How to Flash a SONY DVD Drive on a iMAC?

[neocell]

I have a Sony DVD RW DW-U10A on my G4 1 GHz iMac (firmware revision A13b).
This drive supposedly supports +DVDs (Finder does) by Toast won't work with them. I've done a bunch of searchers and found that the U10A is the same basics as the DRU500A (which will burn both ± media at 4X), and there's a bunch of sites for downloading firmware to flash the U10A to turn it into a DRU500A. Unfortunately these are all developed for PC/Windows (.exe files). Does anyone know of a firmware update that is executable on an iMac? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[livingfortoday]

I'm not 100% if you're referring to using a PC drive in the iMac, or if this is a native Mac drive, but I've used PatchBurn to get DVD-RW's to work with Toast and iTunes. You can get it at versiontracker.com.

 

[ldenman]

just lift your shirt up....easy....

 

[neocell]

I'm not 100% if you're referring to using a PC drive in the iMac, or if this is a native Mac drive, but I've used PatchBurn to get DVD-RW's to work with Toast and iTunes. You can get it at versiontracker.com.

It's the original iMac drive. It's been giving me some problems though, so I thought I'd try flashing it if possible, if not I'll look for a replacement. Its antics are starting to get tiresome. Thanks for the suggestion of PatchBurn, I'll give it a try

 

[simie]

It appears that you need a PC to flash the drives firmware. No Mac version available.

The drive is an OEM version of the DRU-500a.

 

[neocell]

I'm not 100% if you're referring to using a PC drive in the iMac, or if this is a native Mac drive, but I've used PatchBurn to get DVD-RW's to work with Toast and iTunes. You can get it at versiontracker.com.

Having the same problems after using PatchBurn, thanks though for the suggestion livingfortoday

Anyone with any other ideas???

 

[Gokhan]

hi

now my drive was a pioneer 106d but if u have the correct firmware use dvdr flash 2.1 do a search and download the relervant firmware file should be a blank file in osx with a bunch of numbers i tried at http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?category=4&manufactor=30 but under your drive model it lists that there is no rp1 firmware but maybe you could flash it to a dru 500 and then flash that to region free !!!

follow the instuctions caerfully and rememeber i or nobody can gurantee you the sucess of this procedure but if u feel brave go for it !!!

 

[neocell]

now my drive was a pioneer 106d but if u have the correct firmware use dvdr flash 2.1 do a search and download the relervant firmware file should be a blank file in osx with a bunch of numbers i tried at http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?category=4&manufactor=30 but under your drive model it lists that there is no rp1 firmware but maybe you could flash it to a dru 500 and then flash that to region free !!!

follow the instuctions caerfully and rememeber i or nobody can gurantee you the sucess of this procedure but if u feel brave go for it !!!

I wanted to flash it to get support for burning +R discs not for region-free status so I'll go with the link you provided. Thanks a lot

**EDIT**
Okay, I looked at the site, but I'm a little lost with it. I don't think it's exactly what I wanted as it seems that its solely for making drives region free. I think I need a program that allows me to change the firmware and also the firmware file that I want to change it to. All the linked files are .exe so how do I use them on my Mac?

 

[Gokhan]

k

then just download the firmware updates for ur model and you are good to go !!

 

[OutThere]

I hate to be a worry-wart, but I'll just throw this out there...flashing your drive can have serious implications, and you might end up not being able to burn any DVDs at all...especially if you are trying work-around flashing methods that you're not entirely sure of.

 

[Gokhan]

k

look in the mac section of the site download dvdr flash x or 2.1 then download the firmware files and there should be a white blank file with a bunch of numbers among the pc files use this file as your firmware file follow the read me with the program !!

and you can apply the firmware

 

[neocell]

look in the mac section of the site download dvdr flash x or 2.1 then download the firmware files and there should be a white blank file with a bunch of numbers among the pc files use this file as your firmware file follow the read me with the program !!

and you can apply the firmware

Sorry, must be an complete Noob, I can't find the files you're referring to. Could you post a link to the page. Thanks

I hate to be a worry-wart, but I'll just throw this out there...flashing your drive can have serious implications, and you might end up not being able to burn any DVDs at all...especially if you are trying work-around flashing methods that you're not entirely sure of.

Yeah, I know the risks, I'm just trying to really live

 

[Gokhan]

k

http://lasvegas.rpc1.org/DVRFlash_v2.1.zip dvd flash
and just download the firmware for your drive from the main page then unpack and use the blank file with numbers follow read me with this download

http://lasvegas.rpc1.org/DVRFlashX_v2.1.zip this is simplier to use try this first

 

[neocell]

http://lasvegas.rpc1.org/DVRFlash_v2.1.zip dvd flash
and just download the firmware for your drive from the main page then unpack and use the blank file with numbers follow read me with this download

http://lasvegas.rpc1.org/DVRFlashX_v2.1.zip this is simplier to use try this first

Thanks a lot

 

[Gokhan]

k

contray to popular belif here i try help whenever i can !!

hope it works just be carefull !!

if all else fails take the drive out and flash it or use virtual pc