Just bought Pioneer 111D DVD writer

[froze]

Which firm should i flash it to?? 111 or 111L?
Sorry if it's very stupid qns. I'm very new to DVD writers.

[Ian]

Unless you have Labelflash media, there probably isn't any reason to turn it into a 111L.

[froze]

So flash it to 111 will do?
How do i flash it to 111? Just go to TDB website n d/l the 111 firmware n doubleclick on the .exe will do?
For Nero.. which version do i use??

[Bhairav]

^Yep, download the 111L 8.19 and 8.29 FWs. Flash them sequentially in Safe Mode.

[rahzel]

you might not have to flash in safe mode (i didn't have to ).

going to a 111 will give you DVD-RAM write and autobitsetting for single layer media. going to 111L will give you labelflash.

[Dartman]

Label flash will also write to the media side of the disk so you might like to play with that on any disk that has room left or crappy blanks

[dodecahedron]

^Yep, download the 111L 8.19 and 8.29 FWs. Flash them sequentially in Safe Mode.

why do you recommend the 111L firmware, if LabelFlash is not needed / media not available ?

[Dartman]

Auto bitsetting, label flash works on media side too so you don't need special blanks. Other then that it's the same as stock Pioneer, but for me the bitsetting part is important.

[rahzel]

111 doesn't auto bitset? my bad. i thought the only difference between the 111 and 111l was labelflash.

[Dartman]

It does on plus dual layer only.

[rahzel]

i know. =]

[Bhairav]

^Yep, download the 111L 8.19 and 8.29 FWs. Flash them sequentially in Safe Mode.

why do you recommend the 111L firmware, if LabelFlash is not needed / media not available ?

Auto-bitsetting, as mentioned by Dartman above.

[dodecahedron]

so: 111 auto-bigsets DVD+R DL only, 111L auto-bitsets also DVD+R SL?
what about manual bisetting?
DVD+RW bitsetting ? i hope not automatic!

[rahzel]

DVD+R SL is automatic. haven't tried +RW yet.

[Bhairav]

so: 111 auto-bigsets DVD+R DL only, 111L auto-bitsets also DVD+R SL?
what about manual bisetting?
DVD+RW bitsetting ? i hope not automatic!

+RW is auto for me.

[Justin42]

What software is needed to get the Labelflash options? I still am using Nero 6.6.1.14 (or whatever the latest 6.6 version is) at home with my 111L (and I have a Yamaha F1) and from reading, it sounds like Labelflash includes DiscT@2 (is some sort of superset) but I never get any options to do anything with the 111L, just the F1.

[Dartman]

You need nero with a premium serial number then it should work, other software may work also but I know Nero does with the right serial.

[froze]

So guys, which firmware do i flash to?
I'm quite confuse. I read somewhere that buffalo firmware is good for this drive coz it has auto bitsetting.

I dun need LabelFlash... it's some fancy thing to create image on disc rit?

[rahzel]

i would go with the 111L firmware for autobitsetting alone (even if you won't use Labelflash).

[dodecahedron]

sorry, but all of the replies have me confused. since many of them don't say if they're talking abougt 111 or 111L.
111 does auto bitsetting on DVD+R DL only, manual bitsetting for DVD+R and DVD+RW.
111L does auto bitsetting for all of them.
did i get that right ?

[Justin42]

I thought the 111 only auto bitsets DVD+R DL. I don't think there is any way to bitset manually on the 111 series-- so you need the Buffalo firmware to bitset DVD+R. (so you may as well go to a 111L)

It's really not as complicated as it seems. I bought the DVR-710 (the retail box 111) and read so much as to get REALLY confused, but I think a lot of the issues revolve around the drive being out there for a while so there is quite a bit of firmware out there.

I think you just need to use the TDB 8.19 111L Flasher (on your 111--you need to use this version to "cross-flash" to the new unit, the newer firmwares won't make the jump from 111->111L), and then use the TDB 8.29 111L flasher to bring it up to the latest firmware.

[KG]

Froze, to summarize in case it helps you:

111 = 111D + DVD-RAM

111L = 111D + DVD-RAM + DVD+R SL auto bitsetting + LabelFlash

So the 111L (Buffalo firmware) has all of the features of the other models plus some exclusive ones, that's why everybody recommends flashing to 111L (maybe the only disadvantage, reported in several posts and that I think I have also experienced, is that with 111L firmware the drive is noisier). Additionally, as you will use TDB firmware to crossflash (flash to a different model) your 111D, you will turn it into a RPC1 drive (the drive's internal region-change counter will be removed; realize that, as stated on TDB website, to be totally region-free you will still have the OS and the software counters to defeat).

About bitsetting, I think it can't be done manually, as Justin42 says, and that none of the models can do it with DVD+RW. Bhairav, are you sure you can bitset DVD+RW?. Do you think you could find out and confirm it?.

[Bhairav]

Froze, to summarize in case it helps you:

111 = 111D + DVD-RAM

111L = 111D + DVD-RAM + DVD+R SL auto bitsetting + LabelFlash

So the 111L (Buffalo firmware) has all of the features of the other models plus some exclusive ones, that's why everybody recommends flashing to 111L (maybe the only disadvantage, reported in several posts and that I think I have also experienced, is that with 111L firmware the drive is noisier). Additionally, as you will use TDB firmware to crossflash (flash to a different model) your 111D, you will turn it into a RPC1 drive (the drive's internal region-change counter will be removed; realize that, as stated on TDB website, to be totally region-free you will still have the OS and the software counters to defeat).

About bitsetting, I think it can't be done manually, as Justin42 says, and that none of the models can do it with DVD+RW. Bhairav, are you sure you can bitset DVD+RW?. Do you think you could find out and confirm it?.

I can. Will post back in the evening, I have a couple of new Verbatim 4X +RW MIS discs I want to test.

[Bhairav]

Nope, my mistake. Booktype is not changed to -ROM.

[TCAS]

Which firm should i flash it to?? 111 or 111L?
Sorry if it's very stupid qns. I'm very new to DVD writers.

If you are reside in USA then there is no LabelFlash available in the market yet plus if you are using Nero 6 or 7 both provide no function for labelflash unless you buy NeroReload version of Nero 6 or Nero Premium of Nero 7 which are both European version of Nero.