Firmware problems DVDR70/021

[Xavier]

Recorder model: Philips DVDR70/021
Firmware version: 6.3 (newest)
Homepage: http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?ctn=DVDR70/021&slg=ENG&grp=HOME_E...K_RECORDERS_SU

I have had this problem for a long time, but I never bothered doing anything about it.

When I flashed my firmware with the newest update from Philips I encountered problems. The recording function doesn't work anymore and when I insert a blank disc it says that there are no disc inserted. I searched a bit for a solution, but never found one. I realized I wasn't the only one with the problem though. The only solution I have found is to reset the firmware, but since I can't find any older versions it's impossible to downgrade it and therefor I am stuck at V6.3.

Does anyone know how I can fix it or get an earlier firmware so I can downgrade it? I came across some links to what I think is the page linked to below, but I never got it to work.
http://www.dvdplusrw.org/Article.asp?mid=8&sid=10&aid=54

[aerospaced]

Recorder model: Philips DVDR70/021
Firmware version: 6.3 (newest)
Homepage: http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?ctn=DVDR70/021&slg=ENG&grp=HOME_E...K_RECORDERS_SU

I have had this problem for a long time, but I never bothered doing anything about it.

When I flashed my firmware with the newest update from Philips I encountered problems. The recording function doesn't work anymore and when I insert a blank disc it says that there are no disc inserted. I searched a bit for a solution, but never found one. I realized I wasn't the only one with the problem though. The only solution I have found is to reset the firmware, but since I can't find any older versions it's impossible to downgrade it and therefor I am stuck at V6.3.

Does anyone know how I can fix it or get an earlier firmware so I can downgrade it? I came across some links to what I think is the page linked to below, but I never got it to work.
http://www.dvdplusrw.org/Article.asp?mid=8&sid=10&aid=54

I flashed mine last night, and now it will start up and cycle the dvd drive and then start seeking the hard drive and then restart. The cycle repeats every 3 minutes. There was no indication of problems, it asked my to take disk and press ok after the door was opened, and then this started. It was plagued with little problems (annoyances) philips support told me to flash the firmware and all my troubles would be solved. Now they told me $275 to exchange pluss shipping (I paid 259!!!)

[aerospaced]

OH --- the question...
Does anybody know how to save this unit??? I am an electronic engineer and have comtemplated opening it up and poking the program into the eeprom?

[hech54]

dvdplusrw.org is GONE....used to be a member.
I have the latest-greatest (last) universal firmware upgrade. It was only available for a short time. It covered ALL models in one firmware disc....after that they broke them up into individual firmwares and they sucked.

[LCSHG]

Some points

If the firmware supplied by Phillips is defective. I would think that Phillips should correct any problems, FREE. Or provide a process that a user could correct themselves.

If the firmware was installed incorrectly and can not be corrected except by a unit exchange for $275 plus shipping, which is more than the original cost, I would junk it

Is it possible to reload the firmware, or an older firmware?

dvdplusrw.org would seem to be in operation.The link given seems valid
I would give there firmware version a try. Whats to Lose
BUT I would make sure that rhe problem is The Firmware


A Quote
I am an electronic engineer and have comtemplated opening it up and poking the program into the eeprom?

What program would you attempt to poke into an eprom,
A defective firmware?
If such a process were possible and the unit worked, I should think the firmware upgrade was done incorrectly in the first place

[aerospaced]

The unit behaved just like the directions had explained, it was when it went to reboot, it powered up, then paused and in three minutes, it rebooted again and again.... It only shows the desktop background, but absolutely no writing. it seems to have a bios program running, becasue if you hit the eject button just as it powers back up, the door will open and wait for the dvd to be inserted, but it will not do more than register a disk now. it never writes anything on the screen.

I will try the link to see if that will work.

Mike

[aerospaced]

FIXED!
I know we are not supposed to answer our own email, but I fixed my DVR!!!! I am very proud. I went and did a search on the LSI chipset, and found the software placed on the dvr was VxWare. I found a listing at stanford before it was written, and connected the code to the machine code. I then opened the cus file on the cd and started reading. I also went through the bin file. What I found is that when an error is noted, it will try to rewrite the entry points. So out of desperation, I unplugged the video cable (the larger of the flat ribbon cables) and taped the end so it would not ground out on anything. Plugged it in. And low and behold, on the screen read error!!! I then unplugged the power from the wall and reconnected the cable and BAM! it then booted up and runs great now, with my new firmware upgrade!!!!! Probably not the best trick for an engineer, but I just know how to cheat better!!!!!!!!!

As a note philips has been very rude and disrespectful about the entire deal. I am very disappoiinted about the quality of customer service from philips!

Mike