How do I flash my Pioneer 108?

[iqwertyi]

So, today I ordered my Pioneer DVR108 (which should be here by friday) and downloaded the latest firmware 1.14. Looking at the pioneer site, it tells me to read the .txt file for instructions, except I don't see one.

Can someone give me a rundown on how to flash my burner?
When I double click on the file I downloaded form pioneer, it tells me somthing about a file not found and extracts two files, a "R8100108.114" and "UPGDVD.exe" file.

Now what?...

[alexnoe]

Get DVRFlash 2.0pre: http://www.f2t.org.uk/dvrflash2.rar

Example:
DVRFlash -vf O: R8100108.114
where your Pioneer drive is drive O:

[geoffman]

Originally posted by iqwertyi
So, today I ordered my Pioneer DVR108 (which should be here by friday) and downloaded the latest firmware 1.14. Looking at the pioneer site, it tells me to read the .txt file for instructions, except I don't see one.

Can someone give me a rundown on how to flash my burner?
When I double click on the file I downloaded form pioneer, it tells me somthing about a file not found and extracts two files, a "R8100108.114" and "UPGDVD.exe" file.

Now what?...

It won't work unless you have the 108 installed, which I gather from your post you haven't got yet. :)

[iqwertyi]

Thanks for the replies.

It should be here on Friday :)

I've downloaded the firmware directly from Pioneer and also got DVRFlash. What exactly does DVRFlash do? Is it simply a program to upgrade firmware? What's that UPGDVD.exe from Pioneer?

edited since it boarders on forum rules.

Thanks again.

[alexnoe]

You can use the hacked firmware on www.rpc1.org

[iqwertyi]

I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I'll ask the experts anyway.

Firmware makes changes to the drive (in this case) itself, correct? Meaning, I can use any computer to do the firmware update then install the DVD to another and the firmware should stick to the DVD, right?

[alexnoe]

right

[hendrix]

also remember there are two different versions of the Drive; the DVR-A08 and the DVR-A08XL - the firmwares are different per drive, not only are the drives are different cosmetically but electronically as well...if youre unsure how the two look check out gradius' (http://gradius.rpc1.org/) homepage

[iqwertyi]

cool. Thanks for the info.

I bought it from newegg and its description was "DVR-108", so I'm hoping that's the right one. Can't wait till tomorrow when it's scheduled to arrive.:)

[hendrix]

Originally posted by iqwertyi
cool. Thanks for the info.

I bought it from newegg and its description was "DVR-108", so I'm hoping that's the right one. Can't wait till tomorrow when it's scheduled to arrive.:)
if it has the honeycombs on the top of the drive and the front is somewhat beveled then you have the DVR-A08XL

[iqwertyi]

Oh, man. I didn't know ordering a "DVR-108" could still come as an XL model.

Crossing my fingers and toes till it comes in.

Thanks for the info

[hendrix]

Originally posted by iqwertyi
Oh, man. I didn't know ordering a "DVR-108" could still come as an XL model.

Crossing my fingers and toes till it comes in.

Thanks for the info
ya thats the one you want...there's a few improvements over the NON XL one...i dont remember...just do a search...i got the XL and love it :)

[iqwertyi]

I'm confused.

I thought the DVR-108 (without the XL) was the one to go for because of the frimware upgrade options?

I just got the drive and based on your description, it's not an XL. It doesn't have a honeycomb on the top.

Did I do good or bad?

[hendrix]

Originally posted by iqwertyi
I'm confused.

I thought the DVR-108 (without the XL) was the one to go for because of the frimware upgrade options?

I just got the drive and based on your description, it's not an XL. It doesn't have a honeycomb on the top.

Did I do good or bad?
no you didn't do bad it's all about personal preference - actually the DVR-A08XL has firmware upgrade options, it's that the DVR-A08's homebrew firmware came out first

[iqwertyi]

How can I check the firmware version on my drive?

[hendrix]

goto The Firmware Page (http://www.firmware.fr.st/) it's basically the Doom9 for firmwares. Navigate to the utilities section and download Drive Region Info v2.2 - this should help you out

[iqwertyi]

Thanks.

Ok, already got a chance to play with the new drive. It originally came with firmware version 1.10.

I've also already upgraded to ver. 1.14 I was able to burn 4X DVD-R in 15 min and at 8X in about 8 min.

One thing I noticed with this drive however, is that it doesn't autodetect. When I insert a CD in my other drive, windows usually pops up a window to see how I want to open the drive (windows explorer, DVD, Windows Media, ETC.), but with this drive, that doesn't happen.

Any ideas if there's a way to fix that or is this how this drive just works.

[hendrix]

Originally posted by iqwertyi
Thanks.

Ok, already got a chance to play with the new drive. It originally came with firmware version 1.10.

I've also already upgraded to ver. 1.14 I was able to burn 4X DVD-R in 15 min and at 8X in about 8 min.

One thing I noticed with this drive however, is that it doesn't autodetect. When I insert a CD in my other drive, windows usually pops up a window to see how I want to open the drive (windows explorer, DVD, Windows Media, ETC.), but with this drive, that doesn't happen.

Any ideas if there's a way to fix that or is this how this drive just works.
it's not the drive - you can either right click on the drive goto properties/AutoPlay and see what the properties are - or you can use TweakUI to turn on the autodetect for your drives

[hendrix]

also one thing i may add, now this is from personal experience:

i've read that Nero messes up some Double Layered burns, after the layer break some say they couldn't hear any audio...some say it just wasn't right

i burn with DVD Decrypter and never had any problems with Doubles...Yet

this may also be due to media as well...i use Mitsubishi DVD+R(DL)

hope this helps

[alexnoe]

Nero does mess up DoubleLayer discs. Verbatim DL discs are currently the only DL discs that work, and that are supported and recommended by all drive manufacturers.

[hendrix]

Originally posted by alexnoe
Nero does mess up DoubleLayer discs. Verbatim DL discs are currently the only DL discs that work, and that are supported and recommended by all drive manufacturers.
cool...thanks for clearing it up...btw Verbatim are Mitsubishi - they're released as Mitsubishi brand here in Japan

i've also read that Ritek isn't that good of a product as well...Mitsubishi is the only media i've seen here in Japan

[iqwertyi]

Actually, my first batch of 200 Ritek G04 used with my DVR106 was great. Burning at 4X, not one turned up bad.

But using up 200 DVD-R takes some time and I've also read that some Ritek's were bad, hoping it was only a batch of them and not the entire process.

I also bought 100 G05's with my DVR108 purchase. We'll see how many will be good.

I haven't started messing with DL discs. I didn't know Pioneer was releasing a 109 that will support DVD-R(DL) vs DVD+R(DL) for the 108. Oh, well, another upgrade when time comes.

hendrix,
I'll try to play around with the settings to see if I can get autoplay to get going again.

[alexnoe]

Ritek DL discs are useless; in the last test in the C'T not one single drive had an acceptable write quality on Ritek DL discs, while no drive failed on Verbatim DL discs...