flash dvd firmware - was Re: [plug] kill them dead

[Arie Hol]

Over the last few days I have spent some time checking out this subject - 
in order to satisfy my curiosity.


My comments here are intended to be quite general and I do not claim any 
great level of expertise on the matter.

Here are my findings :

Support for firmware updating of optical drives is not consistent across 
the range of manufacturers and models of optical drives.

Most manufacturers - advocate the use of Windows software utilities.

Some manufacturers provide DOS based utilities for updating the firmware, 
but "finding" the correct utility is a difficult task.

Most manufacturers provide binaries for updating the firmware, but there 
seems to be a lot of inconsistency as to which chipsets are installed in 
various drives - the binary "must" match the chipset.

There are many cases where a user has downloaded the correct update 
utility as well as the correct binary - only to find that the update 
fails, because the drive does not contain the "correct" chipset for the 
binary provided OR there has been a mismatch between an OEM version of 
the drive and a retail version of the "same" drive model.

Another discrepancy arises from the manufacturing process - where 
manufacturers are at the end of a production run for a particular drive 
model which is about to be superceded, but the "later" units are fitted 
with chipsets designed for the newer/next models to be put into 
production. 

These end of run units are 'flashed' in the factory after assembly and 
this represents an immediate mismatch of binary vs chipset - with the 
consequence that "later" updates for the chipset in the drive are bound 
to fail, because the binaries are designated by drive model and not the 
chipset model.

Things to consider before updating the firmware of the drive :
------------------------------------------------------------------------

These are not essential items - but if your update fails they may be 
worth considering in hindsight.

Try to identify the chipset before updating the firmware.

Try to  match the binary to the chipset rather than the drive model.

Make sure the device is jumpered as the master on the secondary IDE and 
remove any other device which is connected to this IDE bus.

Make sure the drive works in PIO mode, which means you need to disable 
UDMA mode and change to PIO mode.

Make sure the system isn't running any virtual CD-ROM software.

Make sure the drive to be updated is NOT mounted.

OEM drives can have a different firmware version and the standard 
firmware will most likely not work on an OEM model.


Disclaimer :
============

The following procedures are NOT foolproof !!!
They are only a suggestion - proceed at your own risk !!!


Updating optical drive firmware in Windows :
--------------------------------------------

Download the correct "Windows" updater utility.
Download the correct binary file.
Copy the binary file to the same directory as the updater utility.
Run the updater utility.
Point the updater at the binary file.
If the updater has any diagnostics capability, use it to your advantage 
before proceeding.
If you are satisfied, proceed with update.


Updating optical drive firmware using a DOS boot disk :
-------------------------------------------------------

Download the correct "DOS" updater utility.
Download the correct binary file.
Prepare a DOS boot disk using Windows 98SE.
Copy the correct "DOS" updater utility to the boot disk.
Copy the correct binary file to the boot disk.
Create an autoexec.bat file on the boot disk.

The autoexec.bat file must contain a line which calls the update utility 
and  also the options (command line parameters) required to install the 
binary file - this will vary with different drives, so make sure you have 
the correct options from the drive manufacturer and/or the creator of the 
DOS update utility.

Switch off the PC.
Insert the boot disk.
Cold boot the PC and configure BIOS to boot from the floppy drive.
Allow PC to boot and watch the activity LED on the floppy drive.
Most updater utilities will display errors if the update fails.
Most updater utilities will display a confirmation when update has 
completed successfully.
Reboot PC  and set BIOS to boot as normal (from hard drive).


Updating optical drive firmware using Linux :
---------------------------------------------

I could not find any reliable/consistent information for updating 
firmware on optical drives using Linux.

There are "some" utilities available from third parties - but these tend 
to drive/manufacturer  specific.

Not enough information available to indicate that running this process 
under Linux is likely to be "safe".


In the event of a failed update :
=================================

If the update in Windows fails :
--------------------------------

It is quite common for a failed update to cause the optical drive to 
become unusable, and could even disappear from the system - it may not 
even be detected by the system.

Possible fix :

Restart Windows.
Go to device manager - locate entry for CD/DVD drives.
It is quite likely that it will be shown as "Disabled" because the drive 
did not initialise at Windows startup.	It may not even be visible.

Remove the entries for the drive/s.

Also remove the ide controller (to which the drive is/was connected) from 
device manager.

Exit device manager.
Restart Windows.
Allow Windows to re-detect the Ide controller and the optical drive/s.


If the update from DOS boot disk fails :
------------------------------------

Read the error message generated by the update utility.
Restart system normally.
Access drive from Windows to test it.
If there are any problems (See the above at - Possible Fix)

=======================================================


Regardless of which OS you use :

Proceed with caution - Proceed at your own risk.

If you do not understand the above procedures :

DO NOT PROCEED with updating the firmware on your optical drive/s.


Some interesting links :

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Firmware/List_SubCategories.aspx?CategoryI
d=1

http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php

http://forum.rpc1.org/index.php

http://lasvegas.rpc1.org/

http://digi.rpc1.org/binaries.php

http://digi.rpc1.org/mtkflash.htm  (DOS version)

http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html

=========================================================


Disclaimer :
============

Again I say :

The above procedures are NOT foolproof !!!

They are only a suggestion - proceed at your own risk !!!

Good luck if you are game enough to try.

Over the last few days I have attempted to update 
the optical drive firmware on my dual boot PC.

Pioneer DVR-111D :
------------------

FW 1.06 ------> FW 1.29

Updated successfully in Windows.


Sony DDU 1612 :
---------------

DYS1 -------> DYS3

Update failed in Windows.
Update failed in DOS.

Had to use recovery procedure explained earlier in this message 
(See the above at - Possible Fix)

All is good.


NOTE : 

As the technology of optical drives advances over the next few years 
it is very likely that things may become even more complex as the 
disparity between the various manufacturers and their update processes 
becomes more critical.


Regards Arie
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