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Upgrade Your DVD Writer to Double Layer -- Maybe
Autoversicherung writes "Even if NEC tells you its impossible, German netzine Golem is reporting hackers have created an updated, unofficial version of the firmware providing DVD+DL (Double Layer) capabilities. Currently model 2100A and 2500A are patchable, more will hopefully follow soon.
How cool, this enables me to skip an update cycle for burners!!" It's always fun to use the fish, and sometimes to void your warranty.
From http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/trurl_pag econtent?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.golem.de%2F0405%2F31 325.html&lp=de_en
Thus nevertheless? Firmware makes NEC DVD burners dual Layer able
Unofficial firmware is to make 2100A and 2500A the 2510A
With a firmware of the not yet available dual Layer DVD burner NEC 2510A emerged in the net now also its are to be able to describe only single Layer able predecessors NEC 2100A and 2500A DVD+R DL media with up to 8,5 GByte data. There it the 2500A-Modelle already for under 100, - euro gives, would be this a very inexpensive, but not revaluation of the DVD burners mentioned which can be enjoyed without caution.
The beta firmware unauthorized of NEC does not only provide for a warranty loss, it required also that that is operated in each case to flashende drive assembly as master. In the forum of RPC1.org, where the first discussion started around the firmware, some daring firmware Flasher reported that the drive assembly LED constantly flashed and the drive assembly drawer came up for the start - in these cases the DVD burners were operated as Slave.
Since DVD+R DL media with 8,5 GByte are at least available storage location at present not yet in the trade and will be more expensive at the beginning of also clearly than the conventional single Layer media (4.3 GByte), trying of the modified firmware out is meaningful at this time for the few users. Besides it is not clear whether each drive assembly brings the necessary laser quality for successful DVD+R DL recording procedures with itself, because the requirements for the optics are somewhat higher.
On CDRInfo.com already a first DL function test was published - the DL medium was described and the used software stopped with 99 per cent write progress - which medium has nevertheless functioned. First signal quality tests would have resulted in partly good, partly strange values, so that one may be strained whether 2100A and 2500A in each case will work as duly functioning DL DVD burners - and the described DVD+R DL media to DVD Playern are as compatible. Conventional DVD media were correctly described with the 2510A-Firmware, how is to be reread in the rpc1.org-Forum.
That, which it itches now in the fingers to try the DL firmware out it should realize itself the risks, which read guidance of the respective offziellen or unofficial firmware designs exactly and which to flashende drive assembly as alone as possible (e.g. with taken off Slave) as masters operate. There - as already written - so far no DVD+R DL media to buy are, should daring ones perhaps better after others, every now and then not less interesting changed firmware designs on rpc1.org or herrie.org umschauen itself. Otherwise the DL firmware changed by the "The Dangerous Brothers" is to the Download on rpc1.org. (ck)
Not that anyone would bother to RTA :) but
here it is in English
NEC 8x DVD Burner $81 - Free Double Layer Conversion 12-May-04
newegg has the NEC 8X Beige DVD+RW/-RW Drive, Model ND-2500A, OEM Bulk packed for $81.50 free shipping. No rebates. Click Thru to see new price.
Hack it into a NEC 2510A DVD+R Double Layer burner! (Thanks Ken) Save $120 over a new Double layer burner!
Here's a link to the article linked by techbargains.
And here's a link to a page with the firmware (scroll down to NEC 2500).
- JoeShmoe
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-- I wonder which will go down in history as the bigger failure: the War on Drugs or the War on Filesharing
Using the firmware of the soon-to-be-released Dual Layer NEC 2510A DVD burner, it is possible to reprogram the single-layer NEC 2100A and 2500A DVD burners in order to record up to 8.5GB of data. The 2500A sells for under 100 euro, which makes this a very inexensive solution, but this is not without risk.
/not karma whoring
The beta firmware is not authorized by NEC, and will void your warranty. Further, it requires that the drive be operated as "master" with no "slave" present. On the RPC1.org forums, users have reported that the LEDs constantly flashed and the DVD drawer would keep opening up--but in these cases, the drive was set as "slave."
Since 8.5GB dual layer DVD+R media is not readily available, and when it becomes more widely available will be far more expensive than 4.3GB single-layer media, this modified firmware is of interest only to a few users. It is also not clear whether the laser assembly has the necessary laser quality for successful DVD+R dual-layer recording, because the optics requirements are more strict.
CDRInfo.com has published a first test, finding that the software stopped recording a dual layer disc after 99%, but the disc nonetheless functioned. Initial tests of the signal quality were mixed, which makes it difficult to say whether or not the 2100A and 2500A can work as true dual layer DVD burners, or whether the media used was simply incompatible. Convenitional single-layer DVD media worked fine with the 2510A firmware.
Those who are antsy to try the new dual layer firmware should be aware of the risk, and understand that with the unofficial firmware their drive will only operate as a "master" (without a "slave" present). And, as already mentioned, there is DVD+R dual-layer media is difficult to buy. But, for the daring, you can keep apprised of new firmware on rcp1.org and herrie.org. The modified firmware, created by "The Dangerous Brothers," is available for download on rpc1.org.
www.cdrinfo.com
:)
The firmware page
Two forum threads about upgrading your NEC-drive
Dual layer is when your dvd player has a slight pause where the screen freezes. That is when it is changing layers.
Too true! Never mind about dual layer, how about multiregion? My DRU-500AX has only one region change left - thank $DEITY for DVD Region Free.
You got a point there. Writable discs have not always worked with all readers. Though they have been getting better about that. I think dual layer writable discs might have some problems.
In America we are imprisoned by our fear of them.
The 1300 & 2500 are virtually identical, except that the latter is twice as fast as the former; and according to the forums on 2510, it is no different in design than the 2500. Although NEC would probably never release any firmware that would allow 1300 users to upgrade to 2500/2510, its simply a matter of time before someone back-ports the latest drivers to the 1300.
Wrong double layer firmware for NEC burner
Basically NEC insists that the laser needs calibration for such kind of update.
Another point is that the media can identify itself as "DVD ROM" or "DVD+R DL". The newer "DVD+R DL" seems to cause trouble with DVD Video Players.
Actually I have an expensive dvd player that I got back when nobody had one. It even has component out and a built in 5.1 decoder. No progressive scan though, it wasn't around yet.
I'd just like to clear up a small misconception.
Many drives do indeed run more slowly when they detect a video dvd (though such detection is a pain - all you can really trigger off of is CSS protection, and you get non-css video discs too)
The reason for this, however is nothing sinister. It's just that they know that the host application probably wants the data at 1x and so they favour low heat, low noise and more reliable reading over high data rates.
Soemthing similar is done when playing audio CDs.
Of course, more intelligent firmware simply acts on the rate at which the host requests data. This does rely on the host application being intelligent and not trying to buffer an entire 4gig dvd, though.
All DVD readers can focus the laser onto two layers anyway. It should be a matter of firmware only to allow this for burning as well as reading. (Though it's possible that second layer burning is slower because of power limitations.)
Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
Dunno about NEC, but I doubt it. If they could beat us to market with a full dual layer burner, they would.
What probably IS the case is that the hadrware is theoretically capable of DL burning. After all, it's just a laser.
The control code to tell it how to do it, however, probably is not yet finalised.
The reason for this is simple - hardware design cycles take a long time. So you tend to overengineer them to have funcionality that you think might be useful by the time the design is finished.
Software, on the other hand, can be crafted quickly and cheaply (in comparison) and so tends to be written only as needed.
That would be the 486sx units. They disabled the buit in 387. In some percentage they were 486dx chips with faulty math-co's, but in most they were not. Later on they produced 486sx's that never had a built math-co (IIRC).
Of course many boards with a 486sx in them could accept a 487 chip, that while lable a co-processor, was realy just a 486dx with a few pin-out that took over the whole job of the 486sx processor which now just sat there doing nothing.
More than a few people wanted to find an easy way to re-enable thier 486sx with the 487 in place and use both. Not really doable without having a custom mb made and some tricks pulled. cheaper just to buy one of the dual 486dx boards.
Mycroft
https://signup.leagueoflegends.com/?ref=4c3ed6600b6ea
I own an NEC1300A 4xDVD +/- rewriter. The 1300A is *very* sensitive about which media you use. I bought some name brand DVD-R's from PCWorld when I first bought the drive a year ago and they wouldn't work. I then bought 25 cheap blank disks and they didn't work either. I thought the drive was faulty, until I bought the Ritek G04 dye (purple) disks. They work like a charm and I've had no problems since.
Do these same problems exist on the 2500? (I assume yes, since they are supposed to be the same drive, except the 2500 is faster). If so, I imagine it's going to be a PITA to get this drive burning reliably with hacked firmware and potentially incompatile disks.
The patch might already be available depending on the model you have. Many Sony drives aren't made by Sony but are rebadged drives.
eg.
Sony DRU-110A = Ricoh MP-5120A
Sony DRU-120A = Ricoh MP-5125A
Sony DRU-530A = Optorite DD0401
Sony DW-U18A = Liteon SOHW-812S
Sony DRU-700A = Liteon SOHW-832S
Sony CRX225E =Liteon
Sony CRX216E = Liteon
Sony CRX185E1 = LiteOn
Sony CRX215E1 = LiteOn
Sony CRX210E1 = LiteOn
Sony CRX195E = LiteOn
Sony CRX1611 = LiteOn
The Liteon 812S and the 832S are almost the same drive - One burns dual layer and the other does not but the one that can't can be flashed up with the others firmware.
German magazine c't wrote yesterday:
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/47428
"Laut NEC funktioniert die Firnware hingegen nicht mit dem ND-2500A, da für das Bespielen einer DVD+R DL die Laseroptik genau justiert werden muss. Diese Justage müsse bei der Herstellung erfolgen und könne nachträglich nicht durchgeführt werden. Daher sei es nicht möglich, dem ND-2500A das Beschreiben einer DVD+R DL nachträglich per Firmware-Update beizubringen. Selbst wenn es vereinzelt klappen sollte, sei die Gefahr eines Fehlbrandes sehr hoch und die DL-Rohlinge würden sehr hohe Fehlerraten jenseits der Spezifikationen zeigen."
Rough translation:
According to NEC, the firmware does not work with the ND-2500A, since the laser optics have to be calibrated correctly in order to burn a DVD+R DL. This has to be done by the manufacturer, when the unit is built, and cannot be done later on. Due to this, it is not possible to enable the ND-2500A to burn a DVD+R DL via a firmware update. Even if it should work in some cases, the danger of burning a coaster would be very high and the burnt DL DVDs would show high error rates far beyond the specifications.