@Nabokov: i don't think that you local store has the power to see if you have used hacked firmwares or not, so return your drive safely...

@7lowe: the 3.22 autobisets all formats, so you cannot change it

(in reply to 7lowe)

I just got a 3520A as my first DVD burner. First thing I did was flash it to 3.04 using NEC's download and then try to make a data CD with Deepburner (first time with that also). Drive would make a loud noise and give a power calibration area error using my Verbatim CDRs (rated either 48 or 52) at MAX, 48, 32 and 24 speeds. I didn't try 16 and it finally burned fine at 8 (lowest available) though it still made some shorter loud noises at the beginning. I verified I'm running UDMA Mode 2 and use only MS IDE drivers.

Now I'm just listening to a mass-produced CD and 2 times it has done that really loud noise while listening, causing it to stop one of those times. Thankfully I've made it about 20 minutes now with no noises. Maybe it needed to break in. Spoke too soon - it's doing it again.

I don't even want to try burning a data DVD (what I bought the drive for along with faster CDRs) until it can burn and play CDs. My Verbatims should be pretty decent and I can't believe they wouldn't be in the firmware table as I've had them a while. They have always worked fine on my Sony 24x though it was almost always noisy though nothing like the hideous sound the 3520 has made at times. It's similar to the chattering a hd makes when it's died.

What else should I be looking for??? I wasn't expecting all this trouble from all I've read. I'm thinking an RMA may be in order.

Peace

(in reply to emperor)

i don't think such noises are normal, maybe you should RMA the drive

(in reply to topshot rhit)

I did try a data DVD which did work, but it only allowed speeds of 1-6x. These Verbatim DVD-R were rated at 16x and according to NECDump the media id was in the firmware table at 16x also (but not 1-5x). It still made a noise at the end though not as loud. The drive is on its way back to Newegg.

(in reply to emperor)

sorry if this has been asked but does anyone know if NEC will continue to support the NEC 3520 with firmware updates now that the 3540 is out?

(in reply to topshot rhit)

Does anyone know what is new in the 3.05 firmware?

http://support.necsam.com/oem/downloads/flashfirmware/

(in reply to emperor)

This Update works only with NEC ND-3520A (retail & bulk) drives, not with OEM releases. OEM means part of a full PC package or external USB or FireWire variant of this burner. For OEM products contact directly your dealer, distributor or manufacturer of PC- or USB/ Firewire- package for service, support and firmwareupdates.

You can only update from Firmwareversion 1.04 & 3.04.

 
[01-Aug-2005]
The DvD medias below will be recognized with firmware 3.05, but be informed, they won`t be added to our list of recommend medias because there is no guarantee for optimal burn results and performance.

This update does not add a "lightscribe technology" function.


DVD+R9 Double Layer
none


DvD+R
Max Write Speed 16x 
BeALL 16X
MUST 16X
LGE 16X
NANYA 16X
UME DISC 16X
PRODISC  16X
DAXON 16X AZ3
GIGASTRAGE 16X
RITEK 16X AZO
MAM-E ADVANCED MEDIA 16X
New Star Digital 16X


DvD+RW   
none


DvD-R
Max Write Speed 16x 
DST 16X
GIGASTRAGE 16X
LGE 16X

Max Write Speed 8x 
INFOSOURCE 8X

Max Write Speed 4x
SONY 1X 8cm


DvD-RW
none


CD-R
none


CD-RW
none





[21-Apr-2005]
The DvD medias below will be recognized with firmware 3.04, but be
informed, they won`t be added to our list of recommend medias because
there is no guarantee for optimal burn results and performance.

The function to burn DvD-R9 DL medias will be added.
(Note: multisession DvD-R DL won`t be supported)

This update does not add a "lightscribe technology" function.


DVD+R9 Double Layer
Max Write Speed 2.4x 
CMC


DVD-R9 Double Layer
Max Write Speed 4x
Mitsubishi (Verbatim) 


DvD+R
Max Write Speed 16x 
Mitsubishi
PRODISC
MAXELL
TDK
SONY

DvD+RW 
Max Write Speed 8x 
RICOH


DvD-R
Max Write Speed 16x 
TDK
MBI
SONY
MAXELL 16x
CMC 16X


DvD-RW
Max Write Speed 6x 
RITEK

Max Write Speed 4x 
OPTODISC
RiTEK
CMC
PRODISC


CD-R
Max Write Speed 48x 
none


CD-RW
none

(in reply to anvil)

Is anywhere firmware for NEC 3520A (official or not) with supporting "PI errors" and "PI failures"?

(in reply to krneki66)

I'm not sure wether this is the right place to post this but the only place i could find.
I got this DVD Burner with my Dell Dimension 3000 and im not sure if its a + or -.
On the front of the actuald DVD Player it says DVD+ReWritable but when i go into the properties for it on My Computer it says that it is DVD+-RW.
Also what blank DVD will i need to copy a dvd??

Cheers.

(in reply to Quikee)

The latest firmware should offer PI/PO

(in reply to sumit)

Hi! I cannot determine what release my ND-3520A drive is: OEM, bulk or retail. So I cannot determine which firmware version to use to upgrade. Is it possible to determine the release type? Thanx!

(in reply to emperor)

you can use any firmware you wish either your drive is bulk or retail

(in reply to TVT)

quote:

ORIGINAL: emperor

you can use any firmware you wish either your drive is bulk or retail

But if it's by accident OEM?

(in reply to emperor)

yes no problem with OEM

(in reply to TVT)

just installed "ND3520_323.zip I-O Data 3.23 with RPC1 and Riplock removed" from Scorpio's site.

But now I cannot rip DVD-R.  In fact I can't even read DVD-Rs.  DVD+R and +RW seem fine.

Anyone else experienced this and know a work-around? 

And if I use NEC's 3.05, then how do I manually bitset SL DVD+R to DVD-ROM?  This is my main reason for doing the firmware upgrade anyway, the bitsetting.

(in reply to emperor)

Okay, I just switched to Liggy's 3.06, and now at least I have a 50/50 chance of reading bruned DVD-Rs.  Some work, some aren't even visible using Windows Explorer. I created these DVD-R using the same burner and computer, just with the default 1.04 firemware.

Do other ppl have this problem.....?

(in reply to ChicagoHotDog)