DRU-500AX Burns very slowly

[rossinator]

Hi,

I just bought a Sony DRU-500AX, but it burns DVDs very slowly (4-5 hours per DVD ). I tried several brands of blank DVD-RWs, including the one Sony sent with the drive, but the result is always the same.

Should I install Windows 2000 SP3? I tried to do this, but my system kept rebooting before it got to the login screen. I'm sure that was a driver issue of some kind which I will fix if I need to install SP3 to get the ding-dang DRU-500AX to work.

PS: I had a Sony DRU-500a that worked fine before I bought this one and returned the 500a.

Thanks for any help,

Jim

[ptmurphy]

Just out of curiosity, why did you return a working DRU-500a for essentially the same drive with the same specs and everything?

Anyway, as you know, taking that long is definitely not correct. I would probably start over with the drive - re-format, re-install 2000 plus service packs, and then install the new drivers.

[rossinator]

I returned the original drive because I had ordered a DRU-500AX, but they sent me the DW-U10A that I could have flashed to be a DRU-500A. After much thought, I decided I wanted what I ordered, not the OEM, non-supported version, and I found a DRU-500AX at the Office Depot near my house.

Thanks for the tip on re-formatting. I'll have to ponder that drastic step!

-Jim

[senojscott]

Download the firmware for your Sony.

[rossinator]

Well, the firmware is 2.0c.

Is there a more recent version for the DRU-500AX?

Thanks

[ghoster]

the firmware shouldn't matter i haven't even bothered to that. ya thats what i would do is reformat and start with a fresh computer.

[rossinator]

Should I choose DMA or PIO under device manager? Currently, it's set to Ultra DMA transfer mode.

I have it as the "master" on my secondary IDE.

[ghoster]

dma

[rossinator]

Does the "master" vs. "slave" thing really matter with the DRU-500AX? I've read conflicting info.

[Bob W]

Maybe try the following.

1: Run dxdiag and check all dx tests.
2: Update your IDE drivers (VIA 4in1 or Intel, or SIS chipset).
3: Update the ASPI layer using "Force ASPI" link in tools on this site.

I had a problem when I had Easy CD Creator installed so I removed that program. I use RecordNow Max to burn on my Sony.