EEPROM Utility for PLDS/LiteOn/Sony CD & DVD Writers (v5.0.1) *NEW*

EEPROM Utility for PLDS/LiteOn/Sony/BenQ CD & DVD Writers
The Official Thread

What is it
We have developed a tool that makes backing up and restoring the EEPROM very simple. The EEPROM is a 1024, 4096 or 8192 byte non-volitile memory in the drive, which stores data that needs to be retained when the drive is de-powered. I suggest that everyone with a Liteon DVD drive should use this utility to make a backup of their EEPROM straight away (if you don't have one already) and make two copies for safe keeping. You may never need it but it's good to have just in case. If you have two drives, it's even more important, as it is very easy to write the EEPROM file to the wrong drive. This can kill a drive because each EEPROM has unique calibration data, that is set in the factory. MAKE A BACKUP NOW!!!! What have you got to lose.

Features
1/ Backup EEPROM.
2/ Restore EEPROM.
3/ Reset Learnt media calibration data (new method in v2).
4/ 4x1S to 811S EEPROM conversion, using ala42's conversion algorithm.
5/ EEPROM checksum repair.
6/ Supports backup and restore for CD-RW and DVD.
7/ Upgrade Drive function.
8/ Supports 5S and 6S EEPROMs
9/ Supports 16W1P, 16A7S, 16A1P, 18A1P/H, 20A1P/H/S/L EEPROMs
10/ Supports DW1680, DW1800, DW1805, DW1810, DW2000, DW2010, DW2050, DW200S EEPROMs
11/ Supports Blu-ray drives

New Features in v3.3
1/ 4KB backups for 5S and later models
2/ 4KB backups includes HyperTuning data
3/ Reset HyperTuning function

New Features in v3.5
1/ Slim drive IDE mode switching (Master/Slave)
2/ More upgrade options

New Features in v3.6
1/ Supports the new 8KB EEPROM size in the current models

New Features in v3.7
1/ Supports model changes for 18x and 20x drives from Lightscribe to non Lightscride models
2/ Officially supports the latest BenQ models listed below

New Features in v3.8
1/ 20A3 series 20x RPM tab to allow the checking and setting of the 20x RPM
2/ More upgrade options (see below)

New Features in v4.0
1/ Options tab for smartburn type options
2/ Bitsetting tab (some older drives not supported)
3/ Last drive selected is restored in the next session

New Features in v5.0
1/ Supports Blu-ray drives
2/ New Convert Drive function
3/ New Clear Media Learn function

New Convert Drive function
This exciting new crossflash feature reads the firmware to find out which model the drive is and changes the EEPROM to match the model it finds. The drive must first be flashed to the new firmware, which must be compatible with the drives hardware (chipset), and then this function used. The drive will become fully functional after a system power off, or if external, the external enclosure switched off.

This function can take a while to complete, as it looks at the firmware to find the drive model.

Please note: An SATA drive must be powered off to finish the conversion.

New Clear Media Learn function
This new version of the reset learnt media function, uses safe drive commands to clear both the learnt media and the hypertuning. The new clear media learn function may not work with some legacy drives (reports that it has failed and makes no changes), so if you still use an old drive, make sure you keep a copy of your previous version of the EEPROM Utitity, just in case.

BenQ Models Supported
DW1680
DW1800
DW1805
DW1810
DW2000
DW2010
DW2050
DW200S

Upgrade Drive
This function allows you to upgrade (or downgrade) your drive to any model that is supported by your drive's hardware. Once you have changed your drives model you will be able to use official firmware in your drive without any crossflash patching.
Supported upgrade drive sets:
* 451S <> 851S
* 812S <> 832S
* 862S <> 852S
* 1213S <> 1613S <> 1633S <> 1653S
* 1673S <> 1693S
* 160P6S <> 165P6S
* 160H6S <> 165H6S
* 16W1P <> 16A1P <> 18A1P <> 18A1H <> 20A1P <> 20A1H <> 20A1S <> 20A1L
* DW1680 <> DW1800 <> DW1810 <> DW2000 <> DW2010
* 16A3L <> 20A3L

Note:
* Crossflashing to LightScribe firmware will not give you the LightScribe feature, as index hardware is missing from a non LightScribe drive.
* 451S and 851S users wishing to crossflash to 812S or 832S should still use the OmniPatcher crossflash patch or use firmware already patched, as the hardware difference still requires the patch to allow the drive to work properly.










Note: Please understand that some functions are experimental, at this stage. Make sure you backup your eeprom first.

More information
Please read the documentation enclosed in the package for more details.

Compatibility
EEPROM files for this utility are compatible with other EEPROM utilities.

Credits
Special thanks goes to RPC1 (The Firmware Page) and the authors of Dvdzone and PLScsi, xvi, Pat LaVarre and ala42 for sharing his invaluable knowledge of the EEPROM. Without them, this utility would not have been possible.

Note: Do not use this utility on anything other than Liteon hardware.

Version: v5.0.1 (4 September 2009)
* iHAx122 9 EEPROM was incorrectly detected as a Blu-ray EEPROM
* Fixed, once a Blu-ray EEPROM was detected, all subsequence EEPROMs were treated as Blu-ray EEPROMs

Version: v5.0.0 (27 July 2009)
* Supports Blu-ray drives
* New Convert Drive function
* New Clear Media Learn function
* Removed some legacy functions

Version: v4.1.2 (28 April 2009)
* Supports the 24x drives
* Added upgrade (16A3L <> 20A3L)
* Does not wait for busy drives at program start

Version: v4.1.0 (11 October 2008)
* Added "Cable Select" and "Cable Select Inverted" to Slim drive mode switching

Version: v4.0.0 (4 August 2008)
* New Options tab (from Settings Utility)
* New Bitsetting tab (from Settings Utility)
* The last drive selected is restored the next time you start the EEPROM Utility

Version: v3.8.3 (11 November 2007)
* Improved support for new models

Version: v3.8.2 (29 October 2007)
* 20A3 series 20x RPM tab to allow the checking and setting of the 20x RPM

Version: v3.6.2 (26 January 2007)
* Supports the new 8KB EEPROM size in the current models
* Fixed a bug reading 4KB EEPROMs from slim drives

Version: v3.5.0 (21 December 2006)
* Slim drive IDE mode switching (Master/Slave)
* 160x6S to 165x6S upgrade
* Extended the default filename
* Other minor improvements

Version: v3.3.3 (24 April 2006)
* 4KB backup for 5S and 6S models
* 4KB backup includes HyperTuning data
* Reset HyperTuning function
* Minor bug fix in v3.3.3

Version: v3.2.4 (3 march 2006)
* Fixes an issue with 5S and 6S drives (if you have either of these drives please upgrade)
* The version number is now displayed in the title bar

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Download: EEPROM Utility
Mirror: EEPROM Utility
Documents: Readme file

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Acknowledgements:
We would like to thank the people in the community whose work, either directly or indirectly, have helped us do what we do: TheKeyMaker, xvi, The Dangerous Brothers, >NIL:, ala42, dhc014, etna, Dale, digi, and the author of KProbe.

Note: We've decide to allow requests for EEPROMs, when it's a genuine case of a lost/over written EEPROM and I guess this is as good a thread as any to do it in. Also note, we still don't know whether using an EEPROM file from another drive, can do damage to a drive it was not calibrated for. So only do this as a last resort!

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Last edited by C0deKing; 04-09-2009 at 06:19. Reason: New version v5.0.1

Oooh... SWEET! Finaly we can test this theory out in real world tests.

Promise, I will make 3 copies and store them on different locations in case my compu crashes.

Thanks.

Weeeee!
- Something really NEW to play with!
- Thanks!

Suggestion: - include "EEPROM" in filename on save?

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Last edited by bichi; 21-10-2004 at 04:55.

Excellent.

Some advice (someone very smart once said this to me)

"Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and go well with mustard"


These sorts of utilities can be a recipe for disaster. Beware.

CodeGuys;

You are as always really great; thanks for all your time and effort to make "The Burning Game" more enjoyable and fun for every one.

TCAS

Thanks Jack. So I take it your drive is not or has never been region free then.

As long as you have a backup of your EEPROM(s), then there is no more risk using this utility then there is changing your drive to region free or flashing new firmware into your drive.

/expresses fondness of this new tool. Well done!

Great stuff. Appreciated

Boooyah!!! Codeguys at it again!

Eeprom backup function worked perfectly on internal 411S drive and external firewire 1633S drive.

I'm sure jacks had a bit of a poke in dragons affairs, even from a long distance....

Tools is very cool
Will play with it tonight....

And here are my first results... Media; Verbatim DLP DVD+R 4x, MCC002 stratswap to -003 + bitsetting. No other tweaks. Burned with Nero Express 6.3.1.25 at 8x speed. Disc #3, but both the others look the same.

Observatins. After eeprom "reset" the burnquality in "8x" region got worse. But, as stated in readme file this is "experimental" and I´m aware of that.
Once again, thank to all made this possible.

careful you will go blind

^^HAHAHA! Debro.. watch out,man.

I've updated the readme file in the new file on our site. The program hasn't changed and retains the same version number.

Oh boy oh boy oh boy, what's next?

The first thing that I saw was CG4B as firmware... Sounds good . WHERE WHERE can we download it.

Give that man a prize for spotting it first.

It's still a work in progress. All in good time, all in good time...

I hope the DVD-R will be reworked too, since the DVD+R is almost perfect, I've been able to write some DVD-R discs quite well and I will post some of my findings in the change writing strategies thread. The CG3B really is superb for +R but lacks a bit speedhacks, I've done it manually but I think most of the people are interested in good burns but also like fast burns, instead of perfect burns.
When I have my 1213S from rma I will try the EEPROM util . I flashed it with a corrupted bin and the chip was empty.

cool...

Reloaded original eeprom and I´m a happy camper again.
Burned two more discs on this (virgin) setup and you can see my "worse" scan on link. Now the errorrates, (PIE´s) in "8x" burnarea are normal again and on it´s way down...
Yes I know, this kind of tool/actions are not ment for those who have good or acceptable error reporting rates. But, with the announced function; "reset learnt media" (RLM) I had to try it out.

More observations; (yeah, now I have 2 oo´s, missed one in above post)

- When on "RLM" eeprom I noticed a louder drive, probably caused by higher spinrate.

- The speedshifting was near the same as when I´m on @832, kinda abnormal high spinup´s; one about 1-2% into the burn and later on both speedshifts; 4--> 6 --> 8x. I´m not worried over this (at least not now when I´m "back on zero" again), but I have a feeling this might cause problem for others, resulting in less good burnquality.
I hope c0deguys have an explanation on this.

Note. Remember, all this burns are "overspeeded", MCC-002 can be burned at max 4x on stock 812 firmware.

Here`s my great big fat, enormass THanks CodeGuys

Hey CodeKing from the picture you've posted we can see the CG4B firmware...when will you release this firmware???

I don't really know. Still quite a bit to be done yet and a lot of testing...

Hi all Litey freaks out there.

Thanks to c0deguys we finally got a tool we have been waiting for a long time. A tool giving us the possibilities to improve the burn quality and the quality of our drives by our selves.

I´m creating this thread mainly because I think the one initially created by c0deguys on this subject should be keep clean for specific technical discussions. Also keep in mind, technical discussion regarding the data in eeprom or the detailed function of eeprom (what all the bytes do) is up to date not allowed.

How can we test these new posibilities to improvements? If you look around the forum there are mainly four tools used to measure the burn quality; KProbe, Nero CD/DVD Speed, Plextools and DVDInfoPro. In my opinion all this tool are more or less equal for our needs regarding testing the burn quality. What you personally like to use is your choice, I still prefer KProbe.

Finally, when posting please tell us your drive type, firmware, OS and the mobo/IDE/ATAPI drivers you are on at the moment. Provide also information about media, at what speed it was burned and, what type it is. Please provide also a MID string showing the media ID and revision number.
A short comment is also welcome to provide useful information to other members and visitors.
So, what are you waiting for. Happy burning

Moderators feel free to mod this thread.

BTW, I hope you have seen the pool at top of page. Cast a vote!
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Drive; SOHW-812S fw =UN0Q. Media stratswapped to MCC-003 write strategy, bitsetting enabled
Burned with Nero Express 6.3.1.25, at 8x. I´m on WinXP Pro SP1 and default windows chipset- and IDE drivers, all DMA on. ASPI 4.60, 40 conductor IDE-cable used.

As you can see mine results after using the eeprom utility hasn´t improved my burn quality. But then my drive was burning great already before this tool, so I´m not surprised. I reverted back to original eeprom.

Fist scan. Burn one week back, before running the "reset learnt media" (RLM) patch.
Second. After the patch. Se also my post here
Note. No spikes removed.

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Last edited by pinto2; 21-10-2004 at 16:33.