Sony DRU-500AX rejected 2x DVD-R - any idea why?

[Glorfindel]

I recently bought a DVD-R trial pack from Bigpockets.co.uk. All of the DVD-Rs worked perfectly in my Sony DRU-500AX except for the White Label, which was the only 2x disc (the others were all 1x).

Every time I tried to burn with the White Label, I got a dialog box popping up in DVDit PE 2.5 saying "The recorder cannot use this disc" - and this was as soon as the burner accessed the disc during the build, it wasn't like it crapped out in the middle of a burn.

What conclusions can I draw from this? Is it that my burner just doesn't like White Label 2x discs, and a different brand of 2x media will work normally? AFAIK the DRU-500AX is 4x-compatible out of the box and doesn't need the firmware update, so I'm assuming that it's probably not a firmware issue.

[SaSi]

I bought a DRU500A while version g of the firmware was already out. I discovered the drive had a 1.0d version of the firmware.

With this version, the drive would not recognize several brands of disks, more of the 2x type. It also had problems with Verbatim DVD+R 2.4 media.

Check the firmware version. If it is not at least f or g, consider upgrading. It's safe although it requires several reboots.

One word of warning though. With the d version of the firmware, I was able to record at x1 on certain DVD-Rs. Upgrading to 1.0g solved several problems, including identifying unusable media at x2 and burning them OK, however the disks I was originally able to record at X1 were now identified as X2 but recording failed halfway through (simulation succeded). This has to do with Nero and the various bug-ridden versions they issue lately. Just to warn you that recorders, software and media are very immature yet and compatibility and succesful burning should still be a higher priority than speed.

[Coop]

Glorfindel - I have the DRU500a and DVDit, however I can't seem to burn within the DVDit software. I use NERO for all my burning. Try another program to see whether it's the software or your media. I like DVDit, but it is finicky.

I have only used name brand media - Sony, TDK (white & silver), and Maxell. I have only burned one coaster (a sony +RW) when my system crashed unexpectedly during an attempt to erase.

[Glorfindel]

Check the firmware version. If it is not at least f or g, consider upgrading. It's safe although it requires several reboots

My burner is the 500AX, not the 500A or UL. On their support website, Sony specifically state that the 1.0g firmware upgrade should *not* be applied to the 500AX. Unless I missed something, the AX already contains the correct firmware (and my burner was manufactured in Feb 2003, which backs this up).

[Glorfindel]

Glorfindel - I have the DRU500a and DVDit, however I can't seem to burn within the DVDit software

I've found that if I use the "test and burn" option, the test works OK, but then DVDit stops with an error when it tries to start the burn.

If I use the "burn only" option, everything seems fine.

[Coop]

I don't think it's the burner - what media are you using?

[Glorfindel]

As mentioned previously, White Label 2x.

I've just checked the Bigpockets site, and it seems that they recommend White Label discs for Pioneer burners only - so that could well be the problem. Good job I only got the disc in a trial pack!

I've ordered a different trial pack from dvd-rmedia.co.uk, and it comes with a variety of differently-branded 2x discs (the Bigpockets one only contains a single 2x disc), so let's see what happens!

[VinnySem]

I have the DRU-500UL, which is basically the same burner after the g firmware update. I use Verbatim, either +R or -R media, whichever my local BestBuy has in stock. A 15-pack spindle is $40 ($2.66 ea.) or the 50 back is $100 ($2 ea.). I am also starting to use Samsung/BeAll -R media purchased from AllMediaOutlet.com, I get the jewel cased ones with the ivory top (for asthetic reasons I dont like silver top disks). These Samsung disks are not labeled as 2x but burn flawlessly at that speed, $80 for 50.

AllMediaOutlet has a sampler pack for the Sony dual format drives, check it out. It's a little over 20 bucks and you get 12 disks, 2 of which are 4x. BestBuy also has 4x Verbatim disks for $3 apiece. Bestbuy's prices for +R and -R are the same, although they don't always have both in stock. What I ususally do is order on line and pick up at the store. But so far, all set top players I've come across dont have any problem playing both +R or -R, I'll likely just buy whatever they have in stock.