DVDRW multiburner works fine, but "not removable"

[MadeInJapan]

Recently got a Panasonic (Matshita) UJ-815 Multiburner for my T-30. I trimmed the bezel so it fits in the Ultrabay2000 and it works without any problem, but....It does not show up in devices for removal. In other words, when I go to remove this device (like you would with a PCMCIA card or extrnal flash memory), my computer says, "nothing to remove." If I remove it and put it back in, my computer doesn't recognize it until I reboot.

I notices that it is set as secondary, or "slave" on my second IDE. Can others see where there Ultrabay CD/DVD/CDRW/DVDRW is set for? You can check this by going into device manager.

The reason I would like to know about this from others is because I suspect that for a device in the ultrabay to show up as removable is for it to be set as the first (or Master) drive on the second IDE device.

[sugo]

hi MadeInJapan how are you?

The UJ-812 here is set as secondary master. I can't think of a way to flip it as I doubt these drives have jumpers.

[MadeInJapan]

Thanks for asking sugo...I am fine...just a bit sleepy trying to stay up and watch the election results (or as the Japanese say, "erection" resorts.....LOL (they can't pronounce "L" sounds....so they sound like "R's.")

There are 3 different firmwares I can use (www.rpc1.com). I used the one that kept the location where it was. I can use:
1. Primary Drive- Slave
2. Secondary Drive- Master
3. Secondary Drive- Slave.
I slected #3 when I did my firmware upgrade (keeping it at its original location...where it was in device manager before the flash). I will go back and flash the #2. Secondary Drive- Master firmware and see how things go. Seems that's the logical choice anyway.

These firmwares are for Region Free usage. Very rare for Panasonic/Matshita to be this flexible. Not many of their drives are and that was one reason I bought this drive. Now on hind-sight I wish I had waited for the 825 as it burns both +/- and at faster speeds...but the drive is region free and the slot is way cool. Only drawback right now is that I can't use the little 3inch disks.

[sugo]

Lucky you I doubt they will have a rpc1 firmware for UJ-812. Fortunately I don't really watch dvds.

It lets you pick the IDE controller assignment upon firmware update? That's interesting.

Yeah i know, UJ-822 has +R/+RW support too but there is no speed increase. Well guess i will continue to wait for blue-ray

[think]

i thought they cannot pronounce R´s

[MadeInJapan]

R's and L's.....what's the difference? Well, there is, we know, but the Japanese have a sound in their language that is between the two and sounds more like an "R" than an "L." We Americans, and other English speaking folk hear this sound as an "R" sound.

Sugo, back on the subject at hand, I flashed my drive with the firmware that assigns it to Master and now I am running it as secondary master and my computer fully recognizes it! When I use Easy Eject or "disable hardware," both show it in their window, so all is fine now! Wierd....the flash program is put out by Matshita. When I boot into DOS (use my flash memory device for this, by the way), the full Panasonic/Matshita Logo comes up as part of the flash utility. If they can do this for the 815, seems they could do this for the 811, or someone could take the 815 utility and do some reverse engineering and make it work. I suppose that's in the future of the "UJ" series drives. Just keep your eyes open for changes at www.rpc1.com.

All this and Region Free...now I can enjoy my Region2 Japanese DVD's on this laptop. Just wish this drive would burn in "+" format and allow me to bit set to DVD-ROM like my LiteOn on my desktop does. Oh well....can't have it all, I guess