Firmware for Sony DRU-500A? Old Version and Current

[xinud]

Hi,

I can see you can get the latest firmware (2.0f) for the Sony DVD-RW drives from sony.com.

My question is where can I get previous/older firmwares? Also, how do I determine the firmware I'm on now and retain a copy of it?

I've had my drive for 3 months now and it works well, but I would like to update the firmware. I want to make sure I have a copy of my current firmware incase the new one doesn't work properly.

Thanks,
X

[save chip]

i have same writer xinud & found this site very good, point your browser here & you will find all firmware for this writer
http://www.sonydru500a.com/

hope this helps mate

chip

[save chip]

oh yeah 1 last thing to determine what firmware you have on drive open nero
click on recorder on your top bar, choose recorder & select your sony & it will be on the recorder info box at bottom

hope you get sorted mate

chip

[Bhola]

i have same writer xinud & found this site very good, point your browser here & you will find all firmware for this writer
http://www.sonydru500a.com/

Chip,

Do you think this firmware will be same for Sony DRU-500UL? -B

[xinud]

Many thanks Chip! Very helpful!

One last question, I've got media recording at 1x now. With a firmware upgrade is it possible I will be able to record at 2x or higher?

Or am I restricted by the media?

thanks again!
x

[SaSi]

In general, newer versions of f/w cause disks that were recorded at 2x speed to be recorded in 1x.

You can record at 4x using properly manufactured and certified media.

Certain unbranded -R disks required older versions of f/w to be recorded succesfully. I use version 1.0e when I have such a batch. Otherwise, for new 4x -R or +R disks, I use version 2.0e. Will try version 2.0f shortly.

[save chip]

right then, i have bought 2 lots of datawrite 4x (white & yellow)
what i did this morning was make sure dma mode was selected on everything(basically this was already set for both hard drives & combi drive but sony was set on pio mode)
managed to get hold of recordnow max 4.5 .............
& hey presto 4 successful burns in a row, no faults nothing

i was using nero b4 but not anymore

i was only getting 2 good burns out of 5 so i will be sticking to this way from now on.oh one last thing i am using f/w 1.0g....
i did have it at 2.0f & as u can see results were bad.i know its early days yet but 4 out of 4 against 2 out 5 .................
make your own decisions.
write speed isn't too bad seems to be ok at 4x steadily dropping to 2 near end of disc.

chip

[Mark_Venture]

One last question, I've got media recording at 1x now. With a firmware upgrade is it possible I will be able to record at 2x or higher?

Or am I restricted by the media?

Yes you are limited by the media. BUT a few other factors come into play.

With owning/using my Sony DRU-500a since late november/early december 2002, and reading/following the posts in this form since mid march. I've come up with the following...

1. PC speed can be a factor.
2. DMA mode is required for higher burn speeds
3. Quality media makes a difference. (keep in mind, high price does not always mean you're getting high quality. Some people have found good quality media that was still inexpensive)
4. Don't expect to burn faster then the DRIVE feels the media is capable of.
5. One firmware revision can seem to be more or less "forgiving" of media rating than another (i.e. Some "bulk" or inexpensive 4x media seem to work fine with one revision firmware, but not another)
6. burning software seems to be a problem sometime. (For some people, Nero works great, for others, Nero gives them problems so the use RecordNow, etc..)
7. Some people have had a fast PC, using DMA mode with Quality media and "good" firmware revision, but still had problems due to a defective drive.

and finally....

8. Your mileage may vary!!

[edits made to fix spelling errors.]

[eagle17]

I got my sony drive last dec. and when I bought it I also ordered 100 optodisk 1x media because I read here in the media forum that it would work at 2x.. i have tried every version of the firmware except 2.0e and it would only do 1x... now i went ahead and flashed to 2.0f and it now burns perfectly at 2x... so I would say for me the 2.0f firmware is the best i have tried... i have had issues with 4x media though.. it burns but fails at various points during the burn... I am still investigation.. i would recomend that when you buy bulk media just buy 10 to start and then if you like it buy more....

[sidewinder33625]

Hi,

I can see you can get the latest firmware (2.0f) for the Sony DVD-RW drives from sony.com.

My question is where can I get previous/older firmwares? Also, how do I determine the firmware I'm on now and retain a copy of it?

I've had my drive for 3 months now and it works well, but I would like to update the firmware. I want to make sure I have a copy of my current firmware incase the new one doesn't work properly.

Thanks,
X

1.0g will allow you to burn 2x on some 1x media. 2.0 series are more picky about which media it will burn at 2x. I personally only use 4x so I don't have any problems.

d/l firmware from http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_all.php