Upgrades for free - Part 2

Firmware updates are more than simple bug fixes: by installing new firmware you can get improved performance from a number of your hardware products.

DVD writers
The performance of some DVD writers can be doubled by applying firmware upgrades. Many officially available updates make available new features, such as support for additional DVD formats. Hacked versions of firmware, on the other hand, should be approached with extreme caution.

It's wrong to assume that if the write speed of your DVD writer is no longer up to your requirements the only thing to do is to buy a faster model. In many cases you can apply free firmware to achieve faster DVD write speeds, support for new DVD formats and optimised writing strategy for different media.

Doubled DVD write speed
To try out these improvements it's often simply a matter of looking at the DVD recorder manufacturer's website. For example, Sony is offering an update to firmware version 2.0c for the DRU-530A multi-format DVD writer that can be run straight from Windows, which is downloadable here. This doesn't just double the DVD-R write speed to 8X, it doubles the DVD-RW write speed from 2X to 4X.

Benq is offering added value to anyone who buys its DW822A 8X writer; from the third quarter of 2004 it will offer a free firmware upgrade that enables the drive to write dual-layer DVDs containing up to 7.9GB of data. Patching straight from a command prompt is not often required these days, as most flash tools spring into action at the click of a button under Windows.

The firmware upgrades given as examples are the exception rather than the rule, however.Usually, new firmware won't speed up the writing process, but will contain information on how to optimise writing to various types of blank media. The importance of correctly matching the writer and blanks was shown in a test of DVD blanks carried out by PC Professionell, our sister magazine in Germany, for its May 2004 issue - two-thirds of the DVD blanks were damaged irreparably after writing because of badly set up recorder firmware.

Beware of hacked firmware
On some web forums you will find hacked firmware upgrades that are not approved by the manufacturers. A patch modified by a third party can be used to flash the NEC ND-1100 external 4X writer to emulate its multi-format sibling, the ND-1300A. Similarly, by applying a firmware patch the Lite-On LDW-41 1S 4X writer metamorphoses into the 8X LDW-811S.

The patches offered on 'insider' websites are usually modified original firmware upgrades. It's by no means clear which parameters the hackers have altered. The removal of the regional code barrier and the DVD rip speed limit do not usually cause problems. However, when it comes to burning DVDs it is a different matter, which can be seen with the NEC ND-1100A.

After flashing with a hacked firmware version, the recorder is recognised as an ND-1300A and burns DVD-format media, but with difficulties. According to a survey by The Firmware Page, many users reported that DVD-R and DVD-RW media written with an 'enhanced' NEC ND-1100A could not be read in another drive.

Tuning for CD writers too
The opportunities and risks of tuning outlined above are similar for CD writers. However, it is not possible to get much extra performance out of a modern 52X writer, although older CD writers will profit from an upgrade. For example, by updating the firmware the 32X Lite-On LTR-32125W can be made to perform like the newer 48X LTR-48125W - an increase in performance of around two per cent.

Digital cameras Firmware updates can also add new features to digital cameras. Installing the new, freely available firmware is quick and straightforward. Obviously the updates include bug fixes but they also often include new display modes and operating routines.

If you have a digital camera, it is a good idea to update the firmware, if available. The free updates mostly serve to correct minor problems. Updating the firmware often adds a few new features - upgrading the Nikon Coolpix 5000 firmware to Version 1.8 ensures that the correct shutter speed is shown on the display during manual exposure.

When its firmware has been upgraded to version 1.03, Canon's EOS 100D will recognise 2GB Compact Flash (CF) cards. With older firmware the CF memory cards are not always formatted at full capacity, with the result that the card holds fewer photos than it can.

A new feature also appears on the Sony DSC-T1 when you upgrade the firmware to version 2.0: the Pictbridge function allows you to print direct from the camera using a compatible printer (for example from HP or Canon) without needing to use a PC.

If you have a Sony DSC-F828 8-megapixel camera, you can avoid data loss by upgrading the firmware from version 1.0 to version 2.0. If the camera's Memory Stick contains more than two folders there is a danger that an image in the wrong directory will be deleted when using the camera's own delete function. The same goes for transferring images to the Memory Stick: in USB 2.0 mode it is possible that the copied file on the Memory Stick might be corrupted.

Notebooks, PDAs and Wi-Fi
More secure, faster, more functions; firmware upgrades also work wonders for devices in the mobile arena. The best part is that you can do all the upgrades yourself without going near the dealer.

It's true that notebooks are nothing more than small, mobile PCs. However, when it comes to BIOS updates, they are different from their deskbound relatives - the upgrades are specific to the manufacturer and not the BIOS or motherboard maker. The motherboards are manufactured for each notebook series and therefore require a customised BIOS.

Even if at first glance the BIOS appears to be a standard Phoenix one, for example on a Samsung notebook, an upgrade is only available if Samsung makes it available. There isn't a central place where new versions appear; the only thing to do is to check the manufacturer's website frequently.

What does it really do? BIOS updates for notebooks do not usually add support for new processors, as is the case for desktop PCs .MobilePCs, because of heat considerations, are usually only designed for a small range of processors, so swapping the processor will seldom work.

Instead, upgrades add functionality, such as support for new, fasterWi-Fi Mini PCI modules, larger hard disks or the option of booting from a USB stick. This last option is something a lot of users would like, and many manufacturers offer it via a BIOS update. For example, if your Dell Inspiron D600 won't boot from a USB stick , the solution is to upgrade to the BIOS version A11.

Bring your PDA up to date
Upgrades for Palm PDAs or Pocket PCs come in two versions: either small patches that are just a few kilobytes in size, which fix minor problems such as difficulties with the Bluetooth interface, or complete updates, which overwrite the Rom and usually deliver an improved or new operating system. The files for both types of upgrade are always loaded from a PC connected by USB or serial cable.

As with notebooks the process is straightforward and can be controlled easily fromWindows. Again, make sure mains power is connected because battery failure can be fatal.

Updates for Wi-Fi devices
Almost all manufacturers of Wi-Fi access points (AP) offer updates that add WPA encryption. Users should install these updates urgently, because WPA's forerunner, WEP, has significant security loopholes.

The AP has to be connected to the PC using an Ethernet cable, because the Wi-Fi interface is not reliable enough. Once the firmware has been downloaded from the manufacturer's website, it can be installed using either a Windows utility or the AP's web interface.

A real-life example
The Linksys WAG54G router up to firmware version 1.01.5 had problems with port forwarding. To update the firmware, download version 1.01.7 here. After the download, the router's web interface opens in the browser. Select Administration|Firmware upgrade, click the browse button and specify the update file's location. Writing the data takes a few seconds. When the LEDs on the router stop blinking, you can reboot and begin using the new firmware.

Printers
Owners of laser and inkjet printers can rejoice. With firmware updates even older models can be equipped with performance enhancers such as Direct Print. Laser and inkjet printer manufacturers conti nually make firmware upgrades available.

Whether they're simple bug fixes or real power updates, they can affect the overall performance of a printer, including print speed and copy resolution. For example, to increase resolution on Konica-Minolta laser printers, the new firmware realigns the device's internal laser reflectors. A firmware update might also allow the printer to show more information via its LCD panel - for example, ink cartridge levels or the current print quality setting.

Upgrading the firmware on a high-end device such as the Epson Stylus Pro 10600 can improve several performance characteristics at once. After the upgrade, the printer will have more accurate cutting modes and an improved paper feed that gives higher print quality when using special papers.

Canon makes available particularly comprehensive firmware.Once it has been installed, even older inkjet models benefit from a Direct Print function. This means that you can print photos directly from compatible digital cameras (such as the Canon EOS 300D digital SLR or the Powershot G3 compact) without needing a PC. Lexmark goes a step further, and will customise firmware for large customers. There's just one fly in the ointment: after the update you need to rebuild customised colour profiles.

Updates using the IP address
All printer manufacturers make firmware updates available for download from their websites. There are two ways to transfer a specified update into the printer controller's flash memory. The first is to use the manufacturer's recommended Windows flash utility. The other is to use command line MS-DOS.

Use the command copy filename LPT1:wb to address the printer interface directly (filename stands for the name of the firmware). Network printers can also be updated from an MS-DOS command line by specifying the IP address of the printer to be updated.

Flashing a USB printer is particularly easy with a bootable USB stick. Just plug the memory stick into the printer's USB port. After switching on, the printer will recognise the update automatically and transfer it to the flash memory.

See also:

Upgrades for free - Part 1

Firmware updates are more than simple bug fixes: by installing new firmware you can get improved performance from many hardware products  13 Aug 2004

Like this story? Spread the news by clicking below:

 del.icio.us     Digg this     reddit!