Opened A Xbox To Find A Hitachi-lg Dvdrom, **MERGED TOPICS** Options

[maximilian0017]

I have to agree that the firmware is either different, or the firmware is set up in a way to determine which circuit is available, and provides the right output.  I would like to rip the firmware from the drive I have, but the traces are just too small for me to solder to, and I think I'd screw it up.

Great work on the o-scope, makes a lot of sense now.

I've just compared the firmware used in the flasher with a ripped version of an 8050 and there are differences.

As Wenid stated earlyer there is an area (4000h) that is different, he stated that it was filled with some sort of filler.
The difference is in the filler used, but filler isn't that interesting, the interesting part is that there is a part in the filler on 4f80h that has a small amount of code and that is missing in the firmware flasher.

If i understand correctly the firmware is made up of blocks, and its very interesting to see that the difference is around 4000h, a very round number.

It's a shame that there is no real documentation on how to change firmware for dvd drives.

If we could only find a way to flash the drive back to it's old self, i would gladly make a version of the flasher that has the exact same firmware as the 8050 (if its as simple as it looks), i really dont want another bogus drive around.

[skyhi]

Now maybe we're getting somewhere!

Would it be possible to replace the code that is in the flasher with the ripped version and just re-flash?

Great work maximilian0017!

[wenid]

The difference is in the filler used, but filler isn't that interesting, the interesting part is that there is a part in the filler on 4f80h that has a small amount of code and that is missing in the firmware flasher.

I have confirmed this too. Well spotted max.

If i understand correctly the firmware is made up of blocks, and its very interesting to see that the difference is around 4000h, a very round number.

The same thing occurred to me. It also starts at 2000h and is 4000h long. I don't understand why our unmentionable benefactors didn't use the firmware image as originally extracted by me, and I don't suppose there's much chance of getting an explanation from them (Lente?)

If we could only find a way to flash the drive back to it's old self

I take it you mean an easy and inexpensive way

i would gladly make a version of the flasher that has the exact same firmware as the 8050 (if its as simple as it looks)

If you're thinking you can just overwrite the mismatched block in the .exe we have with the correct block from the "real" firmware, I'm afraid you're out of luck. I've already tried that. I assume the .exe runs some sort of checksum on the ROM image.

i really dont want another bogus drive around.

Indeed. What we really need is three flasher programs (or at least three functions -- maybe two or more functions could be integrated into one program)
a) flash an unmodified 8163B with the RIGHT 8050L firmware
reflash an 8163B modified with (any) 8050L firmware back to the 8163B firmware
c) reflash an 8163B that was modified with the wrong 8050L to give it the correct firmware

I don't suppose there's any hope of getting more help from the same source as last time, is there, LenteSubigo?

[maximilian0017]

a) flash an unmodified 8163B with the RIGHT 8050L firmware
reflash an 8163B modified with (any) 8050L firmware back to the 8163B firmware
c) reflash an 8163B that was modified with the wrong 8050L to give it the correct firmware

I found some interesting stuff on the net, there is hope(i hope)

[maximilian0017]

a) flash an unmodified 8163B with the RIGHT 8050L firmware
reflash an 8163B modified with (any) 8050L firmware back to the 8163B firmware
c) reflash an 8163B that was modified with the wrong 8050L to give it the correct firmware

If it looks like an 8163b
(with some strange wires ?!?!":-)

If it reads like an 8163b
(in windows)

It probably is a 8163b again!!, got the drive back from the scrapheep.

Option B done, info soon!!!!
(have to make it user/M$ frendly)

[maximilian0017]

reflash an 8163B modified with (any) 8050L firmware back to the 8163B firmware
info soon!!!!

ok, here it is (made this from the top of my head but this should work 100%)
Use on your own risk!!!

1. go to http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechS...-1&lang=English and download the file.
2. Execute the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions, insert a blank floppy and make sure the program writes to the floppy.
3. open the autoexec.bat from the floppy and REPLACE all text using cut and paste with:

@ECHO OFF
CLS
:LOOP
ECHO.
ECHO Get my 8163b back tool!!! V 1.0B
ECHO.
ECHO This tool wil flash any compatible drive with the 8163b firmware, so beware!
ECHO Make sure you know what you are doing
ECHO The Usage of this tool is on your own risk!!
ECHO.
ECHO 1. Flash drive on Primary Master
ECHO 2. Flash drive on Primary Slave
ECHO 3. Flash drive on Secondary Master
ECHO 4. Flash drive on Secondary Slave
ECHO 5. Quit

SET Choice=
SET /P Choice=Type the number and press Enter:

IF NOT '%Choice%'=='' SET Choice=%Choice:~0,1%
ECHO.

IF /I '%Choice%'=='1' GOTO PRIM
IF /I '%Choice%'=='2' GOTO PRIS
IF /I '%Choice%'=='3' GOTO SECM
IF /I '%Choice%'=='4' GOTO SECS
IF /I '%Choice%'=='5' GOTO End
ECHO "%Choice%" is not valid. Please try again.
ECHO.
GOTO Loop
:PRIM
SF8163.exe 3026B00A.DLD 0 /p /c /f /o /i
GOTO Again
:PRIS
SF8163.exe 3026B00A.DLD 1 /p /c /f /o /i
GOTO Again
:SECM
SF8163.exe 3026B00A.DLD 2 /p /c /f /o /i
GOTO Again
:SECS
SF8163.exe 3026B00A.DLD 3 /p /c /f /o /i
GOTO Again
:Again
PAUSE
CLS
GOTO Loop
:End


4. Save the file and restart the pc, make sure it boots from the floppy
5. Select how your drive is connected and folow the instructions on screen.

Maby someone wants to upload a complete disk to xbins?

[slipknots]

maximilian0017:


If you are able to get it to work will you be able to change the drive speed limit so that it will read at 16x??

[maximilian0017]

maximilian0017:
If you are able to get it to work will you be able to change the drive speed limit so that it will read at 16x??

At this moment i do not have the knowledge to disect firmwares, and at this time it isn't that important.

It will probably take a lot of time to learn all of this, so outside help is needed for 16x speed and cdr hacks.

But first things first, get the drive to work 100% as a 8050

[maximilian0017]

Ok, there's a little error in the post with the script, and i can't edit it anymore.

Ofcourse the dos version used on that disk doesn't support set /p

So here's the new instruction:
Use on your own risk!!!

1. go to http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechS...-1&lang=English and download the file.
2. Execute the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions, insert a blank floppy and make sure the program writes to the floppy.
3. open the autoexec.bat from the floppy and REPLACE all text using cut and paste with:

@ECHO OFF
CLS
ECHO.
ECHO Get my 8163b back tool!!! V 1.1
ECHO.
ECHO This tool wil flash any compatible drive with the 8163b firmware, so beware!
ECHO Make sure you know what you are doing
ECHO The Usage of this tool is on your own risk!!
ECHO.
ECHO 1. Flash drive on Primary Master
ECHO 2. Flash drive on Primary Slave
ECHO 3. Flash drive on Secondary Master
ECHO 4. Flash drive on Secondary Slave
ECHO. ECHO Type the number and press Enter:

4. Make a file on the disk called 1.bat and insert the following text:

SF8163.exe 3026B00A.DLD 0 /p /c /f /o /i

5. Make a file on the disk called 2.bat and insert the following text:

SF8163.exe 3026B00A.DLD 1 /p /c /f /o /i

6. Make a file on the disk called 3.bat and insert the following text:

SF8163.exe 3026B00A.DLD 2 /p /c /f /o /i

7. Make a file on the disk called 4.bat and insert the following text:

SF8163.exe 3026B00A.DLD 3 /p /c /f /o /i

8.Restart the pc, make sure it boots from the floppy
9. Select how your drive is connected and follow the instructions on screen.

Maby someone wants to upload a complete disk to xbins?

[Darts]

Hi Maximillian,
If I understand you correctly, you provide here a way to turn an 8163B flashed in 8050 back in 8163B right?
Then you want to find a way to flash it correctly back to 8050, am I correct?

My question will then be, what's wrong with the old 8050 flash? (except the size matter)
It behalves the way of a normal 8050 the way I look at it. Isn't that your opinion?

[Morien]

Hi all,

I know that this is possibly a tricky question to answer, but how far off are we (or will we in the near future) be able to load 100% of media types in this drive? (DVDR/+R -+RW, CD-R, CD-RW)
Also, are there any other problems besides the drive stopping spinning? (Or has that been rectified or close to?)

Thanks
Morien

[maximilian0017]

Hi Maximillian,
If I understand you correctly, you provide here a way to turn an 8163B flashed in 8050 back in 8163B right?

Yes u r correct

The drive should behave just like Wenid his drive, the only differences in the drive's are the manufacture date and a few little differences in the firmware.

I really don't think that all the problems we are having with this drive are caused by the manufacture date, and the size of the differences in the firmware could easely contain the code that we need to make this work.

We first need to know a few things instead of guessing, that will make this job a lot easyer.

Does anyone have any info on the .dld format for firmwares?, i really can't find anything on the net

[slipknots]

Hi I just got my LG drive in . Now I have done nothing yet do i still need to flash with wrong 8050L then reflash with (return to 8163B) then flash with 8050L again or is there something else I need to or need not to do (besides mod the wires)

[Epic007]

Thanks Max,

With your info I was able to reflash and salvage my 8163B. It had gone into a complete failure state while trying to get it to work correctly on the xbox. It wouldn't even recognize a DVD.

Although I did have to add the /r switch to your direction. It kept giving me a No CD/DVD message without it.

Now I'll just wait and see if anyone solves the ready timing issue before attempting the flash again.

[BlackFlag]

i believe i was first ti find it!!!

well i sent x-s this info with pics last week when i opened up a new box, i guess they didnt feel the need to post it, also posted it on www.notworksafe.com

the drive sucks, has errors reading the free ncaa2005/topspin disc, put the disck in my phillips drive and everything is fine

cheap! ms!!

thats weird cuz i just got one tonight and it loads faster than my samsung and it plays dvd R way better. It played my Top Spin/NCAA2005 just fine. I like it a lot already I think the only downside i can say about it is that it's noisy every time the laser moves you hear it.