NEC warns users not to apply ND-2510A Firmware to ND-2500A drives

May 17, 2004

We recently reported about a leaked firmware for the double layer writer NEC ND-2510A. Several users already experimented with this firmware on their ND-2500A single layer drives. Now Heise reports that NEC has given out a warning, not to use this firmware on single layer drives.

On the Internet there is currently a Firmware version floating around that ought to change the usual 8x DVD burner ND-2500A to an ND-2510A that is able to write double layer media. According to NEC this Firmware does not work on the ND-2500A because some adjustments have to be made during the manufacturing process that cannot be applied later.

Because of this it will be impossible to let the ND-2500A write DVD+R DL only by upgrading the Firmware. Even if this will succeed in single cases, the danger of getting coasters is very high and the DL-recordables will have error ammounts beyond the specification.

NEC also points out that applying unofficial firmwares to their burners will void warranty.

As the available ND-2510A firmware was probably only a beta version and there is not enough double layer media around at the moment, we probably have to wait a while to find out if we will be able to use the double layer firmware on single layer drives since first tests with this firmware looked very promising.

But after some tests with currently available readers, the option to change the booktype for DVD+R-DL discs is almost a must, because of a very low compatibility with discs that do not have their booktype changed.

Feel free to join the existing threads covering this topic in our NEC Forum.

Source: Heise.de