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Do you ever update the firmware for your hard drive?

There are several models of drives out there with well known and SERIOUS compatibility or performance problems due to their firmware. Unfortunately not all drive makers commonly make firmware updates easily available even when the drives have firmware problems.

Chances are if the drive OEM makes a firmware update available for general download, it PROBABLY does correct some problem that is 'serious' at least to some users (i.e. it could be a performance problem or a compatibility issue with a given controller or BIOS or other disc drive or whatever that affects some but not all users).

I would apply any available update for my drive revision / model unless the instructions for it specifically say not to unless you have a very particular problem / configuration.

I've fixed serious compatibility problems updating the firmware in my DVD drive before....

 
Originally posted by: QuixoticOne
I've fixed serious compatibility problems updating the firmware in my DVD drive before....
Click to expand...

Good to know. I downloaded new firmware for my Lite-On, but the documentation isn't very specific about what it fixes.
 
I upgrade the firmware ON ANYTHING that I can... i have in the past upgraded the firmware on:
1. DVD set top boxes (the ones plugged to the TV)
2. DVD-RW drives (many)
3. motherboards
4. Video cards
5. MP3 players
6. Cell phones

And I even used custom firmware modifications for some of those... that being said. I have never updated the firmware on a HDD because it was never made availble to me.
The new OCZ core V2 series has a usb mini plug for upgrading the firmware...
 
Originally posted by: taltamir
I upgrade the firmware ON ANYTHING that I can... i have in the past upgraded the firmware on:
1. DVD set top boxes (the ones plugged to the TV)
2. DVD-RW drives (many)
3. motherboards
4. Video cards
5. MP3 players
6. Cell phones

And I even used custom firmware modifications for some of those... that being said. I have never updated the firmware on a HDD because it was never made availble to me.
The new OCZ core V2 series has a usb mini plug for upgrading the firmware...
Click to expand...

You mean usually there isn't one for a hard drive? Here,
http://support.wdc.com/product...sp?groupid=606&lang=en
there's only some "diagnostic" and "tools" downloads.

Anyone every update the firmware for a hard drive?

Odd, I just saw this on the WD site:
http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bi...Y2hfdGV4dD1maXJtd2FyZQ**&p_li=&p_topview=1

It says some drives don't have firmware available.
 
I wouldn't update the firmware on a HD, unless there were some drastic, "urgent" issue that needed fixing. Like the IBM DTLA-30 75GXP drives. Even so, mine had early firmware and it was fine, it was only after I flashed the "fixed" firmware that I ran into issues. I sold the drive soon after.
 
Originally posted by: Gillbot
i've never updated the firmware on my hdd.
Click to expand...
I haven't either. I've done about everything else...especially tape drives, but if a CD/DVD device or a hard drive is working, I stick with it.
 
If it is working... preemptively fix it before it breaks!
Can't tell you HOW many times THAT philosophy saved my bacon.
Like replacing a CPU and then recalling that if you didn't upgrade the firmware (on a perfectly working machine that did not need it) it wouldn't have worked.

Or, you know.. NOT triggering that rare bug that causes data loss that was address in that version you decided to not apply.
 
I have on Seagate ES.2 series SATA drives that had major issues with certain Intel-based SAS RAID Controllers.
 
I flashed the firmware on 2 of my Hitachi 160gig drives because they fixed some "head park" thingy...
Also flashed the old IBM "DeathStar" with an updated firmware, and it still works today 🙂

As for CD / DVD burners, i updated them a lot... specially the DVD burner because of a lot of "incompatibility" with some media.
 
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