Several BR/DVD players can't access second layer

I’ve recently bought this 2006 DVD collection (https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/F5kAAOSwqFZh6Cau/s-l1600.jpg) cause I wanted to watch the theatrical versions. Unfortunately, all 6 discs stop half way through: the image freezes and I’m taken back to the main menu. For example, episode IV freezes when Wilhuff Tarkin says ‘Terminate her!’ to Darth Vader. The same exact point on every player, just when it’s supposed to switch to the second layer.

This has happened with at least 5 players from different brands, including Sony, Samsung and LG. I live in Europe, and I’ve only tested region-free players or european ones that I’ve personally hacked to make them read region 1 DVD’s.

I’d like to know what player is compatible with this collection. I don’t care if I have to import one from the US, just as long as I can finally watch the films.

Thank you so much in advance!

Sideburns of BoShek said:

I didn’t know the 2006 DVDs had a second layer! Do they play ok when watching them via a computer disc drive?

Or are there any blemishes, scratches or cloudiness’ on the discs themselves? DO other region 1 film discs play ok?

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to play them at all on my computer. I bought a Plextor BD drive and it just kept spinning endlessly…

The discs are in perfect condition, and all 6 of them exhibit the same results.

About your last question, unfortunately I don’t have any other region 1 films 😦

Thank you so much for your response!

I hope the discs are fine and haven’t fallen to data layer failure/aka rot.

I have a Fox disc not this particular title, Space Above and Beyond that won’t even play because its rotted. It doesn’t show visually when you look at the disc, but the disc won’t be read by any player.

JadedSkywalker said:

I hope the discs are fine and haven’t fallen to data layer failure/aka rot.

I have a Fox disc not this particular title, Space Above and Beyond that won’t even play because its rotted. It doesn’t show visually when you look at the disc, but the disc won’t be read by any player.

Yeah, I certainly hope that’s not the case cause I’ve just bought them. In my opinion, they’re likely not rotted cause all six of them exhibit the same behavior. I don’t know…

I wonder if someone who has the same collection (the theatrical versions) could rip them and send them to me so that I can watch them from a hdd until I find the right player… I know there are restoration projects that look infinitely better, but I want to watch these ones, flaws and all.

adywan said:

The fact that all 6 discs freeze at the layer break seems very strange. Disc rot could account for one disc doing something like that but not all 6. Have you tried to play a scene from later on the movies via the chapter scene menu?

Did you buy them from Ebay by any chance?

Yeah this was going to be my question as well. There is the potential that you may have purchased a knock off product and not an actual pressed disc set.

Could also just be player incompatibility not all discs blu-ray or DVD work on all players. You should try it on another unit I don’t know what would happen if it doesn’t play on another device. Of course it has to be capable of playing NTSC region 1 discs you say the player you tried it on does.

Edit: I see you tried it on several players. That is so weird.

I have a cheap 40 dollar player that does all region it plays my Pal Return of the Jedi disc fine. But to be clear I haven’t played my US discs for a long time 2006 most likely, I hope they aren’t coasters.

If it is disc rot, I hope the seller will offer replacements or your money back.

Thank you all so much! I’ll do my best to answer all of your questions.

I have tried the chapter selection menu and I get the same results. Episode IV, for instance, plays until the end of chapter 27, which includes Luke’s practice with the remote and ends with the conversation between Darth Vader and Wilhuff Tarkin. So if I try to jump to 28 or any other chapter beyond that point it does nothing for a couple of seconds and then it goes back to the main menu. The other discs do the same thing when I select the chapters beyond the first half. Really weird.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to play any of them on my PC. I didn’t have a DVD/BD player, so I bought one specifically for this test. I got a Plextor drive, cause I had read they are the best ones. But it just kept spinning endlessly and there was no way to play or even explore the discs. I’m on Windows 10, by the way.

Some of you asked me if I bought them on ebay and the answer is yes, this is the listing: https://www.ebay.es/itm/126269323561

I contacted the seller several times about this issue. At first they seemed nice. They suggested I bought a Samsung BD-J4500R. I did but the spanish version (I live in Spain) can’t be hacked so I had to return it and never got to test the discs. After my third message they stopped answering my messages so I’m on my own 😦

Do any of you happen to have this exact collection? If so what brand/model player do you have? Importing is expensive and I would lose money if I had to return it but I would be willing to acquire an american one if I knew for sure it can read the discs properly.

I hope I have answered all of your questions. I’m so glad to be part of this community 😃

I think you might have bought bootlegs that were not burned correctly. It is the only logical explanation and there are a lot of bootlegs posing as the GOUT because they are easy to replicate and always high priced because there is always a demand for the theatrical cuts.

I own these and they play perfectly on both my 4K players and both my blu ray players.