Help: Downgrading A03 firmware from 1.90

From the Pioneer Faq, sticky post here : Can I downgrade firmware? For DVR-A03: Get the DOS-loader and firmware file here. You must then boot ms-dos or win 98 dos prompt in order to install it. the key is to boot on a DOS disk, not to do it running me,xp or 2k. I did not try myself (still on 1.68 free as it works fine), but I fully thrust the pioneer FAQ

Thanks for the copy/paste, but this is one of the things I tried already I'm afraid. As you can see above, the program appeared to update my firmware but then remained stuck on 1.90. If anyone has any further suggestions, please post them! Thanks, fubarduck

That's not good. It had worked for me for 1.80->1.68 :confused: I'll try it again with 1.90 -> 1.68 (I don't have a 1.65 file) Did you really use the loader I have linked in the FAQ? The loader is "dvr103.exe", not anything else.

verification 

Alex Noe, I attempted to use the exact files posted in the Pioneer FAQ. Here's what happened: 1) I booted to native DOS using a boot disk 2) I inserted a diskette with dvr103.exe and R3100101.168 3) I ran the command dvr103 R3100101.168 4) I selected my DVR-103 from the list 5) The firmware file I selected appeared to load 6) The program said "flashing firmware" for a second or less, then returned to the DOS prompt with no other messages 7) My firmware is still 1.90. So yes, I did use the exact files and instructions on the FAQ, I didn't want to make a thread about it until I was absolutely sure it didn't work, and it doesn't O_o Please let me know what you think the problem could be! Thanks, fubarduck

The same happenes here! Seems that they indeed prohibit the loader from working if 1.90 is installed! But still, I don't get a windows loader work either. The drive doesn't enter flash mode. Maybe they have changed the flash commands in the firmware, so that older loaders cannot be used any longer. Will update the FAQ :angry: You can try to edit the 1.68 firmware file, so that its name is 1.91 then (and use the normal windows uploader) :sly: but without any warranty.

I did it and it worked (1.90 -> 1.68). I've used another DOS loader I've grabbed somewhen: "upgdvd.exe". Get the 2nd loader and rename your r3100101.165 file to r3100101.191. Then boot to DOS and execute upgdvd. Don't forget the included refinq.dat. I'll now check if the old loader works again. If it does => Pioneer intentionally inhibits its usage. It it doesn't => :confused: EDIT confirmed. I could re-upgrade from 1.68 to 1.90 using that original dos loader. So Pioneer indeed prohibits its usage if 1.90 is installed. @Pioneer: I don't like such crap :angry: really not!

Thanks a million AlexNoe, the new software and the renaming trickery solved the problem! Now, I just have to fix my DVD movie burning problem. . . fubarduck

OK, FAQ is updated...I hate Pioneer for such actions. I really don't see any sense in it!