Cross-Flash Matshita UJ-225S with Sony Q111 firmware?

tqhoang · **Joined:** Sat Mar 06, 2004 1:31 am **Posts:** 41

Avazee wrote:

I just saw this thread the other day- I have a Dell XPS M1530 which has a "MatshitaBD-RE UJ-225s" (According to DiscInfo) drive, running Q310 firmware version. I bought a 25 pack of LTH BD-R discs, not knowing that my drive isn't compatible with it, so I've come here to figure out if my drive can be crossflashed to a newer firmware, and if so, will that solve my issue.

By reading through this thread, it appears that I can do this, however, I now see there are two methods (tqhoang and ala24's). Can someone point me in the right direction as to which method works best and also, the exact steps I need to take? According to Ala24's post here (viewtopic.php?f=13&t=46473&start=25#p229573), he is referencing "UpDate_UJ225_Q111.exe" but the one I got from Sony's website is UpDate_UJ225_Q113.exe. Is that okay?

Basically, I want to be sure I am following the right steps (and I am pretty technically savvy, so I don't mind using hex editors and such), so if someone can point me in the right direction, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

@Avazee - Search for my post dated "Tue Jan 18, 2011 1:29 pm" on page 3. I have updated the zip file URL for the UJ-225 Q113 firmware bin that is compatible with ala42's MatshitaWinFlash tool (http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=46246/). This is definitely the easiest way to update the firmware on you UJ-225.

Couple things:
1. As chef has indicated, this cross-flashing is not supported by anyone and if you brick your drive, then you're left with the pieces. For me it was well worth the risk. My drive works fine...occasional retries when scanning with VSO Inspector, but otherwise it works fine.

2. The Q113 firmware does not provide LTH write support according to the changelog...just LTH reading support to the best of my knowledge. Of course if you're willing to cross-flash and test, that would be good info to know.

3. Make sure you have AC power and remove any discs from the drive. Also make sure your Windows is pretty idle and stable to begin with too.

tqhoang · **Joined:** Sat Mar 06, 2004 1:31 am **Posts:** 41

@hqzstrong, @crok, @youwish

User Wormboy got his UJ-220 cross-flashed here. All the usual firmware disclaimers apply.
http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=47160

Avazee · **Joined:** Sun Apr 29, 2012 6:16 pm **Posts:** 8

Thanks for the reply. My main goal is to be able to burn ANY Blu-ray discs. Because I can't burn LTH given the age of the drive, I went and purchased non-LTH BD-R Discs (here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817607052). Unfortunately, the drive doesn't recognize these and won't burn.

My drive does read Blu-ray discs (movies). Does anyone out there who owns a UJ-225s successfully burned a Blu-Ray disc?

Also, if I were to purchase a newer optical drive that can burn Blu-Ray discs (for my Dell XPS M1530, slot-loaded), which drives would be compatible?

Thanks in advance.

chef · **Posted:** Fri May 11, 2012 6:36 am

Avazee wrote:

Thanks for the reply. My main goal is to be able to burn ANY Blu-ray discs. Because I can't burn LTH given the age of the drive, I went and purchased non-LTH BD-R Discs (here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817607052). Unfortunately, the drive doesn't recognize these and won't burn.

Still will never happen! This drive will never be able to burn BD-R TL, QL or even BD-RE TL media. And for LTH media I think its absolutely the same.

Quote:

My drive does read Blu-ray discs (movies). Does anyone out there who owns a UJ-225s successfully burned a Blu-Ray disc?

Also, if I were to purchase a newer optical drive that can burn Blu-Ray discs (for my Dell XPS M1530, slot-loaded), which drives would be compatible?

Thanks in advance.

What kind of question is that??? That is a BD-RE drive, of course its a burner!! Just because you bought the wrong media doesnt mean it wont work with the right media it were built for! #-o

Avazee · **Joined:** Sun Apr 29, 2012 6:16 pm **Posts:** 8

Okay.. i'm a bit confused. What type of discs does this drive support, as far as burning? Just BD-RE?

chef · **Posted:** Sat May 12, 2012 7:46 am

Avazee wrote:

Okay.. i'm a bit confused. What type of discs does this drive support, as far as burning? Just BD-RE?

It seems you have no idea about your drive, really.
Did you ever visit the support site from the manufacturer or the laptop builder??

A BD-RE drive always supports burning and reading BD-R and BD-RE, most likely both SL and DL. XL alias TL and QL is out of question with this drive, forever.
And LTH discs are also not supported, as you already found out.

Avazee · **Joined:** Sun Apr 29, 2012 6:16 pm **Posts:** 8

chef wrote:

It seems you have no idea about your drive, really.
Did you ever visit the support site from the manufacturer or the laptop builder??

A BD-RE drive always supports burning and reading BD-R and BD-RE, most likely both SL and DL. XL alias TL and QL is out of question with this drive, forever.
And LTH discs are also not supported, as you already found out.

No, I really don't know about my drive. I checked Dell's website and I found no documentation on this drive. The manufacturer is Matshita (Panasonic) and there is no additional information on their website.

In addition, I assumed that at the very minimum, the drive can burn BD-R discs (non-LTH). But the BD-R non-LTH discs I got don't work with it. Can you look at the specs of the discs and see if they should be compatible with the drive? It would be appreciated.

Here is the link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817607052

Lastly, if these discs I purchased aren't compatible, can you link to ones that are compatible? Thanks in advance.

chef · **Posted:** Sun May 13, 2012 7:46 am

Yeah, Panasonic always lacks of giving useful info about their products, same with updates.
They always kick the black card to their OEMs.

I see you have posted also in other forums and got similar responses.
The discs/brand you linked to arent a known good brand, no surprise they wont work with Panasonic...
What is their MID? Can you check with imgburn, dvdinfopro etc?

Here are some drive info: http://www.netcomdirect.com/pamamauj12he.html
and here:
http://www.panasonic.com/industrial/opt ... -225b.aspx

2x max BD-R write
1x max. BD-RE write

You can see that this drive likes 2x BD-R media for real.
I would recommend BD-R from Sony, Verbatim, TY, TDK, Pioneer and of course Panasonic.
All others are a gamble. If you can ask the seller if you could try the disc in your writer.

I don't know where you are from....

Avazee · **Joined:** Sun Apr 29, 2012 6:16 pm **Posts:** 8

Thanks for the information. Yeah I posted on the Dell forums since the laptop is a Dell, but I couldn't get any definitive answers there.

Unfortunately I can't even load up the disc in any program to get more information on it (DiscInfo, DVDIdentifier, etc.).

One dumb question- shouldn't 6x media work on 1x or 2x drives? I know this was ok with DVD and CD burners back in the day .

chef · **Posted:** Sun May 13, 2012 6:50 pm

The drive should at least recognize normal BD-R and BD-RE media.
Have you tried with Imgburn?
Fire up imgburn, insert a disc into the drive and check what the infoscreen shows you for the media, including the MID.

It's a bad sign when such media is not even recognized.

What about CD and DVD media, have you tried with them?
Reading pressed BD media worked without problems, right?!

Avazee · **Joined:** Sun Apr 29, 2012 6:16 pm **Posts:** 8

ImgBurn doesn't show anything on the log screen (as far as disc info, just displays drive information). When I select "Write files/folders to disc", it won't let me burn, as the status bar message says "Device Not Ready (Unrecovered Read Error)".

I don't have any blank DVD or CD discs to burn with and verify, so I will do that very soon and post up my results.

The drive can read Blu-Ray movies - I loaded up Total Recall on it the other day and it played flawlessly.

Thanks.

chef · **Posted:** Tue May 15, 2012 6:57 am

Then your drive has a serious problem regarding burning....

Avazee · **Joined:** Sun Apr 29, 2012 6:16 pm **Posts:** 8

If you think my drive has a serious burning problem, can you send a link to a drive that I could replace it with in my Dell XPS M1530 that could work?

Thanks...

chef · **Posted:** Wed May 16, 2012 6:23 am

If I were you, I would first by at least one reliable CD-R and DVD±R media, try to burn to them, then judge about the next step.
The error you posted means that the drive has a serious problem, it could be the media again, cause you didnt say exactly what media you have tried with (BD-R).

Matshita drives usually dislike any kind of cheapo discs, so your best bet is to buy media from Verbatim, Mitsubishi, Taiyo Yuden, some Sony, etc pp.

tqhoang · **Joined:** Sat Mar 06, 2004 1:31 am **Posts:** 41

Avazee wrote:

In addition, I assumed that at the very minimum, the drive can burn BD-R discs (non-LTH). But the BD-R non-LTH discs I got don't work with it. Can you look at the specs of the discs and see if they should be compatible with the drive? It would be appreciated.

Here is the link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817607052

Lastly, if these discs I purchased aren't compatible, can you link to ones that are compatible? Thanks in advance.

My UJ-225 with Sony Q113 firmware recognizes the following media in ImgBurn...but I have only burned to 50GB BD-RE so far. Also I would be surprised if the drive did not recognize the 6x media...provided it comes from a supported manufacturer.

BTW I'm not 100% positive that the drive can/cannot burn to the LTH media...will need to test that out as soon as I have something to burn.

UPDATE: I have confirmed that the UJ-225 does not support writing to LTH media, just read support.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817130070

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817501067

Avazee · **Joined:** Sun Apr 29, 2012 6:16 pm **Posts:** 8

Hello,

It's been a while, but I finally got some blank DVD-R discs to attempt to burn. My UJ-225s drive burns CD and DVD-R discs perfectly.

The BD-R media I tried to use (and was unsuccessful with) are these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817607052

What to do from here?

Thanks...

cvs · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 3:08 pm

Avazee wrote:

The BD-R media I tried to use (and was unsuccessful with) are these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817607052

What to do from here?

Your choice of Optical Quantum 25GB 6X media is rather unfortunate from two reasons:

1) Optical Quantum typically amounts to cheap poor quality media, which no writer in the world (even the best desktop ones) is going to burn well
2) This 6x media is bound to use a new MID which your old UJ-225S firmware has no proper support (writing strategy) for ...

All in all you're in for a double whammy!

The only advice I can give, is to buy some good quality media (SmartBlu 4x BD-R discs which are based on a TDK MID seem to be a very good choice of quality media if you live in the North American continent), stick with well known 2x or 4x media and avoid new 6x discs since they are bound not to be supported by your firmware (which means the drive will burn them using its default 2x strategy, leading to coasters or very poor results as a result).

chef · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 3:37 pm

The advice were already given earlier to you in this thread.

Forget about this cheapo BD media, even if it would burn "correctly", there is no real proof of data integrity by using such media.

The Firmware Page

Cross-Flash Matshita UJ-225S with Sony Q111 firmware?

Who is online