Hardware problem: Sony DRU 190A fit to LVW-5005 UK

Hi
i have a couple of questions, i have a 5005 unit and the drive died, looking through the forum posts that loads of replacement units seem to work, CCROMEO posted a list which people keep adding to. On the list is a Sony DRU-190A which people have fitted, i have fitted this drive to the trusty 5005 and it plays DVDs ok, but when i record it goes through the motions and after about 35 seconds comes up with "write fail" Do i need to flash the drive with a specific firmware (not sure what firmware is on at the moment but its a November 2007) and what is the process etc
It has the 3hr hack and is macro free.
Any help appreciated.

hi again, i see a lot of posts for the 5005 and replacing drives, i also appreciate that i may be duplicating questions or potential faults, i merely need the correct DVD firmware version and where i can download to hopefully restore full recording on the dru-190 drive, i do not have +r or +rw discs and would really like the facility to use -R discs.
i have so far used ltnrpc to set region etc but other posts state that they up/downgraded the drive firmware and bingo works fine
could somebody please point me in the direction of the best drive firmware which restores -r recording facility
cheers

Did you connect to computer and set the region before installing in the recorder? Some have had this same -R issue, but setting the region first should fix it according to post #184 at http://club.cdfreaks.com/f102/replac...98/index8.html. The firmware version should be the last set of 4 digits preceding the parenthesis in the recorder serial number. You can also determine burner serial number using DVDIdentifier while connected to a computer and get update from the Sony site if it's needed.

cheers for that i am pretty sure i set it (region that is) but i can pull it out and stick a region 2 disc in first.
a quick update, there is no ff issues with this drive and +RW discs are fine in recording, Ricoh +rw from asda and tdk +rw from tesco and with having a mountain of -r discs i am keen to try the region setting so i can use these.
i have seen that a few posts have mentioned that they played a r2 disc in the pc to set region then updated the firmware, so i was hoping that if the setting of a r2 disc in the pc was unsuccessful maybe some one on the forum could suggest a "perfect" dru-190a firmware that lets me hae ALL WRITE functions.
once again thanks for the response and i will give it a go now
steve
BTW i put a canadian R1 of bourne untimatum in and the warning screen etc came on and after that the play screen was all pixelated and would not play, but all other R1 (so far) have had no probs. it had the 3hr hack with macro off about 4 years ago.
once again thanks will do...

hi
yep i did set the region to R2 and double checked by putting a R1 disc into my pc which prompted me with change region, so im afraid its back to the drawing board!!
any ideas of the best sony firmware i think it has 1.63

any help appreciated
steve

oky dokey
definately set to R2, drive firmware set from 1.63 to 1.65 and still only records to +R and +RW discs.
anyone have any ideas on how to obtain -R recording in this drive
cheers

Are the -R discs 16x media? There have been some 16x media issues that were fixed by firmware update. Note such firmware update will lose all hack advantages, but you can then flash back to hacked firmware if you have it. Others have done this and reported fixed 16x media issues and regain hack advantages.

hi yes the -R discs are 16X.
i also have brand new 4x -RW riscs that will not write
the firmware for my unit is
0102-3243-0098-1.65(013-010D)
are you suggesting flashing to newer firmware and then applying hack again to get macro and 3 hour back??
please advise
steve

what if i bought some -R discs at 8X and kept them for the 5005??

Yes, I suggest firmware update and then flash again with hacked firmware. You may not want to update firmware unless you have the firmware needed to apply the hack. Getting 8x media should solve the problem, but personally I'd prefer to just use +R media which most LiteOn recorder users use because they require less preparation and finalize faster than -R media.

BTW you can use the Book Type Utility while connected to PC from the LiteOn burner forum to bitset +R media to DVD-ROM book type to increase playback compatibility. I used the Book Type Utility on my burner replacement because I have a DVD player that will play no LiteOn LVW-5005 recordings except when recorded on +R media bitset to DVD-ROM book type.

bevills
once again thanks for your response, i have now tried 5 branded 8X -R discs and they all fail, PiData, Ritek, Ridisc G05, Memorex and tdk, so i think i will take this one on the chin and leave it as it is.
i do not want to lose the macro free option and the 3 hr comes in quite handy, i am aware that i may be able to flash back but dont want to risk it. I had hoped that there was a direct replacement unit that could just drop in but my machine is 4 years old and the technology has changed so much within the drives creating varying degrees of success and disappointment, if you do stumble across a unit that seems to work ok with the 098 firmware which can simply drop in please post it and i will give it a go. i had an optiarc AD-7170A which WILL NOT WORK with the 5005, i will keep putting drives in as and when they pop up.
many thanks for your support on this one.
i will have to get a stack of +RW disks now....

thanks again
steve