NEC ND-6650A firmware 1.2x update? Where

What firmware version are you running on your drive? 

I just today received my NEC ND-6650A from NewEgg ($79.99) and installed it in my Inspiron 8200. I have to say it was if you have small phillips screwdriver it is one of the easiest upgrades you'll ever do.

Anyway, the best place to get info on NED DVD burner is at NEC DVD Burner sub-forum at CDFreaks:

http://club.cdfreaks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=86

I just got it 3 hours ago. It came with 1.23 I will probably go with Liggy's 1.62

Obviously not for this one. But I have for others. For instance I have flashed several Memorex burners which were rebadged Liteons to Liteon firmware and increrased the speed from 48x to 52x. You just need to be careful and follow the instructions. It is always a good idea to save the old firmware in case you want to revert. Flashing something on a laptop with battery power backup should be safer than a desktop. The manufacturers designed their stuff to be flashed - particulary CD and DVD burners so they can make them compatible with new media.

For what it is worth, I have been succesfully running the modified Liggy/Dee 162bt_rpc1.bin firmware (1.62) on my _NEC DVD+-RW ND-6650A for several months with great results. The original firmware was 102C (which I backed up prior to upgrading).

Unfortunately Dell firmware upgrades are usually well behind the "latest and greatest"

The Liggy's and Dee's modified NEC firmwares web page gives you access to the original or modified versions of the firmware.

I have found that using DVD+R media (as opposed to DVD-R) and setting the Booktype to DVD-ROM gives me the best compatibility with my DVD equipment.

The following is from their website:

" Do NOT try to crossflash between 1.** and 2.** firmwares by using Binflash. This is very likely to DAMAGE your drive or make it INACCESSIBLE!"

The following is from their 1.62 readme.txt:

NEC ND-6650A 1.62 BT Firmware

Included files

readme.txt - This file
162bt_rpc1.bin - 1.62 firmware including booktype, riplock and RPC1 patch.

• 
  
• Booktype
  
  • 
    
  • Booktype setting allows for setting the booktype of a +R/+RW and +R-DL DVD disc to DVD-ROM. This improves compatibility for some older commercial players. The booktype of minus media cannot be changed.
    
• Riplock
  
  • 
    
  • Rip Lock removes the rip (reading) speed limitation, (usually set to 2X) on a DVD Video with CSS encryption.
    
  
  
• RPC1
  
  • 
    
  • RPC1 removes region checks and commands.
    
  
  

There is a risk involved in flashing with experimental firmware, so if you do not wish to assume this risk, please do not flash your drive!

Detailed information on how to flash this file can be found at How to flash your firmware on NEC drives

This file was originally downloaded from http://liggydee.cdfreaks.com/

Bottom Line

If you are not comfortable with the risks of flashing your drive (using original or modified firmware), do not do it. You can damage your drive and it will void your warranty.

I haven't done anything to mine yet, although at some poiunt I will probably use a Liggy & Dee firmware.

You don't say in what model you are using yours. I am having a problem with my ND-6659A in an 8200 which just got a new mobo (under my service plan) and a BIOS update to A13.

On approximately every other boot up the startup scren takes a long time and eventually I get a message that the fized optical drive can't be found. If I turn it off and reboot, it finds it. The BIOS is set to "minimal" POST check at start up. I have not tried "thorough" yet.

Any ideas why?

Sadly, I have had the same experience with Dell Technical Non-Support. On 2/23/06 they insisted that I install the firmware for the model 6500 drive --- which, of course, the install routine aborts because the 6650A drive is not recognized as required by the flash utility.

Has anyone else found the firmware upgrade? I'm a little nervous about flashing a non-Dell supported firmware upgrade. Should I be? Especially in terms of voiding the warranty?

Thanks for any help or advice you can provide!

I have an inspiron 9300 that came with a NEC 6650A. Until two days ago everything was fine with the burner but now I am able to burn but it's taking more than double the time in doing it. I used to burn a full DVD 4.6 Gigs in about 20 minutes and now it's taking me almost 1 hour. My firmware is 102C as the person who started this thread. MY question is: If I've an older firmware is going to affect my burning speed? I was burning just fine and suddenly it's taking so long time.

Thanxxx