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Methods for Bypassing Faulty VChips?
corporal_clegg asks: "I bought a Sharp 27" TV a year or so ago to serve as a second TV and PS2 gaming platform. When I recently attempted to play a DVD through the game console, the VChip kicked in and presented a beautifully rendered black rectangle on the screen. No amount of menu manipulation on either the game console or the TV can remove the VChip blocking; both system menus report the VChip as disabled, yet it continues to block all programming: golf, kids shows, everything. This occurs if the game console is attached and operating or completely removed. Of course the operating manuals provide no help on addressing these issues, and the manufacturers' web sites are likewise useless. So the question is: does anyone out there in slash-land know how to identify and remove, bypass or hardware reset the VChip/ blocking technology? I am very comfortable working at the board level and would much rather crack my case and fix this problem myself than take an 80lb TV to a repair shop only to be charged it's replacement cost to address the problem."
Will giving out information on how to bypass the V-chip violate the DMCA?
Try the trusty tool available from any Viking Supply House.
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the children will be protected from the filth & violence on tv!
Conformity is the jailer of freedom and enemy of growth. -JFK
i had a problem like that on a hitachi 52" projection
what the problem was that the captioning was turned on and was just putting the aformentioned black rectangle on the screen
i turned off all captioning and it fixed the problem
Because if you're not, we could implant it in a potty-mouthed 3rd grader and endow him with super-electro-zappy powers..
Ceci n'est pas un post.
Perhaps you've seen too much already. V-chip knows.
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A black rectangle? If it was the VChip, the entire signal would be blocked, not obscured by a black rectangle.
I think you're barking up the wrong tree; you should look at the captioning.
Karma
Harsh words from someone who can't spell "TV" correctly...
If the TV is over a year old, it's likely that the warranty is already expired.
Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
Right, and why bother upgrading to XP on your existing computer when you should just buy one freshly pre-installed from Dell? Why replace the cracked screen on your PDA when it isn't nearly as fast or as colorful as the latest and greatest? Your car is five years old: It will break down any minute. You should chuck it and buy a new one. Why go through the hassle?
You don't know how technology works anyway. Even if you did, you wouldn't know how this one would work, so don't bother trying. It's safer and easier to throw it out and get a new replacement than it is to diagnose a problem and improvise a solution. There is a reason electronics ship in black boxes, right?
(You did buy the extended warranty didn't you?)
This comment shouldn't be modded "insightful." It should be modded "sad."
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I am usually a vigorous defender of ask slashdot, but christ-on-a-crutch is this ever dumb.
You've got text mode captioning on, man. Turn it off and watch the amazing pictures flashing in the magic box again.
*everything* is Orwellian to cats.
We know you're really 9 years old. You're going to have to wait a few years before we'll let you watch "The View".
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But it does pose an interesting technical question: how does one bypass the V-Chip? Assuming the V-chip only blocks audio and video transmissions, a simple bridge might suffice. However, the industry might have come up with a few more difficult technical hurdles, despite having to retain backwards compatability.
Does anyone have a pinout diagram for a V-Chip? I can't seem to google one.
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report the VChip as disabled, yet it continues to block all programming: golf, kids shows, everything.
As it should.
Under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) a buyer can revoke his acceptance of purchased goods if there is an undiscovered inherent defect that significantly impairs the value. (Google "UCC revocation acceptance" for more info.) Then, write to the mfr. and/or retailer citing the UCC and stating that you are hereby revoking your acceptance of the TV set, and you are hereby requesting a full refund and a prepaid RMA number. If after receiving the letter they do not accept return of the goods, take them to small claims court.