how long should it take to burn a DVD ...?

[zwalex]

I have a 4.4GB VIDEO_TS folder, created with DVD2oneX. I am running OS X 10.3.6 on a dual 1.25 GHz G4 with 1.25 GB memory.
I have a LaCie DVD burner (Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-107D) with firmware 1.10 / MMC-3 and am using Roxio Toast Titanium (came with the LaCie drive) that I just upgraded to 6.0.7
How long can it possible take to burn a DVD with this equipment?
When I start my burn, Roxio tells me
"writing xxxx ..... 13:46". First I thought these are minutes, but it is actually hours!
The Pioneer DVR-107D should be capable of writing 4x to a DVD-RW (I am using Fujifilm 4.7GB DVD+RW media) and I understand that that should be ~ 15minutes as 1x DVD burn is about an hour.
What is wrong with my setup, what should I check and where can I possible tweak.
Thanks in advance.

[Frobozz]

The time reported by Toast is minutes and seconds. Is the time not moving at all or is it counting down very slowly?

As an experiment try Saving as a disc image (Toast File menu) rather than clicking the burn button. Then burn the disc image to the DVD using the Toast copy window. Do things still hang up that way?

[terryj]

The question I have to ask:
why didn't you buy an internal burner,
and upgrade your ( i'm assuming) stock -104?

I don't have a -107 to test, the closest
i have is an -106, and it burns ( internal)
4x DVD-R media at 13mins even,
2x DVD-R media at 19mins 36 sec,
and 2x DVD-RW media at 19mins, 52 sec.

only other question are you ( in Toast) on the
VIDEO tab or the DATA tab?

Data tab you should be, with DVD-ROM (UDF) format disc selected.

[zwalex]

Thanks for your fast response.
I did already try what you said and yes - it is counting down very slowly. The seconds are moving like minutes.
I tried a copy from a disc image, create a new DVD (and copy the VIDEO_TS) and also the new (with 6.0.7) feature of creating a DVD from a VIDEO_TS folder - same 'speed' everywhere and it really looks like it's going to take 13 hours and not 13 minutes.

[zwalex]

terryj,
well I did not upgrade and have this external drive.

I guess I tried everything, data tab with DVD-ROM(UDF) selected and video tab with DVD-Video or DVD-Video from VIDEO_TS selected.

[Frobozz]

You do have this connected via Firewire and not USB, correct? Have you tried burning to DVD-R or DVD-RW media instead?

[TugBoat]

Could be the media. DVD+RW is fairly new, and you're running old firmware to boot. They just came out with 1.21, mmmm, I'm still on 1.20...
Time to update http://www.pioneeraus.com.au/computer/firmware.html
I would reset the Open Firmware and then flash the drive to 1.21. Somewhere back around 1.15 they mentioned DVD+RW media....

[zwalex]

Frobozz,
I have a Firewire drive, yes.
I have not tried writing to a DVD-R (only DVD-RW's so far...) but will do.

[zwalex]

TugBoat,
how do I upgrade the DVR-107D firmware on OS X? This seems to be a Windows only file (.exe).
Thanks

[Frobozz]

TugBoat,
how do I upgrade the DVR-107D firmware on OS X? This seems to be a Windows only file (.exe).
Thanks

Check out this page:
http://forums.xlr8yourmac.com/action.lasso?-database=faq.fp3&-layout=FaqList&-response...=34189&-search

[TugBoat]

Go here;
http://www.macetvideo.com/flashpioneerosx/flashpioneerosx.html
Get the 1.18 officiel package from here;
http://homepage.mac.com/jibee/macetvideo/DVR-107D_v1.18_Officiel.sit
Mount the image, then copy it to the HD.
Rename the 'R7100107.121' file to 'R7100107.118' and replace the one in the flashkit.
Run the 'PIONEER DVR-107 Updater.command' script and follow the directions.
You could track down the newer 'FlashKit 2.0' and use that instead. I would recommend running both the kernel and the normal parts since this is the first time you've flashed the drive. I just updated mine with FlashKit 2 using only the normal file.

[zwalex]

Guess I just burned myself a coaster trying to write to a DVD-R (also Fujifilm ...).
"The drive reported an error
Sense Key = ILLEGAL REQUEST
Sense Code = 0x21,0x02
Buffer Underrun"

Toast mounts the DVD though, but I cannot play it with DVD Player. VLC can open the first few seconds of the autoplay sequence, but then gets all kind of weird errors.

If I look at the DVD with Finder it seems, that the complete VIDEO_TS folder (and also an empty AUDIO_TS folder) is written to the DVD and if I compare the size with the VIDEO_TS that I burned from, it looks like it's exactly the same. If I physically look at the DVD though it looks like as if there was just about a fifth of the DVD written.

It seems that I have either a hardware and/or a firmwareproblem here.

I will try TugBoat's firmware upgrade recommendations.

[zwalex]

TugBoat,
I downloaded FlashKit 2.0 (from here http://www.pioneeraus.com.au/computer/firmware.html) but am not really sure, what parms to specify.
The read.me file only specifies, what parms are possible, but not how to use and/or how to specify a firmware file.
And what is 'kernel mode' anyhow ...
Please explain.
I'll give the french updater a try - fortunatelly I have a peecee and could extract the R7100107.121 file from the .exe and transfer it to my Mac.

[zwalex]

Frobozz, TugBoat,
thanks a lot for your help and tips so far. My problem is not resolved - yet - as I still have to flash the firmware of my device, but I am hopefull, that this will speed up things.
I will come back with a status after the firmware upgrade - especially if I still have problems
Thanks again!

[zwalex]

Well it seems that I made it even worse - after trying to flash the firmware with the french method mentioned above the device shows up with firmware revision 0000 in System Profiler and is not recognized by Toast anymore. It also does not react to the eject button, etc.
I restarted the computer and also unplugged the device after applying the firmware flash.
Anything I can do or am I totally hosed now?

[Frobozz]

That's a shock. I believe your drive must have been defective before attempting to flash its firmware. Contact LaCie and see if they may still honor their warranty on it.

[zwalex]

So is the answer "You are totally hosed!" - or is there something I can still do?
Is there a 'safe' firmware version than I can still flash to?

Here's the output of my DVDRFlash -s command:

DVRFlash v2.0 : Pioneer DVR firmware flasher
by Agent Smith et al., July 2004

Commandline:
./DVRFlash -sv PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107


Drive Information:
Description - PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107
Firmware Rev. - 0000
Firmware Date - 00/00/00
Manufacturer - PIONEER
! Drive is in kernel mode !

Additional Drive Information:
Interface type - ATA
DVR generation - 0007
Kernel type - GENERAL
Kernel version - 0002

Why does it say ! Drive is in kernel mode ! and how can I switch that off (I suppose that's not good, right?)
Why does it say Interface type ATA (shouldn't it say Firewire or something?)

[zwalex]

I seem to have really bad kharma today!
I was trying to flash kernel 116 and general 118 and got some errors (sense codes) and now (after restarting my system DVDRFlash does not even detect the device any more. System Profiler still sees the LaCie drive connrected to Firewire, but I gues that's just OS X detecting the LaCie case ...

And although I keep receopts of everything - the only receipt I cannot find is the one of my LaCie drive.

Please tell me, that there would have still been chances to repair something as long as DVDRFlash could at least detect the device .... ;(

[londor]

Try to do it again

Go to http://www.macetvideo.com/flashpioneerosx/flashpioneerosx.html

Download the 1.18 or 1.18 patche firmware for your drive 107

Make sure there isn't a disc on the drive and there aren't other applications running.

Double-click "PIONEER DVR-107 Updater" and follow instructions (say yes to change kernel and firmware). It should take a couple of minutes.

[TugBoat]

Yea, really bad karma....
So, has this drive ever worked on your Mac? I can't seem to find that.
Anytime you have trouble with an optical drive the first thing you should do is restart. Second thing is to reset the Open Firmware on your Mac. You should always restart after a Firmware flash.

You say you have a PeeCee, can you try the drive on that? If nothing else works, I would remove the drive from the Firewire case and install it internally. You could install it internally on the Mac, then reset the Mac's Open Firmware and try the Flasher again. I've heard people say that you can usually restore a bad Firmware Flash on a PeeCee easier than a Mac, I don't know, I've never had that trouble.

The 'DVR-107D_v1.18_Officiel' firmware flasher from the French site is about as safe as it comes on a Mac. If you install the drive on the PeeCee you'll have other options. Try searching the The Firmware Page for those options. Most people don't have problems 8)

I just flashed my internal drive again to see what a normal flash looks like;
./DVRFlash "PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107D" "R7100107.121"

DVRFlash v2.0 : Pioneer DVR firmware flasher
by Agent Smith et al., July 2004
Commandline:
./DVRFlash PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107D R7100107.121

Drive Information:
Description - PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107D
Firmware Rev. - 1.21
Firmware Date - 04/10/29
Manufacturer - PIONEER
Drive is in normal mode.

Are you sure you want to flash this drive (y/n)?
y

Switching drive to Kernel mode:
Description - PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107
Firmware Rev. - 0000
Firmware Date - 00/00/00
Manufacturer - PIONEER
Drive is now in Kernel mode

Now sending the Normal part:
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
|============|============|============|========== ==|
Please hold your breath for about 30 seconds...

Now internal reflashing. Please wait... OK.

Updated Information:
Description - PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107D
Firmware Rev. - 1.21
Firmware Date - 04/10/29
Manufacturer - PIONEER
Flashing operation successful ; )

[zwalex]

TugBoat, londor,
thanks for your tips but: I obviously 'flashed dead' the drive.
If i run the status check with DVDRFlash -s it does not find a single drive. I guess the reason for that is that I tried to flash the kernel several times.
So the main problem right now is: how do I make DVDRFlash at least detect the drive again?

TugBoat: what exactly do you mean when saying 'reset Open Firmware on your Mac'?

My Peecee is a laptop so I can't connect an ATA device to it if I take the 107D out of the LaCie case (which also means breaking the seal that's over one screw and there goes the opportunity to have that fixed under warrenty in case I find the receipt ...)
Anyhow, even if I would do that (take the drive out of the case and connect it to a desktp peecee, that is) I doubt that it would be detected there, as I obviously really screwed the firmware and DVDRFlash does not detect the drive.

Or do you guys think, that DVDRFlash would detect it if it would be connectd to IDE/ATA directly as opposed to LaCie's Firewire case that bridges to ATA?

[TugBoat]

Doesn't sound good...
First, reset the Open Firmware;
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42642
Restart and hold the Com-Opt-O-F keys until you see the white screen
Type: reset-nvram
Hit Return
Type: reset-all
Hit Return, the machine will restart.

If that doesn't work, reset the firewire bus by turning everything off and unplugging all firewire devices for 15-30 minutes as mentioned in this thread;
http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?128@203.fi7saZYKCpl.5@.689be4e5
Download and run the LaCie Update Tool v1.3.1 as mentioned in that thread.
http://www.lacie.com/support/drivers/

Post a question in the above Apple thread directed at LaCie FireWire.

Cross fingers.

I would try and find a PeeCee somewhere and plug it into the firewire port just to see what happens...

[zwalex]

Thanks TugBoat,
as I am just on a loosing spree - what bad things can happen to my Mac when resetting Open Firmware ...
Guess and hope nothing really or you'd have given some warning here.

Anyhow, I am on the road today and will not be able to try that today. I shut down the machine and unplugged the device before I left this morning.

I will have to ask around for someone with a peecee with a Firewire card/adapter in case your tips don't hep.

Thanks in any case!

[zwalex]

I followed all the steps from TugBoat's post from 11/23, but my device is still not detected. Let me be more specific:
the LaCie Firewire device is (and always was) detected. It shows up in System Profiler as
LaCie 1394 DVD-R/RW+CD drive LUN 0
in the Firewire Bus. Firware Revision says 0000 though.
It's the Pioneer DVR-107D that is not detected any more.
If I run DVRFlash w/o parms it doe not detect the Pioneer drive, just says: No DVR drive detected.

I reset my Mac's Open Firmware and it did not change a thing with above. Quite honestly I did not expect a lot, as I cannot understand, how resetting Mac OS X's Open Firmware could possible influence the screwed up firmware of my Pioneer device ...
Resetting Firewire bus (unplugged and shut off everything
for at least an hour) - no changes.
Downloaded and ran the LaCie Update Tool - says no changes needed, as the detected device does not need updating - and again, that is just from the LaCie Firewire device perspective.
I am not having a [LaCie] Firewire problem, I probably have a LaCie ATA bridge problem, but I definitely have a Pioneer DVR-107d flashed dead / not detectable problem.

I am expecting exactly the same thing to happen if I plug the LaCie device into a peecee (if I happen to be lucky enough to find one with a Firewire port ...) - namely the Firewire device to be detected but not the 'real' DVD-RW device.

What I need is kind of an 'initial' flash of the Pioneer device and that's obviously not doable with DVRFlash (as it has to detect the device in the first place) .

Does anybody think that would look different if I would take the Pioneer device out of the LaCie shell and plug it into a peecee?

[Frobozz]

You'll do anything to avoid having to treat this as a warranty repair, won't you? (I'm just needling here, even though you're probably not in the mood for my humor).

If you purchased it with a credit card your credit card company may provide some kind of warranty in case you can't find the original receipt.

If you can't get warranty repair, then open the case remove the drive and toss it in the recylcing bin for electronics items. Then buy a new Pioneer or NEC drive during all the holiday sales this weekend. Put that in the case and your misery is over.

[TugBoat]

I'd make a post similar to Msg #2 seen here;
http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?14@151.rpsHahe8Chh.3@.689be4e5/4

I have the exact same burner and I'm running a G4 tower. I have had the exact same problem. In System Profiler, I see the generic "Firewire Device" and I can't get Toast to recognize it, can't play or write a DVD etc etc.

I once had it working and it burned two DVDs for me. Ever since I powered down from that session, i haven't been able to get the Mac to recognize again.....

You needn't mention Flashing. The drive obviously had problems before attempting to flash it and that problem most likely caused the flash to fail.

I'd contact LaCie and reference that Apple thread. After you've posted there of course
It seems LaCie has seen this type of problem before. Not your fault if trying to fix their defective drive ended the way it did. Millions of people did the same thing you did and their drives weren't trashed. Of course, their drives probably worked correctly before they flashed it....

Your call.
Good Luck.

[zwalex]

Frobozz, TugBoat
My sense of humor is still there, after all it's just a friggin' DVD drive - would be sad if me killing it would throw me totally off.
Anyhow - from what you guys are saying you both seem to think that the drive is really dead [and probably was defect in the first place anyhow] and I should just try the warrenty stunt with LaCie - will try.

[deadsierra]

If they don't ask if you flashed it, I wouldn't volunteer the information. And its technically being honest, if you are concerned with that sort of thing.

It'll just keep things simple, they really should honour the warranty anyway, but sometimes in the pursuit of justice, its easier to stay away from the technical side of things.

[zwalex]

Guess I found myself a way to stay away from the whole warrenty stuff for a little bit longer:
I borrowed a PCMCIA Firewire adapter from a friend and plugged the drive into my peecee laptop that I [have to] use for work.
Running the Win32 version of DVRFlash there shows the drive to my big and positive surprise!
Here's what DVRFlash -sv says:

Drive Information:
Description - PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-107
Firmware Rev. - 0000
Firmware Date - 00/00/00
Manufacturer - PIONEER
! Drive is in kernel mode !

Additional Drive Information:
Interface type - ATA
DVR generation - 0007
Kernel type - GENERAL
Kernel version - 0002

As even I can clearly see is that the Firmware revison and date look totally screwed (at least empty/zero). Also drive is in kernel mode makes me suspicious.

Anyhow - shall I just try to flash again and if yes what would be recommended kernel and 'normal' versions?

[londor]

Read this thread. Zep had a similar problem.