Have a question about the Sony DUX500LU.......

[hashslingingslasher]

hi,


i plan to purchase the Sony DUX500LU Dvd writer... I think its called that i'm not to sure.... its the one that got a 9.9 in the reviews.

anywho, i plan to buy this however at www.copmputers4sure.com, it says that is compatible with Windows 98SE... does anyone know if its just compatible with Windows 98???? thanks.

[adam]

Anything released today that supports Win98 will almost surely also support Win Millenium, Win2k, and WinXP. I'm looking at my Sony DRU-500AX box right now and this is the case. BTW the last two letters of the drive's name just refers to the firmware, the hardware itself is identical. I think the AX has the latest firmware version.

[babaji]

Win 98 does not support firewire.

But if i recall correctly the drive also supports USB 2.0 perhaps that is the way to go? But you may want to look into the drives support of USB 2.0 and also if win98 will also support it (i beleive it does)

[hashslingingslasher]

Oh by the way its Sony DRU500LU.

Whats Fireware? and i don't hage USB 2.0, i have 1.1....

so it does work with windows 98?

[hashslingingslasher]

* i don't have

[Tbear]

The Sony DRU-500UL is an external drive. You will need firewire or USB 2.0. The others have said Win98 does not support firewire. I'm not sure if Win98 supports USB 2.0. Why not the Internal drive? DRU-500A or DRU-500AX?

[Romanov]

I have the Sony DRU 500 UL, and you need firewire or USB 2.0 support to make maximum use of the speed of this drive. Win98SE has no problems with firewire (you obviously have to purchase an IEEE1394 or Firewire PCI card). Note: this is Windows 98 Second Edition only!
Alternatively you could connect the USB cable to your USB 1.0 port; it will work, but the drive will be slow as molasses. USB 2.0 is backward compatible. On top of that you might get trouble with data throughput that results in faulty disks.
The drive works in my system with WinXP Professional (no service packs installed). Just connected the drive to my Firewire card and I was in business. So far no coasters, and the speed is very acceptable.
Note: this drive will be recognized as the Sony DRU 500A, but that's OK. Also the newer versions of this drive (both internal - DRU500AX - and external -DRU500ULX) are still recognized as DRU500A. There is no difference in hardware; just the firmware is different: the 1.0g firmware that you have to flash if you want to have 4xDVD+R burning speed for the DRU500A and DRU500UL is the same as the 2.0 firmware you would use for the DRU500AX and DRU500ULX.

Hope this helps a bit

[babaji]

@Romanov

Dont install 1.0g!!

the 1.0g firmware that you have to flash if you want to have 4xDVD+R burning speed for the DRU500A and DRU500UL is the same as the 2.0 firmware you would use for the DRU500AX and DRU500ULX.

I beleive it actally the 1.0f that is the equivalent of the 2.0c found on the AX drives that will give you the 4x compatability. A lot of people on the forum here have lost 4x burning after upgrading to 1.0g , many have subsequently regained 4x burning by re-flashing the firmware to 1.0f (downgrading).

Why sony did this i dunno (maybe erroneously)?

[Romanov]

babaji,

Thanks for the great tip!!! I live in Thailand, and 4x media is not yet available here. To be on the safe side, I will go back to 1.0f (have the zipped file downloaded already). Is it possible to simply flash the 1.0f to override the 1.0g?? I heard many Pioneers have problems with downgrading. How about Sony??

[spiderman2k1]

Sony driver's have alot of problem's can not burn Khpermedia or Memorex I had two of the DRU500AX I would not buy one get Pioneer AO5 or Cendyne 1O5 at office max ofr $169.00 after maol in rebate's Cendyne are made by PIoneer if you want to burn DVD+R get HP

[babaji]

@romanov

Is it possible to simply flash the 1.0f to override the 1.0g?

I think thats what everyone is doing. But better do a forum search and read about it. Try searching for dru-500a + 1.0g



@spiderman2k1

The Pioneers also have their share of firmware scandals. I think a recent one affected the drives ability to burn cheap media, requiring users to spend more money buying better media.


I had the HP +RW drive for two days. Returned it as fast as i could. Also why buy a +RW only unit ? Much better with a +/- RW combo unit that way you can have the best of both worlds, the cheap -r media and the versatile +RW media. And if the situation changes in the future you are not stuck with the wrong drive. But a combo drive costs more. So you are paying for that luxury.