DRU500A
4X DVD-RW Media Compatibility Notice
Please Note: 4X DVD-RW media is not compatible for recording with your drive, please use 1X or 2X compatible DVD-RW media only.
Optical Product Parts and Accessories Information
The Sony Electronics Inc. optical product you have purchased is supplied with the parts, software and accessories needed to use the product. If you need to obtain additional or replacement parts, software and accessories for your optical product then the storage support team will attempt to obtain it for you at your sole cost and expense. Product information guides, manuals and other documentation packaged with the optical products normally can be downloaded directly from this web site.
Sonic MyDVD Updates
MyDVD v5.2 Software Upgrade
Sonic is now providing a special MyDVD 5.2 upgrade offer to those using MyDVD that came bundled with certain Sony Dual RW drives. Please note that this special offer only applies to Sony Dual RW drive customers and is not compatible with those using MyDVD bundled by other vendors, retail versions, or updates from earlier versions.
MyDVD Update
IDE Installation Guide
IDE Installation Guide
1) With the computer shutdown and all the power disconnected, open up your computer. Remove the cover mounting screws and then the cover.
The computer boots up and the BIOS can recognize the primary (master/slave) hard disk drive, but it cannot recognize all devices connected to the secondary hard disk drive. Why?
Is the power connected?
Is the IDE interface cable correctly connected? (Make sure it is completely plugged in)
Is the setup correct? Is the position of the jumper pin correctly set?
In the BIOS, is the secondary disabled? (For detailed information on BIOS settings, please contact the PC's manufacturer)
Is the secondary's interface cable too long? (Has it exceeded the ATAPI specification of 18 inches/45cm?)
Is the IDE cable's pin twisted? (Also, make sure there is no reversed insertion.)
I am having a read/write problem with the DVD media bundle with my drive.
Sony has discovered problems with some of the DVD+RW media bundled with the following Dual RW drive models: DRU-500A, DRX-500UL, DRU-500AX, DRX-500ULX. If you are having a problem recording to or reading from a Sony DVD+RW disc that was bundled with your drive, please click here for more information.
What improvements will the 2.0F firmware upgrade give my DRU500A or DRX500L?
The 2.0F firmware...
- Allows your Dual RW drive to record at 4X on 4X compatible DVD-/+R media.
- Improves reading and writing performance and reliability.
- Reduces vibration noise for the discs with unbalance or eccentricity.
- Improves audio playback on written discs with stand alone systems.
What is the difference between the DRU500A and DRU500AX and the DRX500UL and DRX500ULX?
The hardware is identical. The software that comes with the DRU500A and DRX500UL is on a CD-ROM disc and you will need to download the latest updates to the software from the Internet. The DRU500AX and DRX500ULX comes on a DVD-ROM disc and has all the latest software updates included. Both drives can be updated to the same, latest firmware.
When trying to install the firmware update for the DRU500 or DRU510A I am getting an error write header mode 6 failure. What is causing this error?
You must disable DMA before updating the firmware.
To disable DMA Go to:
- Right Click My Computer
- Choose Properties
- Choose Hardware
- Choose Device Manager
- Click the + in front of IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers
- Double Click the secondary IDE Controller
- Choose the Advanced Settings Tab
- Change the DMA mode for both Device O and Device 1 to PIO Only
- Click Apply, and OK
- You will need to restart the computer for the settings to take effect
If you do not have this option and have a Via IDE ATA/ATAPI Controller in Device manger do the following:
- Go to Add/Remove Programs
- Remove the Via 4 in 1 driver
- Reboot your system
- Follow steps to disable DMA