SMP refuses to play 1080p files from the HDD USB 3.0 connected to the rear USB port

[#1]

Which firmware?  1.07.15
What happened? When I'm watching a movie 1080 from rear USB port, the video stops working, it freezes and after 20-30 seconds it unmounts the hard drive with message that says " to remove safely your hard drive". The device is still working, but to make the WD TV recognize HDD again  
What were you doing? Playback the 1080p files from the HDD USB 3.0 connected to the rear USB port I have to reboot the tv live and unplug and plug back again the HDD.
Does this happen every time? Yes ,when HDD connected to the rear USB port
What hardware and media were you using? Hardware: WD SMP (WDBGXT0000NBK-EESN, P/N:WDBGXT0000NBK-01), HDD WD 750GB NTFS USB 3.0 (WDBPCK7500ABK-EESN)

I have tried many 1080 files ,here's one of them:

General
ID                             : 1 (0x1)
Complete name                  :The Michael Schenker Group -  Live in Tokyo 2010.ts
Format                         : MPEG-TS
File size                      : 22.9 GiB
Duration                       : 1h 44mn
Overall bit rate mode          : Variable
Overall bit rate               : 31.4 Mbps
Maximum Overall bit rate       : 35.5 Mbps

Video
ID                             : 4113 (0x1011)
Menu ID                        : 1 (0x1)
Format                         : AVC
Format/Info                    : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                 : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC         : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames      : 4 frames
Codec ID                       : 27
Duration                       : 1h 44mn
Bit rate mode                  : Variable
Bit rate                       : 25.2 Mbps
Maximum bit rate               : 27.0 Mbps
Width                          : 1 920 pixels
Height                         : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio           : 16:9
Frame rate                     : 23.976 fps
Color space                    : YUV
Chroma subsampling             : 4:2:0
Bit depth                      : 8 bits
Scan type                      : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)             : 0.507
Stream size                    : 18.4 GiB (80%)
Color primaries                : BT.709-5, BT.1361, IEC 61966-2-4, SMPTE RP177
Transfer characteristics       : BT.709-5, BT.1361
Matrix coefficients            : BT.709-5, BT.1361, IEC 61966-2-4 709, SMPTE RP177

Audio
ID                             : 4352 (0x1100)
Menu ID                        : 1 (0x1)
Format                         : PCM
Format settings, Endianness    : Big
Format settings, Sign          : Signed
Muxing mode                    : Blu-ray
Codec ID                       : 128
Duration                       : 1h 44mn
Bit rate mode                  : Constant
Bit rate                       : 4 608 Kbps
Channel(s)                     : 2 channels
Channel positions              : Front: L R
Sampling rate                  : 96.0 KHz
Bit depth                      : 24 bits
Stream size                    : 3.36 GiB (15%)
Language                       : English

Did this happen with previous firmware? Yes I tried filmwares 1.04.12  , 1.05.18 , 1.06.04, 1.07.15, but the problem remains.
Does power cycling the unit solve this? No
Does resetting to factory defaults solve this? No
Have you tried this on other devices? My PC - Windows 7  & SMP from front USB port playback this files without problem.

I think, this happens with exactly models SMP revision 01 (P/N: WDBGXT0000NBK-01 & P/N:WDBHG70000NBK-01) I do suspect that may be a difference between models ending with "01" and "00"(revision "01" and "00"). If you could please indicate the model number (regarding the revisions: "00" or "01") in your responds. Number of the model and revision is located at the bottom of the device.

[#2]

I think, this happens with exactly models SMP revision 01 (P/N: WDBGXT0000NBK-01 & P/N:WDBHG70000NBK-01) I do suspect that may be a difference between models ending with "01" and "00"(revision "01" and "00"). If you could please indicate the model number (regarding the revisions: "00" or "01") in your responds. Number of the model and revision is located at the bottom of the device.

[#3]

THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PLEASE correct this or allow those affected to get either a refund for their defective products, an exchange for a new one (until they hit one that works as advertised), or credit for a different WD product.  I can guarantee that I will NEVER buy another WD product if this problem isn't resolved...and I've forked over hundreds of dollars to you thieves already this year.

How about you give the group of us who complained about this issue in this thread one of the three options above and we'll ship our defective devices back to you (at no cost to us, of course) so your crack team of software and hardware hacks can do autopsies on actual devices that have exhibited the problem???

[#4]

Firmware 1.10.13. The issue with the rear port has not been resolved.

[#5]

My SMP still exhibits this problem after successful update to Firmware 1.10.13 and device reset...

I also had the opportunity to try a friends SMP which had an earlier serial number (also a USA model with -01 at the end of the model #) and it also freezes when playing HD content through the rear port from my WD Elements Portable USB 3.0 drives.  The movie eventually freezes and the drive becomes undetectable (player pop-up says "please safely eject your USB device before removing it..." even though the SMP can no longer see the device).  When I unplug the drive and plug it into a computer with Windows 7, windows says the drive may have errors.  Letting Windows scan the drive with only "Automatically fix system errors" checked fixes the drive.  Sometimes (but not always) the player freezes completely at this point and requires a restart.  If I navigate to and select the videos tab, I get a pop-up that says "the last content source has been removed, please select a new content source."

Though most of my HD movies when played from my USB 3.0 drives through the rear port will freeze the SMP within 15 minutes or so, I have had some play for over an hour.  I have successfully made it through two of them without it freezing, however, those movies usually do freeze the device.

WD, if you're trying to reproduce this behavior, try a model# -01 SMP, use a portable WD Elements SE USB 3.0 1 TB drive, and put a few long HD movies (MKV and m2ts seem to freeze a lot for me) on the drive.  Play them through to completion from the rear port, several times each if necessary, and I'm pretty sure you will experience this issue. 

(So, WD, if this issue never gets resolved (like if it's a hardware design issue that can't be fixed via firmware), will I be granted a refund?  I like the SMP when it works, but a functioning rear USB port is critical to my setup.)

[#6]

I have the same issue, purchased the player about 5 months ago and I never tried the rear USB port.

Today I decided to use the rear port with a WD My passport drive and after few seconds playing HD content, the imeage freezes. The player apparently thinks the drive has been disconnetect and it won't recognize it again until the external drive is unplugged and the device rebooted.

No problem instead with the front port.

P/N is ending with -01 but I don't think this makes any difference.

Latest firware installed.

I am going to contact WD for a replacement or refund, I paid for a device with 2 USB ports and only one is fully working.

[#7]

status is investigating, I hope this issue can be solved..... 1.10.13 still not fix the issue

[#8]

I have the exact same issue with my new SMP.

Latest firmware and a european version of the player.

Front USB working fine and rear USB-port works ok as long as it isn't playing 1080p-files.

[#9]

Updated to the latest firmware 1.11.14, and this issue still exists.

[#10]

Confirmed.  This problem remains with firmware 1.11.14.  I also switched to yet another new hard drive (3TB WD My Book Essential USB 3.0 + 2.0) and the same thing happens...

[#11]

I have just purchased a 3TB USB3.0 My Book specificaly for my WDTV Live.

I now find that the WDTV doesn't want to recongise the drive is connected.

After purposely macking sure to buy a WD drive to ensure maximum compatibility with a WD media player, it appears I'd have been better saving a few $ and buying a non WD USB2 drive.

When will WD fix this problem

Yes I am on lattest firmware, upgraded it today.

[#12]

I'm still confused about this issue.... Is it a hardware issue or just firmware?

Seems to me if its hardware, wouldnt WD be responsible for handling a recall?