Firmware

1.  What is firmware?

Software contained in read–only memory (ROM) device, usually residing on a circuit board within the TDK drive.  A cross between hardware and software, firmware can easily be updated if stored in an EEPROM or flash ROM chip.  

2.  What does a firmware upgrade provide?

Can resolve issues with media compatibility, writing speed, and digital audio extraction from slightly scratched discs.  The firmware flash can also prevent potentially fatal mismatches between media and drives.

3.  How do you determine that you need a firmware upgrade?

Your drive cannot use a particular brand of media, or it performs much more slowly with one type of media than other types/brands of media.

Consult with a technical support representative.

4.  A firmware flash cannot fix what items?

TDK drive not being recognized by a newly installed CD or DVD mastering program.

TDK Drive not recognized by Windows XP’s built-in CD writing program.

* Note:  There is always a risk associated with flashing your TDK burner.  You should only flash your TDK drive if you are having a specific issue with the drive.  It is important to carefully follow instructions provided.

How do I flash the firmware on my TDK Internal drive?

1.      Please go to the right of this screen to select the firmware for your drive model by left clicking on the zip file.

2.      Click the “Save” button when the “Save As” window comes open.

3.      Save to your desktop for ease of use.

4.      Select Save and the file will be saved to the desktop.

5.      When a message appears that the download is complete, Select close and go to your desktop.

6.      If the file is an executable (.exe) extension you can activate and install from the desktop.

7.      We recommend that you utilize the “Suggestions List” prior to flashing your firmware.

8.       If the firmware flash is zipped up, before you unzip the Zip file, create a temporary folder for the firmware flash file to be extracted to.

9.      If the file is a Zip file you will have to double-click the file and then select “Evaluation version.” (if applicable to your zip program)

10.  Then select “Extract.”

11.  Then go to the “Folder/Drives” section and browse for the folder that you created and highlight it.

12.  Select “Extract” and then go to the upper right hand corner and X out of the window.

13.  Go to your created folder and double-click the file in the folder to activate and run the firmware flash.  We recommend that you utilize the “Suggestions List” prior to flashing.

14.  Select the TDK drive.

15.  Select the “Flash” button.

16.  Select the power off button and then wait for a system shutdown.

* Please note that instructions may vary based on what version of .zip application that you are using.  The firmware flashing utility interface may vary from model to model so instructions could vary slightly.

How do I flash the firmware on my TDK External drive? ( Only Applies to the indiDVD840G)

1.      Disconnect all other external devices except the keyboard and mouse.

2.      Connect only the TDK to the rear USB or Firewire ports on the computer (not applicable in laptops). Do not connect to a hub or daisy-chained device.

3.      Close all open applications, especially antivirus and firewall.

4.      Download the firmware update from the TDK website under the section for your model.
http://www.tdk.com/support/dvdburners/indidvd8xextsup.html#firmware

5.      Double-click on the downloaded firmware update, read the agreement and click OK.

6.      Check that there is no disk is in the TDK drive

7.      Make sure that the TDK drive is properly selected under Drive Information and then click the Update button

8.      Wait while it runs the firmware Update Procedure.  Do not interrupt the procedure as it can result in a damaged drive

9.      Once the firmware update is complete it will ask to restart the system.  Allow it to restart and the firmware update is now complete

Suggestions:

In order to successfully flash your TDK drive the following steps may need to be performed prior to the firmware flashing process.

1.      You may want to boot into safe mode (To get into safe mode press F8 during the boot up process) during the flashing process if you are using Win2000/XP.

2.      If you are using Win9X/Me you can use the MSConfig utility by going to Start>Run and in the command line enter MSConfig and then hit the enter key. When the System configuration Utility comes up, choose the Selective Startup (Safe Mode) option and uncheck (Load Startup group Items) and (Process Win.INI) checkbox before Restarting. 

3.      DMA should be disabled during the flash process.

4.      Disable InCD and DirectCD (if applicable)

5.      Disable the WinXP native burning software program if using XP.

6.      Check to make sure that your TDK drive is empty and no discs are present.

7.      Close all open applications, especially antivirus and firewall.

(To disable the native burning in XP, double-click on my computer and then right-click on the TDK drive, select properties, click the recording tab, and clear the check mark in the box next to “Enable CD Recording on this drive”, then click ok and close My Computer.)

*Make sure to set the System Configuration Utility back to the Normal mode when the firmware flash is complete, and once you have restarted the computer to complete the flash process.

As a precautionary measure the drive that is present on the IDE cable with the TDK drive should to be disabled by the corresponding procedure. Please find the procedure that applies to your Operating System.

Windows XP / Windows 2000:
Steps to (Disable) the drive that won’t be flashed: - Note: Start at step # 2 for Windows 2000

1. Click on the Start button
2. Right click on My Computer
3. Select Properties
4. Select the Hardware tab
5. Click on the Device Manager button
6. Click on the + next to the CD-ROM icon to open it
7. Highlight the drive that is not going to be flashed under the DVD/CD-ROM drives icon
8. Right click on the drive that is not going to be flashed
9. On the General tab go to the bottom and select the down arrow under Device Usage
10. Select Do not use this device (Disable)
11. Execute Flash Utility on TDK drive

Steps to (Enable) the drive after flashing:

12. Click on the Start button
13. Right click on My Computer
14. Select Properties
15. Select the Hardware tab
16. Click on the Device Manager button
17. Click on the + next to the CD-ROM icon to open it
18. Highlight the drive that is not going to be flashed under the + DVD/CD-ROM drives icon.
19. Right click on the drive that is not going to be flashed
20. On the General tab go to the bottom and select the down arrow under Device Usage
21. Select Use this device (Enable)
22. Select OK

Windows 98 / Windows ME:

Steps to (Disable) the drive that won’t be flashed:

1. Right click on My Computer
2. Select Properties
3. Select the Device Manager tab
4. Click on the + next to the CD-ROM icon to open it
5. Right click on the drive that is not going to be flashed
6. Select Properties
7. Go to the Settings tab and deselect the Auto Insert Notification
8. Select OK and then reboot the computer
9. Execute Flash Utility on TDK drive

Steps to (Enable) the drive after flashing:

10. Right click on My Computer
11. Select Properties
12. Select the Device Manager tab
13. Click on the + next to the CD-ROM icon to open it
14. Right click on the drive that is not going to be flashed
15. Select Properties
16. Go to the Settings tab
17. Select the Auto Insert Notification to enable it again
18. Select OK and then reboot the computer

*You may need to disable the Direct Memory Access (DMA) for the TDK drive in the Device Manager prior to running upgrade. Remember to re-enable the DMA after you have flashed on the TDK drive. Follow these steps to disable and enable DMA

WIN9X/ME

To Disable DMA before flashing:

1. START > SETTINGS > CONTROL PANEL > SYSTEM
2. Go to the Device Manager tab and click on + sign next to the CD-ROMs then you will see any CD drives underneath the CD-ROM icon.
3. Highlight the drive that you wish to disable the DMA on and right-click on it.
4. Select properties and then choose the Settings tab
5. On the settings tab uncheck the DMA checkbox.
6. Then close all windows and reboot.
7. After the reboot you can update the firmware.

To Enable the DMA after flashing:

8. START > SETTINGS > CONTROL PANEL > SYSTEM
9. Go to the Device Manager tab and click on + sign next to the CD-ROMs then you will see any CD drives underneath the CD-ROM icon.
10. Highlight the drive that you wish to disable the DMA on and right-click on it.
11. Select properties and then choose the Settings tab
12. On the settings tab Check the DMA checkbox.
13. Then close all windows and reboot.

*After the firmware has been applied you will want to reactivate the DMA for the TDK drive.

WIN2000/XP

To Disable the DMA before flashing

1. START > SETTINGS > CONTROL PANEL > SYSTEM
2. Go to the hardware tab and then select the device manager button by clicking once on it.
3. Double click on the IDE ATAPI Controllers
4. Double click on the Secondary IDE where the TDK drive is installed
5. Select the Advance Settings Tab and change both devices to PIO Mode by selecting the transfer mode pull-down arrow and selecting the PIO Mode. Once selected hit ok.
6. Then close all windows and reboot.
7. After the drive is running in PIO you should be able to update the firmware.   After the firmware has been applied you should reactivate the DMA for the TDK drive.

To Enable the DMA after flashing

8. START > SETTINGS > CONTROL PANEL > SYSTEM
9. Go to the hardware tab and then select the device manager button by clicking once on it.
10. Double click on the IDE ATAPI Controllers
11. Double click on the Secondary IDE where the TDK drive is installed
12. Select the Advance Settings Tab and change both devices to “DMA if available” Mode by selecting the transfer mode pull-down arrow and selecting the DMA if available” Mode. Once selected hit ok and the device will be back in DMA mode.
13. Then close all windows and reboot your system.

Last update: 06:51 PM Thursday, October 18, 2007