Firmware Upgrades

[Fozzee]

Hi
I've heard talk of firmware upgrades...
1)What do they do??
2)Is it only PC DVD players u do it too?? Or can u do it to standalone DVD players.

I have a Lecson DVD-900 and the shelf ticket said "future software upgrades"???? I have looked in the manual and see no mention of this. I have done the region free hack and that worked..

Cheers

Fozzee

[Fozzee]

Come on guys 75 views!!! No-one with even an idea???

Cheers

Fozz

[tkwish]

did come across a site that did a program to upgrade the firmware on standalone dvd but it was directed at the logo so you could add your own splash screen was looking for something a little more practical so never kept the url sorry cant help you any more than that except to say ive been serching myself without much luck

[Fozzee]

Are u seriously telling me no-one knows about FIRMWARE UPGRADES??????

I'm gobsmacked.

FOZZ

[shoozleboy]

well, firmware upgrades are software upgrades to the actual chip that houses the brains for your device... Kind of like updating the BIOS on your motherboard if you've ever had to do that....

There's a chip in your device (yes, standalone DVD players have one too...) that controls the functions of your device.. this can be upgraded when the manufacturer wants to or has to due to a problem with their device..

On some standalone players, it is possible to "tweak" or upload firmware to this chip to either update the player or disable some features of the player (like Macrovision and Region Code restrictions)...

Now keep in mind that not all players can have this done... but this site lists a lot of the players out there and if there are hacks for them. Look on the left side of the screen and select "DVD Players" under the Other list and then you can search for your model and see what other users here have found out about that model...

a word of caution: if you are not careful about messing around with firmware updates and such, you can do something wrong and the result could be a useless machine because the firmware is messed up.... try this at your own risk. good luck.

[BJ_M]

Pioneer:
Additional Firmware Limited Warranty - Home Entertainment DVD Players and Recorders


Pioneer is pleased to provide this Additional Limited Warranty. Pioneer continues its commitment to provide you with an outstanding DVD viewing experience by offering firmware upgrades for its Home Entertainment DVD Players and Recorders as software providers push the technology envelope, such as authoring for new pre-recorded DVD titles. Although these technological advances are intended to provide greater viewing experience including better special effects and audio and video features, they are sometimes not playable on existing DVD players and recorders. Pioneer offers free firmware upgrades for three years in order to provide you with the opportunity to keep up with these technological advances and to make our DVD Players and Recorders as future-proof as possible. These firmware upgrades are available for free during the Additional Limited Warranty period.

Additional Limited Warranty - Firmware

Pioneer warrants its DVD Player and Recorder firmware for a period of three years from the date of original retail purchase (the "warranty period") from an authorized Pioneer Distributor/Dealer. Pioneer will upgrade Pioneer DVD Players sold and distributed in the U.S.A. and Canada, that fail during the warranty period to play pre-recorded DVD discs manufactured in accordance with DVD Forum specifications due to firmware or software incompatibility, without charge to you for upgrade service or needed parts. Pioneer reserves the right at its option to provide a free upgrade or to exchange the DVD Player or Recorder or to refund the purchase price in full satisfaction of its obligations under this Additional Limited Warranty. The warranty period and terms for this Additional Limited Warranty are different than the warranty period and terms for hardware parts and services set forth in the Limited Warranty (enclosed with your DVD Player or Recorder).

APEX:
Steps to upgrade the firmware of APEX DVD Players:

Print this page for your reference!
Download HITEKER.EXE from our website. http://www.apexdigitalinc.com/html/firmware.php?t=get&fileid=3 (note from BJ_M (appears to be out of date)
You will then burn the data on to a CD-R using burning software such as Adaptec Easy CD Creator 5.0 or above. Important! Make sure that your software is sent to Burn onto a CD-R and NOT a CD-RXA.
Once you have burned the file onto a CD-R, turn on your Television on and your DVD player on so that you can see the "Blue" Apex screen. Once you see this screen you are able to begin the upgrade process.
Press the OPEN/CLOSE button so that the tray will extract so that you can place the CD-R with the upgrade on the tray. Now press the OPEN/CLOSE button to close the tray.
Once you have closed the tray of the player with the upgrade inside the tray, the DVD player will start to read the information on the disk and start the upgrade.
A menu will appear that will state "FIRMWARE UPGRADE" and give you 3 options: Cancel, Partial, Total. Choose "TOTAL" by pressing the RIGHT arrow key and then by pressing the ENTER button to choose it.
The TV screen will start to phase with static, DO NOTHING, the DVD player is in the progress of upgrading.
Half way through the upgrade, the DVD tray will open and eject the disc. At this time you should Take the disc out and **DO NOT TURN THE PLAYER OFF OR PRESS ANY BUTTON ON THE REMOTE CONTROL. PRESS NOTHING.** (Turning off the player at this time will result in total loss of your player.)
You will know when the DVD player is done upgrading when the Screen returns to a normal picture and the Tray closes back into the player. At this time the player is done upgrading


OTHER RESOURCES:

http://perso.libertysurf.fr/dvdutils/
http://perso.club-internet.fr/farzeno/firmware/
http://www.pcsndvds.com/drivers.html
http://www.netcologne.de/~nc-vonunro/index.htm
http://www.pcfriendly.com/
http://www.techtronics.com/uk/shop/510-multi-region-upgrade-comparison.html

PIONEER FIRMWARE WEB SITE and PHONE (888) 421-1404 :
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pioneer/CDA/ServiceAndSupport/SelfHelpForIndFirmware...201100,00.html

REPROGRAMED EEPROMS (Samsung, Thomson, Hitachi and GE DVD players):
http://www.709firmware.fsnet.co.uk/

TOSHIBA:
send in to Toshiba for firmware upgrades if required. 1-800-631-3811


CHINA MADE DVD PLAYERS FIRMWARE HACKS:
http://www.area450.com/firmware.htm

MALATA DVD N996 Firmware Upgrade
http://www.avdeals.com/malataUpgrade.htm



and much much more info found with google :)

[Fozzee]

Thankyou

I did use google but didn't really know what I was looking for. I inputted my Lecson DVD-900 but only came up with the Multiregion hack. I am looking for a way of disabling Macrovision.

Cheers
Fozz