The Firmware Page

Yeah, me too, apologies from me. And it was like in the morning here. I was kinda tired.

tried a verbatim +r (MBIPG101R03)

and just like others at 45% i get errors when burning at 12x.

info:

I don't know if this is a help or even pertinent, but when I put 52x Ty cdr's in my lite-on LTR-52246S cdrw it acts just like Reality describes. The burner has burned every other cdr fine including a white top ty (these are silver top).

And thanks >NIL: for the firmware, I was going to get a NEC3500 because I have 3 spindles of Japan Maxell 4x dvd-r that burned nice in my 2500a, but when I read about this firmware I decided on the a08 because I liked my a06 so much (I trade equipoment around a lot when I build systems for friends).

Cheers,
Mike

If only it was that simple...
And the above is not just a rhetoric statement patchers are making just to make themselves sound important. Patching firmwares is more complex than most people imagine. This doesn't mean it takes a rocket scientist to do this either, but it's a little more complex than something like: a media ID points to a table with all the strategies it can use for each speed, and you just need to (somehow) add the strategies you are missing.

For instance, with 1.14 Pioneer started to compress +R strategies, which they weren't doing in 1.06 and 1.10. This doesn't seem like that big a deal, but this simple change forced me to rewrite nx4all for +R from scratch. You see, a patcher always tries to use the least intrusive way of doing things, and up to 1.10, the the least intrusive way was just to use the fact that each stragey had a constant size to add the extra speeds with an override. With a compressed strategy however, this trick no longer works, and uncompressing all strategies to get back to the old way of doing thing is way too intrusive => a bad idea (because the more changes you add, the more chances you has to [*Profanity*] things big time)

But this is just one of the changes that was introduced since 1.06 and there is additional stuff to take care of. I'm not short of ideas of what might be wrong with the first release, but I'd prefer analyse each possibility, rather than give it a try with a bunch of quick releases and let you guys do the body count.

Nil, I hope I didn't leave the impression that I thought what you do is simple. I don't. Im almost an MCSE (Microsoft Certified systems expert)2 tests short. Im great with OS, apps, software, Virus removal and Hardware, but I am not a programmer or coder. Just not in my DNA I guess!

It amazes me that there are people as dedicated as you are doing stuff like this for free. I know you put in a lot of hours and are working on several different drive firmwares at once. Without people like you, guys like me would be stuck rippin' at 3.5x !!!

So I just wanted to say thanks for your effort and Keep up the excellent work. You are appreciated!!!

PS. Im just trying to get a handle on time zones here. Im in Canada and its 4:33 PM

One more question. If things started getting wierd with the oem 114 compressing the +R stratagies, then why wouldn't one make a hacked 110? This is just a question, Im dumb when it comes to coding. Is there a reason we have to stick with 114 to be happy

Big big shame on Pioneer:

This Verbatim 4x

I have the same problem with Ritek 8x -R discs. Nero, DVDInfo reports as CD-ROM:
Manufacturer Media Code Not Specified
Free Blocks 1743724544
Free Capacity 1662.95MB(1743.72MB
Media Type CD-ROM
This is even after removing the disc. So I cannot use Ritek r03 media.
Sorry, I have to go back to NIL's 1.06 firmware

Are there any plans to release a 108 firmware that only removes the region lock (RPC2 > RPC1), and the RIP speed limit?

I don't really fancy the patch that adjusts the burn speed, or write strategy, as I prefer the official Pioneer method of only letting me burn any particular media at the officially approved rate. This would also mean (I think) not messing up the +R areas and DL area problems. It would mean it's very simple to test, and would be a non-beta very quickly..

Don't select higher write speeds in your burning app then


Ouch!

Look around, it's already released.
http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?t=29951

Yes. Latest firmwares are ALWAYS the best. They have the best strategies, they have improvements and they have bugs fixed.

This is exactly why you should never be happy with forced limitations.

SoNic, -R media really? Or wouldn't it be +R instead (or after you have played with +R in your drive, as we all know they produce great instability with this first release).

I strongly doubt that there is ANY kind of problem like this on the -R side, because other people would have reported the same by now.

>NIL: More info on the R03.001 as follows:-

I burnt a Ritek R03.001 in my 812@832 which is bitset to ROM (verified in a DVD-ROM drive that does not read DVD+R).

In the 108 with the 1.14 beta 1 f/w I thought I should see if the f/w could read the DVD, but it could not because the busy led stays orange (until I ejected the disc after a minute) and XP SP2 cannot see that there is any disc in the drive.

Hope this helps.

Andrew

any ETA on XL version Nil?
hanging for it

HI I've just flashed my drive from pioneers official 1.14 to neils 1.14 and hey presto 8X drd-r arita disks that were only working at 4X with official pioneer version are able to write at 16X.

I thought that neils hack was 12X for all but if it is 16X all the better.

Anyway thank's to neil and could someone please tell me if 16X is availbale on all media or 8X media or selected media.

I must say pioneer with reference to there official 1.14 firmware was very unhelpfull they could not tell me why arita 8X disks were only working at 4X and were not interested but it oviously had to do with there firmware as neil's works great.

interesting as all my tests on ritek G04 media have burned fine without errors at 12x

I'm using Arita 8X G05 this is what i'm mentioning in the thread and beleive me i'm not complaining neil's firmware is the best.

I just need to know how i'm getting 16X on my arita offered when neil's hack is 12X for all.

Will only certain media work at 16X or is it any media.

You can try any speed with any media.
As for the results: any speed higher than officially supported is subject to "trial and error". At this point you have to do your own tests.

Mike

Uh, yeah, about that. It's true I had the intention of patching only for 12x4all instead of 16x4all, but then I realised it would take slightly more work to achieve that than to bust everything for 16x4all, so I changed my mind.

Most disks (unless they are really good disks) will fall back to 8 speed burning anyway for the last 15% of the disk as the drive detects that 12/16 speed isn't going well.

Yep, even they can be burnt 12x they fall back to 8x after approx 4.4gb, which is really a good thing IMO.
Happens around 4gb, my fault.

Hello Nil,

Any word on when we can expect Nil 114 beta 2? I don't meen to push, but I can't wait to try the new release!!!

lol poor NILS let him take a breath!!! we just got this firmware!!! but i must admit i cant wait for another genieus release of NILS but lets give him a break he's a human to you know

beta 2 has been released. Don't get your hopes too high, coz it looks from here that I will have to come up with a better way of doing nx4all for +R.

And remember, if you want to burn +R properly, you can always use the officail firmware or Gradius's patch, so don't make it look like your only hope to burn +R media is when I release a working patch

Hi Nil,

Things are looking up. My drive doesn't stop responding and Windows doesn't think there is still a disc in the drive after loading a Ritek 8X +R (R03-01) and removing it. The drive still doesn't know what they are as it says Disc not dvd. Then I put in a G05 and a G04 both fired up info window in DVD Decrypter as it should. Then I put the +R Ritek back in and dvd Decrypter said disc not empty and the lite stayed on the 108, but I was able to eject the disc without loss of windows logic.

I then put in a Fuji 4x +R which fired right up and said I could burn it upto 12X. This is what DVD Decrypter had to say

PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-108 1.14 (ATA)
Current Profile: DVD+R

Disc Information:
Status: Complete
Erasable: No
Sessions: 1
Sectors: 1,881,952
Size: 3,854,237,696 bytes
Time: 418:14:52 (MM:SS:FF)
Supported Write Speeds: 2.4x, 4x, 6x, 8x, 12x

Physical Format Information (ADIP):
Disc ID: RICOHJPN-R01-02
Book Type: DVD+R
Part Version: 1
Disc Size: 120mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 1
Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP)
Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track
First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196,608
Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 2,491,711
Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 0

Physical Format Information (Last Recorded):
Disc ID: RICOHJPN-R01-02
Book Type: DVD-ROM
Part Version: 1
Disc Size: 120mm
Maximum Read Rate: Not Specified
Number of Layers: 1
Track Path: Parallel Track Path (PTP)
Linear Density: 0.267 um/bit
Track Density: 0.74 um/track
First Physical Sector of Data Area: 196,608
Last Physical Sector of Data Area: 2,078,559
Last Physical Sector in Layer 0: 0

Then I poped in an Arita 4X +R (Which burn @ 12x on oem pioneer firmware) This is all dvd decrypter had to say.

PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-108 1.14 (ATA)
Current Profile: Unknown

Disc Information:
Status: Unknown
Erasable: Unknown
Formatted: Unknown
Sessions: Unknown

I think this is a step forward as I no longer have to restart my computer to regain control of my 108 after loading a Ritek +R.

Keep up the good work Nil. If there are any scans or info you need just ask. Im off work with a Ruptured Disc so I have lots of time on my hands.

PS. Give me your address and I will send you a Ritek 8X +R !!!