Hello everyone, I am using a sony DRX810UL external dvd burner with all the latest firm ware. from what i understand sony is baged as a BenQ model drive. I am not getting any "PIF" reading in Nero cd-dvd speed I know what it is now. i also know it is a big "RISK" involved. does anyone have any experience doing this type of stuff because i am all new to this. If i left the drive the way it is know but it still had all the firmware update from sony rather then benQ. the bottom line is what am and will i gain by "FLASHING beside being able to read my PIF any help be real nice thank you once again
It's a gamble. Some people have successfully "flashed" drives that are merely rebadged versions of a generic. Others have tried it and found out the drives weren't exactly the same and their drives no longer worked or worked properly. It's best to only "flash" a drive with firmware supplied by the manufacturer for a particular drive. Your drive and your gamble.
Hello brobear, Perhaps you can shead some light on this subjsct. I am using Nero cd-dvd speed with a sony drx810UL. The problem is i get no PIF reading and people have been telling me that drive is a rebag of the benQ 1650 or something. So in order for this drive to be compatable witha lot of things i need to cross flash which is very risky as well as dangerous. So are my PIF readings very important. and what are your PIF readings. also do yourself use "NERO" cd dvd speed. I know there not much i can do with out cross flashing all my drivers are up to date from sony any help would be nice thank you John Bryson
I use Plextools with my Plextor drive to do my testing. You'll find a lot of drives that won't do all the tests included in the Nero CD-DVD Speed utility. Also, the quality reading is questionable unless all the tests can be done with that utility. To put it mildly, I don't think it makes a lot of difference if you can use all of the CD-DVD Speed utility or not. The important test is reading the disc for read/write errors and most drives will accomplish that if they're working. I burned hundreds of discs before I got the Plextor and I still can't use all of the Nero CD-DVD Speed tests. (I have their equivalent in Plextools.) Use quality media and you won't run into many media related problems. If testing is a must for your peace of mind, I suggest buying a burner that will do all the tests you require without having to do the risky cross flashing. I prefer flashing my drives with the firmware suggested by the manufacturer. Also, if there is any warranty left, the cross flashing voids that as well. As I said, cross flashing is a gamble, unless you're 100% sure. It's your gamble to take. You know the possibilities, so the decision has to be yours. How sure are you that they're the same drive with the same memory chips?
@brysonj Just curious as to why quality scanning is so important to you? Are you having issues with your backups? Do you believe the quality is bad? My suggestion would be to get another drive or live with the one that you have. The only time I use the quality scanning is when I'm on a new spindle of media or have reflashed my drive...just to see how everything measures up. And like BroBear stated, what you really want to look at is your read/write errors, which your drive will probably do. http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/319100
I have had success cross flashing drives in the past, but only if I read that it was done before with success. Check this site and use the search feature there to see if any info on your drive comes up. If it can be done, that site will tell you. http://www.rpc1.com. Jerry
