How can I upgrade firmware of Samsung CD-ROM SC-152C.

[pranav81]

Dear,
I have a Samsung CD-ROM SC-152C with firmware CS05.The problem is that I face lot of problems while reading CD-R's.The same CD-R's are read perfectly on the LG CD-ReWriter.Pressed Cd's are read perfectly by the drive.I am thinking of upgrading the firmware of the drive.I searched the site,www.firmware-flash.com,and found 2 firmware for the drive named CS05 and C300.Which of the one is latest?Also should I upgrade the firmware so that my CD-ROM would perform better?
Waiting for some posts.
Thanks in advance,


::Pranav::

[cfitz]

www.firmware-flash.com (www.rpc1.org) normally lists firmware in order of oldest to newest, left to right. In this case, however, you don't even seem to have a choice, since the CS05 link returns a 404-not found error. So, unless you find another source, the newer C300 is your only choice:

http://www.sec.co.kr/product/odd/suppor ... C_C300.zip

I have no idea what this firmware is designed to improve.

cfitz

[pranav81]

Dear cfitz,
thanks for the fast reply.I had posted a question on that site and I had got the reply from and he had given the location of the firmware.I didnt knew that tiime that the firmware C300 is newer than the older one.The link was unaccessible for the older firmware for that time too.Also I thought of upgrading the firmware that time but I admit that I am a little afraid of killing my CD-ROM.But sometimes I think that if I upgrade the CD-ROM will read the CD-R's normally and will not slip in PIO mode more often.
For more information please see the post below....

http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?p=50681#50681

Thanks for the fast reply,


::Pranav::

[cfitz]

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=9921

I'm not sure if it really applies here, since you started the original thread over there last December, back when 3719-post dhc014 was thrilled to be posting his 1000'th post. But, you have resurrected the thread simultaneously. Still, thanks for coming clean and linking to your other posts. By the way, that thread must hold some sort of record for slow-motion posting.

I don't know what to tell you about fear of killing your drive. There is some chance of damaging it, but if it isn't working properly anyway... And the C300 is designed for problems with XP, which you seem to be having, so it seems like it would be worth a chance. To improve your chances of success, make sure that you have reliable electrical power and no CD in the drive while flashing.

cfitz

[dodecahedron]

http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?p=50681#50681

January 2, 2003: 1000 posts
April 28, 2003: 3179 posts
delta-days: 115
dalta-posts: 2179
slope = 18.94782 posts per day....dang!
dhc014 you are a Posting Freak!

[pranav81]

Dear cfitz,
I think you saw the post and when it was posted.I waited complete 3 months for a proper reply.I accept I was late in posting replies but I think that this is a proper excuse.
Okay I think I will go for the upgrade if someone gives me the proper flashing instructions.
Thanks a lot,


::Pranav::

[dodecahedron]

to me looks like you waited 2 weeks for dhc014's reply...

[pranav81]

Hi all,
I have downloaded the latest firmware for my Samsung
CD-ROM SC 152 C.The CD-ROM has firmware CS05 and the latest
on the site is C300.As the C300 firmware is for Windows XP
and I am facing problems with the drive in Windows XP I decided
to flash the drive.
When I gave the following command to back up the current
firmware,in DOS,

f1198l 2 r /b cs05.bin

I received a error as follows,

Error:Unknown Flash Memory

Reading:0%

and the computer stopped.I waited for 10 mins. and then pressed
ctrl+c and then rebooted again from the same floppy drive,but this
time the reading showed 1% with same error as above and stopped.
As I have not yet taken the backup I think I better not try
to upgrade the firmware now.I will try with the latest version of
mtkflash.

Please respond as soon as possible.
Thanks,


::Pranav::

[cfitz]

1. Is your drive the primary slave (that is what the "2" stands for)? If not, use the following codes:

2 -> PRIMARY SLAVE
3 -> SECONDARY MASTER
4 -> SECONDARY SLAVE

2. Is /b a valid option? I don't see it the readme file that comes with the firmware, although I might be looking at different instructions than you have. The readme file I see only shows the hex option (which does not require any command line switch). I don't have any personal experience with Samsung's flashers. Does Samsung use MediaTek chipsets and is their flasher just a version of mtkflash?

3. You might want to setup your bios to force the drive to PIO mode while flashing.

cfitz

[pranav81]

Yes, the drive is connected as primary slave and the writer is secondary master.
I downloaded the latest Mtkflash from the site.Then I tried to backup the current firmware.I got the same error but Mtkflash did create a bin file of the existing firmware.
Then when I tried to update with new file,I got the same error saying "Unknown Flash Memory" and then a line appeared saying Updating:00% and it wouldnt go further.I waited for 10 minutes and still no progress.I thought I killed my drive and rebooted.But to my surprise the drive was alive and working with the old CS05 firmware.
So how should I update the firmware?I am using latest mtkflash.
Thanks,


::Pranav::

[cfitz]

At this point you are having enough problems that I would be a little hesitant about continuing unless you get a definitive answer as to what is wrong and how to correct it. Otherwise you risk ruining your drive.

You aren't alone with the troubles you describe:

http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?t=1065
http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?t=7391

cfitz

[pranav81]

Thanks cfitz,
I think I better not upgrade the firrware.I think I will use the slow CD-ROM instead rendering it dead.I think I had almost killed it but it survived.I will not flash the firmware until I get some clear steps of how to do that.
Thanks,



::Pranav::

[cfitz]

You're welcome. Sorry we couldn't resolve your problem, but I think you are making a prudent decision for now. If I come across more information that might help, I will post it here.

cfitz

[dhc014]

http://forum.rpc1.org/viewtopic.php?p=50681#50681

January 2, 2003: 1000 posts
April 28, 2003: 3179 posts
delta-days: 115
dalta-posts: 2179
slope = 18.94782 posts per day....dang!
dhc014 you are a Posting Freak!

Ownage!!!

lol guys... I can't help it! I don't know how some of you resist joining...

If you count the total time I've been a member there:

Code: Select all

Joined:                 9/01/2001
Current Date:           4/30/2003
Days of Membership:     606
Total Posts:            3222
Posts Per Day:          5.31

I recommended that he try the Samsung flashers as this drive may just not work well with mtkflash I suppose.

I have a SC-152L at work, and have been unable to get it to work with mtkflash. sfdnwin wont work either I just haven't had the need to try sfdndos yet...

[pranav81]

Dear dhc014,
the firmware that came in the c300.zip file with the update file didnt work.I mean it didnt work while taking backup of current firmware,which the latest version of mktflash was able to,with some problems.
also the file was named f1198l.exe,in the c300.zip,and is older version of mktflash.So I didnt try flashing the drive with the older mktflash.
So,still waiting...Thanks a lot for the replies,


::Pranav::

[pranav81]

Dear all,
dhc014 gave me the link for Samsung flashers.I downloaded the zip file and found that there are 4 *.exe's in them.There was a Windows flasher for Windows 2000 which works for XP.But the problem is that the flasher requires a *.BIN file while the update file I downloaded from Samsung has the firmware in *.HEX format.
So where would I get the *.BIN update for C300 version for Samsung CD-ROM SC-152 C CS05?
Thanks,


::Pranav::

[dhc014]

I replied in your original thread on rpc1.org

[pranav81]

Dear dhc014,
I saw the thread and downloaded the *.bin files.I will reply with the results.
Thanks,


::Pranav::

[pranav81]

Dear dhc014,
I downloaded the *.bin files from the location given by you.When I unzipped both
the files I saw that the files were about 65KB each.I then rebooted into DOS with a
Windows ME bootable floppy.I used mtkflash 1.62(the latest from the site) and tried
reading the current firmware CS05.It gave me the error saying"Unknown Flash Memory",but
proceeded and read the file in *.bin format.But to my surprise the new *.bin file that
was read from the drive was 512KB in size,while the files you gave me had only 65KB size each.
So,what is the reason for a large drastic difference in the size of *.bin files of same version?
I have not yet flashed the drive.I am damn afraid that I am going to kill it.I think I will
soon flash it when I have collected enough courage(or money??).
Thanks a lot,


::Pranav::

[dhc014]

The files that I sent are only the first bank. You should use the command: "mtkflash # w /b /a0 filename.bin" If you flashed with the hex file it would only flash the first bank anyways.

[pranav81]

Dear all,
hi.I downloaded the Samsung flashers and the binaries for Samsung CD-ROM SC-152C CS05.The new firmware is C300.When I tried opening the firmware by the file called sfdw2k.exe,flash download file for Windows 2000(I am using Windows XP SP1) it gave me the error saying "Different model".
So obviously I didnt flash the drive as the Samsung flasher
gave the error that the *.bin file is for different model.
Any more ideas??
Sorry for the late post...but you see my exams start from tomorrow so I
wont have enough time for these things for a few days.Keep posting,I will
reply whenever I can.
See ya later,



::Pranav::

[pranav81]

Dear all,
I just gathered courage yesterday and went forward to flash the CD-ROM using MtkWinFlash.I had the firmware CS05 and C300 handy in both the formats,.BIN and .HEX.I transferred the drive in PIO mode in Windows XP and tried to flash it.MtkWinFlash gave me a error(I don't remember which) and at last said completed successfully and asked me to reboot the computer.I rebooted and found that the drive was still working with same old CS05 firmware.I tried using both the files,C300.bin and C300.hex without any positive results.
So,whats the catch guys?
See ya later,


::Pranav::

[CDRecorder]

Try turning off the computer for a minute or two after flashing.

[pranav81]

Dear CDRecorder,
When MtkWinFlash said gave me a error first and then the completion message asking me to reboot,I really was afraid that I had killed my drive.So I just selected Turn Off from Windows XP's shutdown menu and headed out for a change.When I came back after 5-10 minutes,I was a little happy and little disappointed to find the CD-ROM woking with the older firmware.
This happened twice and instead of rebooting I had selected Turn Off option.So this solves your point.
See ya later,


::Pranav::

[CDRecorder]

Too bad that didn't work, but I'm glad that your drive wasn't damaged! Are you sure that this drive is compatible with MTKFlash?