WARNING for Vista users with LiteON drives:

[lostinlodos2]

The Vista firmware upgrade/update that is available now through Microsoft Update and the LiteOn website for your players will BLOCK most rip-hack-backup programs from working. it transfers your player's control settings entirely to Vista (Vista will now set all hardware settings rather than giving the control to the user as before).
It also write-protects(?) the drive so that you can not revert back to the previous firmware.
I'm pissed as hell as they just trashed my new $50 18X burner. Microsoft's response to my inquiry was that it's part of the consumer protection program to 'stop hackers from gaining control of my devices'. Sure. LiteOn refused to offer support for Microsoft vista related drivers and firmware (and told me to contact Microsoft) even though I downloaded the updates from the LITEON site, not Microsoft.

[MilesAhead]

It also write-protects(?) the drive so that you can not revert back to the previous firmware.

Huh?? The whole point of firmware rather than hardware
is that you can flash upgrade or revert to avoid buggy code!! Really
bizarre!!! I wonder if there's an unlocker backdoor utility someplace?
Somebody must have a way to un-write-protect it I bet.

Anyway, thanks for the warning. Got to be even more careful when
flashing anything nowadays.

[lostinlodos2]

I was able to flash it back in XP (after considerable tinkering under Linux) but then vista no longer recognized it as anything useful (CD-ROM 4X, grr). It now sits happily in my XP/Linux box doing what it's supposed to do as when I bought it. and I bought an NEC to take its place.

[gonwk]

Hi Lostinlodos,

REALLY REALLY Appreciate your Heads-Up alert on this.

I HATE VISTA too ... but I guess you can't get XP anymore!?!?

G!

[locoeng]

Microsoft's response to my inquiry was that it's part of the consumer protection program to 'stop hackers from gaining control of my devices'.

I didn't know that hackers were targeting optical drives these days...yet another reason not to go to Vista.

[gary172]

@lostinlodos2:
When you did the vista 'upgrade/update' did the firmware of your drive actually get flashed?
I would post here and ask for help: http://club.cdfreaks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=44

[zebadee]

Hi
Firstly I have a couple of Lite-Ons & not experienced any problems whatsoever.
Drivers for DVDRWs in Vista?? Nope definately not.
Flashing of firmware, according to Lite-On is to be done in safemode.
This would mean that Vistas' UAC is not loaded so no prevention of any kind present to 'get in the way of flashing'.

BTW All 4 drives installed are currently using patched f/w.
Pioneer 112 - Plextor 760 - BenQ 1655 - Lite-On 20A1P

On the 'write protection'. Microsoft hasn't any rights or arrangements with Lite-On or any other manufacturer to be able to add commands to the EEPROM. I doubt if this is even possible without your (the users) involvement.

[Chewy]

welcome to the forum zeba,

I guess flashing from safe mode is even more important with vista, rather safe than sorry

[lostinlodos2]

Safe-mode? I wonder if that would have made a difference!? I like my new NEC so I'm not eager enough to go through the process again. Keep in mind I was not attacking LiteOn; rather Microsoft's heavy hand and mighty sword.
zebadee: a few quick notes: I was not patching (or hacking) the firmware; I was updating the firmware and device driver with official releases from liteon, there is a difference in that. I don't like taking the, er, left-hand-path unless I have to.
Second there are very much device drivers for DVD-RW drives in Vista; see picture, I've written a few betas for LG myself for use with Vistin (pre-release Vista shell loader for Linux64 platforms from 4U2)
And a quick stroll over to MSDN will give you an understanding of how many drives just don't work out of the box because of the new Windows-Driver Standard Driver Server (generic driver by brand).


My aim was more to say; if your drive works reasonably well; DON"T UPDATE even when Microsoft says you need to.

[locoeng]

and I bought an NEC to take its place.

Where did you find a 3520? I thought they were long gone...isn't/wasn't that the Dell OEM drive chewy?

[lostinlodos2]

It's an ND-4571A. Bought it from a shop near-by. It's a sturdy little drive. reminds me of the good ol' days when drives were made to last.

[zebadee]

Hi
OK there are drivers for CD Rom Devices (this includes DVDRWs).
[I would add here that if referring to 64 bit OS, it may be problematic. Not becuase of the drivers themselves. But how the OS stores them. Often rendering them to be invisible in affect with regards to some H/W]
However these are not specific to Vista. They are MS Windows Drivers.
As for f/w the official stance from both Lite-On & interestingly NEC is that flashing should only be undertaken in safe mode.
In safe mode Vista does not load any of the UACs scripting that would/could possibly restrict any access by user when trying to flash.
As far as 'write protects' well it just dosen't exist. This would involve MS adding/editing the bootcode of the device. I can assure you that this doesn't happen.
The hacking that MS refers to re 'Devices' is that of HDs' & not ODs'. This is part of the Windows Defender criteria.
I only mention patched f/w simply to point out that not only have I had no problems with official f/w, but patched too.
I can & have Backflashed/Crossflashed any & all my DVDRWs'. The amount of control/access is no different than XP Pro. (Am running Vista Ultimate 32 bit).

[locoeng]

The reason I commented it because it shows as a 3520 in the screenshot you just posted...

I have a 3540a and love it...still going strong.

[zebadee]

welcome to the forum zeba,

I guess flashing from safe mode is even more important with vista, rather safe than sorry

Hi
Thanks m8.

[gary172]

@lostinlodos2, et al:
OK: I'm totally confused. Is there really an issue or not? The burner firmware could not be backflashed? Not even in DOS mode or safe mode?
Exactly what M/S upgrade/update was done?

Kindest Regards