DVD writer burning at lower speed even in DMA mode

[Troy1]

Ive only just noticed this when i needed to free some space on my hard drive so i got some discs and when it came to burning data onto the discs it would only burn at 2x instead of the usual and capable 8x.
The DVD writer i am using is a 16x MATSHITA DVD-RAM UJ-845S. Also I am using a laptop.
The discs i used were the same i used a while back when it actually burned at 8x (8x being the discs capable speed).
Ive checked to see if the hard drives are both in DMA mode and they are and yet it still burns at 2x so it takes ages to burn data onto my dvd-rs
I also tried updating my drivers but no updates were available.
From here i dont know what else to do. Personally i reckon it could be a microsoft update that did something maybe
Anyone have any ideas?
if anymore info is needed i will post it, just tell me what u need to know.
Thanks

[budz]

It would be helpful if you posted the MEDIA ID of those dvd discs that are burning at 2x speed. Use DVDINFO PRO or DVD IDENTIFIER to find out the MEDIA ID of those discs.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Use Nero InfoTool to check the properties of your hardware:
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Nero_InfoTool/1008608676/1

[Troy1]

I did neroinfo tool and i included 2 screenshots put into one on the attachment. I know that the discs are not the problem now because i gave one to a friend and he used it and burnt at the normal 8x.
These discs are Datawrite red's DVD-R 8x MACH4 if that helps.
oh and the Manufacturing ID of these discs are CMC MAG. AM3 if that helps :S

image.bmp

[budz]

I did neroinfo tool and i included 2 screenshots put into one on the attachment. I know that the discs are not the problem now because i gave one to a friend and he used it and burnt at the normal 8x.
These discs are Datawrite red's DVD-R 8x MACH4 if that helps.
oh and the Manufacturing ID of these discs are CMC MAG. AM3 if that helps :S

image.bmp

Your media id for those discs is CMC which is considered crappy dvd media. Use good quality dvd media like VERBATIM or TAIYO YUDEN. Those CMC discs you have could have degraded over a period of time. Use VERBATIM or TAIYO YUDEN dvd media and I bet you'll be able to burn faster than 2x speed. Most times it's the brand of dvd media that can cause problems w/dvd burners.

[redwudz]

If all else fails, go ahead and uninstall the channel the drive is on and reboot. Windows doesn't always correctly report the mode of a channel or drive. Reseting it won't hurt anything and you might luck out.

[oldandinthe way]

Try running Nero Drive-Speed. Click options and then click detect.

[MOVIEGEEK]

My guess is the drives firmware doesn't support that media at 8x,you might consider using other media or getting an external writer.

[Troy1]

Yea MOVIEGEEK i think your right because ive been looking around and other people are saying they have had the same problem and it is something about the firmware but the problem is Acer are being difficult and will only update the firmware if you send your laptop into them and i really dont see the point in that just to install firmware which would take about 2mins.
im starting to wish i never brought the Acer and have gone with the Toshiba. I do remember that this writer had burned at 8x before with the same discs and now it just doesnt. I dont understand all this writer stuff yet but im planning on getting a big external hard drive to store it all on and yea maybe ill get an external dvd writer or just scrap the laptop and get a better one.
Thanks for all the help. If anyone does have the right firmware somehow or figures out how to fix this problem please PM me or add it to this post.

[oldandinthe way]

There seem to be other folks unhappy with this drive/notebook combination on www.cdfreaks.com.

There appears to be firmware on thefirmwarepage at rpc1.org

http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_result.php?kaj=1&isces

[MOVIEGEEK]

There seem to be other folks unhappy with this drive/notebook combination on www.cdfreaks.com.

There appears to be firmware on thefirmwarepage at rpc1.org

http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_result.php?kaj=1&isces

I believe Nero InfoTool said the drive was a Matshita and looking at rpc1.org it looks like you have the latest firmware:
http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?category=14&manufactor=18

[Troy1]

if i update the firmware of my drive does anybody know if i will be able to change it back incase it doesnt work, because im thinking about changing my firmware to D102. atm it is D201 and ive read that other ppl havd D100, D101, D102, so if i tried these out would i be able to return back to D201 just incase none of these other firmwares work?
Thanks

[MOVIEGEEK]

^Most do but you might need a flashtool to do it.

[buttzilla]

I have the same drive in my Toshiba laptop and I have the same problem with certain types of media. By the way are you using Double layer disk? If so they will only burn at 2X on that drive.

[Troy1]

no these are just single sided dvd-r's.
MOVIEGEEK is a flashtool a program of some sort or do i need to go and buy a piece of hardware?

[budz]

you'll need to find a flash program to flash your drive, it's not something you have to buy at a store. unfortunately there may not be one available for your drive. check out the firmware index website.

http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?category=4&manufactor=18