new drivers / firmware for CDRW? and which one do i have?

[kingabiu]

hi, i have the Dragonwriter, the sticker on it says made in June 2002. It reports during startup, and in Device Manageras teh CD-RW MS-8340 firmware version 100d. It also says the driver is from Microsoft 4-23-99, but then goes on to say no driver is loaded or required for this device.

Very weird.

I can't yet find any update files on the MSI site ... i found a description of the 8340 which is listed as having a writing speed of 48x ... but mine is more like the CR-40, as it only has 40x according to the label on the box and front of the burner. So shouldn't my drive be reporting something other than 8340?

In any event, the Nero 5.5 s that came with the drive only lets me burn at up to 32x ! Have i been ripped off somehow?

so i'm all confused, can someone please set me straight as to if i need to upgrade or change my drivers/firmware/bios etc? And is it Nero's fault or my drives fault that i can't get the option to write at 40x?

thanks!

 

[Deathstalker]

kingabiu,

There is a difference between Drivers and Firmware. If you are using Windows XP, CD-RW Drives are all Native to WinXP so no driver is required.

Here is the latest Firmware:

8340 Firmware

Good Luck,

Richard

 

[kingabiu]

Thanks Richard,

i downloaded the firmware, and oddly enough it reports that 'no cd rom drives are detected' !!!

btw, I'm using windows 98. According to it, i do have the cd rom drive there, as shown by Device Manager. Nero sees it ... but whenever i try to burn, it results in 'burn failed', without any explanation of why. very frustrating! i've gone into Device Manager, where i discovered that 'disconnect' and 'dma' was selected ... i've unchecked eveything now, rebooted, but it still won't work. removed the whole entry while in safemode, rebooted, and still no good. the burner appears to operate just fine, until the moment of burning.

i think i certainlly will need some luck, as well as any other advice you might have!

thanks,
charlie

Originally posted by Deathstalker
kingabiu,

There is a difference between Drivers and Firmware. If you are using Windows XP, CD-RW Drives are all Native to WinXP so no driver is required.

Here is the latest Firmware:


Good Luck,

Richard

 

[Jmedic]

Not sure what BIOS you have, but look for DMA/PIO settings in the BIOS and set those manualy if you have the option. you should only have to play with 2nd IDE channel.

You may not even have that option though. I did'nt in mine.

Do you have S.M.A.R.T. enabled for your harddrive? if so, disable it. This is one of the things I did and my drive is working now (so far).

Good Luck,

J.

 

[kingabiu]

thanks guys, i've got it burning now! i think what happened is that after i went into Device Manager and unclicked everything, i also had to re-install Nero, as the cdrw had a different profile. but i don't know for sure.

i have two problems remaining though:

1. Nero 5.5 gives me the option of burning at a maximum of 32x. But my Dragonwriter should be able to go at 40x. Is this a limitation of the software, or is it indicitive of another problem i have?

2. i tried to upgrade to the latest 8340 firmware (but i don't know if i even need to, as the sticker on the drive said it was made in June 2002, which is very new) ... but the dos program said 'no cd-roms connected to computer' !!! weird huh? yet, i have no trouble burning now.

any thoughts?

thanks,
charlie

 

[Wonkanoby]

it never really pays in my view to buy the latest burners

why because it takes 6 to 9 months for nero and the like to catch up

also there is not a big choice when it comes to disks

are your disks rated at 40x?

i burn a lot and find it pays any way to burn slower than the drives rated 20x on my 32 works 100 percent
time difference all but nil

 

[kingabiu]

No, my disks are only rated to 24x, so yes this isn't immediately a problem.

i am concerned that Nero only gives me the option to burn up to 32x.

I am wondering if that is Nero's limit, or if it only decided to give me that option, because Nero thinks that is my burner's limit?

anyone else have Nero 5.5 that gives them the option of a faster burn?

Originally posted by wonkanoby
it never really pays in my view to buy the latest burners

why because it takes 6 to 9 months for nero and the like to catch up

also there is not a big choice when it comes to disks

are your disks rated at 40x?

i burn a lot and find it pays any way to burn slower than the drives rated 20x on my 32 works 100 percent
time difference all but nil

 

[bim2k]

Hi,

IIRC the newer burners "test" the media quality to determine the fastest speed it will use for that media. I've burnt my 24x Verbatim CDRs at 32x without problems

Haven't bought the 40X Verbatims yet, so can't say if it burns full speed with rated 40X media ?( but it SHOULD work

BIM2k

 

[kingabiu]

thanks guys! yes, now that i've put a 40x disc in the drive, it is indeed now giving me the option to burn at that speed!

i still need to sort out a problem with the firmware updater. This is what it spits out:

------------------------------------------------

Detecting CD-ROM drives (check 2 IDE cables, 4 ports)
Checking IDE #1 ok
Checking IDE #2 ok
No CD-ROM drive are detected

-------------------------------------------------

that seems weird eh? I most certainly do have my cd-rw on Secondary Master, and cd-r on Secondary Slave. Perhaps is this the stupid message it returns with if the firmware doesn't need updating?

btw, how to know what firmware i have? It says 'firmware revision 100d' in Device Mangler, if that is the correct one. Does anyone know to what version the vow-dos.exe updater is set to update to?

cheers,
charlie

Originally posted by bim2k
Hi,

IIRC the newer burners "test" the media quality to determine the fastest speed it will use for that media. I've burnt my 24x Verbatim CDRs at 32x without problems

Haven't bought the 40X Verbatims yet, so can't say if it burns full speed with rated 40X media ?( but it SHOULD work

BIM2k