Sony dru 500a firmware upgrade driving me crazy

[bonnejo3]

I cannot seem to be able to upgrade firmware from 2.0c to 2.0g. Everytime I run the updgrade software, it tells me I have to reboot prior to installing (ie, over and over again and thus it will never install).

I have uninstalled all writing software (except dvd decryptyer) - tech support told me to disable DMA for the drive, but I cannot for the life of me figure out where to do that (under device manager, i do not see an option to check/uncheck dma for the dvd-r drive).

can anyone help on this?

also - anyone tell me what kind of benefits i would get from upgrading firmware? i hope better dvd writing performance and readability on other players (after burn)

thanks
\

[rhegedus]

You only have to install once, but you have to re-boot twice.

[bbastean]

I have the same question except for the DRU-510a. When the instructions state "Disable DMA" does it really mean just disable the hardware (DVD-R drive) under device manager? I think the instruction are not very clear and searching a Windows support database does not result help information when looking for "disable DMA".

[bonnejo3]

I have rebooted numerous times, but still won't install. I have windows xp home (does this even have the option to disable DMA?)

Is there a way to do a clean (vanilla) reboot thus no programs in background would get the way?

anyone else have this problem?

[rhegedus]

What does it say on the boot screen when it checks your drives? The firmware version will be next to the drive.

[BobK]

To disable DMA (Windows XP):

Right click on My Computer and click on Properties.

Click on the Hardware tab.

Click on Device Manager.

Click the '+' next to 'IDE ATA/ATAPI controlers.

Right click on the channel that has the drive and click Properties.

Click the Advanced Settings tab.

Click the drop down box next to 'Transfer Mode' and select PIO Only.

Click 'OK'.

DMA is now disabled.

[boldego]

Did you get it installed? I was thinking of installing it also because I bought some GO4's and they are only writing at 2X. I have 2.0c also. Does anyone know if updating the Firmware to 2.0g will solve this problem?

[rhegedus]

@BobK

I don't think that works if you have Intel Application Accelerator installed

[boldego]

I don't have intel. I still could never get it to load. Kept telling me to reboot.

[bonnejo3]

Same with me...I have disabled DMA, no packet-writing software or intel software installed. But it just keeps telling me to reboot, over and over again. And never updates the firmware. Would Nero cause conflicts with the update?

Anyone else have any luck with this?

[boldego]

I don't use Nero so that might not be the problem. Hope someone figures it out. Have some 4X and can't just them

[dmagic1]

The 2.0G firmware is a bit different from the past firmware updates.

This is what should happen and what you should do.

After you start the update and click the confirm your drive button the tray will eject. It then tells you it need to restart your computer. Your computer will restart but seem to stop while loading your desktop. You will only see your firmware update app. This is normal. Now you should be able to start the update. When the update is finished you will get a completion message and your machine should restart.

[fslove]

You MUST uninstall the Intel Application Accelerator!

You MUST have the drive as the Master on either the PRimary or
After uninstalling the Intel App Acc. and reboot then go into WinXP and turn off DMA.
Secondary IDE port of your Motherboard (not a addin card).

[boldego]

What I get when I restart is that something can not open and to pick a program to open it with. should I go to the update and open it with that? Sorry for being so vague but I can't remember exactly what it said.

[boldego]

To be more specific what I get on reboot is Windows cannot open this file:

File: Documents

What do you want to do?

0 Use Web service
0 Select Program


The updater itself does not pop up nor is it an option to use to open the file.

[boldego]

DOH! Sucess finally. I had been downloading the updater to desktop (for easy access) and decided to download it to programs and I was finally able to update the firmware.

[bonnejo3]

so, it sounds like the program actually reboots the computer for you? i always manually rebooted right after i received the message, thus that must have been the problem (hopefullu).

Also, where should I install (extract) the exe and dll files to? you mentioned the program files - excuse my ignorance, but what do you mean by this? i extracted the files into a folder within "My Downloads" - but did not work.

thanks

man - they should have better instructions for this from Sony.

[boldego]

I downloaded to my c drive and then program folder is there. (The folder where all the programs are like window etc.). Then I extracted the zipped file and it made another folder with an ex and two dll. I didn't do anything with the dll's just double clicked on the exe and went through the routine of rebooting and when it rebooted it just aske if I wanted to install it and did. PM me if I don't make any sense.

[boldego]

bonnejo3 did you get it to work?

[handyguy]

I got rid of 2.0g because it made my 2x disks write at just 1x. Same for other people.

Sony has a live chat support on their website, very nice lady talked to me about this, free too & no waiting.

Also, if you have more than one writer when you update you have to push the button that says SELECT otherwise it won't update but does go through the motions.

[lacywest]

I have the Sony 500a ... bought last spring. I am not sure if I turned DMA off ... But I am using 2.0g ... DvdinfoPro ... tells me I am.

I flashed it around August 2003.

[dmagic1]

I got rid of 2.0g because it made my 2x disks write at just 1x. Same for other people.

Sony has a live chat support on their website, very nice lady talked to me about this, free too & no waiting.

Also, if you have more than one writer when you update you have to push the button that says SELECT otherwise it won't update but does go through the motions.

Hmm,... I only have some 2x Verbatims around. They still write at 2x like the always did.

[boldego]

No problem here burning GO3's at 2X either.

[rxbrown]

One thing I discovered is that the upgrade files must be installed
on the C: volume in order to work properly. If the upgrade files
are attempted from another volume, the reboot with no upgrade
syndrome will occur! Hope this helps someone......
rjb

[handyguy]

"I cannot seem to be able to upgrade firmware from 2.0c to 2.0g. Everytime I run the updgrade software, it tells me I have to reboot prior to installing (ie, over and over again and thus it will never install"


I suppose you forgot to push the button that says SELECT to select which unit you are doing for the update? Otherwise if you don't do that it just goes through the motions.

[Tom Sevin]

"I cannot seem to be able to upgrade firmware from 2.0c to 2.0g. Everytime I run the updgrade software, it tells me I have to reboot prior to installing (ie, over and over again and thus it will never install"


I suppose you forgot to push the button that says SELECT to select which unit you are doing for the update? Otherwise if you don't do that it just goes through the motions.

Try updating in safe mode, that's how I did all my upgrades, and it has worked every time. this is to make sure that nothing is interferring with the upgrade.