Toshiba XM-6401B digital audio playback in WinXP possible?

p2b · **Posted:** Thu Dec 23, 2004 3:36 am

I recently upgraded several systems with Toshiba XM-6401B (40x SCSI) CD-ROM drives from NT4 to XP - and lost digital audio playback capability in the process. Windows says it "encountered a problem" and switches to analog playback.

I assume the issue is the same as this quote from a Plextor FAQ:

Quote:

Windows XP only supports DAE on MMC-compliant drives. Many older CD-ROM drives, including those listed above, are not MMC-compliant and, therefore, do not provide DAE properties under XP.

My drives are version 002 firmware 1015 - same as available on the download page

Can this be fixed with a firmware hack? Or any other solution?

dhc014 · **Joined:** Sun Sep 02, 2001 1:34 am **Posts:** 12030

Can you connect a digital audio cable?

p2b · **Posted:** Fri Dec 24, 2004 3:59 am

dhc014 wrote:

Can you connect a digital audio cable?

Yes, I could - and I could also connect an analog audio cable - but that's not the point. Digital audio via the SCSI cable worked in NT4, but doesn't work in XP. I'd like to fix it.

After further research, I suspect the following quote (attributed to Plextor, but not published by them AFAIK) sums up the issue:

Quote:

These drives do not support DAE in Windows XP. This issue is common to many older CD-ROM drives that do not contain the 'Read CD' command in their firmware. As these drives are either out of production, or nearing the end of production, there is no plan to add this command to the firmware for either drive.

So is it possible to add the 'Read CD' command to CD-ROM firmware?

dhc014 · **Joined:** Sun Sep 02, 2001 1:34 am **Posts:** 12030

Only the drive manufacturer could do that, unfortunately.

p2b · **Posted:** Fri Dec 24, 2004 5:12 am

dhc014 wrote:

Only the drive manufacturer could do that, unfortunately.

Sheesh, that's a wimpy comeback 8-)

Don't real firmware hackers hang out here?

If not I guess I'm on my own - but if anyone can supply pointers to tools for disassembling Toshiba firmware, and/or relevant chipset datasheets, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks

The Firmware Page

Toshiba XM-6401B digital audio playback in WinXP possible?

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