Pioneer 104 update. FYI

june16th · #1 21-02-2003, 03:31

Representatives from Pioneer Electronics USA, based in Long Beach, Calif., said that writing to blank 4x DVD-R and 2x DVD-RW discs can cause its DVD-rewritable PC drives and DVD recorders to freeze.

If the drives or recorders remain frozen for longer than five minutes, the optical lens, which writes to the discs, can overheat and render the hardware inoperable.

To fix the problem, a user must download new software that can manage the system's hardware. The update is available on the Pioneer Web site. Owners can also have a disc with the fix mailed to them by calling 1-800-421-1623.

Question....Is this the best DVD_RW to buy or are there others?

ottoman · #2 21-02-2003, 03:59

Updating to version 1.40 of firmware is meant to solve this problem according to Pioneer.

U can download firmware update from pioneer.com.

It does specifically say on the site that u shouldn't attempt to use a DVD-r X4 or DVD-rw X2 until u have updated yr firmware to this version.

HANS_COBBO · #3 21-02-2003, 06:17

I have a A04 with Fw1.40, never had a problem burning with 4x media.

mud ver.2 · #4 21-02-2003, 13:17

I have the 104, and can't update my firmware on Pioneer's site. I have to use the firmware from SOTEC.

The latest version from them is ... 1.31

ottoman · #5 21-02-2003, 14:08

Try HERE!!!! or HERE!!!!

mud ver.2 · #6 21-02-2003, 17:13

Already tried there. Latest Sotec fw they have is 1.30.

rottenrod · #7 22-02-2003, 15:23

does the update work on the ao4? I heard that once you apply the update, the backups will not work in the moded ps2. Thnx

bighap · #8 22-02-2003, 15:44

Not true. I replied to your post in the cd/dvd burner forum.

ottoman · #9 22-02-2003, 16:08

Okay. I is confused...........

U have a pioneer 104 DVD burner and so do I.

I can download and update with firmware 1.40 and u can't. How come??

And for Rottenrod: no, Ii can guarentee that:

1. Pioneer A04 and 104 are exactly the same drive.

2. With firmware 1.40 installed u can still copy and burn PS2 dvd-r and they still work perfectly.

rottenrod · #10 22-02-2003, 18:48

thnx guys. Great to get fast replies.

mud ver.2 · #11 22-02-2003, 20:24

Quote:

Originally posted by ottoman
I can download and update with firmware 1.40 and u can't. How come??

Open up your PC. On top of your Pioneer 104, read the model number. It should look like

DVR 104 XX

The xx's will be letters. Mine are SA (I think). That means that my drive was made by SOTEC. All 104 drives are made by someone else besides Pioneer (I asked a Pioneer rep. on the phone about this).

Sony, Apple, NEC, & SOTEC are all examples of OEM 104 makers. Supposedly, you can only update your 104 firmware with the OEM manufactuer's fw update software.

ie - If you have a Sony drive, you have to use Sony's 104 updater.

I've tried using Pioneer's updater. I get an error message to the effect of "Kernal number of part does not match", or something like that. I cannot use Pioneer's fw update software. I wish I could.