[Slaine]

Ok, since we see a lot of people posting questions and comments regarding burning HD DVD firmware images into the main firmware threads, I figured I'd start a new thread for this topic alone and have the mods make it a sticky. That way, people can use this thread as a disk burning resource/guide and we can keep the main firmware threads free of redundant posts.


Toshiba Firmware Download Link


Download links for all models/firmware revs can be found in jruser's very useful AVSForum thread here .


Basic Firmware Burning Tips


1) Remember to unzip the image file (If required) before attempting to burn it! - In some regions, Toshiba zips up the firmware image files, so be sure to unzip it before you attempt to burn it to disk. The disk extension that cd burning apps will expect for ISO image files is '.iso'. If the file you download already ends in '.iso' (Not '.zip'), no further action is required before burning it onto a disk.


2) Burn disk as ISO image only! - Attempting to burn the ISO image to a cd as a data file will not work. If your cd burning application does not support ISO burning (Many trialware versions of cd burning apps don't), then download one of the apps shown below.


3) Use cd's only! - Toshiba does not recommend using blank DVD's to upgrade their players and you may brick your player if you do use this format. You've been warned.....


People (Myself Included) have had good experience using Memorex cd-r blanks in both the HD-A1 and HD-A2 players. Other brands may work just fine as well, but YMMV here.


4) Set the burn speed to whatever you're comfortable with - Many folks recommend burning sensitive data like this to disks as slowly as possible, to avoid screwing up the disk and burning a coaster. I personally have burnt working firmware disks at speeds of 16x - 32x, so this advice is not set in stone however. I'd recommend using whatever speed you normally burn other data at.

Nero

http://www.nero.com/enu/downloads-ne...b936c93f7f51d6 - (Nero 10 Trial version)


1) Fire up Nero Burning ROM and select 'CD' or 'DVD' from the dropdown menu. Then click on the 'ISO' tab. This should bring you to the screen similar to the one shown below (May differ slightly based on the version of Nero used). Adjust your settings to match what is in the image, then click on the 'Open' button, browse to the HD DVD firmware ISO file, and then click 'Open', to open the image.

2) You should now be on the 'Burn Compliation' screen. Adjust the 'Action' checkboxes to match those in the image below, then set the write speed to something you're comfortable with. Many people recommend changing this setting to the lowest possible speed, but I've burnt working firmware disks at 12x speed and up, so your mileage may vary here. Finally, make sure the 'Write Method' drop down is changed to the 'Disk-at-once' value, then click on the 'Burn' button to burn the image. This should produce a working HD DVD firmware upgrade disk.

DeepBurner

http://www.deepburner.com/download/DeepBurner1.exe - (Free version)


1) Launch Deepburner and select 'Burn ISO Image' as the project type as shown below.

2) Browse to the Toshiba ISO file using the radio button to the right of the 'Image File:' file path input area. Once the file has been selected, (As shown in the screenshot below) set the desired 'Write speed' and click on the 'Burn ISO' button to burn the firmware image.

Active ISO Burner

http://www.ntfs.com/downloads/Iso-burner.exe - (Freeware)


1) Launch Active Iso Burner and browse to the path of the Toshiba ISO image by using the radio button to the right of the 'ISO Path:' file path input area. Once the path has been selected (As can be seen in the screenshot below), click on the 'BURN ISO!' button to burn the firmware image to disk

NOTE: I was personally unable to burn a firmware disk using this application as it caused my computer to lock up completely every time I clicked on the 'BURN ISO!' button. So be warned! However numerous other AVS Forum members have reported burning disks using this app with no issues and it appears to be the simplest app to use out of the ones listed above, so give it a try (Save all work first!)

 

[sdlehman]

Ok, followed your instructions verbatum. I have now burned 6 discs that result in upgrade failure. Your instructions were exactly what I had done previously but I thought, what the hell, maybe it will work this time. I still get the vup error 113.


Stace

 

[Slaine]



Quote:
Originally Posted by sdlehman /forum/post/0


Ok, followed your instructions verbatum. I have now burned 6 discs that result in upgrade failure. Your instructions were exactly what I had done previously but I thought, what the hell, maybe it will work this time. I still get the vup error 113.


Stace

Did you ever try this using different CD media or a DVD instead of a CD? The player clearly recognizes your disk and allows you to begin the upgrade, so I have to think the drive is having problems reading the image properly from a certain part of the disk, which then causes it to bomb out.


Also, what CD media are you using?

 

[sdlehman]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Slaine /forum/post/0


Did you ever try this using different CD media or a DVD instead of a CD? The player clearly recognizes your disk and allows you to begin the upgrade, so I have to think the drive is having problems reading the image properly from a certain part of the disk, which then causes it to bomb out.


Also, what CD media are you using?

Yes, I have burned 4 TDK CDr's, 1 Memorex CD RW, and 1 TDK CD RW. I will try a dvd but the Toshiba site says to only use CDs. I didn't want to cause any problems with my player.


Stace

 

[Slaine]



Quote:
Originally Posted by sdlehman /forum/post/0


Yes, I have burned 4 TDK CDr's, 1 Memorex CD RW, and 1 TDK CD RW. I will try a dvd but the Toshiba site says to only use CDs. I didn't want to cause any problems with my player.


Stace

I wasn't aware that they said not to use DVD's, so maybe that's not such a good idea - I'd skip that approach unless anyone else can vouch for its safety. I personally used a Memorex CD-R to upgrade my player to 2.3, so you're definately using a kosher format. The question is, is there something about the TDK brand that's screwing things up? Also, have you checked to see if your CD/DVD burner has the latest firmware update (if any) applied?

 

[Tspeer]

Set the burn speed to the slowest possible setting. Use disc-at-once.


If it still fails, try track-at-once.


However, thinking about it, since you are burning an ISO, you should not even SEE the Joilet selections and such. You start Nero. The New compilation window comes up by default. CLOSE that screen by clicking Cancel.


On the menu select Recorder - Burn image. A browse window comes up. Find the ISO file that you have downloaded. Then once you have selected it the Burn Compilation window comes up. Default is Maximum burn speed and track at once. Just change the burn speed down to the lowest setting and give it a go.

 

[CRFTony]

I followed the instructions posted by Slaine precisely and got a "no disc" error upon putting the CD into the A1 player. I tried it again using Tspeer's suggestion and got the same error.


Is my player just resistant to having the firmware updated? I connect it directly to the cable modem and turn on DHCP and DNS and clicked confirm, then exited the menu and shut down the player. Upon reboot, it still won't recognize the modem and download the new firmware online. I've really tried everything every single time new firmware is released and am still on 1.4 This is ridiculous and although I love HD DVD, I'm extremely skeptical about whether I'd want to buy any of the newer players because this is a nightmare. I won't even buy any new movies for fear they won't play on my "outdated" player, which is ludicrous for a machine that is less than 8 months old.


I'd happily pay someone to send me a working firmware disc. Feel free to PM me.

 

[muttlover]

You can get Toshiba to send them to you -- review your materials that you were sent.


Also, I think the best method is the one Tspeer mentions -- I use that method and have had no problems at all. FYI I'm using Memorex CDR 700MB 52x rated blanks.


Just a qualifier I'm a computer professional in the field for > 21 years.


Does your burner work for other stuff like making music CDs and the like? If you've had so much grief with this just have Toshiba send you the upgrade CDs.

 

[CRFTony]

Thanks for the reply, Muttlover. I'm also using Memorex CD-R's, 700MB 52x. I'm not sure if you're using +/- or RW discs, but it seems like we have the same media. I use them all the time for data discs of photos and as audio CDs and have never had any trouble.


I requested a disc from Toshiba when 2.2 came out but haven't received it yet. I'll call again and ask for 2.3 and hope I have better luck.

 

[KenToizumi]

upgrade to Nero 6.6 (free) and when you try to burn an ISO it will open another screen and burn it properly.

 

[CRFTony]

I'm using 6.6 and it still isn't working for me.

 

[Slaine]



Quote:
Originally Posted by CRFTony /forum/post/0


I followed the instructions posted by Slaine precisely and got a "no disc" error upon putting the CD into the A1 player. I tried it again using Tspeer's suggestion and got the same error.

If it's giving you a "No disc" error, it's obviously not even recognising the disk as a firmware image. That's usually because the disk hasn't been finalized or that it hasn't been burnt as an ISO image, but I wonder if the image itself is knackered. Can you check the size of the image by checking the file properties and post it here?


The image I used to upgrade is 73,175,040 bytes in size.

 

[gstspyder]

toshiba's disk burning utillity

http://askiris.toshiba.com/ToshibaSu...%200%204670741

 

[mlankton]

For you fellow mac users, the excellent burning program Toast won't work with the firmware images for some reason. It produces a coaster every time. The mac os Disc Utility works just fine though.

 

[e_professor]

Why not try out the freeware Active ISO Burner ... it is a burning software specifically catered to the burning of ISO image files on CDs. A check with CNet has confirmed that the software is free of spyware . The software is meant for the Windows platform.


Instructions: Just follow the instructions on the Toshiba support webpage http://tacp.toshiba.com/tacpassets-i...ngfirmware.asp and after extracting the .iso file, follow the instructions on http://www.ntfs.com/iso_burner_free.htm .


You'll have to refer back to the same Toshiba support webpage for instructions on installing the update using the created firmware update CD.


The Active ISO software just simplified the whole burning process for me. Didn't have to change any settings.


Hope it helps.

 

[Slaine]

Bump to keep thread active while waiting for sticky status......

 

[John Clark]

I have an HD-XA1 thats approximately a year old. This is my first time around in updating the firmware. Should I go directly to 2.3? Or get an upgrade disc from Toshiba instead?


I have an HD-DVD rental disc from Netflix that I cannot play. I would rather save time and burn the firmware, but I've read the other threads, and successful burning and installation of the software seem extremely risky.


Thanks for any help. I'm a bit lost as to what's the best course to take now.



John

 

[Slaine]



Quote:
Originally Posted by John Clark /forum/post/0


I have an HD-XA1 thats approximately a year old. This is my first time around in updating the firmware. Should I go directly to 2.3? Or get an upgrade disc from Toshiba instead?


I have an HD-DVD rental disc from Netflix that I cannot play. I would rather save time and burn the firmware, but I've read the other threads, and successful burning and installation of the software seem extremely risky.


Thanks for any help. I'm a bit lost as to what's the best course to take now.



John

You can go directly to 2.3. Also, for the most part, upgrading via burned disc is quite safe. The majority of problems people are having with burned discs are either that the disc cannot be read in the player period or that the firmware upgrade craps out midway through the upgrade. Neither of those situations should harm the player.


I've upgraded to firmware versions 2.0 and 2.2 via the internet, and to 2.3 via burned disk and all ended well. The firmware update did crap out once or twice while using the internet upgrade method, but as I mentioned no harm was done to the player. Simply restart it and try again.


Hope this helps

.

 

[LonnyE]

Bah,


I've made a half dozen or so coasters with NERO so far.

I'm using TDK CD-R media.


Any suggestions? NERO log follows.



*****************************************************

*****************************************************

*****************************************************

Windows XP 5.1

IA32

WinAspi: -


NT-SPTI used

Nero Version: 7.10.1.0

Internal Version: 7, 10, 1, 0


Recorder: Version: U201 - HA 1 TA 0 - 7.10.1.0

Adapter driver: HA 1

Drive buffer : 2048kB

Bus Type : default (0) -> ATAPI, detected: ?

CD-ROM: Version: U201 - HA 1 TA 0 - 7.10.1.0

Adapter driver: HA 1


=== Scsi-Device-Map ===

DiskPeripheral : ST94011A atapi Port 0 ID 0 DMA: Off

CdRomPeripheral : SAMSUNG CDRW/DVD SN-324F atapi Port 1 ID 0 DMA: Off


=== CDRom-Device-Map ===

SAMSUNG CDRW/DVD SN-324F D: CdRom0

=======================


AutoRun : 1

Excluded drive IDs:

WriteBufferSize: 66060288 (0) Byte

BUFE : 0

Physical memory : 446MB (457712kB)

Free physical memory: 115MB (118632kB)

Memory in use : 74 %

Uncached PFiles: 0x0

Use Inquiry : 1

Global Bus Type: default (0)

Check supported media : Disabled (0)


10.8.2007

CD Image

10:38:32 AM #1 Text 0 File SCSIPTICommands.cpp, Line 424

LockMCN - completed sucessfully for IOCTL_STORAGE_MCN_CONTROL


10:38:33 AM #2 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 3196

SAMSUNG CDRW/DVD SN-324F

Super Link activated


10:38:33 AM #3 Text 0 File Burncd.cpp, Line 3508

Turn on Disc-At-Once, using CD-R/RW media


10:38:34 AM #4 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 307

Last possible write address on media: 336224 ( 74:44.74)

Last address to be written: 19068 ( 4:16.18)


10:38:34 AM #5 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 319

Write in overburning mode: NO (enabled: CD)


10:38:34 AM #6 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 2972

Recorder: SAMSUNG CDRW/DVD SN-324F;

CDR code: 00 97 31 01; OSJ entry from: Ritek Co.

ATIP Data:

Special Info [hex] 1: D0 00 98, 2: 61 1F 01 (LI 97:31.01), 3: 4A 2D 00 (LO 74:45.00)

Additional Info [hex] 1: 00 00 80 (invalid), 2: 00 80 00 (invalid), 3: 00 80 80 (invalid)


10:38:34 AM #7 Text 0 File DlgWaitCD.cpp, Line 493

>>> Protocol of DlgWaitCD activities:

 

[Slaine]



Quote:
Originally Posted by LonnyE /forum/post/0


Bah,


I've made a half dozen or so coasters with NERO so far.

I'm using TDK CD-R media.


Any suggestions? NERO log follows.

Other people who have experienced problems burning also appear to be using TDK media, which makes me suspect that the Toshiba player doesn't like that media type.


Your burner appears to be a Samsung, which is what I use (Apparently a different model though). I've had good success using Memorex CD-R media in my DVD player/CD burner combo drive, so you might want to try picking up some Memorex CD-R's and trying your luck with those. Also note that I've upgraded my drives firmware several times, so you may wish to check the Samsung site for an upgraded firmware for your drive, just to rule out any firmware bugs.