Pioneer DVR-110D

[jabbo5150]

I ama bout to install one of these on my G5 Dual 2Ghz (or order one, rather)

At the risk of sounding stupid, do I want an OEM one or a non OEM one for my machine? What is the difference?

I know I have to take the faceplate off. I would plug it in and then not have it mounted, press the eject button, take off the face plate and then mount it, right?

The firmware update from pioneer is for media compatability, right? I am running 10.4.4, but plan to upgrade to 10.4.6 before installing.

I have heard there are issues with the screws for the drive. My machine came with the SONY DVD RW DW-U21A. Do I use the same screws in the G5 currently, or does the Pioneer come with its own?

Is there a speed issue without having a certain kind of cable to hook up the drive? I thought I read that too.

Thanks for the help!

[albloom]

I suggest going to macsales.com -- good price on a 110, plus some dandy
videos to download on installation.

There are actually a few other uses for firmware upgrades. I just applied
the 10.3.9 patch from http://tdb.rpc1.org/#DVR110D that unlocked the
drive with respect to region code.

[willrob]

OSX 10.4.6 will recognize this drive as "Apple Installed/Supported." Which means yo will get full iLife applications support.

The OEm version is actually a "Bulk" version. The only other form is the 110AXL, the full retail version (with PC software).

Anothr reason to cross flash is to get the DVD-RAM writing ability. You would flash in that case to the 110 firmware (not the 110D).

[rumplestiltskin]

The drive (virtually all of them) has a small hole where you may insert a straightened paper clip (the official "Mac tool") to manually open the drive tray. It takes a bit of pressure to start it opening but, once it's open about 1/2", you may pull it open the rest of the way.

If that makes you nervous, your method will also work. If you have any other enclosure with a molex power connector, you can use that as well.

Considering the cost of DVD-RAM (about $9@), unless you can find a good reason to use it, I'd pass on the firmware hack.

[jabbo5150]

Cool, thanks for the replies. I don't have much need for the DVD-Ram. What I was interested in the firmware upgrade for was for maximum media compatibility and also faster burn speeds

[lawnman]

I got a Pioneer DVR 110-D (external Galaxy Metal Gear Box)about a month ago and flashed it. I love it. Works better than my Matshita DVR-R UJ-835 F internal slot loader.

[jabbo5150]

I ordered a 110D (hard to find in black for some reason) and it should be here within a week or so (the shipping wa sfree, so...)

The flashing seems fairly idiot proof, which is good. Looks like I can run the .exe file in Virtual PC, drag the folder to my mac and then run the DVR Flash 2.2

I got a Pioneer DVR 110-D (external Galaxy Metal Gear Box)about a month ago and flashed it. I love it. Works better than my Matshita DVR-R UJ-835 F internal slot loader.

[albloom]

No, don't run the .exe in VPC. Drop it on Stuffit Expander.
That gives a folder with a readme and the two data files
that DVRFlashX needs.

Get DVRFlashX from lasvegas.rpc1.org.

Get a dummies guide (I write those to myself) if you'd
like by PM-ing me.