Can the Pioneer DVR-104 read DVD+R/RW discs?

[Carlos Garcia]

I have a Pioneer DVR-104 and an HP DVD100i. The HP is a DVD+RW burner, and the Pioneer is a DVD-R/RW writer. The HP can read all -R/-RW discs with no problems, but the Pioneer can't read any DVD+R/RW media. Is this correct, or is there a firmware upgrade that will allow the Pioneer to be able to read DVD+R/RW media in the future? Thanks for the info.

CG

[alexnoe]

According to "dvdwriters", The A04 can read DVD+R/W media.
Did you upgrade to the latest firmware (1.31)?

And how did you check for DVD+R, if you have only the hp100i?

[Carlos Garcia]

I've just tried all different brands of DVD+RW burned media in my Pioneer DVR-104, and none of them play. I have firmware 1.31 installed. The media plays fine in my HP DVD100i, so I know the discs are ok. I'm using name brand media too, Verbatim and Philips, but nothing, when I insert disk, after searching for 30 seconds, msg pops up saying "please insert disk into drive". I know the 104 is the OEM version of the A04, but can that mean the difference between being able to read DVD+RW media and not being able to read it?

CG

[alexnoe]

That's strange.

No, A04 vs 104 has nothing to do with reading DVD+RW.

[thxtof]

No. The Pioneer DVD-R104/04 can't play DVD+R/+RW.
It would require a change in the current firmware.

Here is the complete list of supported media:

DVD-ROM single layer/dual layer
DVD-R (all types)
DVD-RW
CD-ROM Mode 1
CD-ROM XA Mode 2 (form 1, form 2)
CD-TEXT
Photo CD (single & multiple session)
CD-DA (Audio CD)
CD-Extra
CD-R
CD-RW (Support AM2)

[alexnoe]

The list doesn't mean anything.

Look into the supported media list of older Toshiba drives, and you'll find that they don't support DVD-RW. That means nothing more than that they can't read crap discs, but Verbatims work fine.

http://www.dvdwriters.co.uk/reviews/pioneer/dvr104p5.htm

Strange. Their DVR-A04 did read DVD+media. Maybe you can try to contact them...

[Carlos Garcia]

Nope, media brand has nothing to do with it. I have tried Philips DVD+RW, as well as Verbatim. It's a no go, my 104 just won't read +RW disks. I really don't understand how others on the forum say theirs can. If it's a firmware issue, wouldn't my upgrade to 1.31 have done it? I know +RW was created after -RW, so I can understand how +RW drives can read -RW media, but I can't understand how a -RW drive can read +RW media. How can a drive read a format that had yet to be invented?

CG

[thxtof]

Carlos you're absolutly right... If the firmware is not aware of this format, there is noway a DVD+R becomes magically recognized, as suggested by Alex. It's a different format that needs specific support.

And besides the website mentioned above, I never heard about anyone being able to read DVD+Rs on the Pioneer...

[Carlos Garcia]

Hi thxtof, looks like we have a disagreement going on at this msg board:

http://www.dvdwriters.co.uk/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi?s=3d824f023198ffff;act=ST;f=1;t=83


I have upgraded to firmware 1.31 and still can't see DVD+RW on my 104. So what exactly does this guy's drive have that mine doesn't?

CG

[alexnoe]

I can give you 2 incidents where cdrinfo claimed having done a special test, but where I can prove that they indeed never have done this special test.
I don't hope that dvdwriters do similar stuff :(