Problems with DRU500A firmware 1.0g update

[sklindell]

I just updated the firmware on the Sony DRU500A to 1.0g. Once I did, I was unable to read or write to DVD-RW’s (more specifically Memorex DVD-RW’s) I am using NERO 5.5.10.0. When updating, I turned off the DMA and followed the instructions. I had no problems prior to the update. I would like to go back to firmware 1.0f where I had no problems. Unless, someone can give me some insight as to what went wrong. Every thing else seems to be fine.

[T0yman]

I upgraded mine this weekend from f to g and then on the next reboot my 1394 Firwire port no longer functions. I am hoping that going back to f will fix this i will post results when i get home. I have the Gigabyte GA-7AVXP on board everything and have never had any other problems. Anyone Else?

Q

[sklindell]

I just realized that I no longer have firmware 1.0f. Does anyone have a copy? If so, could I get a copy sent to me by email? Please post that you sent me a copy so I don’t get 100 emails. Thank you.

[Colt45]

Here's the link to the 1.0f firmware on sony's site

http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/downloads/Firmware1f/500a10f.zip

[edthesped]

I have no problems burning Memorex DVD-RW's, Version 1.1, with 1.0G. If downgrading the firmware corrects your problem please post about it as I'm curious if it will fix your problem.

[NightWing]

Basically same here. Up to 1.0G turn every DMA off of my W2k and rebooted into safe mode check and flashed. No problems. Just follow the instruction on Sony site.

[sklindell]

Maybe it's the media. I did downgrade and found the same problem. I do have a successful burn on a memorex DVD-RW (1 out of 5). Is it the software or the media that can cause a problem? I'm using NERO 5.510.0. The successful burn came from MyDVD.

[sklindell]

Do you turn the DMA back on for the drive once you have flashed it?

[bl2003]

I have a quick question on the same topic regarding changing DMA settings. Are y'all changing this through the Win hardware manager or in the BIOS or both? Are you changing the DMA for the DVD writer channel only or every IDE channel?

[NightWing]

For my W2k system deside to turn all off, do it in Safemode then restore to normal and then turn all DMA back on.

Also made sure the region was set to 1.

[edthesped]

For some reason WinXP overides my BIOS, but I haven't disabled DMA prior to a flash yet. I flashed from 1.0D to 1.0F to 1.0G without doing changing anything.

[teerexx52]

Can anyone tell me how to turn off DMA? Thanks

[SaSi]

You said you are using Nero 5.5.10.0. I have had the same problems with DVD-RWs using this version of Nero and the SONY. It turns out (look at other forum posts and the Nero update site, that Nero has a bug in that version and they brought out version 5.5.10.7.

Of course that version had a problem (a file was corrupt) and they replaced it with version 5.5.10.7b that fixes the problems.

I have downloaded the newest version, but (following advice from other posts) downgraded nero to 5.5.10.14 ~ 17 (which supports the SONY perfectly and has no problems with any DVD-RWs.

Before you touch the firmware again, I suggest that you downgrade or upgrade nero. I suspect this may solve your problem

[Ciuko]

@teerexx52:

To turn off dma rightclick "My Computer" Select Properties then Hardware then Manage Periph. Under Controller Ide with a right click + Properties over Primary Channel or Secondary Channel (depending on your config) you can disable dma by selecting PIO MODE.
Have phun!

[sklindell]

Thank you. I have updated back to firmware 1.0g and have sucessfully burned multiple Memorex DVD-R's,a Philips DVD+R, and a Sony DVD+RW all using RecordNOW DX. I will be messing around with different versions of NERO tonight once my computer is not tied up rendering a home video.... I post my findings when I find out...

[NightWing]

Try the latest Nero. Been working well for almost a week. Plays well even on my cranky Sharp 600! It HATES any burn media untill I hit it with DVD-R/RW! It hates + but loves -. Go figure.

PS: Do thay make faster than x1 DVD-RW? just wondering.

[HyperYagami]

PS: Do thay make faster than x1 DVD-RW? just wondering.

Of course. Pioneer just released 2x DVD-RW although they ain't cheap (like $7 a pop).

[NightWing]

Tnks!

7 is not that bad.

[thxkid]

$7 is high, get my Verbatims 2.4x +RW for $2.65 a pop and the +R's for $2 a pop and at my local Sam's club. The most I have paid for a +RW is $5, most the time I had got them for no higher than $4, until sams started carrying the Verbatim's. The again if thats new media, then yes your gonna pay for it, just try shopping for 4x media, twice or more as the same if 2x.

[NightWing]

If Sam's have media wonder if Costco stock media also.

[HyperYagami]

$7 is high, get my Verbatims 2.4x +RW for $2.65 a pop and the +R's for $2 a pop and at my local Sam's club. The most I have paid for a +RW is $5, most the time I had got them for no higher than $4, until sams started carrying the Verbatim's. The again if thats new media, then yes your gonna pay for it, just try shopping for 4x media, twice or more as the same if 2x.

I know, but my ghetto DVD player likes everything except DVD+RW...

[jackal24]

I upgraded mine this weekend from f to g and then on the next reboot my 1394 Firwire port no longer functions. I am hoping that going back to f will fix this i will post results when i get home. I have the Gigabyte GA-7AVXP on board everything and have never had any other problems. Anyone Else?

Q

I have the same mobo and i had no problems upgrading.

[NightWing]

If its a Windows os can be anything in that plummer nightmare of a operating system. Wish Bill would spend a few cents and clean up the mess!

Was planing on getting a new DVD player to replace a old Sony 3000 but still cant bleve that dumb stuped Sharp that hates stuff take a DVD-R/RW Esp a burn from Nero that has been reporte to be bad on DVD burns.

Both the 1.0G and the lastest Nero are cranking out without a hitch even on TDK medium!

[Martin C]

I "upgraded" to firmware version 1.0g over the weekend and now when I go to burn DVDs (DVDRW/DVDRs) I get errors in Nero [v.5.5.9.17] as soon as I go to burn; such as "Cannot burn disc-at-once operation", "Operation Failure", "Read Failure" or "Write Failure" (and a couple of other errors I cant remember).

Strangely, options on the burn menu (such as "Simulate Burn") are greyed out. I also seemingly can't erase DVDRWs anymore either. The erasing process seems to be working fine but at the end I get "Erasing Failure" -- even though Nero's Disc Info tells me the drive is empty!

I tried downgrading the firmware to 1.0f (ie, back to how it was before) and when I press "Start Upgrade" I get a message box saying "Read Error failure -1" - the firmware then continues and appears to update correctly, but the burning errors persist.

So, I took my life in my hands and re-flashed up to 1.0g again (following the guidelines to the letter) and everything looked to have gone smoothly, but I still can't burn..

I haven't tried the newest version of Nero [5.5.10.0] but I've downloaded it and I'l try it tonight. I did notice it was released a day after the new Sony firmware update (*-suspicious-*). I also got a bunch of Sony Diagnostic tools but I'm not confident I can fix the problem.

Also, my SCSI DAT drive refused to read or restore data from DDS3 DAT. I originally considered this to be an unlucky co-incidence until I could prove otherwise but these tapes seem to work fine in the DAT drives at work, which are the same age, make and model so now I'm relucatant to believe that I can have two pieces of hardware go wrong without and the problem not being directly related...

Anyone else experienced anything like this?
I'm losing sleep and it's starting to get a tad bit annoying.
Thanks,

- Martin.

[w00tski]

i actually found that the 1.0g firmware to be far better for the generic TDK 200000000000 media out there. the burn according to nero dvdinfo's transfer rate test produced a much better read up until the 4gb mark then the disc started exhibiting the difficulty to read. Before with 1.0f and 1.0e the burn would sort of have reading difficulty around the middleish 3gb mark. I also updated firmware WITH dma still on, not that i should have, but i dont notice anything abnormal.

[JCD3]

@teerexx52:

To turn off dma rightclick "My Computer" Select Properties then Hardware then Manage Periph. Under Controller Ide with a right click + Properties over Primary Channel or Secondary Channel (depending on your config) you can disable dma by selecting PIO MODE.
Have phun!

What if you have the external Sony drive? Is this process the same? Or does the fact that you have it connected through a Firewire/USB2 connection make the process different?