Bitsetting, Toshiba SD-2800 & Sony DRU-500a?

[rkr1958]

I've not been able to play authored videos burned with my DRU-500a to DVD+R(W) in my Toshiba SD-2800 player. I've seen some things on bitsetting and was wondering if that would allow me to play DVD+R(W)s in my 2800? If so, does the DRU-500a allow me to do this? If not, then any other suggestions?

I'd even consider a new writer if I had to to do this. I bought my DRU-500a back in December of 2002 for $350 (US). Now I see I can get dual format writers for under $100.

[Justin42]

In the short term, have you tried DVD-R media instead of DVD+R media?

The DRU500a can't bitset, but a lot of Toshiba DVD players can't read +R media period. I've had a DRU500a for almost 2 years as well, I actually really like mine. Only use -R media with it for DVD Video stuff... I only use +R for data.

[Srembecki]

I had one of the first Sony writers, a 125A I believe, and Sony Bios will not allow changing the bitsetting. If you can flash the bios with a Ricoh bios, then bitsetting is no problerm. That's what I did and then all my set top DVD players read the disks as DVD-Rom and played without a problem. I know there's a website that specializes in DVD Bios but the name escapes me right now. Try a google search.

Hope that helps some,
Steven

[rkr1958]

Thanks for the replies.

In the short term, have you tried DVD-R media instead of DVD+R media?

Yes. That's what I use for my home movie projects and DVD backups. I use DVD+Rs for data backups.

If you can flash the bios with a Ricoh bios, then bitsetting is no problerm.

Wow ... I never knew you could flash the firmware with a "non-DRU-500a" firmware. Is that risky?

[Srembecki]

I understand your concerns. I was very nervous when I first did it, hoping I wouldn't end up with a $350 doorstop. But Ricoh writers are exactly the same as Sony's. It was true with my old 125A and still true with my new Sony DW-U14A. I'm pretty sure that holds true for the 500 series. I'll try to find that site where you can download the firmware for it. Feel free to contact me through my website:

http://home.earthlink.net/~srembecki/Index.html



Good Luck,
Steven

[Justin42]

I am 99% sure the DRU500A has nothing to do with any Ricoh drive, since that was the first "dual format" burner and no one else had one for a few months...

For a long time they DID use similar mechanisms, but it's always been my understanding the 500a series is 100% Sony.

I've never heard of anyone getting a 500a to bitset using any tweaks... I would be REALLY cautious about flashing that unit with ANY non-Sony firmware.

[tompika]

Its the Sony120 that could bitset with a Ricoh fw

The Sony 500 has nothing to do with it.


Use DVD-RW.

[lordsmurf]

No trouble with DVD+R in my Toshiba 2800, regardless of booktype.

[rkr1958]

No trouble with DVD+R in my Toshiba 2800, regardless of booktype.

I don't understand then ... I always get the "No Disc Error" when I try to play DVD+Rs in my Toshiba 2800. Could it be firmware differences between the two Toshibas?

Also, and I had never really noticed this before, but nero under the burn tab where you can set the burn speed also has a checkbox for "Booktype DVD-ROM". I thought I'd give that a try. It didn't work. Funny thing though, I've been having problem with discs burned at 4x so I limit DVD-/+R write speeds to 2x and 2.4x, respectively. The Fuji DVD+R, even though I limited to 2.4x in Nero, actually burned at 4x. I played fine in my computer and passed DVDInfo Pro disc check.

[jrsdsl]

No problem here with +R media in my Toshiba 2800 only +RW needs bitsetting sometimes done on my old trusty HP 200i

[lordsmurf]

Sounds more like the disc is not compliant authored, not NTSC, bad media, or something else. I doubt it's a +R issue.

[rkr1958]

Sounds more like the disc is not compliant authored, not NTSC, bad media, or something else. I doubt it's a +R issue.

I've made several tries, at least 7 or 8, at this with DVD+R media. These cases include DVD backups using DVDShrink & Pinnacle IC. Also included are authored videos using TMPGEnc DVD Author, Dazzle DVD Complete & Sonic MyDVD. The authored DVDs were generated from MPEG-2 files created by TMPGEnc Plus using its DVD NTSC template. Bit rates (CQ versus CBR) did vary though. In all cases, when burned to DVD-Rs they played fine but when authored to DVD+Rs I got the disk error. I've tried Fuji, Memorx & CompUSA DVD+Rs.

It's more of a challenge and curosity than a necessity to get DVD+R(W)s to work in my Toshiba since I have no problem with DVD-R(W)s.

[Mr_Green_Jean]

Have to gone to LISTS> DVD Player>
https://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers.php?DVDname=Toshiba+SD-2800&Submit=Search&Search=S...=&orderby=Name