Every time that I try to play a new DVD in my new Pioneer 106 I get the following "DVD Key Exchange for copy protection has failed, playback is not possible". This happens whether I use my nero dvd player or my windows player or my sonic player. I can shrink and copy with DVDShrink, and once I do, the copy as well as the original, is playable with the software. Is there a problem with my firmware, software, or just some new copy protection?

I would highly recommend picking up either WinDVD4 or Power DVD to play your DVD Movies. I will also caution you not to use your 106 to do anything but DVD Burning. Playing DVDs greatly increases the chances of your drive going dead prematurely. Do you have a sepeate DVD-ROM that you can use?

No, and I really don't watch the films on the computer but the autoplay or to check after a burn to see if there were errors. I just thought that there had to be some reason for this as this never happened with my a-103 burner.

Do the discs work okay in your standalone DVD Player(s)?

Yes they do, the new Nero is alot more reliable. I thought that I would learn what key exchange was and why this problem suddenly?

Maybe you changed the region coding too much. Im only allowed to do it 4 or 5 times after that it stays @ the country code that it was put at. I don't know about your Pioneer though.

It's definately NOT a region code fault but I agree with Jesterace don't use your burner for playing back DVD's for a couple of reasons ,unless region free it will lock it up ,the heavier sled assembly wears out faster on writers than readers and they all fail eventually , so use a £25 rom rather than a £100 burner