Non-diskette firmware update for DVD/CD-RW drive?

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zzyss · #1 Post by **zzyss** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 8:23 am

Is there a way to upgrade the firmware for the optical drives? (I have a DVD/CD-RW, which I think is M a t s u s h i t a UDJA745 or something... too lazy to check). The only firmware updates available are boot diskette ones, but I don't have any diskette boot devices.

How else can I upgrade the firmware, and is it even necessary?

MadeInJapan · #2 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 9:46 am

Search here for bootable memory stick or bootable flash memory. I use mine instead of a floppy drive and it works very well.

JohnDrake · #3 Post by **JohnDrake** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 11:54 am

USB floppy drives are relatively inexpensive, and still useful to have...you might consider purchasing one. Doesn't necessarily have to be IBM's. T models with current BIOS will boot them if the boot sequence has it in front of the hard drive.

JHanko · #4 Post by **JHanko** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 1:43 pm

I upgraded the DVD/CDRW firmware on my T30 using a USB key. It was a big pain in the [censored]. Turned out to be a big waste of time also. Nero and EasyCD still report it's maximum write speed at 4X, even though it's a 16X...

Jeff

rocky01 · #5 Post by **rocky01** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 3:55 pm

Many folks have been able to get the firmware onto USB memory sticks
but looking at their instructions convinced me to buy a floppy, since it always comes in handy and are cheap. No brainer.

Nero does report the MATSHITA UJDA745 DVD/CDRW as 16x capable with buffer underrun protection.

JHanko · #6 Post by **JHanko** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 4:46 pm

My T30 has the GCC-4160N combo drive in it. Maximum record speed reported by Nero and EasyCD is 4X. I have tried everything to get it faster and have given up..

Jeff

MadeInJapan · #7 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 8:34 pm

Why don't you use RecordNow which came with the ThinkPad....IMHO, it is far superior to Nero, and may even burn discs at their currect speed as per your drive.

JHanko · #8 Post by **JHanko** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 10:23 pm

MadeInJapan wrote:Why don't you use RecordNow which came with the ThinkPad....IMHO, it is far superior to Nero, and may even burn discs at their currect speed as per your drive.

I don't have any restore CD's and the original hard drive that contained the restore partition was replaced long ago..

Jeff

zzyss · #9 Post by **zzyss** » Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:06 pm

OK I just got a USB memory key as a Christmas present (an IBM one, ironically)... I tried downloading the diskette firmware update from IBM support site, but it refuses to extract onto my USB key. I think its expecting a 1.44MB floppy. Any way around this?

MadeInJapan · #10 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 9:54 am

Put the pre-extraction file onto your usb key....go to another computer with a floppy drive....extract to floppy and copy the files from the floppy back onto the USB key. I know it's a pain, but those *&%$ IBM files, like you say only extract to floppy, and so this, I know will work.

zzyss · #11 Post by **zzyss** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 11:07 pm

MadeInJapan wrote:Put the pre-extraction file onto your usb key....go to another computer with a floppy drive....extract to floppy and copy the files from the floppy back onto the USB key. I know it's a pain, but those *&%$ IBM files, like you say only extract to floppy, and so this, I know will work.

God, I don't know how long its been since I've even touched a 3.5" floppy disk. Gonna be interesting trying to find a spare one...

browncspence · #12 Post by **browncspence** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 8:58 pm

The DVD firmware updater expects the files on the A: drive. When you boot from a USB memory stick, it is C:.

I've bought a USB Floppy from eBay. Heck, if you can solve the problem for $22, why waste time messing around with it.

IBM should provide an updater that does NOT require a floppy drive.

MadeInJapan · #13 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 7:55 am

Oh shucks...I forgot about the files written as if for an "A" drive. I agree, that it would be easier to just buy a cheap USB floppy drive, or one that fits your ThinkPad through the bay off of eBay. Why IBM is behind its time on these things? Anyway, another option is to get the firmware update specific to your drive from www.rpc1.com I know that IBM's update for DVD/CDR drives is an "all inclusive" one, but those at rpc1.com are not....therefore you'll be able to download the update and put on a usb flash without much trouble. Whatever you do, good luck and let us know how you fair.

Non-diskette firmware update for DVD/CD-RW drive?

Non-diskette firmware update for DVD/CD-RW drive?

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