Best firmware for Ricoh 5125 (a.k.a DVD200i and other 2.4x)

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Valid for SONY120, MEMOREX, HP200, AOPEN, PHILIPS, TRAXDATA, CYQ'VE,... 2.4x burners.

1x to 4x DVD+R disc compatibility information, link at http://www.ricoh.co.jp/dvd/asia/support/download/mp5125a/readme.html

If a new 1x to 4x DVD+R disc is used in a MP5125A drive with firmware versions 1.38 or earlier, it may not be possible to set the output settings properly for the test-write area (the area where the writing power settings are made). In such situations, the following may occur.
- The process of writing to the disc cannot start
Also, if the writing power is set too high, the tracking servo may become unstable in the middle of the writing process, which could cause the following.
- Data written to the disc cannot be read
To avoid these problems, it is imperative that the MP5125A drive’s firmware be updated to version 1.64 prior to use with these new discs.

To upgrade the firmware follow this guide: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/userguides/174580.php

MP5125A Firmware Revision history, link at http://www.ricoh.co.jp/dvd/asia/support/download/mp5125a/history.html

With Ver. 1.64 - Only Ricoh 5125 version available as 1-NOV-2003
* DVD+RW 4X media write quality improved.
Even if you update to the 1.64 firmware, DVD writing speed is still at 2.4x.

With Ver. 1.51
* Write strategy for 4x DVD+R media improved.
* OPC error possibility with 4x DVD+Rmedia improved.
Even if you update to the 1.51 firmware, DVD writing speed is still at 2.4x.

With Ver. 1.38
* CD-R,DVD+R:Writing quality improved.
* The problem of recovering from state of STBY and /or Hibernation with Windows XP taking time (about 60 seconds)with some PCs fixed.

With Ver. 1.27
* Playability for scratch DVD improved.
* CD digital Audio Extraction performance for scratch disc improved.

With Ver. 1.18
* DVD+RW: Over-writing performance is improved.

Now we have a good reason to flash

[ofbarea]

Since my last post we have new firmware versions for Ricoh MP5125A and for HP DVD200i.

Last December HP released Firmware version 1.65. According to HP web page this new firmware has:

* New laser write strategies for 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD+R and 4x DVD+RW media. Without this new firmware version, the DVD200 may experience incompatibilities with these media types.
o The firmware update will NOT allow the DVD200 drive to write at 4x or 8x speeds. The DVD200's maximum recording speed is 2.4x no matter what recordable DVD media is utilized.
* Write strategies for high speed CD-RW media improved.
* Further error checking refinement for media incompatibility.
* Other general errors resolved.

In January 2004, Ricoh released firmware version 1.68. This firmware added support to write to 8X media, still at 2.4 speed.

Since these two firmware versions offers the same functionality and there are not documented improvements, Owners of HP DVD200i could just use firmware HP version 1.65.

Since my DVD200i burner was already using Ricoh 1.64 firmware, I just flashed to version 1.68 just to avoid installing all HP crappy software. I used the RPC1 version found in www.rpc1.org.