Making your old DVD burner burn dual-layer media

[Cryption]

Slashdot is running an article on a firmware upgrade for Lite-On drives that "Doubles +R Speed For Some Lite-On Drives" and can even allow some single-layer DVD burners flawlessly burn dual-layer DVD media.

I've read on various websites that Lite-On uses the same parts as the ones used in similar Plextor drives. Does anyone know if applying this firmware upgrade to a plextor drive would work? Or if applying a Plextor firmware upgrade for a Plextor dual-layer writer would work in much the same way on an older burner? (ex. Plextor-708a)

I payed alot of dough for my Plextor-708a and would very much like to be able to upgrade it to burn dual-layer DVD media.

This would be way to cool if it worked.

A couple of guys have also managed to hack the firmware for NEC burners to do the same thing for old NEC drives.

Have any of you guys experimented with this yet?

Does Plextor make a dual-layer DVD burner that's out on the market yet?

 

[Cryption]

(Update)

It looks as if the 8x burners have a laser that is powerful enough to burn onto that second layer. So all the firmware does is increase the power throughput. This could in theory decrease the lifespan of your drive, and of course the warranty would be void. But, it seems like this type of "upgrade" could work for any 8x DVD burner.

More of these hacks will probably become available as the price of DVD-DL media comes down to affordable prices.

It doesn't appear that Plextor has a DL burner on the market right now.

 

[ROcHE]

I flashed my NEC 2500A. Just wainting for some cheap dual layer discs.

 

[MTDEW]

I flashed my NEC 2500A. Just wainting for some cheap dual layer discs.

Me too.

 

[krackato]

Originally posted by: MTDEW

I flashed my NEC 2500A. Just wainting for some cheap dual layer discs.

Me too.

Me three.

I'm burning 4x riteks at 8x now, no problem. That's a pretty sweet bonus. I figure by the time Dual Layer media gets cheap, DVD-R drives will be like $40-50. Hell, dual layer burners are already down to like $90 and that's freaking cheap for a drive that will burn 8.5gigs onto a disc. And if my drive doesn't break than it's all good.

 

[imported_nitrus]

i would only trust modding a 2500 myself, firmware author herrie rocks. i too am waiting for disks.

 

[imported_chrisbtx]

Kind of aside from the main topic, but does anyone know if it's possible to flash the Sony Dru-510a bios from 4x to 8x burning? I've looked all over with no luck.

 

[xxichibanxx]

does the NEC provide bitsetting. i've been using a 451s LiteOn upgraded to 851s and soon to be 832s. i like the LiteOn i don't have to set the bitsetting. it's in the firmware along w/ the hack. does NEC have the same thing? i've been looking around and some people say yes and some no and some people say only for Dual layer. what firmware is best for the 2500a and bitsettng and what program should i use to rip and burn. right now i'm using anydvd along w/ clonedvd2. i'm thinking about going to dvdinfopro (for bitsetting), dvd2one and then burning w/ Nero6.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: chrisbtx
Kind of aside from the main topic, but does anyone know if it's possible to flash the Sony Dru-510a bios from 4x to 8x burning? I've looked all over with no luck.

Me too!

 

[imported_chrisbtx]

bump to try to help myself and oyeve out....

 

[RobCur]

DL is not useful at 2.4x or 4x only at 8x or higher thought:shocked::beer::brokenheart::camera: