Campus store sells me the Sony U10A no new firmware drive!

[NG]

I just got sucked into this unit (yep...sold me a burner with no ability to read current media within a week of buying it as part of a new PC) and the bookstore is refusing to assist me. Just told me to call the supplier dispite saying "we deal with everything" when I was buying it. Sure enough I've found that it won't burn 4x media at any speed and the last retail store I've found that sells 2x doesn't carry it anymore.

I picked up the PC in mid November and already it's outdated. I've read around about hacking it to the new 500 firmware however there's two problems:

1) If I flash the firmware it voids the 3 yr warrenty

2) In the comments section on here for the drive it states sometimes the hack will fry the drive anyway.

Silly me thinking they either a) knew what they were selling to me and/or b) they were not trying to screw me.

I've been polite going in there up until now but I'm going to speak to a lawyer, my local MPP and the student ombuds. There's no reason why a piece of hardware should be considered outdated after 2 weeks imho.

So considering it's such a new PC - do you think I should be p*ssed off?


Oh also - with the TV-out card I asked two times - will this include a breakout box or adaptor cable for SVideo to Composite as I don't have anything to accept Svid. Told "oh yes" twice. Nothing included when I get my PC - don't return phone calls (have to actually go in and "catch" them in the shop. When I speak to him he now says "sometimes it's there - sometimes it's not". - wtf?

[garryheather]

Can I just make a couple of observations:

You don't have to use 4x media in a writer that can THEORETICALLY record at 4x. I still use 1x if the price is right !

Upgrading the firmware with OFFICIAL firmware will not invalidate your warranty.

It is the relationship between the media and the firmware that specifies the write speed - you can't entirely blame the drive.

The dealer is not under ANY obligation to go through their entire stock upgrading firmware. I regularly see drives with "old" firmware because they've been on a shelf for a while. I doubt you will have any come back on this issue whatsoever.

[NG]

Can I just make a couple of observations:
You don't have to use 4x media in a writer that can THEORETICALLY record at 4x. I still use 1x if the price is right !

I'm fine with recording at 2x or even 1x however my problem is that all that is sold retail around here is 4x media. If I could use 4x media to burn at 2x or 1x then I'd be fine - this is what the 4x Memorex + media said to to in the jewel case insert - update the firmware and then use 4x software to burn at 2x.

as dvdrwservices.com states:

After the new firmware is applied, you will be able to write to 4x media at your drives maximum writing speed of 2.4x. In this respect, the new media will work in the same way as the 2.4x media you were accustomed to: there is no loss in writing performance when you use the new media! Of course, when the upgrade is installed you can still use 2.4x media.

This is the problem I'm facing now (as quoted from dvdrwservices.com):

When you decide not to install the firmware upgrade for your DVD+RW or DVD+R/+RW drive, you will not be able to reliably record onto the new 4x media. Attempting to do so might cause read or write errors, and hence result in the loss of data. It will however not damage your drive! As more and more 4x DVD+R and DVD+RW media will appear on the market (and even replace current 2.4x media over time), we strongly advice you to install the upgrade now.

The last 2x of either + or - has been sold. All that's left is 4x.

As for the firmware I understand 100% that it's impossible to reflash all drives before sale *however* when a drive won't won't recieve any updates to operate the only media being sold - it's basically a cdrw drive. It imho is more of a "as-is" clearance product and something that should be sold at full retail prices - at least without letting the customer know this could be coming. My issue is with selling a drive that won't be recieving updates to work with what is being sold. I would be fine paying a install fee to the bookstore to have the right firmware put on to keep my warrenty - if such a firmware existed. I'd be fine with just burning at 2x if it was being sold along side 4x (kinda like beta and vhs). I fully understand that overtime (often a short period of time) hardware becomes obsolete...but 2 weeks?

Am I making any sense (not ment in a sarcastic tone btw - I'm really wondering if I'm getting my concerns across).

[Gazorgan]

4x media burns at 4x/2x/1x (if its -R or 4x/2.4x for +R).

What your problem really is that your drive doesn't recognize (and hence doesn't know how to burn) brand new media. I suspect if you mail order some nice RITEK 2x/2.4x (I still can't tell if it's + or - or dual) disk all will be good.

When all else fails, simple flash the drive with the manufacturers latest firmware. Most dead drives come from improper flashing(turning off power before it's done, it's a slow process sometimes) or wrong firmware version.

[NG]

4x media burns at 4x/2x/1x (if its -R or 4x/2.4x for +R).

What your problem really is that your drive doesn't recognize (and hence doesn't know how to burn) brand new media. When all else fails, simple flash the drive with the manufacturers latest firmware. Most dead drives come from improper flashing(turning off power before it's done, it's a slow process sometimes) or wrong firmware version.

Thanks for the help guys. I must not be explaining this the best way.

The U10A is a OEM of the Sony 500. .Sony doesn't do warrenty support for OEM (including firmware updates). - they leave this up to the PC builder (the company) - The company refuses to credit the cost of this drive torwards another - well actually I have not gotton any answer from the - just ignored e-mails and voice mails (to the bookstore).

The only "new" firmware is the hacked fw for the 500 to be ported over to the U10A. Of couse this will void my warrenty and perhaps fry the drive as some have reported.

As for ordering media off the net. That's kinda what I don't want to do b/c 1 - Everybody says this drive is flakey about certain types of media (even with the flashed f/w) and I don't want to be stuck with a spindle of duds.

2 - I feel like it's 1998 - I've just bought a new P3 but instead of installing a 3 1/2 drive they've installed a 5 1/4 drive and the bookstore/their builder expect me to check out the dusty racks at hardware stores and e-bay looking for old media for a new computer. Especially annoying since the only media I buy (in the cdr days is TY - see my sig). I've had to compromise on this as the only 2x I could find is the Maxell 5 pack 2x -r's made in Japan - however even these are out of stock.

I'll be speaking with a lawyer next week anyway so s/he can advise me how to best proceed and if a trip to small claims court might be in order