MSI Atapi 4x DVD writer firmware help please........

[Bricktop]

I recently aquired an MSI Atapi 4x DVD writer which has 2.17 firmware.
Unfortunately the problems with this drive are well documented here.......it is not happy with dvd-r.
Therefore i need some new firmware but heres the problem...all the firmware i have seen from links here require the procedure to be carried out in real DOS. Now i dont know $hit about real DOS so can i flash this drive in windows or can a knowldgeable person give me an idiots guide (and i mean idiots) to doing the flash in DOS.
Any help will be much appreciated.
Thanks....Idiot!!

[tompika]

It looks like an Optorite201.

The Dangerous Brothers have a Windows Flasher for the Optorite

I'm sure they will help you.

www.rpc1.org
http://forum.rpc1.org/index.php

[Bricktop]

Thanks for yor reply tompika.....i downloaded the 2.23 and the 2.3 versions of the firmware from the dangerous brothers but upon running the winflash file the computer just froze up and task manager said winflash not responding.
I aren't having much luck here.........any suggestions?
Thanks again.

[tompika]

Geez, man...

I said the Dangerous Brothers would help you.

I did not tell you to flash it with the Optorite fw!

[tompika]

http://forum.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?threadid=81136

[Bricktop]

LOL ok man no probs.
In for a penny and all that........
Thanks anyway bro...

[tompika]

You like giving me a heartattack?

So whats the situation?

[Bricktop]

I dont think i have cocked the drive up....it still reads dvd originals like before although i have not tried burning anything yet. Ill do that today....
I only went for the Optorite fimrware cause i am sure this drive is the same but just labeled up as an MSI. It has the same firmware revisions...ie 2.17, 2.23 and the newest 2.30.
If it is bust i will just find someone who knows real DOS to try and fix it for me, so no worries....
It is a frustrating drive with this firmware (2.17) as i burn a blank DVD-R then i cant play or read the bloody thing after that and it plays perfect on my standalone......the media i am using is also respectable.
Oh and i appreciate your help mate...so thanks and sorry for giving you a scare
Ill let you know if its bust later but i think it will be ok as its recognised by the system and still plays DVD, also DVDinfo pro still recognises it and lists my firmware as 2.17....so fingers crossed.
Thanks again tompika.

[darken]

Hi!

Maybe this will help: I have MSI dr4-a and I downloaded Optorite 2.30 firmware for dd0201 and use their winflash utility and works fine.

[Bricktop]

Burns fine, no damage done.

[larsli]

Idiots guide for flashing in DOS: I did this on my DR4-A, worked great!

(I presume most people are running WinXP)

Download a win98 or winME startup disk if you don't have one already. (Do a search in google) This is probably a disk image, instructions for how to use it will be on the download page.

Copy the flash utility and firmware to a floppy disk OR burn to a CD. (Win98 and ME startup disks have CD-ROM drivers.)

Boot with the startup disk. Select if you want CD-ROM support or not. Your harddisks will not be readable if you have NTFS. The startup-disk will make a virtual C: drive in RAM.

After startup is finished copy the flash utility and firmware to the virtual C: drive from the floppy or CD. (ex. copy a:\*.* c:\)

Execute the flash util from c: (ex: flashutil.exe firmwarefile). The utility will scan the PCI bus and give you a choice of what drive to flash (if you have more than 1 drive.) Flash away!

You can ofcourse run the flash utility from the floppy disk, but this is not very safe in case there is something wrong with the disk.

Hope this helps.

I see that the MSI Live Update has showed up at the firmware page for the DR4-A now. Anyone tried this?

[Bright1]

Yeah, i've flashed with MSI's offical 2.30 firmware and it works perfectly.
Previously I had used Optorites201 v2.30 firmware, that too worked fine.

Recently, and i'm not sure what it is, but my MSI now writes to crappy, penny a dozen discs without flaw!?!
The only things i've updated recently are Nero to v6302 (60032), my SATA hard drive controller drivers and my motherboard bios which also updated the SATA hd controller bios.

Thesedays............

Ritek 2x yellow top burn perfectly
Datawrite 2x Red top as above
Mirror Platinum 2x fine and dandy (you should avoid them anyway)

This Sanyo drive (Optorite201 / MSI / IISonic / Pacific something) is a good drive.

The earlier firmwares caused the drive to have problems with -R discs, but not anymore, v2.30 is very good.

One thing in my opinion that makes this drive stand out from the rest is the fact that it writes a mean +R disc! I've written for XBox, PS2, pc dvd-roms and standalone players and never had a coaster nor a playback issue - particularly with Ritek Purple +R discs.
-R discs from Ritek are good too, I get good feedback from people who test my discs, the general reason for failures are due to cheapo pc-dvd-roms.
Its alleged on a good few sites that XBox and PS2 struggle with +R discs. Not with your trusty MSI they wont.

Cheers,

B1.