NEC 1300a w/ 16x Media - good news

[Treebeard]

So I picked up some FujiFilm 16x Media at bestbuy the other day for $15 /50 pack. I got home put them in my NEC 1300a to find out that the burner wont burn to them. I fired up DVD Identifier to see the media code. turned out to be ProdiscF02. Heres my story of how I got them to burn successfully @ 4x on my 1300a drive

downloaded the 1.0c firmware for the 1300a from herrie.
downloaded Mediacodespeededit (google it)

I opened the *bin file which was the firmware with the Mediacodespeededit software, found the ProdiscF01 write strategy was in the firmware. I copied the ProdiscF02 media code to clipboard using dvd identifier. Then using mediacodespeededit I imported the media code information to overwrite the ProdiscF01 settings as ProdiscF02. saved the new firmware I had created.
Used Necwinflash (came w/ herrie's firmware) to flash the drive w/ my hacked firmware, rebooted computer. Burned an ISO @ 4x w/ dvd decrypter. Nero DVD speed test came back w/ good results. Watched the entire movie w/ no problems. Now I dont have to toss my old reliable NEC drive, saving myself $45 for a new burner

Just thought I would share.

[naturalzinc]

uff 4x...slow

[Treebeard]

uff 4x...slow

Wow, what a great contribution to the forums, thanks.

[OneSickPup]

MCSE is a valuable tool. Lots of fun to play with too.

[Treebeard]

MCSE is a valuable tool. Lots of fun to play with too.

MCSE = Microsoft Certified System Engineer?, lol
maybe you should use a different acronym

[ROF]

I wonder if this or something similiar might work for other unrecognizable media.

Good show Treebeard.

[OneSickPup]

I wonder if this or something similiar might work for other unrecognizable media.

Good show Treebeard.

Yes - I have used it on a couple occasions with newer media before firmware support was available. Just have to use common sense and not get carried away. Strat swaps within a product line are normally safe (like Treebeard's Prodisc F01 to F02 swap).

[Treebeard]

I used it because there is no firmware support for old drives such as my 1300a. I have never seen any information like this on vhelp before so I thought I would post for others who are brave enough to mess w/ their own firmware.

[overloaded_ide]

Thanks.
Stuff like that is good to share. Tons of old hardware still works great, just not supported anymore.
Why throw away something that still works like new?

I have the best scanner I ever had sitting in storage because going from WIN3.1 to WiN98 the drivers would not work and no new ones available. It worked perfect last time it was used, YEARS ago!!
Better quality than the new ones just not as many unwanted bells and whistles on it. I save it because one day I will build another Win3.1 system from old parts I have. Many of my old softwares won't work in 98 or above either.

"uff 4x...slow"

Plenty fast enough unless you need 20 of them.