Upgrading DVD drive firmware

[mike3411]

I have an NEC ND-3520A, that I have been happy with but I would like to upgrade the firmware so it can read DVD-R DL. I tried using NEC's update utility from http://support.necam.com/Optical/downloads/FlashFirmware/, but I keep getting a "Flasing Error". The drive still works fine, and I've rebooted and retried the utility, but I get the same error. I haven't installed hacked firmwares, or done anything else weird to the drive, so I have no idea why it isn't working. The utility sees the drive OK, and recognizes it as having an older firmware version. I have no idea why it won't work. I would really like to update the firmware, does anyone have any ideas on why NEC's utility won't work, or what I can do to get the firmware updated properly? Any help would be appreciated!
-Mike

 

[Steve]

Tried it in Safe Mode?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The good folks at www.cdfreaks.com may be able to help.

 

[mike3411]

So I emailed NEC, and I actually got a response! Apparantly I have a very old firmware version, which required a different updater from - http://de.nec.de/softwareoverview2.php/id/557

Also, I had been forgetting to boot up in safe mode, but just as general info it appears that Safe Mode is not required, however chaning the drive from DMA mode to PIO mode (in the properties for the IDE channel) was required.

In any case the firmware updated correctly!

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I'm glad you got it to work for you. I'm just wondering about the PIO mode though. Your drive isn't that old and PIO mode is significantly slower than DMA.

 

[Steve]

PIO was only needed for the flash. Perhaps the flash could have gone through anyway without reverting to PIO. Doesn't matter though, once it's flashed you can go back to DMA.