The Firmware of a DVD+/-R(W) drive contains a lot of important and for a "good"� burn required information (Media ID, write strategy, media specific write speeds,...) of CD or DVD+/-R(W) DL medias and to get support for new medias on your drive you need to update the firmware of your drive(s).

You can update the firmware of your drive easily in Windows by using a so called MTK WinFlash utility or in real DOS by using the MTKFlash utility. BTC itself prefers the Windows method and they suggest the DOS method only when you need to recover a drive after a bad flash in Windows but because of problems that can occur during the flash process (with software or when special IDE drivers, such as nforce are installed) many user want to flash their drives in DOS.

This is a simple step by step Guide that shows you how to flash your BTC DVD+/-RW drive in DOS.

Please use the MTKFlash version 1.80 and not 1.80.1, I've noticed that version 1.80.1 works not always successful with BTC drives.

1.) Required Software

• DOS Bootdisk - Download from Bootdisk.com
• NTFSDOS * - Download from Sysinternals.com
• Firmwarefile - Downloads can be found in this CD Freaks thread (latest versions, un-patched, hex-files) or at the Dangerous Brothers website here (binfile, rpc1 patched but not always the latest version). You can also ask BTC support for the required file.
• MTKFlash 1.80 - there is no need to download MTKFlash separately, the tool is included in the F/W files, downloaded via the links, available in the previous mentioned thread. In case you prefer another version, then download it from dhc014’s firmware page, there you can also find more information about MTKFlash

*NTFSDOS is required to access the partitions on your NTFS formatted HD when your system is running on FAT file system you don't need this.

2.) Preparations

• create the DOS Bootdisc by running the exe file
• unzip the NTFSDOS file to a second floppy-disk
• extract the downloaded firmware file to a new folder on your c: drive**
• if MTKFlash has been downloaded separately, then copy the file into the same folder.

** create this new folder not in a subfolder, for easier accesses in DOS create this new folder directly on your c:\ drive and make sure that the name has a max. length of 8 letters.

3.) Flashing the drive (normal flash without recovery)

• reboot your system with the DOS bootdisk inserted
• after booting when a:\ appears on the screen, insert the NTFS floppy
• run NTFSDOS.exe by typing the string (it is possible that you c:\ partition is now recognised as d:\)***
• access the partition, where the firmware file and MTKFlash is located by typing d:\ followed by pushing the enter button.
• access the firmware folder by typing "cd nameofthefolder" followed by pushing the enter button.
• flash your drive by using the command files, included in the package, downloaded from CD Freaks.

  • prima.bat - when the drive is connected to primary master
  • prisl.bat - when the drive is connected to primary slave
  • secma.bat - when the drive is connected to secondary master
  • secsl.bat - when the drive is connected to secondary slave

• as an alternative you can use the conventional MTKFlash commands. Here are the commands for version 1.80 and below:

  • MTKFLASH * /w /b /m name_of_the_file.bin or
  • MTKFLASH * /w /m name_of_the_file.hex when you use a firmware.hex and replace the * by:
    

    • 1 - when the drive is connected as master to the primary IDE channel
    • 2 - when the drive is connected as slave to the primary IDE channel
    • 3 - when the drive is connected as master to the secondary IDE channel
    • 4 - when the drive is connected as slave to the secondary IDE channel

• After the successful flash remove the floppy and reboot the system.

*** Not necessary when FAT file system is used

The update of the firmware is required to get support for newer medias, but please note that you can loose your warranty when the update fails, especially when a patched firmware is used.