Sony DRU-500A DVD Writer

beerandchips wrote on 7/3/2003, 1:21 PM

Any of you out there using this writer have trouble updating the firmware. I have a Dell 8200 Dimension 1.8 ghz 400mhz buss. Windows xp home edition. Just bought this drive, it has firmware version 1a and I need to update to 2F. If you have this drive, computer and are having or have had trouble and solved. Please respond. Otherwise I'll just go back to throwing things. Thanks.

Steve

Comments

dvdude wrote on 7/3/2003, 1:48 PM

I have the drive and the OS (not the computer though) and have upgraded to 2.0f. The instructions say to turn off DMA access before attempting the update. Also, no background tasks should be running.

My experience was simply to fire up the software, it told me I needed to reboot so I did that, then IMMEDIATELY fired up the software again. The update occurred and all is well, I've created about 50 4x DVD+R discs with no issues so far apart from inconsequential operational problems that did not affect the disks. I did not disable any startup tasks though I did switch off DMA. I don't have EZCD creator (I hear of problems performing the update if EZCD and/or DirectCD is running).

Hope this helps.

Andy

CrazyRussian wrote on 7/3/2003, 2:22 PM

Well, it says in the readme, that some Dell machines have Intel Application Accelerator installed - Uninstall it first

beerandchips wrote on 7/3/2003, 2:49 PM

Have uninstalled Application Accelerator. The tech support lady said I have to update to the latest bios in order to allow me to turn off DMA setting. Unfortunatly I have the latest Dell Bios update. Sony Support then informed me basically it is a Dell problem and not there's. I think I will end up just taking the burner to a computer shop and have them do it for 20 bucks or so. Thanks for the help.

dvdude wrote on 7/3/2003, 2:58 PM

DMA is a windows setting. The motherboard and BIOS have to support it, but it's turned on and off in windows.

In XP, go to CONTROL PANEL--->SYSTEM
Click the tab "Hardware" and click the button "Device Manager"
Under "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers" locate the channel that the burner is connected to and double click it to get the properies.
Click the "Advanced Settings" tab and find the item "Transfer Mode"

It probably says "DMA if available", just drop the box and select "PIO Only", click apply. You may need to reboot (can't remember). You can turn it back on once the update is installed.

Andy

swampler wrote on 7/3/2003, 3:15 PM

DMA is turned on/off in Windows unless you have Intel's Application Accelerator installed, in which case you can turn DMA on/off in the IAA application itself. If IAA is not installed, then follow Andy's directions. FYI -- if you uninstall IAA, the disks are set to PIO mode by default, so uninstalling IAA gets you in the mode you need to be in.

dvdude wrote on 7/3/2003, 5:11 PM

Thanks for the addition Swampler - I dunno nuffin' about Intel, being a hardened AMD freak.....

Andy

swampler wrote on 7/3/2003, 7:00 PM

Andy,

My previous system was AMD. The Via chipset drivers took control of the DMA also on it.

Later,
Steve

dvdude wrote on 7/4/2003, 9:44 AM

Hence my comment that the motherboard and BIOS must support DMA but.....

Although the VIA ATAPI drivers allow you to set DMA access during installation, once installed it's controlled from within windows.

Andy

beerandchips wrote on 7/7/2003, 8:53 AM

Been gone for a couple of days. Thanks for all the suggestions. Unfortunatly I have uninstalled IAA, but nothing works. I don't have the advanced buttons on hardware device manager. I will have to have it done on another computer. No big deal though.

Thanks.