NEC-ND1300A in eMachines: Firmware Update

[maiki]

Has anyone successfully updated the firmware for the ND1300A packaged in eMachines? Did you use the Windows or the DOS version?

I am nervous about upgrading the firmware from 1.05 to 1.08, because the note that comes with the update utility says it will not work with drives packaged in PC's.

Thank you for your help.

[noki]

though i have not personally flashed my 1300a i understand that if your unit is a real NEC ND-1300a you can flash the original firmware with herrie's, or the factory-issued 1.08 without any problem. you need to open your computer up to verify if you haven't already (or use DVDInfo Pro). your unit is OEM, just like mine. OEM means it was produced by NEC, sold in bulk to Original Equipment Manufacturers (eMachine, Compaq, Dell, etc) to use in their systems. they are real ND-1300a units without the retail box (used by NEC to sell individual units to the public at large.
i have not upgrade my unit because i am able to write to all the different medias i use (Verbatim [MCC], TDK and Memorex [Ricoh], and Maxell [Maxell]). BTW they're all +media.
one should maybe upgrade should they have issues with media, or when new featuresets (bitsetting for example)become available. if not you might want to leave well-enough alone.

[Gazorgan]

I haven't upgraded mine and it's burning fine. Of course I feed it a steady diet of RITEKs and TDKs.