Firmware upgrade for Matshita DVD-R UJ-845E to burn dual layer DVD?

Question

Dear All
I have a PowerBookG4 with a Matshita DVD-R UJ-845E which it seems apple has disabled from burning dual layer DVD. I've read around that there are firware upgrades that can enable actions again. I can't find any for Matshita DVD-R UJ-845E, though. Any ideas?
Thank you!
Angie
PowerBookG4   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

Answer 1

angie1976 you have me directly.
As stated in previous posts there have been several issues with the Matshita Optical drives that Apple has installed in there computers. Over time the problem has been discussed and it would appear that there are several things that come into play here.
Apple has made it so that many of the drives they intall are in fact not capable of there full potential.
It in fact boils down to an issue of Copywrite Infringment. Apple doesn't want to put itself in a position to be open to Lawsuits from the Motion Picture Industry.
Many of the drives that do not work up to there full potential have FIRMWARE updates that are offered by the manufacture to remedy this problem and some do not.
It has also been found that the casual user that burns DVD's isn't aware of the huige difference in the Format's available for DVD Burning. and the many limitations of these different drives as far as Media and Speed of Media is concerned. Many of the DL burners that were installed will not burn DL. Apple has had such a huge amount of dissatisfied customers that many that will take the time and if they still have AppleCare these drives will be replaced free of charge.
Here are a collection of links that will help you to understand the problem as it exists.
I will also say that upwards of 85% of the problems user expieriance is with POOR QUALITY MEDIA.
http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm
http://www.videohelp.com/dvd
I also noticed that some others have chimed in as to the fact that Media was not the issue. This is not entirely true.
Here is another post that I answered that will also cover this subject that may help you understand the problem a little better.
Let me see if I can shed some light on this issue, for you.
Maybe some others as well can.
There are several Applications that are standard programs that come with OSX.
Of these, several have the ability to burn a project.
iTunes....iMovie.....Disk Utility.
Each of the above mentioned applications were developed for a specific purpose. However, they are capable of doing more than the original developers intended.
The problem in my eyes is the lack of information for a new user to Mac.
In what one would consider the perfect world, you simply choose a project, drag it in to one or more of the applications mentioned above and simply click burn and you are finished.
This is not always the case.
Often users are left with the issue of no clear cut direction on how to use these different burning softwares, and the ability to have a clear cut step by step user interface.
All of the furnished OSX burning software is in fact usable and works well.
The problem is HOW TO USE THEM.
The more experienced users find this either to be a non issue or will take the time to work with these different applications until they figure out how to use them.
There are of course different Advertisements and FAQ's that cover these to some degree that leave users more confused than when they started.
One of the major issues that accompany this problem is this.
Not all Burners that Apple uses in there machines are the same.
Not all Burners will accept all the different Media's that are available on the market.
Thus leaving many users confused. Not having a clear cut understanding of what the difference is between these different Media's and there use.
http://www.videohelp.com/dvd.htm
The above link offers an overview of this subject.
Apple has found itself in a delima with the Motion Picture Industry, as well as The Music Industry over the issue of offering there users with the capability of copying Copyrighted material. Thus leaving them open for Law Suits.
There was an in-depth article in one of the recent issues of Macworld Magazine, that went in-depth covering this issue.
It is almost impossible to cover all aspects of this issue on these forums.
There are of course different softwares available that make the burning experience much easier and user friendly.
Roxio is one of the industry leaders in the development of Mac compatible Burning Software. They offer 2 of the industry leaders in this area.
Toast-7 and Popcorn.
This solves only one portion of the problem. Both of these software offering give the user the ability to copy about anything.
However, there is so much controversy over the issue of Movie and Music copying, the manufactures of the Computers, and the Burners try to limit the users ability to copy these, and thus be clear of any Legal Issue.
Here again rises the problem of computer users being mad because the industry has placed limitations on there ability to use there product in a fast easy to use method.
Again there are work around to all of these issues.
The problem then becomes who out there is willing to tell us what is the easiest most trouble free method of using these computers, burners, software,and media.
The burner manufactures offer there burners.
To get them to work to there full potential the users then must search out the 3rd party Firmware updates that will enable them to work properly. This is not an issue with all burners but quite a few.
Most readers on these forums have read about the MEDIA compatibility and poor quality issues these are covered in a prior link.
To sum this up, the resources are available to do just about anything one wants to do in the copy area.
Not every copy problem is the same because of all the different elements that come into the equation, Burner, Media, Software, Firmware.
So if a user has a problem and needs the information and the resources to copy there projects whatever they may be.
Be through, give as much information as you can.
Keep it simple, No need for the use of exotic terms that most people don't understand anyway.
In-depth. Tell all aspects of the issue and what you have what you are using and what you want to accomplish.
If there is an answer out there.
Someone will Chime in.
The users on these forums for the most part are more than willing to share in there knowledge, free of charge.
One last thing,
When a user gives you an answer for you problem, for the most part they believe it to be a fact. Sometimes this isn't the case, we have all been guilty of, this is not done with malicious intent. It is done trying to help.
I personally have been misinformed, or tried a fix, that will work in one instance but not another. So tell all you can about your problem.
Cheers Don