DVR-A04 vs A05. Please advice

saulin74 · #1 03-03-2003, 21:41

Hello guys...

I got a big problem here. I recently had a DVR-A05 and well I was getting problems burning XBOX games. The games would burn fine error free. However some games actually would freeze. I wasn't sure wether it was the iso or the burner so I decided to take it back to the store. Now I have heard great things about the DVR-A04 and they actually had one which was without the box. I belive it was a return. Everything else was there and the thing sure looks brand new.

So I installed and put in the installation CD to install RecordNow. I noticed it took about 10+ seconds to read the CD. It usually would take less than 5 secs with my A05. Then it took a while to read the files and install the software.

I went ahead and upgraded the firmware to 1.40, it was 1.30 before. Then I put a blank CD-R and it reads it. I put a PC game and it reads it. I put a PS2 game and it doesn't read it... I put a Verbatim blank DVD-RW and it doesn't read it. I put a blank Princo DVD-R and it doesn't read it. I put the Pioneer DVD-RW that comes with the drive and it reads it but took more than a minute.

I tried going back to 1.30 and then 1.20 firmware and it does exactly the same thing. I also tried 1.31 (BTW: This can be done only with a hacked upgdvd.exe)

So I guess this burner is fuc*ed eh?

Does a normal A04 read all these media?

PS2 games
mmm all blanks DVD-Rs and DVD-RWs?

Cause the A05 I had read everything and really fast too.

****ty cause I think this was the only A04 they had and they don't plan on bringing more A04 either.

I wanted this burner over the A05 too cause of the hacked firmwares which allow to burn @2X 1X media.

I have 5 years warranty on this thing from Future Shop.

What should I do. Take it back and get a A05 brand new box sealed. or go through Pioneer and get a new A04?

The reason I thought it could be the burner the cause of the games freezing was the fact that.

1) I tried like 3 different types of DVD-Rs and RWs.
2) I tried DVD-Rs that I know for sure they work on my Xbox.
3) I tried burning a game that I know for sure works on my XBOX on the exact same media I tried burning.

Now if it sin't the burner it could be the fact that I transfer games from my Xbox @ 1100+KB/s perhaps?

or that I transfer games to my Xbox @ 3000-7000+KB/s?

Believe me I did tried every method and all kinds of software, PrimoDVD, RecordNow Max, DiscJuggler, Nero etc...

Now I doubt it is my executer v1 modchip. Since if I get the same games on the exact media from a guy I know. I know for sure they will work 100%

BTW some of these games that did not work. I actually was able to back them up suing the originals and using the HD game install utility on Evolution X. I then ftp'ed the files to my PC and burn the game in DATA mode.

So in this case I'm talking about Isos released on the net which are not burning perfect, and believe me no one else is having this problem for those releases.

So to resume this all. Was my A05 ok?

Should I get a A05 over a A04?

There is no way to get my money back and I can only pick between a A05 and a HP DVD burner which only does + media at Future Shop.

bighap · #2 03-03-2003, 23:16

When you installed both of these drives, did you set them as master on the second ide channel?

saulin74 · #3 04-03-2003, 04:56

Actually I think is Slave on the 2nd IDE channel. It was the only one free.

But even it if it master or slave I think the DVR-A4 should be able to read my balnks and the PS2 games too.

bighap · #4 04-03-2003, 05:14

You might be suprised to find all the problems that having it set to master can fix. You are even told in the installation directions to set it as master. I am guessing you currently have your cd burner set as master. I STRONGLY advise you switch to master.

lunardave5 · #5 04-03-2003, 18:21

I have both of these drives-well CenDyne oem- and dont have probs., Do as Big says and see how it goes, If it was me I would see about a new 105, it is better than the 104, unless you use it to burn 1x Ritek at 2x.

saulin74 · #6 04-03-2003, 20:06

Got me another A05..

Does exactly the same as the previous. So it must not be the drive...

I guess I'll have to get more media to try. Different brand of DVD-Rs.

Or look somewhere else to find the problem. I'm still confused as to why is just me having the problem. Well also any of these games having problems on my moded XBOX have the same problem on my cousin's Xbox with a matrix modchip.

I tried setting the A04 at master and the same results as I spected. Now I'm running the A05 on master too and it didn't help correct the previous problem.

Ok this is the odd part of this problem. Not only will this games have problems running from DVD-Rs or RWs but also from the HD. I think it my be Evox the problem. Is there any way to get rid of it completely and get my HD back to original?

If I delete all the files on the HD then there won't be a dashboard to boot to right?

Is there anyway to revert back to the original dashboard and get rid of Evox?

I just want to see if it is Evox the problem.

And no I did not backup my old Dashboard

kagetsu · #7 06-03-2003, 18:54

Saluin, I only post once a blue moon when i'm sure i can help someone.

The problem you are having is NOT releated to your burner my friend.

Under Evolution X Dashboard there is a setting found->

System Utils -> Settings -> IN GAME RESET

Unfortuantely this function makes a patch to every game in memory to allow the two trigger black button escape to dashboard function.

YOU MUST turn this off. Otherwise the following games WILL CRASH.

Dead or Alive Xtremem Volleyball
Indiana Jones Emeralds Tomb
Otogi
Panzer Dragon ORTA

I'm 100% positive that these games are incompatible with this function.

Also there are a few homebrew apps suffereing the same effects.

Good Luck Friend. And stick with the A05.

saulin74 · #8 06-03-2003, 19:37

Yes I have heard of this fix and is supposed to work. However it does not work for me. Believe me I have tried it.

What version of Evox are you running?

my version is 1.8.3285

and it has IN GAME RESET in 3 places under settings and even turning it off in the 3 places those games will still freeze. I have also disabled it in the evox.ini and it does not make a diff.

This are supposed to be working releases too by ProjectX.

Maybe I need to have the Evox bios flashed?

And I can't flash my X-Ecuter v1?

I believe it can only be flashed once and I got it flashed.