Laptop + external DVD+RW = no fun

[tbob]

I have a sony vaio laptop, which is really sweet. it's a PCG-GR370.
Had it 3 years, been to japan and back, installed dual boot w/linux on it, no sweat.

I'm currently running winXP SP2, and wanted to plug in an external DVD+RW drive, so I can burn my video editing reels on the go.

The combo drive is a Prolific PL3507 combo device, I'm using the firewire link (no USB 2.0 in the Vaio) and the drive is a Philips DVD+RW-D28. The philips works great internally in my desktop system.

Every time I insert a blank DVD, and try to access the drive (or drag files to it), I get:
G:\ is not accessible. Incorrect function.

I can't burn to the drive from Nero either. Just want to back up files for now... will burn from DVD architect later.

Drive reads and plays standard DVDs just fine on the Vaio (even recorded ones), but won't write to it.

The prolific driver is up-to-date. Do I need to install a driver for the Philips? Windows only recognizes that the device is a Prolific PL3507, but not that it's a Philips DVD+RW, so I can't 'auto-search' for the driver.

Is the problem, the Vaio, the Prolific, or the Philips?

Thanks!

 

[montag451]

Might be a BIOS problem - don't quote me on that though = worth seeing if there are upgrades, but dont install it just yet.

 

[tbob]

Yeah... I already had the BIOS updated with the latest version... here's another piece to the puzzle, though:

I tried plugging the combo w/DVD to my desktop (by firewire), which for sure has the proper DVD+RW drivers, since the philips was in there before. Same response, when I click on it in 'My Computer'. (incorrect function). But since there is some functionality, I tried burning a DVD with DVD Architect, which actually sat there for a long time at 0% in the burn process... in the end, the line just zipped to 100% and DVD architect produced the following error:

The command failed due to an IOCTL error. (more details if you want them)

I took out the DVD and noticed that it HAD written to the DVD! But... it was unplayable in standard DVD player.

...read another post that calls the Prolific chipset 'stupid' and inferior to the Oxford 911. With so many prolific chipsets out there, you'd think there'd be a fix... looking for firmware now.

OK these two sites seem to have some firmware, but I'm not sure if my chip is an A or B or none?

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/26053/
http://member.newsguy.com/~siccos/PL3507%20Firmware.htm

BTW, the box that my enclosure came in is totally generic, with ME-320 series written in the upper right corner. other than that, no brand markings. made in china.

 

[montag451]

Can you provide the details about the IOCTL error - I also presume you've googled it?

 

[tbob]

OK, here's the error I got on the desktop over firewire burning a DVD with DVD architect:

[start]
The command failed due to an IOCTL error. Your interface or drive may be configure incorrectly.

'USB/1394 DEVICES'-(3)
-'PHILIPS DVD+RW-D28 1.29'-(0)
module sfmmcx.cpp Line 1685

status: ff000000
command: 2a 00 00 00 00 20 00 00 20 00
sense: 00 00 00
info: 00 00 00 00
specific: 00 00 00
extra:
[end]

that was the error! I'm on to the firmware stuff now which seems to be working, more in a moment.

 

[tbob]

OK. I'm posting this for someone doing this in the future, because it seems pretty undocumented. All downloads I got from this site:

http://member.newsguy.com/~siccos/PL3507%20Firmware.htm

I downloaded RomWriter v2.2.0, but it didn't work.

So then I read somewhere that it has to be used over USB, NOT the firewire connection. So I use USB and can read from and save the current firmware. Every time I go to click 'Update' (to upload a new firmware) I get an error.

Then, I guess that you have to use RomWriter v2.0.4, and am right. I can read from and update the firmware on the PL3507. I still have no idea whether mine is an 'a' 'b' or 'c' series chip. I update using one of the earlier firmware versions listed on the site.

I unplug the usb and plug back in the firewire (i prefer not to use USB because I don't have 2.0)

Now I still get the "Incorrect Function" error when I click on the drive with a blank DVD inside it. BUT, I used Nero to burn a single session DVD at about 1/4 capacity of the DVD. It worked just fine. So now I'm going to update using a different firmware...

 

[tbob]

OK, I installed the latest firmware... pl3507b d110904

Still have the 'My Computer' problem. ("Incorrect Function")

When, in DVD Architect, I click on 'make DVD,' it just hangs there forever. Hard to 'end program' of DVD architect, but finally it closes out.

Don't know if I have chip "A" "B" or "C" of the PL3507. Anyone know how to tell? Maybe I should revert to an earlier firmware?