The .exe files from Pioneer are just self-extracting archives that can be opened with Stuffit Expander. if your drive is still under warranty, you may void the drive's warranty. From the documentation for the DVR Flash program:
Using DVRFlash on Mac OS X platforms
Read this entire document BEFORE posting questions!
[General Notes]
Pioneer DVR drives usually require 2 firmware files for flashing. One is
called the kernel and the other the normal part (or general part).
If you are not converting a rebadged drive to a true Pioneer, or if you are
simply applying a patched firmware, you don't necessarily need to provide
a kernel, so don't panic if you have only one firmware file.
In the following command samples, we will assume that both files are used.
Also, if you do have a kernel file, you should know that its revision does
not need to match the normal part revision. For instance, you can use a
1.05 kernel with a 1.13 normal part.
And once and for all, don't play it more stupid than you are!
If you are worried, you probably shouldn't because people who publish the
firmwares do everything they can to provide you with exactly what you need.
In short, flashing a firmware is not the end of the world, and it is not a
license for bothering busy people with questions on how to use the flashing
tools, the files you need, or how to actually use your Operating System...
Besides, DVRFlash is pretty much bulletproof and what's more, Pioneer did
such a good job with their DVR drives that you are very unlikely to kill
one, even if you have no clue what you are doing.
If you are still unsure or worried, why don't you:
1/ Do a SEARCH at
http://forum.rpc1.org
You will find that your question has probably already been ANSWERED.
2/ Give DVRFlash a try. DVRFlash will always try to help you about what
you might be doing wrong.
3/ If all of the above fails, then, AND ONLY THEN, you can try to post in
the forum with RELEVANT INFORMATION about what you are trying to do and
how you are trying to do it.
But I have to repeat; the information is already out there.
The only difference is that smart people always know how to find it...
In the following samples, the kernel firmware is 'R5100004.133' and the
normal firmware is 'R5100104.133'. You will need to change those names
according to the firmwares you downloaded.
You can input these firmwares in any order you like as DVRFlash will
recognize them automatically.
And YES you can go back and forth ANY official/patched firmware revision
or patch official/patched x.yz over official/patched x.yz
Don't you think we would TELL YOU if it was otherwise???
[Mac OS X Flashing]
You don't have to install anything special. Just open a Terminal (Located
in your Utilities folder) window and set the directory to your DVRFlash
folder. Be sure that your firmware file(s) are in the same folder. The
simplest way to do this is to place DVRFlash and your firmware file(s) into
a folder called "DVRFlash" on your Desktop. Now enter the following into a
Terminal window:
cd Desktop/DVRFlash
Now run a command like:
./DVRFlash -vf PIONEER R5100004.133 R5100104.133
If you have more than one Pioneer Drive, run DVRFlash without any parameters to discover the driver identifier (Like A:, B:, etc.) and add that just before the word PIONEER (IE: A:PIONEER). Alternatively, if your drives are of different models, you may use the full name if the drive enclosed in quotes. IE (Note the two spaces before the drive model):
./DVRFlash -vf "PIONEER DVD/RW DVR-105" R5100004.133 R5100104.133
The command above will force flash a 105 compatible drive with the Pioneer DVR-105 v1.33 firmware The command above also works with USB and Firewire drives.
Note: The word 'PIONEER' refers to the Vendor Name of the drive. This may appear differently on some OEM drives. Verify the name by entering './DVRFlash' without any parameters.
If flashing a drive to an official update that includes only a single firmware file, the 'f' (force) parameter is not necessary. Neither is the 'v' (verbose) parameter ever necessary. For example:
./DVRFlash PIONEER R5100104.133
…will update a Pioneer DVR-105 to version 1.33 without the kernel file. It is most important that both firmware and kernel files be used when downgrading a drive or cross-flashing OEM models
