinda out the window with this.

Ugh. Really don't want to spend another $80 on AnyDVD HD when I can put that to a new drive . Ken still hasn't gotten back to me yet, though I'm sure his PM Box is probably swamped with other business questions.

 

It appears that it is an OEM product for Acer Europe.

Part number is KO.0020F.001

 

Awesome. Thanks so much, Korb. Now to find a firmware update/download for it...