Philips DVP642 DivX-Certified Progressive-Scan DVD Player
Thought I had PROBLEMS....
I'm new to DVD movies...though I can play them on my computer.<br /><br />I've only had this DVD player for 2 weeks or so and had only one DVD to try with it.  This DVD played.<br /><br />Also some .mp3 music files played.  And some pics from my digital camera burned on a CD.<br /><br />Fine.<br /><br />Then I borrowed some DVDs to watch...and out of a total of 6 DVDs I then had...only 2 would play....got a lot of \\"NO DISC\\" from the player after closing the tray.<br /><br />All of these DVDs would play on the computer.<br /><br />I was getting prepared to return the player.<br /><br />So I thought to run a CD lens cleaner disc* in it.  First time didn't work...but after the 2nd try the DVD player now works fine and plays everything I put in it.<br /><br />*This is an audio CD with a small brush mounted on it...used dry.  I run it thru the 9 or so \\"tracks\\"...one by one for 5-10 seconds each.  Don't want to run the cleaner disc too often though.<br /><br />Sort of strange that the lense would be dirty when new.  Some assembler has messy fingers?<br /><br />I am impressed by the audio when playing some lower quality .mp3 files.  The ability to scan thru digital pics is nice.<br /><br />Now I can watch some movies...the Dolby audio as processed thru a receiver is of good quality also.<br /><br />* I did buy a 1 yr free replacement warranty.  Stay tuned.....<br /><br />Further note:  One DVD that is pretty well scratched will still not play UNLESS I run the cleaner CD thru first...not sure what is going on here...maybe not a dirty lense, but possibly tracking problems?  Maybe it shouldn't play...though it does on the computer.  Seems there is a recent string of disappointed buyers.<br /><br />** Intend to exercise my 1 year free replacement option soon(a $10 cost).  While it will play most DVDs...it ALWAYS needs the cleaner disc run thru it first...before it will recognize a DVD.  Since I rarely play more than 1 DVD at a time...this is a pain.