First of all, you should have not used notepad to edit the binary file - you
need to use a hex editor!

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XX

"Lokke" wrote in message
...
I own a Creative 8432 (in fact a 8435E which is a Samsung SW-208). I
have used it successfully with CD-RW80 disks (1-4 x multispeed) and
with CD-R74 disks. My CD-R74 supplies have dried. CD-R80 blanks are
not recognized by Nero 5.5.

I decided to upgrade the firmware to the latest level to make CD-R80s
accessible because the writer is useless without CD-R80 support. Since
Creative doesn't supply firmware upgrades for the drive, I played
around with the Samsung firmware tools. I downloaded their Firmware
tool (sfdnwin.exe) and the binary BS04.bin.

Of course the tool initially found that it is NOT a Samsung writer and
quit. In the binary, using Notepad, I changed the ID string "SAMSUNG
CD-R/RW SW-208B" into "CREATIVE CD-RW RW8435E " (mind the extra
space). Then the tool recognized the writer and started the upgrade
process. But failed after 99%...

The writer now has the name SAMSUNG CD-R/RW SW-208B. But the Green
Ligth is permanently on. It normally flickers indicating read/write
access to an inserted disk. When I try again to upgrade the firmware
(I used the unmodified binary because it is a Samsung now) it attempts
to start the upgrade process but instructs me to remove the inserted
disk, then fails. The Eject button on the drive, nor the Eject
function in Windows (or Nero) work. I used a hairpin thru the small
hole in the door to mechanically force it to open. Even with the door
open, the green light remains on. I switched off DMA, but still the
light is on and the firmware tool cannot proceed.

Any suggestions other then "buy a new writer"? Are any general purpose
firmware tools available that just force an upgrade, with or without
an inserted disk? Or is the light just indicating that the writer is
busy and that therefore no other activity (like upgrading) can take
place?

Thanks,

Lokke