TDK firmware help!

[bananajun]

hi peeps

i have tdk 40/12/48, been using it for about 4-5 months and i love it.
except my burner being incompatible with TDK's own 48x cert. media.

i wrote to TDK support but they are not helpful

here is my first email and support's reply:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
i bought TDK veloCD 40/12/48B about a half year ago and i love it.
right now i have firmware version 'Z7SB' and some of TDK's own new 48x cd-r wasn't compatible. (as soon as i put 48x media the burner throttled down to 24x max write and 32x read....so something closer)
so i was wondering this new firmware version 'Z7SD' would solve the problem and improve media compatibility.
also if you can direct me to or show me firmware update log (the Release notes for the firmware) or something, that would be great.

thanks in advance
regards, jun
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Your Actions & Solutions : No, your burner will only ever burn at 40x max.
Using media which is rated higher is okay, provided you drop the speed down to accomadate the speed the media is rated for.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

see thats less than helpful, so i wrote and support replied:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
dear w. patricia, please read my email to the end.

you said "No, your burner will only ever burn at 40x max" yes, i know that. but my problem was that as soon as i put your own TDK 48x certified media, my burner throttled dow to 32x read and 24x write.
you also said "Using media which is rated higher is okay, provided you drop the speed down to accomadate the speed the media is rated for."
maybe you didn't read my email correctly, i am using the media rated higher (i have tdk 40/12/48B and media is tdk 48x cert. cd-r)

im not complaining because i am not being able to burn at 48x. i know that is not possible since my drive is "40/12/48B" but problem is that i cannot burn at 40x.....that is my drive's max burn speed and the tdk cd-r is certified for 48x, which suppose to be able to burn at 40x as well. and as for read my drive is capable of 48x and i can read it only at 32x when the tdk 48x cert. media is in the drive. (the drive speed was obtained from latest version of nero info tool)
i know that this is media and drive conflict between 40/12/48b tdk burner and tdk 48x cert. media. since i had no problem with 40x cert. media so far only with 48x media.

so that is my problem, and here comes my questions.
1. right now i have firmware version 'Z7SB' and TDK's own new 48x cd-r is not compatible, so i was wondering this new firmware version 'Z7SD' would solve the problem and improve media compatibility.

2. where can i find firmware update log (the Release notes for the firmwares) or something, that would be great.

thanks in advance
regards, jun
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Your Actions & Solutions :
Hello,

The firmware you are referring to may improve the reading and writing for the CDR/RW media. Unfortunately we do not have an update log. You may want to visit our website at tdk.com/support/cdburners/velocd40xsup.html and download the firmware from our website.

You may also want to try running the Nero CD Speed Test. Run the CD Speed test in Nero with a blank CD (preferably with a minimum speed that the drive rated at -ex. 40X drive , 40x media ), then close all and restart Nero and try again. This may help with the optimization of your drive.

Hope this helps!
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i dunno what the tech support was smoking but "Unfortunately we do not have an update log."<<<<<that is just pure BS.

so i just wrote them back again saying above is just pure crap and tech support is lying to own faithful customer and so on.

i haven't got a respose for my last email to tdk so i came here, hope you guys can help me.
i did search for topic regarding my drive and firmwares here in this forum and came up three topics.

two were regarding 'hot deals' and one was about 'hacking' the firmware.

i did find the tdk's asia site (tdk.com.sg) and they have firmware with little discription (almost like release note) where as us site (tdk.com) doesnt even have release date of teh firmware.
like i told tdk support in my mail i currently have firmware version 'z7sb', the one the burner came with.
and now tdk us has z7sd, and was wondering if this is same as:

- Firmware upgrade version z7s7 (updated 10-Feb-2003)
Supports HCR-90 minutes dics.
Supports TAO, DAO and Multisession for HCR-90 minutes disc.

or

- Firmware upgrade version z7s6 (updated 26-Jul-2002)
P-CAV write strategy, Mt. Rainier support and improved compatibility for new 48x CD-R media.
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if so i want to stick with firmware offered by tdk us, cause i dont want to hack firmware and void my warranty.
(it will be so cool if tdk us's firmare had mt. rainier and p-cav and improved compatibility with 48x media)

anyway it is so stupid that tdk us doesnt put any info regarding their firmware.
im trying to get that info from tdk us but i doubt taht i can get any so, i hope you guys can help me.

and you know my problem (incompatibility with tdk 48x media)

sorry for the long post
thanks in advance

[BuddhaTB]

I would give the newer firmware on TDK's USA site a try. Hopefully that helps. If not, you can just flash the drive back with the old firmware. Just make sure you back-up your old firmware or download a copy of it off the net. I really hope the firmware update solves your problem.

[bananajun]

tx for the reply buddha....

yea, that was my thought too, but i coldnt find the firmware i currently use anywhere on the web. (google found two with 'tdk z7sb' and one linked here for review of tdk 40/12/48...lol)

i tried to flash firmware on this drive and i dont think i have option of backing up this old firmware.
here is the pic of window taht popps up when i duble click on flash.exe file


taht is why i am afraid to flash this firmware
maybe i will ask less than helpful tdk support for this old firmware.

[dhc014]

waaaaa! Please backup and send me that firmware before you flash! It is on my "Wanted Firmwares" Page

You can backup the firmware using mtkflash in real DOS. See the mtkflash page on my website for instructions.

I would bet that a firmware update would solve your problem. Firmware Version Z7S7 may be newer than Z7SD, but I think that it is aimed at European and Asian areas whereas Z7SD is intended for the American Market. They had to release Z7SD because the Windows Updater would prevent an update from Z7SB to Z7S7 because it thinks that Z7S7 is older...

[bananajun]

well you are in luck dhc014......

i havent flashed my firmware. and i would never flash a firmware before backing it up or getting it from somewhere else.

and since there is no way of backing it up with the firmware flash tool i got from tdk and i couldnt find any from web. i wasnt goanna flash to z7sd til i get a copy from tdk.

btw, did you ever asked tdk for taht firmware (version z7sb)?

anyway i will back it up with your tool and send it before when im going to flash the firmware

hope the z7sd adds mt rainier and p-cav plus more media support.......

also, lets say i backed z7sb and flashed to z7sd, but the new firmware wasnt working as great as z7sb, could i use the tool offered by you (dhc014) to flash back to the old firmware? (sounds like i could, but want to make sure)

p.s. this is for dhc014>>>>>>Type the command now to backup your firmware: "mtkflash X r /b /m filename.bin"

'x'>>>drive number
'/r'>>>read firmware
'/b'>>>bin
whats '/m' and do i have option of where the bin goanna be saved?

[dhc014]

You can specify where exactly the bin is saved by typing the full path in place of "filename.bin". So you could type "mtkflash X r /b /m c:/windows/desktop/filename.bin" and it would save it there. I just recommend running mtkflash from where you want the file saved... I have not tried asking TDK for firmware. And from your correspondence with them, I am glad I never tried.

There are two ways that you can flash your drive back to Z7SB if you choose to, but I don't think that you will ever want to. You can flash from DOS usign the mtkflash tool that you will use to back up, or you can use MTK WinFlash from here to flash from Windows. mtkflash in DOS is still the safest method for flashing though, and the only method to back up...

[bananajun]

alrite thanks for the help dhc014, i backedup my old firmware and flashed to z7sd.
everything seems ok.

here is before the flash pic (firmware: z7sb)


and after the flash (firmware: z7sd)


as you can see support for mt rainier is added! (woot!!)
and seems the 48x media is compatible now! (woot woot!!)
so far so good, now im goanna burn some discs.

one thing, when i first restarted my puter and used info tool, the burner came up with only 40x, 8x and 4x burn speed and i was like wtf.....bur after one more reboot it was all fine.....

anyway if you wanna get the firmware version 'z7sb' for tdk 40/12/48b, go here.

[dhc014]

Thanks a lot for the firmware backup! InfoTool only showing a few speeds available is normal. It happens to a lot of people, but is usually fixed by a restert (as in your case) or by running a test in Nero CDSpeed.

I just realized that your drive is detected as a 401240B, but is a 40/12/48 drive. This is the name found in both the Z7SB and the Z7SD firmwares. The Z7S1-Z7S7 firmwares are named 401248B as they should be... Interesting...

[bananajun]

no problem re:firmware.
you got one firmware closer to your perfect collection......lol

I just realized that your drive is detected as a 401240B, but is a 40/12/48 drive.

yea first time i saw that when i first bought my 40/12/48B i was worried if i got ripped off......

but yea, looks like 40/12/48B with firmware z7sb & z7sd are named as 401240B....

interesting, indeed