LG Renesas Firmware Utility Mac/Linux/Windows

devilsclaw · **Joined:** Sat Jan 12, 2002 6:08 am **Posts:** 331

Im starting this thread because the other one is not really uniform on how things need to be done.

WARNING: Flashing drives with any software can potentially kill your drive for various reasons. Use my tool and any other tools at your own risk. This software it not affiliated with RPC1.org or the owners of RPC1.org, it is created by me for personal use but I figured others might have a use for it.

I made a program I call flasher (which im thinking of renaming. suggestions welcome). It allows you to flash and backup firmware that are LG drives with Renesas chipsets.

Here is the usage instructions for Windows and Mac OS X:

Code:

returns the drives name and id
flasher -D

dumps drives firmwares
flasher -d [Drive ID] -m main_firmware.bin
flasher -d [Drive ID] -c core_firmware.bin

flashes drive with new firmware
flasher -d [Drive ID] -f firmware.bin

verify firmware on drive from file (might require rebooting before it works)
flasher -d [Drive ID] -V firmware.bin

Rips the firmware files out of the windows update executable
flasher -r firmware.exe

ONLY USE THIS IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING AND ITS THE LAST OPTION
Patches a firmware file to contain a correct checksum value
flasher --checksum firmware_to_patch.bin

flasher -D
AVAILABLE DRIVES AND IDs:
Drive ID: 1 Name: DVDRAM GMA-4020B
Drive ID: 2 Name: DVD-ROM GDR8164B

if I want to dump the DVDRAM GMA-4020B drives firmware it would look like this
flasher -d 1 -m main_firmware.bin
flasher -d 1 -c core_firmware.bin

if i want to flash the DVDRAM GMA-4020B drive with the main_firmware.bin
flasher -d 1 -f main_firmware.bin

NOTE: Some drives require being fully powered down.
Meaning this should be done on all drives.
This means that no power can be going to the drive.
Internal drives power down the computer.
External drives pull the power cable or switch the power switch

Here is the usage instructions for Linux:

Code:

 
returns a message saying its not supported on Linux and to use -d
flasher -D

With the Linux version you have to be logged in as root or use sudo to run it.

Linux version uses the /dev/ path and the hardware node 
eg. 
/dev/cdrom
/dev/cdrw
/dev/hda
/dev/sda

dumps drives firmwares
flasher -d [Dev path] -m main_firmware.bin
flasher -d [Dev path] -c core_firmware.bin

flashes drive with new firmware
flasher -d [Dev path] -f firmware.bin

verify firmware on drive from file (might require rebooting before it works)
flasher -d [Dev path] -V firmware.bin

Rips the firmware files out of the windows update executable
flasher -r firmware.exe

ONLY USE THIS IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR DOING AND ITS THE LAST OPTION
Patches a firmware file to contain a correct checksum value
flasher --checksum firmware_to_patch.bin

if I want to dump a drives firmware it would look like this. 
flasher -d /dev/cdrom -m main_firmware.bin
flasher -d /dev/cdrom -c core_firmware.bin

if i want to flash a drive with the main_firmware.bin
flasher -d /dev/cdrom -f main_firmware.bin

NOTE: Some drives require being fully powered down.
Meaning this should be done on all drives.
This means that no power can be going to the drive.
Internal drives power down the computer.
External drives pull the power cable or switch the power switch

The Location to Download the Windows and Mac OS X version are here:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/flasher/files/

flasher_Win[32/64] is the Windows console version
flasher_MacOSX is the Mac OS X console version
flasher_Linux is the Linux console version

Troubleshooting:

Code:

There is an error message that you can safely ignore on all OS's
The error below is the message you can ignore. It will be removed
once I get flasher working in Linux again.

firm_flasher: Failed Self diag. Possibly bad drive flash!
cmd_flashfirm: Flashing process failed

When flashing a drive in Mac OS X you must power off the machine fully for the flash to take effect.

SUPPORTED DRIVES:

Code:

BE06LU10  BE08LU20  BH08LS20  BH08NS20  BH10LS30  BH10NS30  BH12NS30  BH20L     BH20N     BH30N     
CA10N     CH08LS10  CH10LS20  CT10L     CT10N     GA10N     GA11N     GBC-H20N  GBW-H10N  GBW-T10N  
GCA-4080N GE20LU10  GE20LU11  GE20NU10  GE20NU11  GGC-H20L  GGC-H20N  GGW-H20L  GGW-H20N  GH10L     
GH10N     GH15L     GH20LS10  GH20LS15  GH20NS10  GH20NS15  GH22LS40  GH22LS50  GH22LS51  GH22NS40  
GH22NS50  GH22NS51  GH24LS50  GH24NS50  GH40L     GH40N     GH41N     GH50N     GMA-4080N GMA-4082N 
GP08LU10  GP08NU10  GS20N     GS21N     GS22N     GS23N     GSA-4040B GSA-4080N GSA-4081B GSA-4082B 
GSA-4082N GSA-4083N GSA-4084N GSA-4120B GSA-4160B GSA-4163B GSA-4165B GSA-4167B GSA-5120D GSA-5160B 
GSA-5163D GSA-E10L  GSA-E10N  GSA-E40L  GSA-E40N  GSA-E50L  GSA-E50N  GSA-H10A  GSA-H10L  GSA-H10N  
GSA-H12L  GSA-H12N  GSA-H42L  GSA-H42N  GSA-H44L  GSA-H44N  GSA-H60L  GSA-H62N  GSA-H66N  GSA-S10N  
GSA-T10N  GSA-T11N  GSA-T20L  GSA-T20N  GSA-T21N  GSA-T30L  GSA-T30N  GSA-T40L  GSA-T40N  GSA-T50F  
GSA-T50L  GSA-T50N  GSA-U10N  GSA-U20N  GSA-U21N  GT20L     GT20N     GU10N     GWA-4080N GWA-4082N 
GX10N     GX15N     UH08LS10  UH10LS20  WH08LS20  WH10LS30

NOT SUPPORTED DRIVES:

Code:

CT30N     DRD-8080B DRD-8120B DRD-8160B DRN-8080B GA30N     GA31N     GA32N     GCA-4164B GCC-4120B
GCC-4240N GCC-4241N GCC-4242N GCC-4243N GCC-4244N GCC-4481B GCC-4482B GCC-4520B GCC-4521B GCC-4522B
GCC-H21N  GCC-H23N  GCE-8481B GCE-8526B GDR-8161B GDR-8163B GGW-H10N  GH22LP20  GH22LS30  GH22NP20 
GH22NS30  GH30N     GP08NU20  GSA-2164D GSA-2166D GSA-4166B GSA-H20L  GSA-H20N  GSA-H21L  GSA-H21N 
GSA-H22L  GSA-H22N  GSA-H30L  GSA-H30N  GSA-H31N  GSA-H50L  GSA-H50N  GSA-H54L  GSA-H54N  GSA-H55L 
GSA-H55N  GSA-H58N  GSA-H73N  GT10N     GT50N     GWA-4040N GWA-4083B GWA-4164B GWA-4166B

NOTE: For those who want to help with the supported and not supported drive list.
1) Copy the text from the list your helping with
2) Go to http://flasher.sourceforge.net/sort.php
3) Paste this list from above in the input area
4) Then paste your list in addition to the one above in the input area
5) Click the Sort Button.
6) Copy the text and post it in this topic listing what list your supporting.

NOTE: I also added code to the sort script to allow its self to be downloaded.

chef · **Posted:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 11:45 am

Great work! =D>

It's a sticky thread now.

destroyersphere · **Joined:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 5:59 am **Posts:** 3

I hate to sound like a noob but how do I run this flasher on a mac?

I have a macbook with a GSA-S10N and B10 firmware.

All I see is a text file. I apologize if this is a ridiculous question.

Is it possible to reflash the firmware in OSX with this flasher instead of doing it from a Windows bootcamp partition?

I thought that since OSX blocked access to the drive, you could only reflash in Windows.

devilsclaw · **Joined:** Sat Jan 12, 2002 6:08 am **Posts:** 331

There is no text file in the zip file. I just downloaded and checked to make sure.
There is a file called flasher in the zip file and the program must be ran from terminal.
There is a program called Terminal in the applications section.
After you extract the flasher you will have to open the terminal application.

Once the terminal is open you will have to cd to the directory of where the flasher is.
cd Downloads

To run the program you have to put a ./ in front.
./flasher -D

If the program is not executable you will have to make it executable with chmod.
chmod 755 flasher

Then the program will run as suggested.

destroyersphere · **Joined:** Thu Jan 21, 2010 5:59 am **Posts:** 3

Thanks a lot! The program worked flawlessly! Very cool program! Good Work!

I didn't know that I had to use chmod for this.

I successfully dumped the firmware but the patched firmware that I downloaded is a .exe not a .bin so I guess I will have to reflash in Windows?

I read in another thread that the core firmware enables the operating system to recognize the drive. Would there ever be a time where you would want to reflash the core firmware?

In order to prevent region locking we only want to reflash the main firmware, correct?

devilsclaw · **Joined:** Sat Jan 12, 2002 6:08 am **Posts:** 331

well depending on where you got the exe the flasher program can rip the firmware from it.
./flasher -r windowsexe.exe

fortineau · **Posted:** Tue Jan 26, 2010 6:17 pm

Sorry but I understand nothing how to use the terminal... I have downloaded the flasher on the desktop and as well GSA-S10N_API12.exe

My firmware is AP9 and I would like to upgrade it to AP12

Could someone type me step by step instructions for flashing from the terminal ?

Thanks for support !

Nicolas

devilsclaw · **Joined:** Sat Jan 12, 2002 6:08 am **Posts:** 331

News Update:
Removed functions from the program that might confuse people that were originally designed for a project of mine.
Released a Windows 64 bit version.
Released a Mac OS X DMG version, this way its more like what Mac users are used to.
Moved project to cmake instead of Code::Blocks this way I don't have to configure everything every time I want to support a new OS.

To Do: Upload source code for new released files.
Edit: Done Uploading source

ildar · **Posted:** Mon Feb 15, 2010 1:53 am

devilsclaw,

Thank you for this flasher. It works perfect
but there are some drawbacks:

1. It is very difficult to find download file.
I think the reason is not correct project name:
nobody will search "LG Renesas" for flahsing HL-DT_SL drives.
Thanks to _chef_ for tip to find and to understad the purpose.

2. After finding it is very difficult to realize what type drives it is designed for.
I think it is because there is no description on project web site at all.

3. After realizing purpose it is not to easy to run it even for experienced users
because of lack of key options description, which can lead to deadly flashing wrong firmware or to wrong driver.

4. This topic I found only by help of puma. It is good idea to put a link to this thread in project web page.

devilsclaw · **Joined:** Sat Jan 12, 2002 6:08 am **Posts:** 331

tell you the truth im about to dump sourceforge its a horrible place to attempt to do anything. most people just use as a dumb pipe for downloads now. Im currently looking for a better place that still supports git for handling the source code and then just using my site for everything else.

devilsclaw · **Joined:** Sat Jan 12, 2002 6:08 am **Posts:** 331

I have updated the flasher to support larger encrypted data blocks which was keeping it from ripping the firmware from some windows flashers.

I also added support for Linux again and it is not available for download at the site.

elguapo · **Joined:** Sat Apr 03, 2010 10:20 pm **Posts:** 15

Hi

Couple of questions about the use of flasher, I appreciate your help and patience with somebody who isn't hugely familiar with terminal etc.!

I've opened Terminal, used the cd command to set the directory to where flasher is, and used the ./flasher -D command to run flasher. However, it's giving me a message that says

Devilsclaw's LG Renesas Drive Utility
drive_inquiry: failed to inquiry drive info

I tried the cdmod command but that didn't do anything.

Assuming I get this to work, I'm still not entirely clear on the steps after that. As I understand it, I need to

1. use flasher -r firmware.exe to rip the firmware out of the GS23N_SB03-00.exe file
2. then use flasher -d [Drive ID] -m main_firmware.bin to dump the firmware
3. then use flasher -d [Drive ID] -f firmware.bin to flash the new firmware.

Is that correct, or am totally off? How do I know which drives (1 or 2) are available, and how do I point flasher to the correct firmware?

Sorry for all the questions - just trying to be sure before I flash away!

Download the original firmware, in this case GS23N_SB03-00.exe

devilsclaw · **Joined:** Sat Jan 12, 2002 6:08 am **Posts:** 331

1) Are you using Mac,Windows or Linux version?
2) Is there anything wrong with your drive that your trying to flash?

reason I ask #2 is because my program should be able to do at least a drive query and that failed so I'm working if your drive is dead or if something is wrong with my code.

elguapo · **Joined:** Sat Apr 03, 2010 10:20 pm **Posts:** 15

I'm using the Mac OS version, and the drive is fine, so I downloaded it all again just to be sure - and this time it worked - it returned a drive available. So all good so far.

Now I have a drive available, drive ID 1. And I've downloaded the GS23N_SB03-00.exe firmware. Are the instructions earlier in the thread in order? So the next thing I would do is dump the main and core firmware, then flash with the new firmware? I'm assuming I need to rip the firmware out of the .exe download - but maybe I'm misunderstanding that; I tried the rip command (flasher -r firmware.exe) using both the words "firmware.exe" and "GS23N_SB03-00.exe" and both returned "-bash: flasher: command not found".

Thanks.

devilsclaw · **Joined:** Sat Jan 12, 2002 6:08 am **Posts:** 331

1) Download the LG Windows Flasher.
2) Patch the LG Windows Flasher.
3) Extract the Firmware from the flasher. the EXE must be in the same directory as the flasher program of mine.
4) Dump the main and the core firmware from your drive.
5) Flash the patched firmware to the drive. there might be a core and a main one also.
6) Totally turn off your computer and then turn it back on.

elguapo · **Joined:** Sat Apr 03, 2010 10:20 pm **Posts:** 15

Hey

Thanks for the instructions - there's enough about using this flasher that I still don't understand to make me suspect that this may be beyond my technical abilities - but I do appreciate your time and your answers.

Cheers

tremblap · **Joined:** Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:06 pm **Posts:** 2

Dear devilsclaw

Thank you for your application. It seem to be excatly what I need under os X... but I always get a 'Bus error' message when I do './flasher -D'

Is it because I am still on 10.4.11?

Thanks for your help

pa

devilsclaw · **Joined:** Sat Jan 12, 2002 6:08 am **Posts:** 331

most likely, the older version of the mac os x uses a different method to access storage media, I might be able to add the older style into the program i just dont know if it will let me compile for the the older version.

tremblap · **Joined:** Tue Apr 13, 2010 11:06 pm **Posts:** 2

Dear devilsclaw

I am ok user of xcode, so if you send me the project, I can compile it from my machine and we'll see how it goes...

pa

devilsclaw · **Joined:** Sat Jan 12, 2002 6:08 am **Posts:** 331

its fully opensource, so when i implement the old scsi access layer i will let you know. i dont have an xcode project. I use cmake which builds a xcode project but i dont directly have one that i use since i build a new one often.

nitsson · **Joined:** Mon May 10, 2010 5:25 pm **Posts:** 7

Nice one, thanks. I'm trying to dump for a HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GT20N (manufactured by LG I believe) but flasher stops responding and crashes. The cmd prompt window stays open of course.

The OS is Win 7 x64, I’m using the x64 version of flasher located under c:, and I’ve tried various parameters including –D without avail.

Any ideas what I can try?

devilsclaw · **Joined:** Sat Jan 12, 2002 6:08 am **Posts:** 331

If the program is just crashing it must be missing a particular dll. which would be my fault on the compile. I will recompile the 64bit version later today but until then you can use the 32bit version just fine on Windows 7 64bit.

nitsson · **Joined:** Mon May 10, 2010 5:25 pm **Posts:** 7

Then I suspect the fault is at my end as I already tried the x32 version with the same crash. Basically it looks like this:

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/6186/errorro.jpg

Am I missing something?

devilsclaw · **Joined:** Sat Jan 12, 2002 6:08 am **Posts:** 331

yep capital -D is used to list the drives and there ID number which is passed to the lowercase -d

so you have to run flasher -D it will print out drives and there id numbers and based on that you pass a number to -d which is the drive you want to deal with.

nitsson · **Joined:** Mon May 10, 2010 5:25 pm **Posts:** 7

devilsclaw wrote:

yep capital -D is used to list the drives and there ID number which is passed to the lowercase -d

so you have to run flasher -D it will print out drives and there id numbers and based on that you pass a number to -d which is the drive you want to deal with.

Naturally. Unfortunately this forum supports neither an icon to match my ignorance in this matter, nor to convey my gratitude to you 8-)

Thanks

The Firmware Page

LG Renesas Firmware Utility Mac/Linux/Windows

Who is online