confused with firmware upgrade

i have searched here, cd freaks, and google to no avail. i have been reading up on how to update my firmware and also cross flash it, but have not had any luck what so ever. the first time i attempted, i had lost my burner, but was lucky, (with help from mort81) and got my burner back up and running. according to what it tells me, my burner is a lite-on dvdrw sowh-1633s and the current firware is BPSA. i cannot find this firware anywhere. i do have a link for the BSOS firmware, but i have also seen a hacked firmware that makes my lights different colors reading and burning. my question is, how can i update this firmware if it apparently is not listed anywhere? secondly, how do i back-up my current firmware, in case i screw it up? and thirdly, i would like a step by step walk thru on just exactly how to accomplish this, or a direct link. what i have read here http://dhc014.rpc1.org/howto.htm#LtnFW totally confuses me along with others i have read.
any help would be appreciated.

 

hey buddy`

where did you see that the NEWEST firmware was BPSA? i can't find it either~ i currently use the BSOS as i thought THAT was the latest? yes, it's a bit outdated from 2004, but i never heard about the newest one you are trying to find...

http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_firmware.php?download_id=1934

seemingly THIS is the newest one BSOS, with LtnRPC to disable the Region counter...

here is how to update firmware directly from liteon site:

Firmware Upgrade Program Run Under Windows
1. Make sure your drive's model name by inspecting the safety label on top of your drive.
2. Download the ZIP file with correct model name.
3. Please unzip the downloaded ZIP file.
4. Please close all applications under Windows.
5. Please make sure to keep power supplier without any interruption during upgrade.
6. Execute the firmware upgrade execution file.
7. Select the drive you want to upgrade ( if you have more than one LITE-ON drives ).
8. Upgrading ( No power interruption ).
9. Reboot your PC to see if the firmware has been changed.

this is the instructions for crossflashing by CODEGUYS:

Crossflashing Instructions

Pick one of the four crossflashing methods listed below. Depending on what drive model you have and what you are trying to flash to, not all of the methods will be available.

Note: 401S and 411S users looking for 401S@811S or 411S@811S must use method #4!

Method 1: OmniPatcher (universal method)

Download an unscrambled stock (i.e., original) firmware for the drive that you are flashing to from either our firmware page or dhc014's firmware page.
Download the OmniPatcher and read the documentation carefully. For the best compatibility, please make sure that you have version 2.2.0 or newer.
Load the stock firmware with the OmniPatcher and apply the crossflashing patch (and while you're at it, any other patches that you want). When you are done, save it.
Flash your drive with the OmniPatcher-patched firmware that you have just created. If your patched firmware is a flasher (i.e., with a .exe extension), simply double-click on the patched firmware and follow the instructions. If your patched firmware is a raw binary firmware (i.e., with a .bin extension), please use LtnFW to flash your drive.
Method 2: Pre-Patched (only when a pre-patched crossflashing firmware is available)

Download a crossflashing-patched firmware for the drive that you are flashing to from our firmware page.
After unpacking the RAR package, double-click on the firmware to start the flasher. Be sure to select the correct drive, and flash.
Note: If a crossflashing-patched firmware is not available for download, please follow Method 1 instead (the crossflashing-patched firmwares that we provide were created by simply following steps 1-3 of Method 1).

Method 3: CGxx (only for @832S)

Download a CGxx (e.g., CG3B) firmware from our firmware page.
After unpacking the RAR package, double-click on the firmware to start the flasher. Be sure to select the correct drive, and flash.
Note: For more information about the CGxx firmwares, click here.

Method 4: The EEPROM Utility

Download the EEPROM Utility. Make sure that you have version 3.0.0 or newer.
After unpacking the RAR package, read the readme, and follow the instructions inside.
Note: Not all crossflashes are supported by the EEPROM Utility. Unsupported crossflashes include 1673S@1693S, x51S@8x2S, and slimtype crossflashes (you can still use one of the other three methods for these unsupported crossflashes). Please consult the EEPROM Utility's documentation for more details.




Updating to a Newer Firmware (if using methods 1, 2, or 3)

If, after crossflashing a drive, you wish to update to a newer firmware, you must follow one of the procedures listed above!

Example: Let's say that you have a 812S drive that you had flashed to a 812S@832S drive using the VS0A firmware. If you want to update to the newer VS0B firmware, you will have to first patch VS0B with OmniPatcher's crossflashing patch before loading it onto your 812S@832S drive! This is because, deep down inside, your 812S drive is still a 812S drive, and thus, any 832S firmware that you load onto your 812S--regardless of what firmware is currently loaded--must be patched!

Updating to a Newer Firmware (if using method 4)

Simply flash to the new firmware. No special steps are necessary.




Undoing the Crossflash (if using methods 1, 2, or 3)

Simply flash your drive with the firmware for your drive's original model (you may need to use FlashFix if you want to use an official flasher; most unofficial flashers, such as all of the ones found on this site, are already FlashFixed--once the crossflash is undone, FlashFixing will not necessary for any subsequent flashes).

Undoing the Crossflash (if using method 4)

In addition to flashing your drive back to a firmware for your drive's original model, you must use the EEPROM Utility to undo the crossflashing changes made to the EEPROM. Please consult the documentation for more details.


use THIS one here to get the multi led by crossflashing the 1633S@1653S : http://codeguys.rpc1.org/firmwares/dvdrw/1653S.CS0P.patched-cf-mcled.rar

i use official firmware for this drive, so i have yet to try all this stuff (1633S is on my 2nd computer, no need for me to have the neat light function stuff

but, i have used the crossflashing instructions above to crossflash my pioneer dvr-109 to enable bitsetting/booktype using buffalo firmware

hope that helps a bit~ good luck~

 

thanks kivory
yup, i have been researching this for some time now, and have not come across anything good to date.
the firmware what i currently show is in fact a BPSA, unless i read it wrong, but it shows that in all programs. even dvdinfo says at the bottom 'by the way, your current firmware is BPSA' you highlight your drive, right click it, click check for firmware updates, thats what it tells me. i will check this at home, as i am at work now, but thanks for replying. unless, this is a newer firmware, my puter is a 2005 model, only like 4 months old. maybe thats why it is a BPSA. dunno
edit) also, should i open the case to inspect the drive then to verify the firmware?

 

well, it could never hurt to get more "acquainted" with your hardware...hehehe...meaning your dvd burner drive

i found that very weird...did you get that "BPSA" firmware directly from the manufacturer? pre-installed since you bought the computer?
have you changed/upgraded the firmware since you purchased the computer? i couldn't find it ANYWHERE..so, i am assuming it came pre-installed when you bought your system...

well, if you dl the firmware that is OFFICIALLY supported from the liteon website, that i linked you in the above reply...i don't know if you WANT to change to the BSOS? i have no idea which is MORE recent? the BSOS is the one i currently use and i have no problems with it...works pretty well for me personally~ it's your choice...

 

yup, got home, pulled the front cover off, it does say BPSA, mfg. date 11/04. interesting, yes?
well, i would still like the lights to change, green-read, red-write. but not so sure if it is worth it now, knowing 100% it IS a BPSA f/w... what do you think?

 

well, to make the lights change and stuff, that is a personal decision of yours..hehe...the BSOS is actually dated 12/04..so, it's like a month MORE recent

i think to make the lights change and stuff, you would need to crossflash the 1633S to the 1653S if i am not mistaken, i have NOT tried this myself as i am satisfied with the BSOS firmware officially from lite-on..but, the light thing is purely aesthetics
it's personal decision time~ hehehe...purty lights..or normal light...the choice is yours

 

too funny.......... how bout, just happy burner, happy owner, till i buy me a newer, better burner. i think i will buy me a better dvd player first, before i do my burner upgrade. i did reply to a post about a good dvd player http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/214560
i know one is out there i am sure..... one that plays mpeg-4 (which by the way, what are the benefits of mpeg-4) being that nero uses mpeg-4 in their nero digital. also, will have an HDMI plug, optical output, and dts decoder (i know this may be a bit much, but i am sure one is available) not a necessity, but desired.
anyway, back on topic.... i guess i will just leave my firmware alone, if it aint broke, don't fix it !!
thanks kivory

 

Hi guys,
New to the site, so first post.. came across this page when Googling the sohw-1633s bpsa...

My problem is this:
My burner has been running perfectly since it's purchase a few months ago, but recently my dad has been using it to rip all of his cd's to mp3's (because the CD read speed is faster than his CD Drive), and the other day the computer had a problem whilst doing so (not sure specifically - but had to power off to recover).

Anyway, now the drive is running extremely slow, i.e. it just took me over an hour to burn a dvd that would normally take 5-10 minutes to do.

Not knowing too much about computer hardware, I figured trying to upgrade firmware might help it (as long as there isn't physical damage, it should be fixable? I don't know).

So I went to the liteon site and downloaded this:
http://www.liteonamericas.com/us/Download/dvd_rw/1633_DR16BS0S.zip
(being the only one for the sohw-1633s I figured it was what I wanted).

But when I try to run the exe file in the zip, I get the following message:

"No matched drive detected !
This utility is only for LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1633S drive.

Detected Drives:
4-0-0-0 E:LITE-ON DVDRW SOHW-1633S BPSA"

Which, to me, sounds like it is saying it is for my drive, but not for my drive. Which is confusing. It then closes when I click OK.

Any ideas? Is there some other driver available that I should try using? Also, does it sound like my drive itself has a problem? I don't really know too much, so any help would be appreciated.

-Warren.

 

i have the same burner, but have not experienced your problem thus far. i just left mine alone.
try this link
http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=97590
or this one
http://www.google.com/search?q=+update+my+firmware+for+my+lite+on+1633s+&hl=en&lr=&start=0&sa=N
or here, there are tons of places for info..
http://codeguys.rpc1.org/firmwares.html
just be sure to bak up your current firmware, and also remember, (they say once you update it, you cant go back) but thats not entirely true, lite-ons have the ability to go back to the original firmware (at least i have read so) also, be leary of 'hacked' firmware, but from what i have read, many people have been successful with them, as i have not done anything to mine...
good luck

 

Thanks for the advice.
I downloaded this one from the firmwares page:
http://codeguys.rpc1.org/firmwares/dvdrw/stock/1633S.BS0S.stock.rar

Seemed to install properly, said it upgraded the firmware to BSOS from BPSA.

I've just written a couple of DVDs.. back to their fast read/writing speed again, so I guess the problem has been solved, strange as it was.

Thanks again,
-Warren.

 

its funny you mention BPSA, cuz thats my exact firmware i have and my buddy kivory (aka Dr. TY) shhhh, dont tell him..... said he couldnt find it....
no biggie...... i have not had any problems with mine so far.... maybe he can chime in and take a looky !!
good luck and happy burning !!
BTW.... your welcome.... glad i could pass along some info for good use !

 

I have the 1633S and the current firmware is BSOS from the lite-on site.

http://www.liteonit.com/ODD/English/e_downloads/e_firmware_dvd rw.asp

Have not seen a BPSA firmware myself for this drive, lite-on does not even show it. Is this an OEM drive?

 

@arniebear
you betcha !!!
i even triple checked mine, pulled the drive out and confirmed it!
it could be cuz it is fairly new... what i ment by new is that my pc is less then 4 months old. and it is an oem drive, came with puter.

 

wouldn't see it HUH? gear79? LOL

hahahaha..well, when i LOOKED for the BPSA, as per YOUR drive, i couldn't find it~ LOL...but apparantly, spakatak just upgraded the BPSA to the most current one that I personally have on MY 1633S litey too~

see, arniebear couldn't find the BPSA TOO~!!! im not alone~! LOL

guess since i never had a BPSA to mess with in the first place, i didn't know it was so easy to flash to the current BSOS but, mind you, i DID recommend what i was using on mine in the 1st response to your initial post~ but, to me, it seemed like you were more interested in the "purty color lights" that i know mort81 is very good at...i don't use my liteon that often...i keep official STOCK firmware and just make sure im up to date as per liteon website...if i had more experience with it, i might have proven to be more helpful LOL

oh well, good to hear we're all getting to the bottom of this collectively~ have a good day all~

 

@kivory
you know i was kidding buddy !!
like you said......... now we know this firmware is out there and available, and yes you are correct, i want the purty lights !!
going to work now !! have a nice day !

 

Hi Guys,

I have been trying hard to get updated firmware for an SOHW-1633S this afternoon. I got the latest from Liteonit.com, the BSOS version, and the updater barfed on the drive. It didn't want to update the BPSA firmware already in the drive.

I think the problem is that the drive was provided by HP in one of their new Pavilion a1020a machines. HP have badged the Lite-On drive, and I think the BPSA firmware is an OEM variety which they have badged, too. Because the flash utility can't see standard Lite-On firmware, it won't update it.

Do you other folks with this problem have HP Pavilions too?

I spent an hour being sent all over HP's website, and couldn't find any mention of DVD drive firmware anywhere. Do they expect customers to run their drives forever with the original firmware, and miss out on the benefit of new disc-type updates??

Would seem in the end you either have to tug your forelock at HP and submit quietly to being stuck in their time-warp, or else void your warranty and use the BSOS.stock.rar file that spakatak found at Codeguys to shift your firmware back into the Lite-On mainstream. (I would think that once you've shifted to BSOS you will be fine to cotinue with updates from the Lite-On site)

This is a pain, and perhaps another reason not to buy such a heavily badged brand as HP.

 

couldn't agree w/ u more brendoon, that's why i bought my 1633S exactly as that...a LITE-ON branded 1633S many many makers of computers these days rebadge their drives, HP, Dell, Gateway, etc...also another reason why i choose to build my own computers, that way, i KNOW before-hand what is going into my system before i have to take it apart later down the road and try to figure out this OEM mumbo-jumbo...while i have the official BSOS firmware on mine, it's good enough for me, i don't cross-flash this particular drive as it serves it's purpose well with the official firmware. your case, on the other hand, is an OEM drive as you mentioned...don't know what steps are REALLY required to convert it to the mainstream lite-on as i have never tried it. good luck, perhaps you best bet might be to try the firmware from the codeguys from above...seemed to work well for him~ good luck~

 

If you are looking for an update from HP you won't find it, in fact my HP 640c has an automatic updater otherwise I would not be able to find any support from HP, as was stated their site only deals with printers/comps no drive support.

Unless you are buying a laptop, which gives you no choice in drives, you are better off getting your computer with just a dvd rom drive and then buying your own, these OEM drives are a pain and lack support.

If the drive is working and recgnizing media then there is no need to flash or crossflash, if you experience problems down the road and there is still no OEM firmware for this drive then you got nothing to lose in crossflashing.

 

It's just an OEM version of the drive, which is why the firmware update doesn't work. Not a biggie; this is actually very simple to fix...

Step 1:[/bold] [bold]Back up your current firmware using LtnFW![/bold] If you don't do this, then there will be no way for you to undo any of this stuff if the need arises. Just download & run LtnFW, select a filename to save the backup to, and click the button for backup. Please e-mail us a zipped-up copy of this firmware back up, as it would be nice to have for our collection. http://codeguys.rpc1.org/contact.html

[bold]Step 2:[/bold] Flash your drive with a [bold]FlashFixed[/bold] firmware. The official flashers from LiteOn are NOT FlashFixed, which is why you have not been successful. You can download the FlashFix tool to FlashFix the official firmware from LiteOn. Or you could just download the stock BS0S firmware from our website (all of the stock firmwares on our website are already FlashFixed). http://codeguys.rpc1.org/firmwares.html#SOHW-1633S

If you feel adventurous, you can do fancier things like convert your drive to a 1653S for 12x -R and 4x +R DL support. http://codeguys.rpc1.org/dvdrw_overview.html for more info.