Applies to
Sony AW-Q170A (also known as Optiarc AD-5170A)
Requirements
Windows 2000/XP/Vista
Author
Optiarc
FileName
111b_orig.zip
FileSize
723.00 KB
Driver Date & Version
n/a (1.11b)
Description
If you are looking for Sony AW-Q170A firmware update from Sony website, you will be disappointed, like I was.
It is like AW-Q170A drive is not exists for Sony, why is it so? Well, after some serious research on Google, I have found some useful information about that.
It seems that AW-Q170A drive is manufactured OEM by Sony for a new company, Optiarc - an alliance of NEC's and Sony's former optical storage departments.
Back to the firmware update, something you need to keep in mind before you do the firmware flashing. Flashing a wrong firmware update might void the warranty of your drive, so do check your warranty details for that particular part.
Another thing, flashing the drive will work NOT in UDMA 4 mode. Please use PIO mode instead. Not doing so may result in an "Error submitting checksum" error message.
Some useful info:
Download Sony AW-Q170A DVD±RW Firmware here.
I have a problem with my DVD Drive. The DVD are not been read.
I can’t read any dvd, only cds… I need help.
I haven’t had any issues with it reading discs that this drive has burnt itself, however it cannot read DVDs burnt from my other Sony DVD drive. They have compatible read and write capabilities and it will eventually read the disc if you keep trying. However, it doesn’t always work. Sometimes it reads the discs, burnt from the other DVD drive, in a few attempts. Other times I rage quit after a few dozen tries. D: