Sony Support

BDP-S301 Firmware Update

Applicable Models

IMPORTANT: This file is only for use with the models identified. Not all models are sold in all countries.

This information is for the following models:

  • BDP-S301

About this download

Benefits and improvements

This utility updates the BDP-S301 firmware to version 6.20 and provides the following benefits:

Improvements over firmware version 5.90:

  • Improves BD-Java compatibility to enhance interactivity with some BD-ROMs

Benefits provided by previous upgrades and included in version 6.20:

  • Compatibility with BD-R/RE discs burned by the Click to Disc™ and Click to Disc™ Editor software included with some VAIO® computers
  • Adds Dolby® TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus Audio decoding functionality
  • Compatibility with the BD-R/RE format (BDMV)

System Requirements

Operating Systems

  • Windows Vista®
  • Windows Vista® 64-bit
  • Windows® 10
  • Windows® 10 64-bit
  • Windows® 7
  • Windows® 7 64-bit
  • Windows® 8
  • Windows® 8 64-bit
  • Windows® 8.1
  • Windows® 8.1 64-bit
  • Windows® XP
  • Windows® XP MCE

File Info

File Name

  • UPDATE_BDPS301_VER0620.EXE

File Version

  • 6.20

File Size

  • 50.12 MB

Release Date

  • 04-11-2012

Before You Start


Important Notes

  • Please follow the update instructions carefully. Failure to follow the instructions may interrupt the update process and may cause the player to be unresponsive or to require repair.
  • Do not power off the player or disconnect it from the AC power outlet. Loss of power during the installation of the firmware update may cause the player to be unresponsive or to require repair.
  • Use a brand new CD-R disc to burn the firmware update. The player may not be able to correctly read a dirty disc or a disc with scratches.
  • Recommended operating system for the computer that will download the firmware update:
    • Microsoft® Windows® 10
    • Microsoft® Windows® 8.1
    • Microsoft® Windows® 8
    • Microsoft® Windows® 7
    • Microsoft® Windows Vista®
    • Microsoft® Windows® XP
  • A drive with CD disc burning capability and a CD-R disc are required to create the update disc.
    Note: A CD-R disc is highly recommended. Do not use a CD-RW disc.
  • If you cannot create a CD on your computer, or if you require assistance, please contact Sony Canada customer support at 1-877-899-SONY (7669).
  • Installing this firmware update will return all your personal settings to the factory default settings. After installing the update it will be necessary to reconfigure your personal settings.
  • In order to perform the firmware update, it is necessary to have the BDP-S301 correctly connected to a compatible television.
  • For VAIO® Computer Owners: In order to use Click to Disc and Click to Disc Editor software to create discs compatible with your Blu-ray Disc™ player, it is necessary to update your Click to Disc and Click to Disc Editor software to version 1.1 or higher. Please check the software version installed on your computer and visit your computer's Drivers & Software page for available updates.
  • It is highly recommended that you print out these instructions for use as a reference during the installation process.

Check the Current Firmware Version

  1. Power on the television and make sure it is tuned to the inputs to which the BDP-S301 player is connected.
  2. Power on the BDP-S301 Blu-ray Disc™ player.
  3. If the player starts to play a disc, press the "STOP" button and wait until the blue Sony Blu-ray Disc screen is displayed on the television before proceeding.
  4. On the remote control (RMT-B101A), press the SYSTEM MENU button.
  5. At the "System Menu" screen, use the arrow keys on the remote control to highlight "Setup" and then press the ENTER button.
  6. At the "Setup" screen, use the arrow keys on the remote control to highlight "Video Setup" and then press the ENTER button.
  7. Use the arrow keys on the remote control to highlight "TV Type" and then press the ENTER button.
  8. On the remote control, press "BLUE" button.
  9. The firmware version currently installed on the BDP-S301 will be listed on the television screen.
    Firmware Version
    If the version number is 6.20 or higher, it is not necessary to install this firmware update.

Download & Install


Table of Contents

  1. Download the UPDATE_BDPS301_VER0620.EXE file to a temporary or download directory (please note this directory for reference).
  2. Go to the directory where the file was downloaded and verify that the size of the UPDATE_BDPS301_VER0620.EXE file is 52,554,752 bytes.
    1. Right-click the UPDATE_BDPS301_VER0620.EXE file, and click "Properties".
    2. On the "UPDATE_BDPS301_VER0620.EXE Properties" screen, verify that the "Size:" listed is "50.1 MB (52,554,752 bytes)".
      Note: The "Size on disk:" listed may be different. That is normal.
    3. If the file size is different than the "52,554,752 bytes", please download the UPDATE_BDPS301_VER0620.EXE file again.
  3. Double-click the UPDATE_BDPS301_VER0620.EXE file to begin the process to extract the firmware update.
  4. At the UPDATE_BDPS301_VER0620.EXE dialog box, type a location, or click the "Browse..." button to select a location for the uncompressed update, and then click "OK". The UPDATE_BDPS301_VER0620.ISO file will be extracted to the specified location.
  5. Use the "Burn Image" option of your CD burning software to create the update disc from the UPDATE_BDPS301_VER0620.ISO file.
  6. For Windows 7 users: You can burn an image using the "Windows Disc Image Burner" feature. Please follow the steps below:
    1. Right-click the UPDATE_BDPS301_VER0620.ISO file that you just extracted to a temporary or download directory and select "Burn disc image".
    2. At the "Windows Disc Image Burner" dialog box, next to "Disc burner", verify that your optical drive is selected.
      Windows Disc Image Burner
      Note: Ensure that the "Verify disc after burning" box is selected.
    3. Place a brand new CD-R into the computer disc drive.
      Note: A CD-R disc is highly recommended. Do not use a CD-RW disc.
    4. Click the "Burn" button.
    5. The burning process begins and the update disc is created and finalized.
      Note: Please wait until after "The disc image has been successfully burned to disc" message appears to remove the disc from the computer.
  7. CD Burning Notes:
    • Do not create a data disc. In order for the update disc to work, you must create it using the "Burn Image" option of your CD burning software.
    • The update disc must be finalized. Be sure to select "Finalize CD (No further writing possible)" in your CD burning software to finalize the update disc.
    • If write errors occur during the CD burning process, discard the disc and create a new update disc.
    • Burning the disc using packet writing software is not supported.
    • Do not use an update disc created using any other process than the one described above.

Firmware Update Instructions

WARNING!! Do not power off the player or disconnect it from the AC power outlet. Doing so may damage the player to the point of requiring repair.

WARNING!! Do not press any buttons, except as instructed, until the update is complete. Doing so may damage the player to the point of requiring repair.

Note: The firmware update process takes a minimum of 30 minutes.

  1. Power on the television and make sure it is tuned to the inputs to which the BDP-S301 player is connected.
  2. Power on the BDP-S301 Blu-ray Disc player.
  3. Place the update disc in the player, and close the disc tray.
  4. The update starts automatically and "DISC-DWLD" appears on the player front panel display.
    Front Panel Display
  5. At the beginning the player will automatically power off and then, after awhile, back on. This is an initial read sequence and is normal.
  6. A series of different messages will appear on the front panel display.
    Note: After about 20 minutes, the disc tray may open.
    WARNING!! Do not remove the disc from the player and do not close the tray. The update is still in progress.
  7. The firmware update is complete when "DL OK" appears on the player front panel display.
    Front Panel Display
    WARNING!! Do not operate or power off the player until this message is displayed. Doing so may result in your player being unresponsive and requiring repair.
  8. Remove the update disc from the player.
  9. Power on the BDP-S301 player.
    Note: It takes about 90 seconds for the player to display pictures on the television when the player is powered on for the first time after installing the update.
  10. Check the firmware version (See "Check Current Firmware Version").
    Note: If the version number is 6.20, the firmware update was successful.

Questions & Answers


If The Update Disc Does Not Eject

If the update disc does not eject even though "DL OK" is displayed, please follow the steps below.

  1. Power on the BDP-S301 Blu-ray Disc player.
  2. Immediately after "POWER ON" is displayed on the front panel display (within one second), press the "STOP" button on the player. The disc tray opens and the player turns off automatically.
    Note: Pressing the "STOP" button on the remote control does not work. It is necessary to press the "STOP" button on the BDP-S301 player.
  3. If the disc tray still does not open, repeat these steps but vary the timing of pressing the "STOP" button in step 2.

Firmware Update FAQ

Q: "WRT FAIL" is displayed on the player front panel display. A: Please perform the following procedure:
  1. Push and hold the "POWER" button for several seconds until the unit powers off. Do not remove the disc.
  2. Push the "POWER" button again to continue the firmware update procedure.
If "WRT FAIL" is displayed again, remove the update disc from the player and delete the update files from your computer. Download the update again and follow the entire procedure above to create a new update disc and install the firmware update.
Q: "DISC-DWLD" is not displayed on the player front panel display when the update disc is inserted. A: Remove the update disc from the player and delete the update files from your computer. Download the update again and follow the entire procedure above to create a new update disc and install the firmware update.
Q: "NO DLWD 2" is displayed on the player front panel display. A: The latest firmware is already installed. No update is necessary.
Q: All my personal settings are gone after updating the firmware. A: This is normal, updating the firmware returns all settings to their factory defaults.
Q: How can I verify that the update disc was burned correctly? A: After creating the update disc, check that the disc name is "BDPV-11620" in your computer.
Q: Power was shut down while updating. A: Power on the player again keeping the update disc in the tray. The update should restart automatically.
Q: When I double click on the UPDATE_BDPS301_VER0620.EXE update file I downloaded from the update web site, the UPDATE_BDPS301_VER0620.ISO file is not created and the following error message appears: "Win32 Cabinet Self-Extraction". A: The download may have failed. Delete the downloaded file and download the update file again.
Q: When the player is powered on after performing the update, nothing appears on the front panel display or on the TV screen. A: Initial start-up after installing the firmware update will take longer than normal (approximately 90 seconds). If this situation continues for more than two minutes please call Sony support at 1-877-899-SONY (7669) .
Q: When the player is powered on after performing the update, a "POWER ON" message appears on the front panel display or on the TV screen. A: Please call Sony support at 1-877-899-SONY (7669) .
Q: The firmware update does not finish, after running for more than 30 minutes. A: Please call Sony support at 1-877-899-SONY (7669) .
Q: "INCOMPLETE"/"NEED DISC" are displayed on the player front panel display. A: The update procedure is not completed.
  1. Put the update disc in the tray and power off the player by pushing the "Power" button on the player for a few seconds.
  2. Power on the player by pushing the "Power" button again and The update procedure starts again.