SonyDRU500A Problem-newbieuser sorry.searched forums already

[chaiseylain]

I've just bought the DRU500A and am yet to have a succesful burn. I have tried with Nero 55100 and RecordNow which i got with the DRU500A.

I have tried with a Sony DVD+RW which I got with the drive and a Verbatim DVD-R. They all say burn unsuccessful. I have only tried a couple of times but it always does the exact same thing about the same time into the burn process.

What's going on!? What's this firmware business I've been reading about? mine in 1.0e. Am I supposed to change it?

I did the DriveCheck thing which someone mentioned in this forum.. and it all said everything was ok.. but then the DriveCheck only seems to test CD-RW, because it would only ask for a CD-RW to be put in.

I have even tried closing all other programmes running incase it was because all the memory was being used up.. but the same thing happens.. and i notice the buffer never goes down much.. so that couldn't of been why.

Just tried to do a CD-R and it won't burn either at about the same postion. However, this time it says buffer underrun.

Can anyone help me?

Much appreciated.

[thxkid]

use nero 5,5,917 only from them no other version, try recordnow max 4.1 or 4.5, make sure drive is in DMA mode, and use firmware 1.0f.

[chaiseylain]

thanks.

i can't find nero 55917 anywhere. i have the link to it from neros ftp but it's dead. also, would i have to completely uninstall my current version before i put 55917 on?

also how to i make sure dma is enabled. i looked through drive DRU500A's properties and i can't find anything.

..sigh.. why is it so stressful and difficult? i forked out over $300! =/

update: I've just managed to complete a data DVD using an Imation DVD+R disk. I have not made any of the above changes as of yet. Are my problems consistent with others?

Please get back to me, Thanks!

[chaiseylain]

please!

i'll send some money to the person with the best answer!

[donpedro]

How much ?

Check this for Verbatim -R

http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/downloads/dru500a/DRU500A_MediaNotice.pdf
I am not sure which one is correct
http://sony.storagesupport.com/legalagreement.zulu?dlid=dvdrw/downloads/dru500a/DRU500...ediaNotice.pdf

And for how to enable or disable DMA try search in yur Windows Help or MS web or here. It was answered before.

So what do you say... 17 cents ?[/quote]

[thxkid]

Brother bought one and I have helped him and when he went to nero 5.5.917, DMA and Firmware 1.0f we got a sucessful DVD backup on his Sony DVD+RW using DVD2DVDR 1.3.4, for some reason you can not use or have a hard time using DVDxCOPY with the Sony.

what operating system are you using, let me know so I can tell you where to check to see if your DM is on, if XP it should have been turned on autmatically.

Also you will need to download the newest Aspi drivers also if using Win2k or Win XP.

Firmware should be at Sony's site

Also make sure your Sony is a secondary Master or Primary Slave

[jarvis1781]

I used to hate my SONY because it wouldn't burn to my Princo media. I then purchased some ACCU discs that burn at 2x and I now absolutely love the SONY drive!!! finally media that works and at 2x! YAY

[Greydog]

A quick answer just to get some help for you.....I will follow up more later.

I just got the Sony DRU 500A. I was running Nero 5.5.9.9 and it would not recognize the drive. I downloaded the latest Nero 5.5.10 and installed it. The Nero 5.5.10 is a full install and will just overwrite your old Nero files. If you have a registered version of Nero it will also recognize your old reg numbers. Then Nero should recognize the Sony drive. At least, mine did.

As for DMA. I believe you may go into Windows device manager IDE/ATAPI controllers, select the channel your CD drive is on, in advanced setting disable the DMA for the firmware update. After the firmware update re enable the DMA.

Would not advise but must admit. I was in a hurry to get my drive going, installed the latest firmware update without disabling the DMA. Still, everything seems to be working fine.

I am using DVD X Copy 3.1 and it is working fine with the Sony burner. I use Ritek -R disks and they burn at 2X. The Ritek would only burn at 1X with my Pioneer 104.

[chaiseylain]

thanks!

quick reply before i digest everything said.

I'm using windows 2000 SP3 and my drive is on the Secondary Master channel.

if the problem is with recognising the drive in relation to Nero, i'm still on 5.5.10.0 and both my liteon CDR and the DRU500A are recognised fine and am able to switch between the two easy enough.

also i'm worried upgrading the firmware will make my DRU500A evern worse? at least so far i have been able to do two Imation DVD+R disks. what other benefits does the new firmware give?

[Greydog]

chaiseylain wrote:
What other benefits does the new firmware give?
......................................
Text from the Sony site:
What improvements will the 1.0f firmware upgrade give my DRU500A or DRX500L?

This new firmware will allow your Dual RW drive to record at 4X on 4X compatible DVD+R media, as well as improve the DVD-ROM reading performance with DVD recordable/rewritable media.

Sony DRU 500A Version 1.0f: This update can be found at: http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/dru500adwn.htm
.......................................
Greydog says: I am no expert but can say updating your firmware to V1.0f would be the next thing I would try.

If you could download the latest version of Nero 5.5.10, it might be worth a try also. Only a thought....

[steppin_razor]

1. Make sure you have the latest firmware release (F) on your Drive

2. Get hte latest version of Nero

3. F**k Nero for burning DVDs. I love it for CD burning, but Recordnow Max (for example) seems to work a lot better than Nero.

[lvlvlv1]

1) You Must get the firmware update version 1f. The version that you used was posted for only a day and then was taken down by Sony because they knew that it had bugs in it.
2) Nero does not seem to work with this drive as I also noticed that Nero doesn't recognize this drive. (For me anyway). Remember, this drive, right now, is very unique. Therefore most of the software out there for dvd drives was developed roughly last year and brought into development this year. After you firmware update to version 1f, you will be able to use the recording software that came with the drive. Another dvd software burning program that I noticed that really works with no problems with the Sony DRU 500a is called ALCOHOL 120% v1.3.5 build 1112. Hope this helped.

[chaiseylain]

i have just updated to 1.0f. so far seem to get the same problems.

I'm getting 'invalid block address' what does this mean?

[donpedro]

Did you check Sony's post about Verbatim -R ???

[chaiseylain]

mmm maybe its just my verbatim media then. i thought that sony post said it was its older media that wouldn't work, i bought mine just the other day so assumed they were new generation? i must be wrong. just quite annoying since they cost over US$2.30 where I live.

The other media that won't record is the sony DVD+RW i got with the DRU500A. so far Imation DVD+-R have worked and a Mendi DVD+R

[donpedro]

If SONY +RW that was in box doesn't work, then there is something else that is wrong. That one should work.

[grandma]

I had similar problems at the beginning as well.

A fresh install of win2k, nero, and updated drivers and it solved all my problems.

Perhaps you need some cleansing? Just a thought.

Grandma

[jopereira]

I have a brand new system with Sony DRU500A. See my Computer Details.

I had no problems so far. I use PRINCO DVD-R 2x, EMTEC DVD-RW 1x, EMTEC DVD+RW 2,4x and the SONY DVD+RW 2,4x that came with the drive.
(about 20 burns)

I stayed with version 1.0d that came with my drive, made in November, 2002, since I don't read DVD from burner and 4x DVD are not in my sight.

Burning Software:
Nero 5.5.9.17 and DVD WS 1.2.
So far, so good!

[mADmAX0001]

Hi, I had also problems with Verbatim DVD-R and I talked to Verbatim. They say that their DVD-R (2x Speed Vitesse) #94077 are NOT compatible with the sony DRU500A at the moment. They produce new media and I will get replacement media in about two weeks......


mADmAX