Matshita LF-D310 USB 2.0 DVD-RAM

[izgoblin]

Hello all,

I have just inherited a USB 2.0 Matshita LF-D310 DVD-R/DVD-RAM writer from a friend who had so much misery dealing with it that he just went out and bought a new writer. This one was purchased I believe towards the end of 2001, so it's fairly old, and I'm sure I'd be better off buying a new one, but this one was free so I'd really like to make use of it.

My question may be too specific for this board, but I *believe* the troubles I am having with it (all writing issues, movies play fine) are due to having seriously outdated firmware. The firmware revision I have is A112. I have found a download of A128 somewhere (don't have the link with me), but when I run it from the DOS prompt in Windows XP, it tells me it can't locate the drive. I've got support calls both into QUE! who marketed this drive and Panasonic's OEM support, but have not received an answer yet.

I am using a USB 2.0 card with the drive and as I said, it reads fine and both the controller and drive are recognized by Windows XP as working properly. I just can't update my firmware.

Any chance someone out here has this drive and has updated the firmware? Any tips or tricks?

I also saw on Panasonic's site something about an oddiag utility that runs in Windows itself and has a Firmware Update button. Anyone know anything about this and should it have been included with the drive?

I actually bought this darn drive for a friend of mine for Christmas a few years ago at $699, so I'd sure like to burn something with it, especially since my Panasonic DMR-E30 set top unit appears to be on the fritz. Any insight or help would be appreciated.

[handyguy]

"Any chance someone out here has this drive and has updated the firmware? Any tips or tricks? "

Yes, Left column, dvd writers

[izgoblin]

"Any chance someone out here has this drive and has updated the firmware? Any tips or tricks? "

Yes, Left column, dvd writers

Gee thanks.

I have already searched there, and when I enter Matshita or LF-D310 I come up with nothing. If I am missing an existing topic on this, please do post a link to it. It would be most appreciated. Or even a hint on what else I should be logically searching on?!

[atulo]

izgoblin,

You should have both Bios A127 and driver 2.2.20. I did try A128 but it is not valid.

http://panasonic.co.jp/mke/support/dvdram/lim/eoem/index.html
http://panasonic.co.jp/mke/support/dvdram/lim/eoem/4xdvd-r.html

[The village idiot]

I would take it out of the USB box and install in the computer connected to the IDE connections. Then you can flash the drive. It will also likely work better if you leave it connected to IDE.

[izgoblin]

Hey, thanks for the suggestions. I will see what I can do when I get home with both. I didn't realize it was possible to can the whole USB thing and just connect it to the IDE cable. Guess I haven't looked at it closely enough.

[izgoblin]

Hey thanks, Guys.

I've done what The Village Idiot and atulo have suggested. I was indeed able to get my firmware flashed to A127 as a result of both. Much appreciated!

Unfortunately, I am still having problems with successful/compatible burns, but that's looking like it *may* be resolved with different media. In any case, it's not a problem for this particular forum.

Thanks again!