I bought this drive from one of my friends. For some reason it wont read Memorex 16X DVD-R discs. It only reads them at 6.1x and if I try to burn it it errors out. I use DVD+R Memorex discs and it works fine. I updated the firmware to 2.17 but it didnt help. Is there something I am missing? Im sorta new and this so I woiuld appreciate any help I can get. 

The Memorex -R discs are not manufactured by the same company as the +R's are.  The Memorex -R's are RUBBISH, throw them in the trash and safe yourself some grief. 

If you want some good -R's get some verbatim or TY media.

(in reply to 7Flow)

i think the latest firmware is 2.1A for 3500A series

(in reply to MP3Mogul)

i think the new firmware will solve the problem, mine did with traxdata 16

(in reply to emperor)

Hello,
I got an nec 3500 drive, and I just upgraded it to 2.1b firmware (no region, no rpc). I got a couple of questions.
1 - is it possible to write to smartbuy (prodisc dvd+r) DL media with this drive ? (with another firmware ?)
2 - I´m trying to overburn a tyg02 dvd-r media (3 megs) with no luck (using nero 7.0.8.2). do I have any chance or should I give up ?

many thanks.

(in reply to MEDS)

1. the good thing with NEC drives is that you can flash them to any firmware anytime. If you have the bin files of firmwares you can read their media supported list with Media Code Speed Edit.

2. have you enable overburning in expert features of Nero? If you did this and still cannot overburn then don't waste another disc.

(in reply to coze)

1. To be sure you have to check the media ID codes of smartbuy media, i would imagine the answer is yes
2. i don't think that NEC supports overburning with DVD-R media

(in reply to Antonio)