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Solve : Determining Manufacturer/Make of DVD-ROM Player?? |
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Answer» Hi- Maybe look in the BIOS to see if it's listed.Bios says it's a Samsung DVD-ROM SD-6. Quote from: Broni on April 25, 2011, 12:09:59 PM What does Device Manager say?Device Manager says it's a Samsung DVD-ROM SD-612 I'm pretty SURE it is a 612, but... Does anyone know anything about the reliability of SiSoft SANDRA at determining device info?I'd trust Device Manager. Quote from: Broni on April 25, 2011, 12:36:04 PM I'd trust Device Manager. I agree. But just out of curiosity, what happens if I run the firmware update and it turns out that it's not an SD-612? How badly would that screw my pc and/or DVD player up? What exactly is a firmware update? I assume it's a bigger deal than just UPDATING a driver?The only DVD update that Dell shows for the Dimension 4100 is the SD-616B. It's likely you have a different model as indicated by Device Manager. Another way to determine which one is if it's a 12X or 16X drive. Nero InfoTool might work: http://www.nero.com/enu/support-nero8-tools-utilities.html http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&os=WLH&osl=en&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P3C_4100&catid=-1&impid=-1 Firmware update is similar to flashing the motherboard BIOS. This is a hardware modification to the DVD drive. Quote from: Computer_Commando on April 25, 2011, 01:07:52 PM The only DVD update that Dell shows for the Dimension 4100 is the SD-616B. It's likely you have a different model as indicated by Device Manager. Something's been screwy with my computer and the Dell documentation since I got the computer in 2001 (although I didn't know enough about computers at the time to question anything). I bought a Dimension 4100 and the case is definitely a Dimension 4100, but the included paperwork has the 'Description' as: "DIM XPS-Z SERIES, PENTIUM III PROC 866MHZ" Try finding anything at Dell on the XPS-Z series... Meanwhile, if what I have is a Samsung SD-612, according to Dell.com, they were only used in the "Dimension XPS B___r" whatever that is. Quote from: Computer_Commando on April 25, 2011, 01:07:52 PM Firmware update is similar to flashing the motherboard BIOS. This is a hardware modification to the DVD drive. Thanks for the Nero link. I've downloaded it and will give it a shot. I may come back again for some advice before I do anything about the firmware update - I'm really nervous about it.... Nero says it's a SAMSUNG SD-612 too. Should I create a Restore Point before I run the firmware update? Will I be able to Restore/revert back from a firmware update??I would not bother flashing a 10 year old DVD-ROM drive. It is probably nearing the end of its service life. They cost pocket change now. Like 12 UK pounds (around $20) or less. In fact this is a very old PC. Worth around $20. Left: XPS Right: Dimension Quote from: callista on April 25, 2011, 02:17:03 PM Nero says it's a SAMSUNG SD-612 too. No need to create a restore point, and you can reflash the firmware with an earlier version if you have the file available. Don't turn the power off during the flash, or you'll brick the drive. But see my post above. Quote from: callista on April 25, 2011, 02:17:03 PM Nero says it's a SAMSUNG SD-612 too.Firmware does not modify Windows, it modifies the drive, so creating a restore point would accomplish nothing. Besides, you can't update the drive firmware from within Windows. You boot to a floppy disk & run the flash program from the floppy disk. Quote from: Computer_Commando on April 25, 2011, 04:48:10 PM Firmware does not modify Windows, it modifies the drive, so creating a restore point would accomplish nothing. Besides, you can't update the drive firmware from within Windows. You boot to a floppy disk & run the flash program from the floppy disk. Many manufacturers provide Windows firmware flashing utilities. I used to update the firmware of my LG DVD-RW from Windows. |
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