If the firmware update is by manufacturer for you drive model, than update will not ruin your drive or BIOS.
It has nothing to do with BIOS, it will only update Eprom's firmware of your burner.
The firmware update could help with your problem, especially if you write to RW disc.
Otherwise try different disc brand(manufacturer).

Thank you CDuncle. I think I will have to try that, as I've already tried 3 brands of disk without success ...

First thing, did you use 80 wire ide cable as the 112 requires 80 wire cable to work properly, Second it wouldn't hurt to uninstall your IDE channel and reboot and then let windows reinstall it OR uninstall the burner and then reboot and let windows reinstall it

Hi, this is still me, had to re-register after a problem trying to change my email address ...

That's interesting (and very useful) info, Jimbo. I've checked the ide cable in the Yamada recorder and it is only 40 wire. So that is certainly part of my problem. I'm now just wondering whether I can change the cable, or whether I'll need to get a different burner, in which case any suggestions would be useful.

(I'm glad I didn't jump the gun and wipe out the recordings on the hdd by redoing the firmware, which I was within an ace of earlier tonight )

Just go to any computer or electronic store, get 80 wire IDE cable and exchange it with one you are using. Everything fits.
I still do not understand why would you erase HDD by updating firmware of your burner?

If I update the firmware on the machine itself, I have to format the hard-drive for it to take effect.

My slight difficulty is that I only have a laptop these days, so I can't connect the Pioneer dvd drive to it to upgrade its firmware. I'm scared that if I try putting the firmware on a cd and sticking it in the drive, it will just kill the whole hard-drive recorder, which obviously is not the desired effect ...

Anyway, I will be attempting to buy an 80 wire cable in the next few days, and see if that fixes things. I say "attempt" because I live in a rustic part of France and it is a touch difficult getting exotica of this kind sometimes!

And thanks again, by the way

I think we are talking about two different things.
Google say Yamada 9300 is a DVD player, where Pioneer DVR-112D is internal DVD burner.
Confirm what exactly we are talking about as cable and firmware is concerned.

You can go to the pioneer web site and d/l the firmware update to update the burner and it won't effect anything else on your laptop also there is an asus/pioneer burner forum on cd freaks also which you might find useful information concerning your problem

CDuncle, you're right, our wires are getting crossed, mea culpa.

The Yamada 9300 is a hard-drive recorder with a dvd recorder built in. The original dvd drive has died, which is why I'm replacing it with the Pioneer 112 unit. And it does work to an extent, even with a 40 wire IDE, but it can't cope with recording to a dvd.

I am getting a picture. I was little confused when you wanted to insert CD to update firmware.
Now, back to your problem.
The 80 wire cable is nothing special, it is just better IDE cable with more grounding wires.
It may help, but I do not think it will solve your problem, because these speciality units may use their own software for a recording and the drive you put in is not compatible with it.
Any way, try, hope it works, but I do not think I can help any more.

One more thing. If you can find something on manufacturer's web site about compatible drive replacement, or necessary steps to do it. It would be a best bet.

I think you are right in your diagnosis, and thanks again for your assistance. There seems to be an absolute dearth of help on the manufacturer's website re. replacement parts, but that was expected, sadly.

Just to be clear - you are dealing with an idiot here I'm afraid - the one thing I should not do is run the Pioneer firmware when the dvd drive is connected to the Yamada? (because that would surely override the Yamada's firmware, correct?)