Converns about upgrading firmware...

[Dave Stewart]

I'm having trouble burning on some new media I purchased, and I noticed that some suggestions are to upgrade my firmware.

I have an NEC ND-3520AW drive, with 3.04 firmware installed.

The latest firmware version from NEC is 3.07.

Now, here's my question...

When I tried to upgrade the firmware on this drive once before (to v3.06), that firmware crippled my drive with RIPLOCK. When I tried to burn a movie, it would would burn at 1x or less.

I was able to downgrade that firmware, and everything was fine again. But, now I've got 50 coaster, if I can't figure out how to get them to burn.

Does anyone know if v3.07 has RIPLOCK? If so, any suggestions on a working hacked firmware?

Thanks!

[johns0]

Best place to ask for firmware for older drives is http://club.mycenec is really old and i would replace it with a newer drive since they only cost $20+ now adays.

[Dave Stewart]

Thanks...

After trying to burn the same media on another drive (my Dell Inspiron 6400) I get the same exact error.

I'm thinking this media is garbage.

[redwudz]

What brand media are you using? There's a lot of crap media out there. Saving a few pennies with cheap media isn't usually a bargain. Imgburn can tell you the manufacturer (media) code and you can check that in our 'DVD Media' page to the left. <<<

The name on the label may not relate to the manufacturer, but the media code will. Imgburn calls the media code the 'Disk ID'.

Generally, I would agree updating the burner may be a better choice than updating the firmware with an older burner. But you may still run into a riplock problem.

[[_chef_]]

3.07 and 3.f3 are the latest firmware for your drive.
Use Binflash to flash them.
http://liggydee.cdfreaks.com/page/en/NEC-ND-3520A/

[Dave Stewart]

What brand media are you using?

Memorex is what the label says, but...

Disk ID = MBIPG101-R10-65

-

Note: I've purchased and successfully used "Memorex" discs before, but they were a different manufacturer...

Disk ID = RITEK-S04-66


It would be nice if there were a way to tell what manufacturer they were before buying them.

-

Lastly, I tried the same, bad discs in my much newer Dell notebook and got the same error... so, it's not JUST my old NEC drive.

[samijubal]

I've got about 6 DVD burners, none of them are as good as my NEC 3500. Why I ever wasted the money on more burners I don't know. The NEC still works like the day I bought it. I've been through a few others that have died while the NEC just keeps going.

Use Verbatim or Taiyo Yuden discs, problem solved. Don't get the Life Series Verbatims, they aren't real Verbs, they are CMC junk.

[[_chef_]]

It would be nice if there were a way to tell what manufacturer they were before buying them.

You would need some EAN codes and experience from other buyers, like you can find at myce etc.