Can anyone help me with instructions for updating the firmware in my new Pioneer? I already have used it to backup a few DVD's but it seems to be very slow, like 4 hours to rip, compress and burn. I am using DVD Shrink and NERO. I went to http://flashman.rpc-1.com/Firmware/...107Dv1.05_RPC-1+12xRip+8xDVD-R_WINDOWS_XP.zip and downloaded this. I haven't unzipped it though. I do not want to mess up the drive till I get some advice. I went to the Pioneer site and there is no info about this drive. Mine says it was made in January of 2004. Somewhere in a forum I read that the drive is locked to read slow from the factory. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Hiya, Don't flash the A07... Buy a Pioneer DVD-121 DVD Reader (they are cheap) as it will give you good ripping speeds straight off (mine does a MINIMUM of 4X and quite often rips at 10X or faster) Dedicated hardware is best. Have Fun...
Im using that firmware. The Pioneer's and all other writers are set to rip slowly, bout 2x. However, 4 hours is a lot longer than it should be. Make sure that in the drive settings DMA is selected.
Is a few (and it is a few) minutes saved on a burn worth the risk of flashing?? Burning @ 4x takes approx 15 mins... The time savings just ain't that important (unless of course you are pirating, then speed of duplication matters). The Pioneer range is one of the most respected, stable & reliable ranges. MUCH bigger time savings can be made by ripping from a DVD Reader. Methinks the race for bigger numbers/faster speeds/bragging rights is leading some people astray. Have Fun...
Thanks for all of your responses. I don't want to sound uneducated but am I hearing that a dedicated DVD ROM will read faster than a Combo RW Drive? If that is so then I will certainly try the ROM approach before flashing. I didn't mention that the burn time is fast, it is the read time that is way slow. My Sony DRU530 even reads much faster.
One other thing I would like to mention. Does defraging the hard drive often worth the time that takes? Also, my Intel celeron runs at 1.3g is that where the bottle neck comes from. I backup fast when there is no compression required. I notice that when Shrink is analizing, it is very fast sometimes and other times about 1/4 as fast. Any help....please. Thanks
Hi from one Jerry to another. I just reflashed my drive with the firmware you mentioned. It works great but if you are unsure about how to do it or if your drive is still under warranty, I would wait. The improvement was my rip times are cut to 1/3 of what they were before. I got a 12.5x test rip on single layer dvd's. Before taking any chances read all the pros and cons of the flash. Jerry
Thanks for the input Jerry746. I flashed my Sony when I first got it and had no problems. But I think I will go the ROM approach ( If my local retailer has the Pioneer 121 drchips talked about) and if that works I will leave the RW Pioneer alone for now. I am getting really interested in this "qwest" as I call it now.
