I've been using an nec nd3550a drive to burn verbatim 8x dvd +r dl's with dvdfab/vobblanker/imgburn iso build and burn (I've had the same problems using pgcedit or ripit4me). While many of my burns are flawless, more than half are full of thick, dark banding patterns after I burn, which render big chunks of the discs unwatchable due to constant stuttering and skipping. Oddly, I thought, I can often get a good burn using the same iso that just failed, simply by burning again without changing anything.
I tried to update firmware for the drive but couldn't remove the intel application accelerator because I can't switch my serial ATA controller from AHCI to IDE configuration.
Does anyone know whether firmware is likely to be the problem? If so, can I safely flash it and/or remove the prog accel without destabilizing my system?
I guess these questions reveal that I'm not a very advanced user, but i've been burning dvd's for a couple years, having used a whole slew of rippers, burners, editors etc. and this thread seemed to belong in this subforum.
I have firmware 1.05 and have no problem burning Verbatims at 2.4x speed. I advice people to NEVER burn at the max rated speed - usually, burn single-layers at 4x or less and DLs at 2.4 or less.
If you need to update your firmware, there is a hacked firmware that will allow bitsetting single-layer DVD+Rs as well as DLs. NECs will bitset DLs but not SLs for some bizarre reason.
-Do you believe you own your computer and shouldn't be told what you can run and do? Then say *NO* to Microsoft Vista!
-Since half the questions here involve media problems, here ya go: Only use Verbatim or Taiyo-Yuden discs (get your TYs from Rima.com, not Supermediastore or meritline). Forget the rest, no matter what "brand" they sell under. Always burn at 4x speed regardless of the speed rating of this discs or your drive. If you have burn problems with these then you have to update your drive's firmware. For double-layer discs, only use Verbatim DVD+R DL and burn them at 2.4x speed.
When I try to update firmware, I'm told to first remove the application accelerator or my system would experience problems. When I try to do that I get a message telling me that I first need to switch the configuration on my ATA controller. Then when I attempt to the option does not exist.
This is my main problem, I guess. Would you remove it anyway, is there a way around the problem or should I forget the whole thing. Has anyone else had trouble updating firmware?
If you have the option of installing the drive in another machine and performing the firmware flash, that would be ideal.
If not, here's what you do with some rescue options in case something goes wrong (this is more to protect your hard disks than your DVD drive). First create a Restore Point (Start->Help and Support->Performance and Maintenance->Using System Restore to Undo Changes->Run the System Restore Wizard.) Select Create Restore point and make one.
Then, have your Windows XP installation disc ready (I'm assuming you are using XP, otherwise grab the approriate installation disk). Go into Start->Control Panel->Performance and Maintenance ->System->Hardware->Device Manager->IDE and ATAPI Devices and click the + sign to reveal more items. Select the Primary or Secondary channel (depending on which one the DVD drive is on, though you can do both if you're not sure) and click the Driver tab. Under "Drive Provider" it should say Intel, maybe also for the Driver Signer. If so click Update Driver. Repeat this for the Secondary Channel and anything else under IDE and ATAPI Devices.
Now do the firmware update. Do not turn off the power or do anything until the update is complete.
Play with your system a bit. If you feel that your hard disk and stuff seem to run as fast or faster than they did before, don't bother to rollback to the Intel Application Accelerator drivers. I suspect this to be a marketing gimmick.
However, if you want the AA bakc, you should have noticed that under the "Update Driver" actions in each panel there was another button labelled "Rollback Driver". Click this for each item that you Updated Drivers for.
If you have trouble with the rollbacks (which is unlikely), you can use the Restore Point you created earlier to fix everything. Go back into the System Restore Point wizard and, rather than select Create Restore Point, select Restore My System to an Earlier Time.
If your IDE drivers still seem weird, run that program you downloaded. It has the Intel Application Accelerator drivers.
-Do you believe you own your computer and shouldn't be told what you can run and do? Then say *NO* to Microsoft Vista!
-Since half the questions here involve media problems, here ya go: Only use Verbatim or Taiyo-Yuden discs (get your TYs from Rima.com, not Supermediastore or meritline). Forget the rest, no matter what "brand" they sell under. Always burn at 4x speed regardless of the speed rating of this discs or your drive. If you have burn problems with these then you have to update your drive's firmware. For double-layer discs, only use Verbatim DVD+R DL and burn them at 2.4x speed.
