Sony DRU500A/Only Burns at X4

[icemanatvcd]

I had it for a while. I bought new TDK -R X4 speed disks as the price has come down. To my suprise my Sony DRU500A only burns at X2 speed in around 30 mintues.

Using the latest 2.0a firmware. (I am in Australia, is there a newer firmaware in America?)

I am able to burn on rewritable disk at 2.4 speed. I have checked DMA is active.

How do I fix the problem? Is there a hacked firmware for this, as I am also sick and tired that it only reads at maximum of X2 speed.

I am not going to buy Sony again.

Thanks.

[adam]

I assume that's a typo in your topic then? So your stuck at 2x right? Have you tried other media yet?

More then likely this is a media problem. If you use another 4x blank it might work. I have no problems burning 4x with my Sony with most media. Some online vendors will tell you which burners the media is guaranteed to work on. This is going to happen with just about any burner. Some media just isn't fully supported on any given burner.

I forget what firmware I have installed on my DRU500A but its a heck of alot higher letter than a, but that might not mean anything. It may be the same firmware just labeled differently in your region.

Also, all burners are locked at 2x for ripping encrypted DVDs. Most are also locked for unencrypted DVDs as well. For some drives there exists hacked firmware to disable this lock but for most this isn't the case. This is in no way an indication of the quality of this Sony drive, this is something that affects all DVD burners.

I've seen Sony bashed for its other products before, and while I agree they are almost always overpriced, I generally think they make decent stuff. As for their burner line-up, I think they make a superior product. I've gotten better performance from my Sony drive then any other drive I've tried.

[icemanatvcd]

One of the reason I bought TDK was that I read it somwhere that Sony DRU500A does burns at X4 speed.

I was a big fan of sony like yourself but now I am changing my mind.

[adam]

What are you using to burn with? My suggestion is to use DVD Decryptor, it has excellent support for burners. If you are using raw files (vob, IFO, bup) then you can use IMGTools to make a DVD image which DVD Decryptor supports.

Try calling Sony tech support to make sure you have the latest firmware. Ask them what the difference is between your (Australian?) firmware and that released for American drives, because without looking I know my firmware is like f or g or something higher then a.

Even though TDK is decent media, and probably should work on that drive, go ahead and try a different brand. Media compatibility can still be a hit or miss thing with any drive.

[Bronx]

The latest firmware is 2.1a

You will find a lot more info here:

http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/dru500adwn.htm

[ViRaL1]

2.1a is the latest firmware here in the US.

----

damn, beat me to it.

[adam]

I guess its time for me to upgrade then.

[vcdlover]

I'm also a big fan of SONY and will still be. I have 500A back in Feb '03 and it's still performing excellent for any name brand media, like Memorex, SONY, Maxell, TDK and Verbatim. It'll burn at top speed all the time with its original firmware. But it doesn't like any no name media, like LEADDATA, RITEK04 and PRODISC03. It says it burns these media at 4X, but it's actually burning at 2X (30 min) and none will fail. The burnt video plays fine on all my 5 players. I was thinking that whether I should buy all my name brand media for 500A or pay some extra cash upfront buying Pioneer 107D which burns anything at top speed except for pizza. Well, I decided to go for 107D for $85 shipped from newegg.com last month. And now I can buy any cheap printable media from rima.com. I keep SONY 500A for a backup in case 107D is on strike...


vcdlover

[BobK]

I bought a Sony 500AX back in Feb 03. It worked fine for about 6 months, then it started crashing on 2 out of 3 disks. I tried different media, different software, putting the drive in a different computer. After trashing about 30 blank disks (it never crashed on RWs so I had to keep trying write-once) I called Sony. After about 30 phone calls they finally gave me an RMA. I had to argue with 2 of their techs because my 90 days of free tech support was over and they wanted to charge me $20 to go through all the troubleshooting steps that I'd already done several times.

I returned the drive and they sent me another one. By then I had already bought a LiteOn 852. I burned 5 disks on the Sony to see if it was working and had no problem, so I sold it to a friend. He burned 3 disks successfully and then it started doing the same thing it had done to me.

Based on the problems I had getting them to give me an RMA in the first place, and the fact that the 2nd drive failed even faster than the first, I won't buy another Sony.

(I now have 2 LiteOn 852s- have burned about 600 disks between the two of them without a bad burn.)

[RottenFoxBreath]

I'm also a big fan of SONY and will still be. I have 500A back in Feb '03 and it's still performing excellent for any name brand media, like Memorex, SONY, Maxell, TDK and Verbatim. It'll burn at top speed all the time with its original firmware. But it doesn't like any no name media, like LEADDATA, RITEK04 and PRODISC03. It says it burns these media at 4X, but it's actually burning at 2X (30 min) and none will fail. The burnt video plays fine on all my 5 players. I was thinking that whether I should buy all my name brand media for 500A or pay some extra cash upfront buying Pioneer 107D which burns anything at top speed except for pizza. Well, I decided to go for 107D for $85 shipped from newegg.com last month. And now I can buy any cheap printable media from rima.com. I keep SONY 500A for a backup in case 107D is on strike...


vcdlover

your "named" media,is probably on crappier dye than the supposed "noname" RITEKG04.,with the exception of verbatim,if its TY dye,
as for sony writers,IMO,there generally shite,as Sony dont make writers any more,its farmed out to third parties.

[vcdlover]

To be honest, I never have any play back issue from my SONY using cheap media that I've made since Feb '03. If it burns, it plays, and there is no coaster, either. The reason I replced my 500AX because it didn't like no name media.

vcdlover

[handyguy]

Getting a 500a to write at 4x requires a miracle. You can read about them on the left column under dvd writers.

btw, if you change your firmware you might make it 1x instead of 2x. So keep the old firmware around in case you want to use it again.

[SaSi]

There is certainly an issue with the DRU500A and the TDK -R and +R media. I used to be able to record at 4x to any TDK disk when the 4x media came out, but for the past 4-6 months this is a no-go.

I buy TDK media only, because I believe in their quality, but have to tolerate 2x recordings.

It's not a batch issue (I buy them in boxes of 10s as spindles are not yet available) so I must have tried more than 4-5 different batches from different stores.

Only one disk (I still remember this with tears in my eyes ) was recorded in 15 minutes. All the rest record at 2x or 2.4X no matter what Nero or RecordNow DX or DVDDecrypter or DVDLAB recording s/w indicate.

It must be a change in the Manufacturer ID on the TDK disks that cause that.

I've tried all sorts of different f/w revisions up to 2.0f and it makes no difference.

I am downloading the 2.1a version, just in case.

I too will NEVER buy a SONY product again. Just waiting for it to break so I can throw it away. (No luck even in this 8) )

[icemanatvcd]

I have tried various different apps to burn, including Recordnow, CloneDVD 2, Nero (it does not even start to burn) . Record now takes around 30 mintues. Recordnow starts off with X4 then dropping down to X2. I will give DVD Decryptor a try using the image tool.

I tried to update the software (I am using 4.6) after downloaing the update feature from sony Japan, after rebooting it says "the program was unable to connect to the update server, please check the network connectioni". I am connected to the internet. Figure this out? Has anybody else had the same problem.

I am using firmware 2.1A. I should have never updated the original. I have learnt the hard way that don't fix if it ain't broke. The original firmware used to burn X1 speed media at X2. I never tried X4 disks with the original firmware, my guess is that it would have written at X4! The firware updates are downgrades to make people pull their hair out and go and buy a new sony writer. It is not going to happen with me, I am never going to buy sony again! It appears that I will not be the only one!

The question is how do I go back to the original firmware? I spoke to sony they told me only sony authorised service centre can downgrade to the original firmware. Come on, it can't be that hard! Sony just loves to make your life miserable.

BobK, smart move to make your move to Liteon. I will do the same if I do not find a solution.

I don't agree with Handyguy, not even a miracle will burn at X4 it seems.

[icemanatvcd]

I tried IMGTools but it did nothing. Finished in two second saying 100% complete. Froze the whole computer. I had to hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete to get running again.

I had the same problem with nero. It uses nero's buring tool.

Has anybody else has the same problem. I am using the correct version for Nero 6.0.

I would like to give it a try.

Thanks.

[SaSi]

You can downgrade the f/w to your heart's delight !!

Just collect all the various versions (I keep them safe) and perform the upgrade steps as normal. The F/w upgrade utility doesn't check the drive's f/w version to be older or whatever.

Try any f/w version with version number 2.0 and any letter. Version 1.0 f/w didn't record +R media at 4x = only 2.4x

Apart from that, what I have realized is that since the original version 2.0 release, every subsequent version restricted recording speed further for selected media IDs.

[icemanatvcd]

Thanks for that SaSi. Would you be kind enough to send me the original firmware. I have not kept the original firmware, a little I knew that it was going to srew everything up.

Sony won't give it to me.

My email address is

dt_speedster@hotmail.com

Thanks.

[Redd]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I got my 500AX early 2003 and still using the original firmware. Burned at 4X then and burns at 4X now. There's been many post here complaining how the 500A or the 500AX won't burn at 4X after upgrading firmware.

[adam]

After seeing how this thread has progressed I guess I won't be upgrading my firmware. I'm definitely happy with my burner the way it is.

[icemanatvcd]

Redd what version firmware?

Adam, that will be a smart move. I am going back to firmware 1.0f, See if that improves.

I can not remember if mine came with 1.0g, does anybody has that version of firmware?

If so please email me on:

dt_speedster@hotmail.com

Thanks.

[Redd]

I'll have to post my firmware version when later, I'm at work now.

[Mrsash]

Well I have a pretty fast PC, I found that if I have other APPS running or my memory has been pre used by XP it burns at a slower speed. Reboot before burn and see if this cures the problem. I check my startup stuff so that not a lot of background stuff is going on. Used the same media always get it right. I use princo, some consider it crap but I do believe its up to your system....

[icemanatvcd]

MrSash I have tried those tricks. Nothing helps.

[Redd]

@ icemanatvcd

My Sony DRU500AX came with firmware version 2.0c, which I'm still using 18 months later. Burned at 4X then and now.

[ianmcv]

As handyguy says trying to get a sony dru500 to burn at 4X requires nothing short of a miracle. I had one of those a while ago and could never get it to burn at 4X. 2X was its maximum. I had long arguments with sony who could not believe that their drive did not work properly. I ended up, after months of complaints, getting a returns number from sony and sent the drive back. Guess what? It must have been faulty because they sent me a new one which I promptly gave away to some one who did not care about burn speed. I bought a Pioneer drive which works perfectly every time. Some people with the dru500 have no problems at all. It seems that sony got some of the drives right but also got alot of them wrong. I've said it before and I'll say it again "thanks Sony for making me a Pioneer customer". Now with the daily gripe over its time to get some work done.

[icemanatvcd]

Well said ianmcv.

I am thinking of taking it back soon. I will give it a try or two with different firmwares.

I hope I get a credit or an exchange with a dual layer!

[Jayhawk]

Sorry for jumping in late but I did just have an interesting experience with my DRU500. It had been work fine at version 1.0f so I kept a backup and upgraded to 2.0a. After experiencing problems with failed CD-R (NOT DVD) burns, I downloaded Sony's drive check software and ran it. The software reported "No Problems" found but ever since all my burns have been fine (same media etc.).

Is it possible Sony's drive check sofware makes "adjustments".

[SaSi]

Well,

after being fed up with the Sony recording at 2x tops, I replaced it (temporarily) with a Lite-On 811s, which is rated at 8x.

My first try to record on a DVD+RW (4x rated) was a joy. Recording was finished in under 15 minutes.

The second try was to record the final DVD onto a TDK 4x -R. To my surprise, Nero suggested only 1x and 2x speeds. I started at 2x. I am now, 50 min later and at 87% finished .

I guess the Sony is junk, but probably the TDK media I am getting is even worse!

I am now literaly confused:
Should I be thankful to Sony?
Should I be mad to Lite-On?
Should I ever buy TDK media again?

Personaly, I answer NO, NO, NO to all three questions!

[handyguy]

I don't mind 2x cause everything works that way.

meritline.com has lists of what writes @ what speed with what firmware on what writer.

[TBoneit]

Wwell FWIW

I'm running a DRU500A

Firmware 2.0f

So far every 1X disk has burned at 1x
every 2x disk has burned at 2x
every 2.4x disk has burned ar 2.4x
and all the 4x media + & - has burned at 4X. Even prodisc

Knock wood I don't jinx myself of course.

Nought when it first came out (november 2002?) done several firmware upgrades along the way, 1 was to enable 4x burning on either + or - media, I don't recall which one.

The only coasters I get are when I make a royal screwup at the keyboard or hit the eject button while burning by mistake.

Once in a while I get lucky.. This sony burner, very durable.

A Spare DRU510 from a friend (Free) now my spare and a cheapo 8X $80 months ago & removable bay I installed at work so I can do BU's when we are slow. As Chief tech I have some power that way. Just lucked into a store ad mistake and got 25pk verbatims for $12.99. Since they sold em at that price after checking (they were supposed to be CD-r 50 Pk), and realized the ad was a mistake when they checked I'll bet they have a disclaimer on the shelf now. What I would do. I used to catch scanner errors at the Supermarkey checkout and get some free product that way too, it was there offer when scanners were coming into vogue, I paraphrase here, If you find an error in the price scanned you get the item free. The next thing that happened was I got it free and someone ran off to fix the price in the computer. Being frugal I always kept the shelf price in my head and watched the price being rung up.

In conclusion I love my Sony Burner and my Sony 5 disk changer too.

On the other hand the 3 disk Apex I sent for christmas died this month. But as a gift I had spent the $30 for extended warrant so they went to CC and CC made good. So chains I've had good luck with Best Buy Price reduction refunds, Circuit City ext warranty and Walmart no hassle exchanges for CES products.

Cheers