New-Faster DVD-R media will burn up superdrives

magicfingersmagicfingers
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
Was just watching screen savers and Leo and Pat reported that computers using pioneer dvd superdrives

including Apple's computers are subject to the SD's burning themselves up trying to read thiese new disks.

They said there is a firmware update but I missed where it was.....duh!



Maybe Apple has a fix for this already?

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 6
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    Not yet. If y ou have a PC you can upload the firmware via a Windows updater from Pioneer's website, but they seem to have several updaters...one each for the 103, A03, 104, A04.
  • Reply 2 of 6
    mimacmimac Posts: 872member
    The problem seems to be when WRITING to the new high speed discs, reading is not a problem.

    N.B. The Superdrive currently reads DVDs at 6x and writes at 2x



    Here is the pioneer link...



    <a href="http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/hs/pioneer.html"; target="_blank">http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/hs/pioneer.html</a>;



    ...and for the lazy...



    Quote



    DVD-R/RW Computer Drives and DVD Recorders



    LONG BEACH --Â* As the DVD Forum releases the specifications for new high-speed discs for DVD recording, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. announces that many of its DVD-R/RW computer drives and DVD recorders will require a firmware update in order to avoid potential damage to the units and discs. The update process is free and relatively simple, and it is extremely important for owners of these products to make sure it is completed prior to using any new high-speed discs for recording.



    The DVD Forum has established new standards for high-speed recordable discs (4X for DVD-R and 2X for DVD-RW). Various media manufacturers have begun production of these discs that will soon be available in the marketplace. The source of the problem is a firmware "bug" in certain Pioneer DVD-R/RW recorders and drives, and not with the high-speed media itself. As a result, use of the new high-speed discs for recording on these particular Pioneer products may cause damage to both the loaded disc and to the drive/recorder. The following drives and recorders may be affected:Â*



    * Pioneer DVR-7000 DVD recorder

    * Pioneer PRV-9000 Professional DVD recorder

    * Pioneer DVR-A03 computer drive

    * Pioneer DVR-103 computer drive

    * Pioneer DVR-A04 computer drive

    * Pioneer DVR-104 computer drive



    In addition to the above models, certain OEM computer systems containing Pioneer-manufactured DVD-R/RW drives are affected.Â*



    Anyone who owns or uses any of the above-listed products should conduct the free firmware update immediately, prior to using the new high-speed media.



    End quote.



    The Macintosh updaters page is currently "under construction".



    [ 09-24-2002: Message edited by: MiMac ]</p>
  • Reply 3 of 6
    xaqtlyxaqtly Posts: 450member
    Actually that's not true, as I understand it. The problem is that the Pioneer drives don't recognize this new media at all. When you put a disc in, the drive tries to determine what kind of media it is. The problem is that it can't determine and it keeps running the laser, and after about 5 minutes it burns out.



    So as a warning - do NOT put this media into your Superdrive, whether you're planning on writing to it or not. It WILL burn out your drive, simply by inserting the disc.
  • Reply 4 of 6
    ti fighterti fighter Posts: 863member
    any update to a superdrive fix? this seems pretty important and pioneer and apple need to do something
  • Reply 5 of 6
    burningwheelburningwheel Posts: 1,827member
    what new discs?
  • Reply 6 of 6
    ti fighterti fighter Posts: 863member
    ahhh......where our update it says "macintosh updaters (aftermarket drives only)" on the pioneer site now, but its still under construction. im gonna call these weasels at apple
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