Flashing rebadged DVD writer with OEM firmware

Discussion in 'DVDR' started by Grampaw, May 7, 2004.

  1. Grampaw

    Grampaw Regular member

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    Can I do this? My Tale:

    I have a Creative 8X Dual DVD writer (model DR8420E). It came with firmware ver 054. Went to the Creative support site, downloaded and flashed ver 055 with no problem. That was months ago, and there have been no additional updates. So I figure Creative has cut bait on support.

    Doing a little Google searching, I find the Creative writer is really a rebadged BTC DVD writer (model DRW 10081M). The BTC support site has firmware that continues from ver 054 to 055, 056, 057, 058, and is up to the 4th revision of ver 058 (BTC calls it 458). The change logs indicate these revisions are mainly to support more DVD media brands.

    So can I use the BTC windows-based firmware flasher on my Creative writer? Do these flashers do a writer ID check first? Is it worth trying given I could end up with a DVD writer that windows won't recognize? Any advice would be appreciated.

     
    Grampaw, May 7, 2004
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  2. Jerry746

    Jerry746 Senior member

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    Hi Grampaw, I was able to change my Memorex burner to a true Pioneer drive and then update it with Pioneer firmware. You can check this site to see if the conversion for your drive is available.
    http://www.rpc1.com.

    I first had to flash to change the name, then the hacked firmware for the burner improvements. Once on the site, just do a search for your model burner. Hope this helps.

    Jerry
     
    Jerry746, May 7, 2004
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  3. Grampaw

    Grampaw Regular member

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    Jerry746,

    Thanks for your suggestions. I had already checked out RPC1 (the Dangerous Bros) - they have DOS flashers that will change the ID to a RCPXXXX type name for this burner, which I'll do as a last resort. Problem with a DOS flasher is the burner is on the IDE Primary Master in a XP Pro system using a RAID array HD setup - probably won't work and probably won't work with DOS.

    I'm going to try the BTC Windows Flasher first. If the flasher says "no go, wrong ID", I might physically move the burner to a WIN98 SE machine and try the BTC emergency DOS flasher (on their support site) which will probably change the ID with the firmware flash. I'll report back in this Forum thread.

    Or I might just go buy a Lite-On writer - they seem to revise firmware daily...
     
    Grampaw, May 7, 2004
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  4. Jerry746

    Jerry746 Senior member

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    Hey Grampaw, You're right about it taking some playing around to change the drive name for flashing. But the long term results are worth it in my opinion. Best to wait until any warranty runs out, since you can't go back the other way in most cases. Good luck with the Windows try at it.

    Jerry
     
    Jerry746, May 7, 2004
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