Sony DVD RW DW-U10A media compatibility problems

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Sony DVD RW DW-U10A media compatibility problems

I have an older dual 2GHz with a Sony DVD RW DW-U10A drive and have problems finding compatible DVD-R media for it. Need white inkjet printable DVD-R's for it. I swear that Apple used to have a DVD-R brand compatible chart for the drives that it was using?? Searched high and low on the site and couldn'd find ANYTHING like this anymore....does anyone know where this link is or have had any luck with inkjet printable DVD-R's working on this drive?

Super thanks!!!

G5 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Apr 20, 2006 2:47 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 21, 2006 9:19 AM in response to CBodle

Which brand of printable media are you using currently?

The DW-U10A is the OEM version of the DRU-500A. Sony's support page with some recommended media is here (it's over a year old, however): Recommended media

Because your drive is a few years old, it may need a firmware update to work with some newer media. If you scroll down a bit on Sony's storage support page for this drive, you'll see a link to the latest firmware. This is PC firmware, but supposedly the DVRFlash utility will be able to flash OEM Sony drives as well. I have not tried it with anything other than Pioneer drives, though.

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Answer 2

Silal

Level 5

6,461 points

May 15, 2006 3:25 AM in response to CBodle

I'will thank you post your results upgrading the drive. I have the same one and your experience will be great.
Feel free to email me !
Thanks !!

PowerMac G5 Dual 1.8 Mac OS X (10.4.6) 1 Gig RAM

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Answer 3

spike d.

Level 1

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May 19, 2006 8:23 AM in response to CBodle

ditto!

I was stuck with only buying Sony DVD-R media... but now even those won't work. These new discs have some sort of groove in the center of the disc, unlike the older discs. This is the only 'physical' difference I've noticed.

Please tell me I don't have to buy another superdrive just because there is no firmware update for the DW-U10A. My burner is obsolete due to media? I don't mind replacing something when it dies, but the burner is fine! It's impossible to find the old media in stores, and I won't buy overpriced Apple discs.

Would someone from Apple please respond to these pleas?

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Answer 4

CBodle Author

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May 19, 2006 8:34 AM in response to Silal

I am very hesitant to do a firmware update as usually there is no going back...
I appreciate your suggestion though. I too would like to hear from an Apple representative on this....
Thanks much--

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Answer 5

May 19, 2006 9:19 AM in response to CBodle

You're going to be waiting a long time if you want to hear from Apple on this matter. This forum is a user-to-user forum, and Apple doesn't respond to posts here.

You could try using a lens cleaner, just in case the lens is dirty.

If you're unable to find compatible media, don't want to try the firmware upgrade, and a lens cleaner doesn't help, it seems that your only choice is to replace the drive with something newer. The current Pioneer DVR-111D can be found online for around $40 - $50.

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Answer 6

p&t

Level 1

20 points

May 20, 2006 6:01 PM in response to CBodle

Get verbatim they make them in silver and printable.

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Answer 7

CBodle Author

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May 21, 2006 9:21 AM in response to p&t

Verbatim 4x inkjet printbale is what I had been using...but I can't even count on those anymore. When I began having problems with the Verbatims I tried other brands like Ritek...still no real luck...I'd love to get ahold of an up-to-date compatibility chart! Per Steve's link to Sony's older compatibility chart I ordered some Verbatim 4x (94495) although I can't tell when ordering them if they are labeled 'DVD-R for General ver 2.0' as the Sony site suggests. I'll let you all know how they work.

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Answer 8

May 21, 2006 9:44 AM in response to CBodle

As I understand it, "DVD-R for General ver. 2.0" simply means that the disc is able to hold 4.7GB in the 12cm version. The older 1.0 spec was 3.95 GB in the 12cm version (and I think this was DVD-R for Authoring anyway). There are 12cm, 4.7 GB discs for authoring as well, but those should be labeled as such.

So, I think any DVD-R that's 4.7 GB in size and is not specifically labeled as "for Authoring" will work. Sony probably listed the "for General" as a requirement so users wouldn't buy the "for Authoring" discs.

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