Updating firmware on a Sony DRU500A in a USB enclosure

[The-PJ]

Ok guys, here is my situation. A few days ago I bought a really slick Belkin USB 2.0 External IDE enclosure (http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=125643). I threw my Sony DRU-500A in it so I could easily move my burner between PCs. It works great, etc etc. It just now hit me, what about flashing my firmware?

There is a new firmware update (2.0e) out there that I didn't think to flash too before installing the drive into the external enclosure.

Right now I am trying to work up the nerve to update my firmware while leaving the drive inside the enclosure. I really don't want a $350 coaster, so I'm not quite sure if I have the guts.

Three main questions. First, has anyone tried this before? Anyone out there have a DRU-500A in an external USB/Firewire enclosure and successfully (or unsuccessfully) upgraded their firmware?

Secondly, if the firmware update fails, am I left with a door stop, or could I put the drive back into my PC and flash the firmware the normal way? I know with motherboard BIOS updates, you screw up, you are screwed.

Third, I can complete each step they suggest in the official firmware update guide, except for disabling DMA. Since the device is on a USB port instead of an IDE controller, I can't find a DMA setting to disable. AFAIK there is no DMA setting to play with. Why do they recommend disabling DMA? Is it absolutely critical? If I don't disable it and try to update my firmware, is my drive going to go critical and end in a nuclear explosion?

Feel free to reply with "ARE YOU INSANE?" comments. =)
-PJ

PS, CompUSA stores have the enclosure for $50 until today (Saturday) only. Its $70 with a $20 INSTANT rebate. $60 under the belkin.com price, not bad. =)

[The-PJ]

Well, I chanced it and it appears to be working fine. I can read from the drive fine. I'm going to do a test write shortly.

[Arky]

I hope all went well for you. Personally, I think I'd have gone to the trouble of temporarily chucking it back onto an IDE cable (albeit without actually fitting the unit back into the PC enclosure!), just during flashing, disabling DMA etc. etc.

Anyway, let us all know how the burning went, post-USB-flashing :)


Arky ;o)

[The-PJ]

Well, the deciding factor for me was that the same Sony app I downloaded to flash this drive is used on the USB Sony DVD-R's. I had also read their USB models are identical to their IDE models, except they are in a IDE->USB case. It detected the drive and firmware properly, so I just said what the hell and went for it. If it had failed, I could have always taken it back to Circuit City. =P

Burning went great. Burned at 2x consistently, and the DVDs work fine. =)

[Arky]

Cool. Glad everything worked out ok! :)


Arky ;o)