BenQ & How to be a FLASHER!

Hi
First download the f/w.
Choices:-
BenQ Official: Fig 1.
BsnQ rpc1 patched: Fig 2.
BenQ .CVTs: Fig 3.

Hi
Having downloaded f/w. See fig 1 & 2. You can proceed to flash. If an upgrade, so sticking to f/w for that particular model. Then .exe f/w with comes complete with installer. If you need to unpack the f/w first, then something like WinRAR may be needed See fig 3 & 4.

Hi
Firstly have pc running in safe mode. From within Windows go to start > then > run > type msconfig > click OK > from the window select safe boot. See fig 1 > 4. Let pc boot into safe mode.

Hi
First ensure drive empty. (One option is to have tray open as this 1: ensures drive is empty, but 2: can give a mechanical confirmation once flashing has taken place [drawer closes])
Now double click the relevant f/w. Follow the instructions. Fig 1 > 7. Let pc reboot.

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Last edited by zevia; 16-03-2006 at 01:54. Reason: edit requested

cont:

Hi
Now pc has rebooted, drive has been flashed. Remember that your still in safe mode. Repeat stages as laid out in post # 3. The exception is that this time you select normal startup. See fig 1.
N.B. Checking back I see I have left out link for WinRAR. So here it is:

Hi
OK. This brings us to crossflashing. The easiest for us the user, is Quikees BQFlasher.(Click link in my sig to go to homepage & downloads) See fig 1.
Note you need the aspi .dll in same folder. It's also easier if the relevant f/w is in the same folder, although not essential. See fig 2. Double click BQFlasher, then follow instruction/guide. Fig 5 > 7.
N.B Don't forget to boot to safe mode before flashing.
WARNING as pointed out by Quikee, crossflashing invalidates warranty.
BTW As I didn't want to crossflash my drive at this time, But wanted to show the stages. I've stuck with 1655 f/w. However you can flash to a 1650 <> 1655. I have done this using the method shown. In the case of these drives the LightScribe function does not follow. So your 1650 crossflashed to a 1655 will not give you LS due to limitations of the drive. A 1655 crossflashed to a 1650 loses LS due to limitations of f/w.

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Last edited by zebadee; 15-03-2006 at 22:35.

cont:
N.B. Don't forget the pc will still be in safe mode at this stage. So run the msconfiig as stated in earlier post.

Hi
Quikees' BQFlasher will work with both .exe & .cvt files. There may be a situation where only the .cvt file is available. If the BQFlasher does not see the drive you wish to crossflash, then WinDWFlash (click link in my sig) may be required. When using this method it will try to flash any drive. So make sure you select the correct drive.

Hi
Using WinDWFlash. This utility works with .cvt files only. Double click WinDWFlash exe > select drive > select f/w > check correct drive & f/w > flash drive. Note once flash is complete you need to restart pc to complete the process. Remember to use safe mode & the WARNING crossflashing will invalidate your warranty. A pictorial guide follows.
N.B Again please note the the drive & f/w are the same as I didn't want to cross flash at this stage.(Drives working well with learned memory which I'd lose. I may do an addition at w/e showing actual crossflashing as I'm anticipating some new drives).

cont:

Hi
In post # 2, some of you may have noticed that one f/w is speedpatched. I don't intend on going into strat swapping here. However the speedread is something that I feel as the f/w patch was included should be looked at. First go to ala42s' homepage (link in my sig). Download & unzip MCSE. Double click & run MCSE. Load the relevant f/w > click readspeed box > save. See guide.
When you flash drive use the modified f/w.

Great job, zebadee! It's a FAQ material, although I already prepared similar screenshots for the new FAQ but not as thorough as yours.

Quick question though: who owns hoppy.tk and 211.20.248.106 sites?

@zebadee: Great work

@zevia: Can you make this thread Sticky?

I have never seen a more comprehensive manual for flashing in my life. This is fabulous work Zebadee. I for one congratulate you on a job well done.

for the love of God make give this guy some beer. Finally this makes sense now. There is work to be done on my new sony 810A I just bought. Most excellent work .

Great guide zebadee... .

A comment though, I've been flashing my DVDRW's more than 1000 times in the past 2½ years and never needed to boot into safe mode.
zebadee, your way to boot into safe mode (if needed at all) is also kinda complicated, why not just restart, hit F8 key at bootup, and boot directly into safe mode without the need to run msconfig twice, risking boot/system failures.

Let's hope some of zebadee's work can become a part of the upcoming (revised) FAQ. If not, just make it sticky.

This is my question also and I tend to agree with Pinto I have also during the past 5-6 year many times have flashed and cross flashed my drive with no time that I had to go through safe mode. Other than that you have made a great effort and nice job.

Hello Zebedee,

This would have saved me many days of searching and trial and error last year in learning this for myself... Excellent work

Cheers,

Richard.

Interesting view of flashing!

You experts don't hesitate to flash a drive, but noobs have computers so messed up, hardware and software wise, it's almost mandatory to tell them to flash in safe mode.

The only thing I would add is even more picky, flash as standalone master and for some older extreme crossflashs I have had to completely power down after the crossflash to get drive out of safe mode.

And that's why this guide now exists.
Nice work zebadee.

zebadee, nice work.. very good "HowTo". =)

However I have some remarks:
BQFlasher version 0.7.0 and up supports command line switches which disables checks. With this switches you can force to flash even if the drive is not normally detected.

The command line switched are:
/showAllDrives - shows all drives in the system
/disableDriveChecking - disables checking if the flashed drive supports BenQ commands...

The switches were described when 0.7.0 version was released but they didn't make it to the first page of BQFlasher thread.

Hi
Thanks folks.

pinto2,TCAS & other seasoned cdfreaks. This introduction to flashing is primarily aimed at the newbie. As such a approach including safe mode seemed a good idea. I anticipated posts such as yours & I myself would probably only use safe mode now if a drive was being particularly stubborn (dos flashing on the odd ocassion too, but I didn't want to get into all variations at this point)
The use of f8. On many systems that I've come across of late, simply brings up a boot device menu without any reference to safe mode. Users handbook will often give the process for bootin into safe mode. However, again whilst for the experienced user (dos/bios/linux etc)the Windows approach may seem over the top. For the novice who is coming to terms with Windows, this procedure appeared to me to have merit.

Hi
Quikee my apologies. I was trying to keep it simple. But at the same show some options in order that the user could feel there was something that 'catered' to their needs.
However looking back over the thread I do feel that some mention of what you've raised in your post should've been referred to at least. On a personal basis I only use the BQFlasher when dealing with BenQ (& clone) drives. It's user platform & ability to cope with both .exe & .cvt files put it out on it's own. This of course is just my humble opinion.