Help identifying this drive

[Noahtuck]

Hey

A friend has this drive that came in her pc, some generic piece of crap i'm sure.

The only thing it say's on the drive is Model DH-16A1P on one label & the second label say's DH-16A1P19C manufacture Date June 2007.

The first number comes up as a BenQ, but the BenQ Utilitys do not recognize it.
The second number comes up as a lite-on, but no lite-in utility recognizes it.

Any one know what it is ? A utility that could tell me what it is ?? or if you know what it is, what utility i could use to change it so it will set the booktype to DVD-ROM on +R's for this ??

Thanks!!

[edDV]

This came up on Google
http://www.ascendtech.us/itemdesc.asp?ic=DVDRWBDH16A1P&eq=&Tp=

[redwudz]

Try ImgBurn. It can usually list drives. I also use SIW: http://www.gtopala.com/

So many compainies farm out drive production that's it's not easy to tell from what's written on the drive who really made it.

[budz]

Noahtuck you'd have to crossflash the drive w/ the liteon flash utility over to the liteon firmware.
http://club.cdfreaks.com/f44/help-crossflashing-dh-16a1p-lh-16a1p-235289/

download the flash utility from here:
http://codeworks.cdfreaks.com/cgmirror/utilities.html

download the firmware from here:
http://codeworks.cdfreaks.com/cgmirror/firmwares.html#LH-16A1P

from there you should be able to booktype dvd+r media to dvd-rom.
the drive can also be crossflashed to the 20x dvd burner by flashing the eeprom. sort of risky but always fun for me to see if the drive is capable of being crossflashed to another model. crossflashing drives is always a risk. but I've never had a failed crossflashing of Benq, Liteon & Pioneer drives.

[Noahtuck]

This came up on Google
http://www.ascendtech.us/itemdesc.asp?ic=DVDRWBDH16A1P&eq=&Tp=

Yep, that's what i was talking about when i did a search on that first number..

Try ImgBurn. It can usually list drives. I also use SIW: http://www.gtopala.com/

So many compainies farm out drive production that's it's not easy to tell from what's written on the drive who really made it.

C'mon.... i'm not that new, you should know better :P

Everything just show's it as a generic drive with the first model number.

I just hate these damn generic drives... i build all my systems and have always used NEC drives made before they stopped making their own drives or whatever it was they did to screw it up, but all mine still work fine so 8)

Noahtuck you'd have to crossflash the drive w/ the liteon flash utility over to the liteon firmware.
http://club.cdfreaks.com/f44/help-crossflashing-dh-16a1p-lh-16a1p-235289/

download the flash utility from here:
http://codeworks.cdfreaks.com/cgmirror/utilities.html

download the firmware from here:
http://codeworks.cdfreaks.com/cgmirror/firmwares.html#LH-16A1P

from there you should be able to booktype dvd+r media to dvd-rom.
the drive can also be crossflashed to the 20x dvd burner by flashing the eeprom. sort of risky but always fun for me to see if the drive is capable of being crossflashed to another model. crossflashing drives is always a risk. but I've never had a failed crossflashing of Benq, Liteon & Pioneer drives.

Ya know... i knew you'd be the one to hook it up... i was just going to PM you but then i figured ahhhh... i'll just post it in case someone else has this same drive

I'll give it a shot and see what happens.... i have already been scoping out a few drives at local stores, BestBuy, Circuit City, ect. because she said if the generic drive can't be set up to change the booktype she wants me to get a new drive and put it in THIS weekend so i'm kind of out of the option of ordering one for her.

So if it fry's no big deal 8)

I have always flashed my drives and messed with them with no problems but it was i just could not find anything out about this damn drive, i even did searches with that number over at cdfreaks, dvdplusrw.org, Liggy and Dees', ect ect ect ect... downloaded a ton of diff. stuff, nadda

If it frys, i'll be starting another thread for a recommendation on some diff. drives i can pick up tomorrow locally

Thanks All!!!!!!!!!

[budz]

Fry's has a PIONEER 18x dvd burner on sale for $24.99 after $20.00 mail in rebate. I'm thinking this is probably the PIONEER 112 drive. They also have a SATA PIONEER 212 on sale as well but IDE would just be easier to install for your friend's pc.
http://newspaperads.mercurynews.com/ROP/ads.aspx?advid=32664&adid=5787594&subid=19956088&type=

Best Buy has the retail 1910LS version which is the newest PIONEER 115D drive.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8692499&type=product&id=1198286609208

There's also a 10%- 12% Best Buy coupon that you can use for it. It expires on 2/18/08.
http://emailinfo.bestbuy.com/P/v3/HTMLCouponv3.asp?ci=50470&r=T1_CPN_50470&e=9708%3B51...&ref=39&loc=01

I'm waiting on Newegg to stock the PIONEER 215 SATA drive. Not like I need more dvd burners.

[Noahtuck]

Fry's has a PIONEER 18x dvd burner on sale for $24.99 after $20.00 mail in rebate. I'm thinking this is probably the PIONEER 112 drive. They also have a SATA PIONEER 212 on sale as well but IDE would just be easier to install for your friend's pc.
http://newspaperads.mercurynews.com/ROP/ads.aspx?advid=32664&adid=5787594&subid=19956088&type=

Best Buy has the retail 1910LS version which is the newest PIONEER 115D drive.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8692499&type=product&id=1198286609208

There's also a 10%- 12% Best Buy coupon that you can use for it. It expires on 2/18/08.
http://emailinfo.bestbuy.com/P/v3/HTMLCouponv3.asp?ci=50470&r=T1_CPN_50470&e=9708%3B51...&ref=39&loc=01

I'm waiting on Newegg to stock the PIONEER 215 SATA drive. Not like I need more dvd burners.

Yeah i was already eyeing that pioneer at BB and the only other one i can find around for a cheap price is this LG
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/LG-Internal-DVD-Drive-GSA-H54LI/sem/rpsm/oid/185289/cat...oductDetail.do

Do you know of any firmeware to flash this to booktype to DVD-ROM ? or if it does out of the box ??
I have not had an LG anything for a few years but they used to be good

Damn!!!!!! that pioneer at fry's looks good enough for me to get a couple... too bad there are no fry's near me
Do they do mail order ??

[edDV]

Check here. They don't always have the same store deals online.
http://www.outpost.com/

[Noahtuck]

Yep, i was at their site already, they are sold out of the IDE pioneer burners but do have the SATA burners, limit one per household but that's easily fixed.

Also she has a SATA HDD and 3 open SATA ports on the mobo.

[Noahtuck]

Alright Budz
point me in the direction of a good BenQ drive for cheap that i can get quickly from someplace like newwegg or whatever that can be flashed to always bitset, IDE or SATA, CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!!!
notice the cheap part :P

Now i'm eyeballing this pioneer from newegg,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129018

Or this pioneer SATA drive,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129009

where can i get firmware to remove readspeed and to bitset, if it does not do so out of the box.
may have to get one for myself... like you, the pile of drives on my workbench could use a new friend

Thanks!!

[budz]

If you really want a SATA dvd burner my suggestion will be the SAMSUNG S203B drive. But before we go further into SATA there's some things that need to be determined first like what controller chipset does your friends motherboard have? If your friend has INTEL ICH7/8/9 the SATA dvd burner should work fine. If it's NVIDIA chipset then the latest drivers need to be downloaded in order for the sata dvd burner to work correctly. If it's the VIA chipset just forget about sata dvd burners because it won't work unless you use a PCI SATA CONTROLLER CARD that has the SILICON IMAGE 3112/3114 chipset. That card can also be flashed to NON-RAID as well. _chef_ knows more about that process and I'm sure he can give instructions should it be needed. Rule of thumb for sata dvd burners is RAID has to be disabled in motherboard BIOS and SATA needs to be set to IDE in the mobo BIOS as well. Also ACHI should be disabled as well although some have had it enabled and the sata drive can work.

So if you wanna by pass everything I just said then buy a IDE dvd burner. One thing I like about my sata dvd burners is the buffer levels during burning process never fluctuates compared to ide burners.

I believe the PIONEER 115 & 215 flashed w/ala42's MEDIA CODE SPEED EDIT will achieve faster read speed and bitsetting to dvd-rom. I haven't bought that drive yet because I'm waiting for PIONEER to release the SATA 215 to us in the states. According to this changelog in MCSE it has included the PIONEER 115 drive.

Changelog

1.1.0.14 03 Feb 2008
- added support for PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-115x/A115/215x/S15x
Read speed patch allows 16x reading of 8x +R/-R media.
Pressed DL and +-RW/RDL media are read at 6.9x start,
16x max speed, which might be too fast. Feedback is welcome.
Bitset,RPC1 and flasher patches are available.
Thanks to PumaUK and zebadee for the tests.
- added support for PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-K16 1.42/1.44
Thanks to cvs for the 1.44 tests

I've got 2 SATA SAMSUNG S203B drives and it is currently the best SATA dvd burner in the market right now. If you want buy 1 PIONEER 115 IDE and 1 SAMSUNG S203B then you can compare them on your own. My PIONEER 212 had to be sent back to PIONEER because of the CD-R problem. They first told me I'd be getting a new 212 but in the end they repaired it and sent it back to me. Although my 212 didn't fall into their category of manufacturing dates they did repair my drive.

Don't decide until you see the Sunday ad's for BEST BUY. I check BEST BUY's website every Saturday night at 10pm for the Sunday ad's. The SAMSUNG or PIONEER dvd burners could go on sale tomorow then you could use that 12% off coupon for the drive.

[Noahtuck]

If you really want a SATA dvd burner my suggestion will be the SAMSUNG S203B drive. But before we go further into SATA there's some things that need to be determined first like what controller chipset does your friends motherboard have? If your friend has INTEL ICH7/8/9 the SATA dvd burner should work fine. If it's NVIDIA chipset then the latest drivers need to be downloaded in order for the sata dvd burner to work correctly. If it's the VIA chipset just forget about sata dvd burners because it won't work unless you use a PCI SATA CONTROLLER CARD that has the SILICON IMAGE 3112/3114 chipset. That card can also be flashed to NON-RAID as well. _chef_ knows more about that process and I'm sure he can give instructions should it be needed. Rule of thumb for sata dvd burners is RAID has to be disabled in motherboard BIOS and SATA needs to be set to IDE in the mobo BIOS as well. Also ACHI should be disabled as well although some have had it enabled and the sata drive can work.

Okay, i know it has an Nvidia chipset because i spent all weekend trying to find drivers for everything that would work under XP Pro
Another story i may post for some help in another forum and i don't know if i want to go through all that crap to get a SATA dvd burner to work, although the HDD is working fine but that does not mean they are updated enough for this.
I figured it had 3 open SATA ports/plugs so it would be just a drop and play process.
I've yet to venture into the SATA world in any depth.

So if you wanna by pass everything I just said then buy a IDE dvd burner. One thing I like about my sata dvd burners is the buffer levels during burning process never fluctuates compared to ide burners.

I really never noticed a problem with that unless i was doing some other HDD taxking activity so i think it is an IDE burner.
Her PC is a 2.4gz with 1gb of ram

I believe the PIONEER 115 & 215 flashed w/ala42's MEDIA CODE SPEED EDIT will achieve faster read speed and bitsetting to dvd-rom. I haven't bought that drive yet because I'm waiting for PIONEER to release the SATA 215 to us in the states. According to this changelog in MCSE it has included the PIONEER 115 drive.

Changelog

1.1.0.14 03 Feb 2008
- added support for PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-115x/A115/215x/S15x
Read speed patch allows 16x reading of 8x +R/-R media.
Pressed DL and +-RW/RDL media are read at 6.9x start,
16x max speed, which might be too fast. Feedback is welcome.
Bitset,RPC1 and flasher patches are available.
Thanks to PumaUK and zebadee for the tests.
- added support for PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-K16 1.42/1.44
Thanks to cvs for the 1.44 tests

Hmm... last time i used MEDIA CODE SPEED EDIT it did not have the option to bitset.
It also states,

Bitset,RPC1 and flasher patches are available.

Available where ?

I want to make sure i have what i need before getting a drive and finding out i can't remove the read speed limit & set it to always booktype to DVD-ROM. And i would need a utlility to dump the original firmware to back it up and modify it, and i have a couple of dump tools that don't work on all drives.

Cut through the fat
Feel free, please, to recommend a good IDE burner that i can order from Newegg that i can go right now and get modded firmware or is easily modded for what i need.
Thanks!

8)

[budz]

Then get a a SAMSUNG SH-S202J, $24.99 which is a PATA drive.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151161

Or if you want LIGHTSCRIBE get the SAMSUNG SH-S203N, $29.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151154

SAMSUNG drives can booktype to DVD-ROM by using IMGBURN, you can set it to booktype. There's no hacked firmware to achieve this and there is hacked firmware to achieve faster read speeds and faster burns.

You can get them from the SAMSUNG FORUM at Cdfreaks.com.

http://club.cdfreaks.com/f105/samsung-s202x-s203x-s204x-fast-burn-fast-read-patched-firmware-228687/

The NVIDIA chipset sata controller would just need to be download the latest drivers for it from the NVIDIA website. I had one of my SAMSUNG S203B drives installed on a ASUS mobo that had NVIDIA chipset which worked fine. I downloaded the latest drivers for the ide/sata controller chipset from the NVIDIA website.

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

[aedipuss]

i just installed one of these pioneer 115d ide drives.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129018

flashed it with DVR115D_FW118EU2 after using mediacodespeededit on the firmware from here to enable +r bitsetting/speed increase.

http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?download_id=2453

works great. only thing still not available in msce is turning on the label flash feature that the buffalo L series has.

[budz]

aedipuss: good information on the 115D!
I may end up getting one because I'm getting tired of waiting for PIONEER dragging it's ass in releasing the PIONEER SATA 215 drive to the USA.

[aedipuss]

yeah i gave up waiting, also. i had an ide slot open so i went with the 115d. as soon as the bios update came out and mcse added support for it i took the bait

[Noahtuck]

The NVIDIA chipset sata controller would just need to be download the latest drivers for it from the NVIDIA website. I had one of my SAMSUNG S203B drives installed on a ASUS mobo that had NVIDIA chipset which worked fine. I downloaded the latest drivers for the ide/sata controller chipset from the NVIDIA website.

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

Oh Believe me... i know the place well
I've always used their video cards & even if i did not.... i have been to that page and others there like 100 times just this weekend
Not to mention the 1000 other places i've surfed looking for drivers

The PC i'm working on came with Vista and most of the latest drivers for it would not run under XP, after two days of surfing, reading, DLing, installing, ect ect ect, i finally got drivers to run everything on it under XP, what a fricking nightmare, and Emachine are no help because they said seeing as i changed OS's they could not and would not help, they definately tried to lock you into Vista and what they wanted with this PC
I'm so sick of this thing.... the only thing i have not been able to get working under XP is the onboard LAN/network so i just threw in a PCI network card.

Anywho, when you use Imgburn to set the booktype on your samsungs is it permanent ??
A few years back i had a drive that you could use a utility from the manufacturer to change it, but after you rebooted you had to do it again which was a pain if you forgot to do it everytime you restarted the PC.

Thanks again!!

@ aedipuss

Thanks!!
See i was thinking of the Pioneer 215 because of what budz posted aboutt he changelog for MCSE but i'm gonna look around over there and see where these "patches" are for using it on the 215.

I'm gonna order one first thing in the morning so i have some time to track this other info down and see what budz say's about the samsungs & ImgBurn.

Depending on what i find and budz say's, i may get her one of those 115's because i want it to be automatic for setting the booktype for her.
She uses ripit4me and a lot of other stuff along those lines and she know's a bit but i just want to make it as easy as possible.

[Noahtuck]

Am i missing something ??

I could have swore the burners i linked to were 215's and now i can't find 215's on newegg ??



I musta had a brain fart because i could have swore i looked at 215's on there

[budz]

Noahtuck I'm burning some DVD+R discs with my SAMSUNG S203B drive on my other computer. I didn't have to set it to booktype to dvd-rom for DVD+R media in IMGBURN. I even rebooted my computer to burn another DVD+R disc and it booktyped automatically to dvd-rom.

What I should have said earlier is that SAMSUNG drives automatically booktype to dvd-rom without any hacked firmware. I dunno why PIONEER won't do that for their drives. Buy a PIONEER 115 for that friend's emachine pc & a SAMSUNG S203B drive for yourself.

Yuh, I Know about Emachines they are a pain in the ass which is why when a friend bought one I told her to buy the extended warranty via COMPUSA. Hah! It's been 3 weeks and they haven't replaced her mobo yet.

[Noahtuck]

Noahtuck I'm burning some DVD+R discs with my SAMSUNG S203B drive on my other computer. I didn't have to set it to booktype to dvd-rom for DVD+R media in IMGBURN. I even rebooted my computer to burn another DVD+R disc and it booktyped automatically to dvd-rom.

Well that helps 8)

What I should have said earlier is that SAMSUNG drives automatically booktype to dvd-rom without any hacked firmware. I dunno why PIONEER won't do that for their drives. Buy a PIONEER 115 for that friend's emachine pc & a SAMSUNG S203B drive for yourself.

Bitsetting out of the box helps a bit
Yeah, i always wondered about that, the manufacturers/designers/programmers have to know about changing the booktype on +R's for compatibility reasons and just do it by now... it's not like it would be hard for them to make their drives all do it out of the box, and espc. for pioneer with their quality that i have seen above everyone else's in home equipment over the years, it's not like it would hurt anything to do it, at the worst it would make thing's better
Man.... NEC sure screwed us all when they sold out to $ony!!!!!!!!!
Those F'n morons could screw up a wet dream with little to no effort!!!!!!!!!

Yuh, I Know about Emachines they are a pain in the ass which is why when a friend bought one I told her to buy the extended warranty via COMPUSA. Hah! It's been 3 weeks and they haven't replaced her mobo yet.

My oldest daughter bought an E-Machine just before everyone decided to sell their systems only with Vista on them and it had XP Home, i switched her to XP Pro no problems... i don't know if it was before Gateway bought them out and decided to F them all up and the whole forcing people into Vista BS, but this is not the first time i've had someone want Vista off their system and XP installed, but it definately has been the worst system i have worked on trying to revert back to XP as far as getting drivers to work on it with XP

[Noahtuck]

Thanks all!!

I ordered the Pioneer 115 for her so it should all be good now 8)
I think after i check out the 115 i may order one of each next week, the 115 & that samsung you suggested Budz.

What utility can i use to dump (backup) the original firmware from the pioneer 115 ?

Thanks again.

[aedipuss]

i could be wrong but afaik there isn't any way to dump the old firmware to a file. that's why it sometimes takes so long for "extra" features to be added to plain jane pioneer "d" type drives, they have to wait for an official update to be able to hack them.

[Noahtuck]

i could be wrong but afaik there isn't any way to dump the old firmware to a file. that's why it sometimes takes so long for "extra" features to be added to plain jane pioneer "d" type drives, they have to wait for an official update to be able to hack them.

Well that blows!!!

I did find this link from a post by [_chef_]
http://wwwbsc.pioneer.co.jp/product-e/ibs/device_e/dev00001r_e.html

It states,

Once updated to version 1.18, this drive will not revert to older firmware versions

I guess i'll have to wait and see what version it comes with from newegg.

[aedipuss]

all pioneer firmware has been that way for years, if you use the stock pioneer flasher. tdb or other flashers don't have that restriction.

[Noahtuck]

all pioneer firmware has been that way for years, if you use the stock pioneer flasher. tdb or other flashers don't have that restriction.

What other flash utility will work or what one did you use to flash the pioneer drive ?

I have a few but i don't know if they will work on the pioneer yet.
I know a couple of them i have won't work on some of my drives.

[bevills1]

IMO generic drives are no problem. Just recently I got a generic drive for $25 from Staples and flashed with Benq firmware, and it now shows as Benq DW-1620.

When I flashed my Pioneer 111D to 111L, I just used the Dangerous Brothers firmware without using any flash utility, and I think that's the way all Pioneer firmware is done. BTW the Dangerous Brothers firmware can be used to flash to earlier firmware versions, but realize flashing with other than official firmware voids warranty.

[aedipuss]

noahtuck - when you download the firmware update there will be 2 files in the zip, the flasher and the firmware.

http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?category=4&manufactor=25

[Noahtuck]

noahtuck - when you download the firmware update there will be 2 files in the zip, the flasher and the firmware.

http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?category=4&manufactor=25

Yep i saw that earlier before i posted the Q, it's the same one that comes with the file from the Pioneer page.

I just thought there might be one that uses a GUI that is more universal.

Now i just have to wait for the first drive to show up 8)

Man... Drive life sure was easier before NEC screwed it up and sold out to $ony

[budz]

noahtuck - when you download the firmware update there will be 2 files in the zip, the flasher and the firmware.

http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?category=4&manufactor=25

Yep i saw that earlier before i posted the Q, it's the same one that comes with the file from the Pioneer page.

I just thought there might be one that uses a GUI that is more universal.

Now i just have to wait for the first drive to show up 8)

Man... Drive life sure was easier before NEC screwed it up and sold out to $ony

That's why I recommended the SAMSUNG pata drive then you wouldn't have to worry about using hacked firmware for bitsetting to dvd-rom for DVD+R media. I'm gonna buy that 115 soon since my patience is running thin for the sata 215 to being released in the USA. But with my luck I'll order the 115 and then the 215 will be released soon after.

[aedipuss]

hey budz - i don't consider the msce change to pioneer firmware a hack. the features it enables are built into the drive hardware but are disabled on purpose so they can sell the same drive with a different model number and firmware for more money. msce just turns them back on.

sort of like intel used to do with their processors before amd came along. they would sell 2 versions of the same chip - one they claimed had the math co-processor built-in and a slightly less expensive one without. they were identical chips, the only difference was one had a cut off leg. so then to make even more money if people wanted to add the "math co-processor" to their systems later, they sold them the same identical chip(with all traces) labeled a third way that went into a second socket in the motherboard that disabled the "crippled" cpu and ran instead. one chip three names $$$, no wonder amd could come in as a start up and make money, the profit margin on cpus was huge back then and intel treated us all as morons.