FAQ and troubleshooting guide.

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TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE:
If you are having an issue with your burner please read through the following items,
which provide resolutions to the most common issues with DVD writers.

1. Manually set the jumper pin on your DVD writer. (Do NOT use cable select, master is recommended)

2. Make sure your BIOS has DMA enabled.

3. Make sure DMA is enabled on your IDE channels in Windows Device manager. Wombles' DMA guide!

4. Check your IDE ribbon cable(s). It is recommended that you use an 80 wire UDMA IDE cable with a DVD writer. Replacing an old IDE cable has been known to solve DVD writing issues for many people.

5. Uninstall Intel Application Accelerator. (if applicable)

6. Using Nforce Nvidia IDE drivers and having problems? Uninstall them and reboot so that Windows loads the default Micrsoft IDE drivers.

7. Uninstall ANY packet writing software. Many people have had issues with packet writing software(s). Examples include Aheads’ InCD, Roxios’ DirectCD, and Sonics’ DLA.

8. Having issues with reading/writing a certain media type? Update to the latest firmware. PRINCO media is very poor quality and has been known to cause issues with all DVD writers. Many users have reported problems with RitekG04 media and the ND-2500A, search the forum for threads on this topic.

9. Defragment your harddrive! Obviously, DVD video files are very large and can quickly fill your harddrive to capacity. A fragmented harddrive can cause problems during DVD burning. Make sure to defragment your drive(s) regularly.

10. Problems with Nero? Make sure to update to the latest version! Many people prefer using RecordNow (including myself!) as their burning application. Ssseths’ RecordNow guide is an excellent reference!

11. More often than people realize, Windows can be a cause of problems, as there are countless things that could go wrong with Windows configuration that would cause problems. It can often be helpful to take a look at this thread.

12. What else can I try? Put your writer in a completely different PC and see if the same behaviour occurs. If there are no problems in another system, there is nothing wrong with the drive.

13. Other issue? Don’t forget the SEARCH button located at the top of every page! Dee-ehn also has a nice FAQ here.

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FAQ AND OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION:

How do I identify the MID (Manufacturer IDentification) code of my media?

I recommend using DVDIdentifier , which is very easy to use. If you would like to know the MID code for a certain brand before purchasing, you can try doing a search on our forums or checking the DVD media database at VIDEOHELP

How do I backup or flash firmware on my NEC drive?

The Dangerous Brothers have created an amazingly useful DOS firmware utility for the NEC drives. I've listed the commands HERE. chrome307 posted step by step instructions here.
Get the DOS utility -->http://tdb.rpc1.org
Get the Windows based flasher by Liggy and Herrie: http://binflash.cdfreaks.com

Can I use Kprobe to scan discs on my NEC drive?

No, Kprobe will only work with LiteOn manufactured drives. Other options for testing your DVDs with your NEC drive are Neros DVD/CD Speeds' Transfer rate & ScanDisc tests.
*Note CD-DVD Speed disc quality test (PI/PIF) does NOT work on NEC drives.

What is bitsetting or booktype?

Read THIS!
And this: Cdfreaks explains bitsetting

Does the ND-2500A drive support bitsetting?

Officially no, however the good news is that NEC provided a bitsetting capable firmware to HP (HP rebrands and resells NEC drives). Herrie and the Dangerous Brothers have patched this HP firmware for use on the original NEC drives! You can find discussions and download links for these firmwares in this forum.

What program do I use for bitsetting?

DVDBitsetter, or the NEC WinBtype utility. If you set the default booktype to DVD-ROM, the drive will retain the setting.

Does flashing a hacked/patched/modified firmware void my warranty?

Yes, any unofficial NEC firmware will void your warranty. If you do not know what you are doing, do not flash your drive! Firmware patchers refuse to be responsible for misuse of a patched firmware. USE THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Nero fails to verify my burnt DVDs but they appear to play fine and pass all other tests, is there something wrong?

Probably not, many people have reported issues with Neros’ verify feature. See HERE.

Does the ND-2500A have reading problems?

Some users have reported poor reading abilities for this drive. More information HERE

Where can I read a comprehensive review of the ND-2500A?

Read OC-Freaks' review HERE! I highly recommend that you read this review even if you already own the drive!

Is it possible to upgrade the ND-3500A to an ND-3520A by using a different firmware?

This upgrade is not possible due to the fact that NEC changed some essential parts in the hardware.


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If you have any suggestions to improving this guide, please PM me! Thanks!

Revision history:
1.00 initial guide released
1.01 fixed some text color formatting
1.02 added what is bitsetting ?
1.03 made a few minor revisions
1.04 added DMA tutorial links, added a link to Dee-ehns' FAQ.
1.05 added question/link to OC-Freaks' 2500A review
1.06 added suggestion to try testing the writer in another PC
1.07 added check your IDE cable segment
1.08 added link for CDspeed2000.com, modded bitsetting text
1.09 added NEC gif and defrag segment
1.10 modified DOS flashing Q&A.
1.11 clarified DVD Speed functionality & a few other minor edits
1.12 added rdgrimes quote, added bitsetting apps, deleted 106 fw segment, and a few other minor edits
1.13 updated DMA guide links.
1.14 added link to cdf bitsetting article
1.15 modified binflash link and other misc edits
1.16 Added answer on upgrading 3500->3520
1.17 Added link to MSKB.