Pioneer A03 firmware 1.90

[Joe]

I have instaled firmware 1.90 and now I would like to instal the hacked one for 2x burning. All my atempts failed. What can I do in such a case?
THX

[padre]

You need to downgrade to v1.68 and then install the hacked v1.90 firmware. It works, I did it on my burner (A03).

[swkpez]

i upgraded my firmware from 1.68 to 1.90 and now everytime i try to burn a disc it says error 10 at sector 624 disc read error no matter what speed i burn at. I want to downgrade back to 1.68, but it wont let me. How do i do it? Oh and i am using apple media

[padre]

You should be able to run the downgrade (re-flash to v1.68) from the same site you get the 2x4all hacked v1.90.

http://pioneerdvd.firmware-flash.com/2x4all.html

[swkpez]

i tried doing that, but i dont think it is letting me downgrade. It just gives an error

[padre]

Make sure you do it from DOS, not Windows. I downloaded the boot CD image, which creates a DOS boot image with the v1.68 flash. Worked fine. I couldn't do the Windows Utility to re-flash, I got an error.

[swkpez]

i tried flashing in dos and i get the failed error "000000", i tried changing it to the 1.90 hacked version and it says you already have this version

[alexnoe]

Consult the FAQ on how to downgrade from 1.90 to 1.68

[swkpez]

which faq?

[alexnoe]

Maybe the Pioneer-FAQ :rolleyes: , which is sticky in this forum

[swkpez]

thanks for helping, that worked to flash it back to 1.68, but now it still doesnt burn. No matter what speed i try, it still says disc read error. I also tried version 1.55, 1.65, 1.68hacked and 1.68 regular

[alexnoe]

Is DMA on or off?

[swkpez]

i tried with it on and off

[rubic42]

swkpez, have you figured out your problem? I am in the exact same situation. Have A03, installed the 1.90 2xall firmware, burning DVD-R coasters left and right.

[padre]

rubic42

Are you getting an error message? Or just burning unplayable DVD's?

What brand of media are you trying?

[rubic42]

Using Prassi PrimoDVD, I was getting communications errors, I think. Would die about 5% of the way in consistently.

I was using a variety of media, TDK, PrimeDisc, even more generic stuff.

So this morning I tried a few things: making sure the drive was in PIO mode and going back to the 1.68 version of the firmware. Between the two of these things it worked again.

I may try going back to 1.90 and making sure PIO mode is on. My suspicion is that PrimoDVD was trying to burn at 2x even though I had set 1x. That would explain the communications errors, I think. I've read that if the drive is in PIO mode, 2x is more reliable?

In any case, I think it does have something to do with PrimoDVD attempting 2x mode, because with my previous non-working setup, only DVD-Rs would fail, DVD-RW seemed to work fine, as I remember. So I think my A03 was forced into 1x writing when I was using DVD-RWs.

[alexnoe]

No, "communication error" is definitely caused by (and only by) DMA mode. I've read that if the drive is in PIO mode, 2x is more reliable?Usually, if your drive throws communication errors in DMA mode, then this should happen regardless whether you burn 1x or 2x

[rubic42]

I used to burn fine at 1x with my drive in DMA mode with the old firmware, 1.80. It was only when I changed to 1.90 that I really had problems with making coasters at any speed.

[alexnoe]

Could be pure chance.

I bought my DVR-A03 at the beginning of December, and DMA mode had worked fine until end of January. Suddenly, it threw communication failures, without changing anything in the system.

[atreides93]

I don't know what's going on with these A03's you guys have...

My A03 has been running fine in WinXP with DMA mode enabled, and the 1.90 firmware. I burn a DVD-R at least every other day and I never get coasters (knock on wood).

I have a Shuttle AK11 motherboard with Athlon 1.4 cpu.
and i believe the 4.32 via 4in1 drivers.

I almost always use Nero 5.5.8.2 UDF/ISO mode

[Joe]

I also had no problems of any kind.I bought it just after release and habve updated firmwares when they came out. I use all kind of media from brand name to no-name. I had just a few bad DVDs because of some manufacturing errors on them.
Now I allready reserved the A05. In two weeks or less I hope one will be happily burning in my machine :)