I have a Pioneer DVR-109 that I installed in my Power Mac G4 Dual 1Ghz, and I had been having some problems burning a dual-layer disk of a friend's wedding video that I recorded for them. There was so much video and photo slideshow data in the iDVD project that a dual-layer burn was the only solution. I ended up sorting out that the main problem -- I was trying to use Imation DVD+R dual-layer disks when Pioneer recommends using Verbatim DVD+R dual-layer disks. However, before reaching that conclusion I found a way of updating the Pioneer's firmware in a Mac, which is not easy -- all the firmware installers that Pioneer releases are for Windows only.
There is, however, a little program called DVRFlashX (scroll down towards the bottom of the page) which does the job. DVRFlashX is a GUI utility for Mac OS X to simplify the use of DVRFlash. This version is only compatible with Pioneer drives up to DVR-109 series and PowerPC Macs. All you have to do is:
[robg adds: It should go without saying, but ... you're on your own if you try this and turn your drive into an expensive drink coaster!]
There is, however, a little program called DVRFlashX (scroll down towards the bottom of the page) which does the job. DVRFlashX is a GUI utility for Mac OS X to simplify the use of DVRFlash. This version is only compatible with Pioneer drives up to DVR-109 series and PowerPC Macs. All you have to do is:
- Download DVRFlashX version 2.1. Unzip it, and you will have a folder on your desktop called DVRFlashX 2.1. Inside that folder will be the DVDFlashX application, and another folder called Firmware.
- Download the relevant Pioneer firmware for your DVD drive model.
- Use Stuffit Expander to open the .EXE file, and you will find three files inside: an .exe file and two black files with funny names like RA100010.141 and RA100110.141. Put these two black files in the folder named Firmware in the DVRFlashX 2.1 folder.
- Double click on the DVDFlashX application, and you will be guided through the process of updating your firmware. DO NOT quit the application, or do anything else on the Mac, while it is doing the firmware update. After it's finished, you will have the latest firmware available for your Pioneer DVD-R drive.
[robg adds: It should go without saying, but ... you're on your own if you try this and turn your drive into an expensive drink coaster!]
•
[27,294 views]

