Optiarc AD-7200s problems

Question

Hello,   My PC is a Inspiron 531s, it came with a Optiarc AD-7200S (checked with Nero info Tool).   The problem is some media gives me DRE. I just tested the same media with two different DVD drives and they read them just fine.   So, i want to try and update the driver FW. Of course i searched over the Dell Support Page, and there's NOT Firmware updates for that Drive model.   Searched at the Optiarc official page, and there's a driver update. Question:   It is safe to update with the official FW, even if my driver is OEM?   Thanks a lot for your help!

williamkidd · Answer

Hi GaussTek. :smileyhappy: Is this the page that you were referring to for the firmware on your drive? I didn't see any Dell firmware listed for your drive either. It should be safe to flash it with the official firmware. I read a post on CDFreaks where the poster said he reflashes his drives with the official firmware first thing. My question for you is what is DRE? If it's unpublishable PM it to me because I'm curious. The only things to keep in mind if you reflash it which you probably already know: 1) it voids any warranty on the drive if it's still under warranty and 2) a bad flash kills the drive. Another thing to watch for on that Sony/NEC page is getting the right one, PATA or SATA. If you do decide to reflash it let us know how it goes.

GaussTek · Answer

Thanks for the reply :)

Yep, that's the page --> just i choosed the US one http://www.sonynec-optiarc.us/en/support-service/downloads/fw_dvd-writer-ad-series.html

DRE --> Disc Read Error ... Also checked Event Viewer to see the Errors. i can't copy data from some DVD's with this drive, while i CAN do it just fine from another two disk drives (from a laptop and other desktop PC, and they don't show anything wrong in Eventvwr). SO i need to go to other PC to copy the data i need.

I think the drive -probably- is picky about media. So i just wanna try a FW update to see if the read goes better.

I'm gonna be extra careful because at nero info tool, it shows as current FW version 101A ... and the official update is 1.06 :/

Could be a custom FW or something? Still would be safe?

Thanks a lot and sorry for my bad english, if you need more info i'll be here :)

Message Edited by GaussTek on 10-15-2008 08:53 AM

Message Edited by GaussTek on 10-15-2008 08:55 AM

williamkidd · Answer

Sorry it took me so long to post back to you, GaussTek. For some reason I was thinking that I'd already posted a reply. I think that I answered it in my head and forgot to post it. :smileysurprised: Your English is fine, in fact it's quite good.

Is the media that you are trying to use listed as supported for the Optiarc AD-7200S? It looks like that drive does just about everything except for DVD+RW (DL) unless they just made a mistake on that page and left the DL off by mistake.

I do think the Dell firmware is custom. However my thinking would be that the official firmware should work for that drive. I'm going to see if one of the other forum members will look at this and see if they agree.

If you've already tried the firmware, let us know. If not, hopefully we'll have an answer for you shortly. :smileyhappy:

osprey4 · Answer

Gauss Tek:

Dell downloads are showing this firmware update for the AD-7200S.

As to whether you should try third-party firmware, the answer is, it depends. If an update with third-party f/w goes bad, then Dell will not honor the warranty. However, while some Dell drives will simply not take third-party f/w, many do and work perfectly fine. But when you use third-party f/w, you assume the risk.

williamkidd · Answer

Thanks for the input, osprey4. GaussTek, you now have a second opinion. Hope this helps. :smileyhappy:

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