Whats wrong with my Sony Dru 500A Burner??

[NemesyssGT]

Someone please help. here's my situation:

I've burned over 50 dvd movies using DVDdecrypter>DVD2ONE>NeroBurningRom... using Memorex DVD-r 4x discs... the first batch of 25 discs i had 24 successful burns and 1 coaster... 2nd batch of discs i had 20 successful burns and 5 coasters.... and now im on my 3rd batch of discs and have 5 more successfull burns and 15 coasters...... but now... every type of data/video/anything i try to burn to a dvd... it becomes a coaster.

This is what happens... i choose the files in Nero, and once the burning process begins, it gets to 1% and remains there for about a minute and then pops out the dvdr stating "buffer read error" or "buffer error" or "read error"... i tried using RecordNow Maxx, CloneDVD, DVDdecrypter, CopyToDVD... with all the same result...

I looked in the help menu of Nero, and the error message i get it states is the most common, however, the solutions that it tell me to try, (defragementing, closing all backround apps) i do and still have the same results...

I called tech support and the only things those not so smart people told me was to try a different media (but that dosent explain why Memorex worked before but not now).

My PC specs are OS windows XP, AMD 1.4 mhz, 40 gig HD, 500 + RAM.

Has this happened to any of you out there?? I will try a different media.. most likely Verbatim, but not to sure that will work. I bought the Sony Dru from EBAY, it was new, factory sealed. i only had it about 3 months or so... What should i do, or what can i do.

Thanks to those who reply.

[rkr1958]

Shot in the dark here. But I found that when I upgraded (flashed) my DRU-500a firmware to 2.0f A LOT (if NOT ALL) burn and read problems that I had with certain media went away. If fact, I could never get burns using NERO to work until after this flash. My drive originally came with 1.0c (I believe) and I immediately flashed it to 1.0f. I had great luck with that version but it wasn't until 2.0f that I've seem to have achieved almost perfect burn and read results. One note; however, when I went from 1.0f to 2.0f my burn speed on the Accu's 1x went from 2x to 1x. But, I got rid of read errors when trying to read them back in my DVD-ROM drive. I could only read them back in my DRU-500a drive. Now they read (as far as I can tell) in my DVD-ROM drive without error. Also, I had real trouble burning with Fuji DVD+Rs before 2.0f. Now they burn and read prefectly.

[dun4cheap]

Have your tried the recordnow software that came with the drive? Have you installed any new hard ware?

[NemesyssGT]

I havent installed any new hardware since the installment of the dvd burner. I did try the RecordNow that came with the software and even recordnow Maxx, and like i stated all burning software basically ends up with the same outcome.

When i bought the dvd burner, it stated (the auction description) that there was no need to update the firmware because it was already done... but maybe a new one came out... i dont know. How can i check what version of firmware that i am on??

Also, do you think i should try to completly unistalling the whole drive, switch it with my original CD burner, and then doing a quick switch again... Basically start from the beginning?? do you think there is a chance that might work??

thanks for the reply's.

[rkr1958]

I use DVDInfo to get the firmware version and other details about my drive and media. Check the Tools section to the left. I noticed that they have DVDInfoPro, which I assume is a better updated version of DVDInfo.

Firmware Upgrade 2.0F is available from the Sony Storage Solutions web site at http://www.storagebysony.com/. [Specifically, go to: http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/dru500adwn.htm#dwns]

This firmware update adds the following functionality:

Allows the drive to record at 4X speed on 4X compatible DVD-RW and DVD RW media
Improves reading and writing performance and reliability
Reduces vibration noise for discs with unbalance or eccentricity
Improves audio playback on discs with stand alone systems

[NemesyssGT]

I did go to sony's support website, and d/l'ed the 2.0 firmware update, but when i was going to install it... it showed me that i did have the 2.0 firmware already installed, but i installed it anyways. But still i tried burning with the same outcome... the drive spits out the dvdr after just 1% of burning...

Do you guys think i can send this drive back to sony to get a replacement or something??

[handyguy]

Seems to me as if you have too many programs, use only one at a time.

You know there were other topics on this unit & all they needed to do was uninstall it in the control panelystem & restart the computer & everything worked again.

[NemesyssGT]

HandyGuy,

My burner was working perfectly... well almost perfectly for like 2 months, i didnt install anything new (programs, or hardware) but just out of nowhere the dvd burner just makes coasters now, i cant get anything to burn, regardless of which burning program i use or write speed. I am still in the process of getting ahold of a different media type, because all i ever used was memorex 4x dvd-r. its only until after the burner was giving me problems where i d/l'ed more software programs (burning programs) to see if they worked.