PC Hardware in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition

Installing a Firmware Update

For Windows users, updating the firmware of a CD writer is normally just a matter of running a self-contained executable file or perhaps running an installer executable against a binary datafile. But read the directions before you proceed. For example, all firmware updates we’ve done require removing any disc from the drive before running the update. Also, firmware updates often specify that packet-writing software must not be running while the update is taking place. For safety’s sake, we always disable all nonessential resident software and reboot the system before and after running the update.

For Linux users, updating firmware may be problematic. The firmware binaries themselves are almost never OS-specific, but the updater utility needed to flash them to the drive is. Most CD writer makers assume you run Windows or Mac OS and provide updater utilities only for those platforms. People who run Linux are out of luck, unless the system dual-boots Windows. Fortunately, there’s more than one way to skin a cat. In decreasing order of ease and desirability, here are several ways to update your drive firmware under Linux:

• Ideally, choose a CD writer with Linux-friendly firmware updates available. If you must select among Linux-hostile drives, determine if one of those drives allows firmware updates via a DOS boot floppy or bootable CD.

• Search the Internet to find a Linux updater for your drive model. For example, the PXUpdate utility allows updating the firmware ...