GWA-4080N firmware (+dual layer) - Page 3

"You can't copy a DVD even if you have a DL burner because you have to remove the encryption first."

Not legally of course but even the Linux community cracked that along time ago and if it was not possible why do programs like DVD FAB COMMERCIAL exist? I pondered that too. Here is what I found out, if you make a copy for yourself or spouse it is legal to remove CSS and Macrovision. If you mix movies on a DVD or CD or what have you (Except cassette tapes they are exempt totally. 100 Percent.) Basically if you do not make 1 cent on a copy it is legal. Except say cd tunes mix and whatever.

So again on the firmware pages and forums which I joined years ago it is very obvious people are screaming to go back....not because of what I wrote but they are scared because your drive is going to show you used up one or two times to flash the drive. I might be wrong here and I hope folks can tell me about their experience with this which VOIDS the warrenty.

As for Nero, maybe they have covered DL in the past but they advertize that they DO NOW. I would gladly do the upgrade if I didn't already have DL for DVD + - R. Now take Sonic record software It won't do DL Muvee won't but Nero will as will that FAB software I mentioned. So again, why would anyone pay 1-2 dollars for a DVD R with dual layer when I can do the same thing with single layer.....unless it is for data backup or one monster iTunes set up?

Anyone? Can you tell me if you went from 4 to 3 changes left by flashing?
If not I'll do it too. I do not condone making illegal copies of DVDs. Except what the law allows and you MAY make one for yourself.

----Rich

Where does it show that you can only flash your drive a certian amount of times.
I know the drive, and Windows limits the amount of times that you can change your region, but from my understanding flashing rests the counter on the drive, and the rpc releases do not have a counter. In fact the purpose of the rpc releases is tht it makes your drive region free. If you are taking about Windows, and needing to be reactivated than I an unsure about that as I did not check before I reformattted.

There is a fine line in what you can and cannot copy when it comes to movies. Some say that defeating the encryption on the DVD's is against the DMCA, though there are programs to do it and it is highly unlikely that the movie industry will do anything about private use, unless your sharing it.

Dual layer has been around for a little while now, and many software companies are starting to advertise that their programs van burn dual layer even though they have done so in the past. It is now becoming mainstream and a good selling point to many people. Though I agree with you many people probally won't ever use Dual Layer discs, they will still want the capabilities. It is wanting the best of the best. To most people normal DVD +/- R/RW will do just fine. But those of use with multiple computers, or just large filled hdds will find the DL more useful.

--Just curious, what model laptop do you have?

I have a Radio Shack HP Bought zv5454rs.
I worked for them for years even met their computer buyer. They tell HP and compaq what they want in a 5000 series computers. So they probably told HP they want the drive to do DL on the two most popular blanks DL wise.

They really do this ALOT with their Police Scanners. For example mine is a BCT-8 on STEROIDS with more options and channels etc. As for flashing I've had good and bad luck with it on prior computers. I will flash when Longhorn comes out if I have and I expect problems.

: )

----Rich

Hi Pete,

Thanks for the post, I found it via google. I recently upgraded my HP nx5000 with this dvd rw burner. Im actually surprised that its made by LG. I cant complain though since I got it for only $18.40 (Php 1,012) thru our local HP office. They admitted the price was lower than usual at the time they gave me the quotation. Im glad they honored our agreement. Checking with Nero Info tool confirms what Mestizo and you have posted. I hope the others find the solution here as I have. I'll be sending a PM to mestizo so he can send me the original firmware. Btw, there are two files in the zip. One auto and the other rpc1. Using either one is ok right?


Aside from now being able to write on DL and Dvd RAM, what other improvements are there?

MFB:

I am not quite sure what the auto loader is for, but maybe Pete can shed some light on that.

From what I have been reading firmware is generally vendor specific, so make sure that your drive, which was from HP does have the 0g03 firmware, that is the only orignal that I have. HP's generally have 0c09 or 0c12 firmware, which i do not have. I could be that HP purchased a lot of DVD burners from gateway/emachines or Arima. If it is the 0c09 or the 0c12, you could ask on the firmware page for it, someone should have it.

Also another improvment that the firmware gives you, is that it helps make your computer region free. The reason i say that it helps, is that the rpc1 will make your drive region free. To make your computer region free there are a few more steps, as windows only allows three changes to DVD region. Then the Software you use might need to be changed. Other than the making your drive region free, there are no other benefits that i have seen the drive still burns 8x DVD, 24x CD but now it burns DL and DVD RAM,

pmcartney:
Why wait till longhorn to flash?

1-Because too many are flashing HP drives (regardless of OEM) with beta SONY if the firmware page doesn't have MY MODEL I don't want the software.

2-0c09 on one computer might be different on the same brand. Same with oc12 which I believe is for Desktops by Compaq or HP.

3-By the time Longhorn comes out a proper flasher will be on the firmware page. I dunno if Longhorn will support flashing. And I have conferred with HP, once again oco9 and up DO DL you just need Nero 6.6.013 or better or any software that can DO dual layer. It's the software's driver and your firmware that make the difference. Now in the interest of being warez free you can download a trial of Nero 6.6.013 free. They don't mind it. That software will tell you what you can write to. I bet you can do dvd-R and DVD+R with 0c09 or better. But not DVD RAM. (Cam corder media)

----Rich

Too many people by whose standards - yours? If you don't want to flash your firmware with anything other than what explicitly lists your drive, that's your choice. That does not grant you the right to judge others for having a different opinion and/or choice when facing the same question.

The OS has nothing to do with whether or not a drive can have its firmware flashed. That feature is a function of the drive and the drive manufacturer. Some mfrs. will lock the firmware so it can't be flashed. Others (like LG and Sony) intentionally leave it open to flashing in case an update is needed to address a newfound issue with the drive. Also, DVD-RAM is not just "camcorder media" It was actually the original format of DVD writeable media, and predates both DVD+R and DVD-R.

pmcarney:
The only reason why it is beta is the he has no means in making sure it works, however checking on this board (pretty much this thread), and the firmware board, there has been no reported problems that i have seen. with that said it seems that this drive is not locked by the OEMs and the firmware is cross compatible. And I have seen your 0c09 firmware on their page. it is a RPC1 release. As another person has said earlier on this thread, the manufacturer, most likely, mass proudces one drive, and flashes it with different firmware, to different specifications. This saves money (only one type of manufacturing facility, chips, parts, etc. They are able to purchase parts in larger quantities for less money. This is true of many other items. What I am getting to is that more than likey all 4080n's are the same hardware, with a different firmware that regulates what type of media it can burn. That way they can sell some of the drives at a premium. So yes, it doesn't state explicitly that it is for your drive, however it, more than likely, is the same as Sony's hardware wise.

It is your choice whether or not you want to take a chance and flash your drive, just as it is everybody else's choice if they want to flash theirs.

Pete:
A little off topic - Just curious, but I noticed in your sig that you have a 7405GH, is there any difference between that and a 7405GX?

I guess I like to play it safe, as I had to flash a replacement CDRW once and it wasn't beta software. No offense to anyone. HP was no help, even tho the sticker on my notebook says DVDRW they kept telling me I didn't even have that which was a joke since I had burned many DVDRs.

I thank those that originally mentioned that Nero shows what you can do.
I do go by the Firmware page as they have no out of beta firmware for me yet. As for what does Longhorn have to do with it maybe it might force us all to upgrade and maybe not. I know on an older machine XP made me flash.
So I dunno. Thanks for the help.

----Rich

The jump from Windows 98/ME to XP was a bigger jump than the jump to Longhorn will be. Despite what Microsoft claims, it is based off of the Server 2003 code (which is just a branch off of the XP tree), so there's not a complete rewrite. When XP was released, it effectively marked the end of the 9x tree for all intents and purposes, because of the switch to the NT core.

Where is the firmware page? I believe the old firmware (before the upgrade) was 0c09. The burner I got was region free to begin with so no worries. Thanks for the help. Btw, is there any real use for dvd ram?

i did it too and now i have a dl burner!!thanks dudes!!!!

GH is sold only in Canada (with option for French version of the OS). thats all

http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php

"HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GMA-4080N - 0S35 (Sony OEM drive only) / 0N37 (Nec OEM drive only)
RPC-2"

The free firmware page with warnings. Take their advice if you wish or ignore it. Another quote: "These pages are only for advanced users. Bad flashing could destroy your drive definitively. Read carefully the installation notes of your firmware before you upgrade. The Firmware Page and the drive manufacturer can't be responsable on REMEMBER: This is at your own risk!!!!
DVD Region+CSS Free enables you to watch & copy any region CSS-encrypted DVD on all (including RPC-2) DVD drives without flashing firmware. DVDFab Platinum (DVD copy software) also has such functions. Both software is safe and easy to use. Download a FREE trial!"

I know so far only SONY and NEC have upgrades. Good luck.

Glad to see people getting DL. However with the above I wouldn't need it.
HP unlocked my drive and I own DVD FAB .29. I vouch for DVD FAB.
It's my favorite sofware!!! Commercially sold.