Tried to use Nero Infotool to read the firmware version of one of my dvd drives and got big BSOD this morning. Took a while to get the computer going again. It was not a happy camper after that.
VSO Inspector is a similar tool - and will offer to check for new firmware too. Information. http://www.vso-software.fr/products/inspector/inspector.php
That Inspector works fine and I have the firmware upgrade but am scared to do what it says. I dont think anything will make this drive work with that sony dvd+rw stuff I have. Ive wasted 6 disks trying to burn to it and get disks that cant be read or used by anything else. Have to pitch them. I must go find some more Verbatim disks. they worked fine.