Matsushita Laptop DVD Burner - Firmware replacement / boot code exchange

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CD and DVD Writers Discuss, Matsushita Laptop DVD Burner - Firmware replacement / boot code exchange at Computer Hardware forum; Hey, I have a question for the more skilled users on this forum. You know Laptop DVD-Burners don't use jumpers to set up their HW configuration (Master, Slave, Cable Select). Instead they use their own firmware. Unfortunately most vendors ship their drive with a Master or Slave FW and don't

pho3nix (New on Forum): Posts: 14; Posted: 04-02-2008

Hey,

I have a question for the more skilled users on this forum.

You know Laptop DVD-Burners don't use jumpers to set up their HW configuration (Master, Slave, Cable Select).
Instead they use their own firmware.
Unfortunately most vendors ship their drive with a Master or Slave FW and don't offer both, i.e. via Online download.
The reason is the OEM-specific demand of the Laptop manufacturers.

Inroduction:
I bought a Matsushita (short: Matshita) UJ-831B (recognized as UJ-831D in HW-setup) device
as replacement for my defective old UJ-810B DVD-burner.
Because I knew, that the front bezel mounting of Matsushita never changed
at least up to series UJ-85x, I could use my old bezel.
Luckily the UJ-831B DVD-burner had a Slave FW as my old UJ-810B had one.
So exchanging the devices for my Laptop was very simple. No problems!

Problem:
Repeat the replacement having an UJ-831B with a Master FW for another Laptop.

Goal:
Save FW including boot code and replace it on the UJ-831B with Master FW.

Open Questions:
Has anybody done this before?
Is it possible to save the complete Slave FW including boot code.
(probably this could be very difficult, because I knew from NEC/Optiarc
devices, that they are patched by a special software)
Can you force a Matsushita device to accept the new Master FW?

Steps:
Dump wanted FW from device.
Replace dumped FW on target device.
So simple, so beautiful.

(knowing it's hard work)

Prepared for the worst, hoping for the best.
Thanks, phoenix

Quote and reply

Today (MyCE Staff): Posts: 15,596

_chef_ (MyCE Resident): Posts: 27,390; Posted: 04-02-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by pho3nix

Goal:
Save FW including boot code and replace it on the UJ-831B with Master FW.

Open Questions:
Has anybody done this before?
Is it possible to save the complete Slave FW including boot code.
(probably this could be very difficult, because I knew from NEC/Optiarc
devices, that they are patched by a special software)
Can you force a Matsushita device to accept the new Master FW?

Steps:
Dump wanted FW from device.
Replace dumped FW on target device.
So simple, so beautiful.

(knowing it's hard work)

Prepared for the worst, hoping for the best.
Thanks, phoenix

No way to success...

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Falcon4 (New on Forum): Posts: 26; Posted: 30-07-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by _chef_

No way to success...

What does that even mean? Have you anything constructive to add to this, or just vomit in the thread?

Sure, I'm bumping a year-old topic, but this kind of stuff really ticks me off, when the only reply to a topic is someone barfing a riddle into the thread. "No way to success..." - what the heck kind of Engrish blabber is that. Sounds like something out of a bad kung-fu movie.

Anyway, I'm holding in my hand a UJ-831B that we'd bought to replace a UJ-830B drive. The 831B isn't recognized by the computer because, well, we suppose it's running in Slave mode, when it should be Master (inverse CSEL, whatever). Hoping to find a way to correct this... but "no way to success" sure doesn't help in any way.

Quote and reply

Albert (Moderator): Posts: 4,915; Posted: 30-07-2009

Many members of this forum are not native English speakers.

Matshita doesn't give ANY real support for drives. I have yet to see a case in which a user got help for a Matshita drive directly from Matsushita itself. Usually, the user has to either go through the OEM [in the case that the drive is built into a computer or whatever] or just get a completely different drive.

There have been people that have had success soldering 2 of the pins on the back of the drive together to get the drive into a different "master/slave" mode. Here's an older thread which might help: http://club.cdfreaks.com/f34/ide-1-error-79069/

If soldering isn't an option, then I'd suggest switching the drive out for a completely different make and model.

Quote and reply

Falcon4 (New on Forum): Posts: 26; Posted: 30-07-2009

Well'p, I'm sitting right in front of a hot soldering iron

So that looks like the way to go. I just hope it doesn't cause the logic inside to smoke itself from being shorted...

Not being a native English speaker is one thing, but posting in a topic just to say the equivilant of "no, that's not possible" is a whole 'nother thing... as long as someone is being helpful, I don't mind if I have to endure a reading experience that reminds me of calling HP tech support in India. It's not a big deal if there's actually something useful to be said... but if it's just coming in here to say "that can't be done"? *facepalm*

Anyway, thanks for you help, even if over a year later

Quote and reply

bjkg (CDFreaks Resident): Posts: 3,546; Posted: 31-07-2009

@ Falcon4,

What Forum Member _chef_ was attempting pointing out to Forum Member pho3nix in posting #2 was that with Matsushita Optical Drives in was impossible to save Matsushita Slave Firmware/Boot Code. Is that so difficult to understand with his #2 posting? But instead of attempting to understand the meaning of a no-native English speaking Forum Member’s posting you chose to start an unwarranted rant.

Forum Member pho3nix specifically asked “Is it possible to save the complete Slave FW including boot code” and Forum Member _chef_ translated response "no, that's not possible"/ "that can't be done" reply to the question is a pertinent meaningful factual answer to Forum Member pho3nix question.

Regards,
bjkg

Quote and reply

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