The Firmware Page

I've been using BD-Rebuilder to create backups that are reduced size to be burned on Verbatim +R DL discs. I've been creating the ISO using Imgburn using UDF 2.50 . Until now I've been burning the discs on a Plextor BDDVDR-PXB20SA, and they play fine as BDs on the Samsung BDP4600 Player. I just bought the LG WH10LS30 and decided to use that instead, and put the Plextor on my other computer. However, the discs backed up by the LG elicit the error message "This disc will not play" on the BDP4600. I've wasted three DL discs trying this.

Thinking that it must be the LG drive that's causing the problem, even though the burn and verification seem to go fine, I used the Plextor again *ON THE SAME ISO* and it again plays just fine.

So, is there something that the LG is doing that the Plextor is not (or the other way around) that makes the isos burned on the LG unplayable on the Samsung? I'm using the same discs and the same isos, but the burns are different enough that one works while the other doesn't.

Oh btw, I can play the files created by either drive in SageTV or VLC. It's just that I don't get the BD menu, etc., which is why I wanted to play them on my Samsung. If I patch the firmware on the LG will that fix it? Can I patch the firmware on the Samsung Player? I think it's probably out of warranty by now, but don't want to wreck it.

Do I just click on the exe file, or do I have to use a special utility to flash the firmware?

Do we have a crystal ball to know what exactly you mean???

The modified firmware is an exe file. Assumed you'd know what that is, but guess I'm wrong. It means "executable" and executable files have an *.exe extension. What I'm asking is whether a special utility program is needed to physically "flash" the firmware on the drive, or can I just click on the executable and that will automatically handle flashing the firmware without an additional utility.

Sorry, I thought that was obvious.

Also, some folks on Doom 9 have helped me track down what appears to be the problem with the LG drive when I burn BD-9s (BD formatted +R DL discs). The discs that will work on my Samsung player all have booktype = DVD+R DL. These were burned on my Plextor drive (which I understand isn't really a Plextor, but probably manufactured by Liteon). All of the discs that *don't work* have booktype=DVD-ROM, which I understand is the default booktype for LG drives like mine.

I can change the booktype to "normal" within Imgburn, and assume that will produce a booktype of DVD+R DL since that's what I have set for double density discs in Imgburn, but I'm not 100% sure of that because I'm not sure what a booktype of "normal" means in Imgburn. I'm assuming it just passes the DL option through.

Finally, I gather that one can change the auto reset on LG drives from Booktype=DVD-ROM to something else by modifying the firmware, but I'm not sure about that nicety either. Perhaps that isn't yet available for the WH10LS30?

Just thought I'd pass this information on in case others on the forum have similar questions, and since no one has really responded to the topic on this forum so far.

autoreset has nothing to do with the booktype. The exe simply needs to be run as it, this will flash the drive. normally booktype should be DVD-Rom. There is utility to change this to standard. Software solutions can be used.

Just to be clear. You are saying that when the LG sets it to DVD-Rom, none of the discs work, but they do on another drive set as normal DVD+R DL?

I think you never mentioned what file you exactly meant in the first post.... therefore my answer.
Puma already explained the other unclear sentences.



...is something related to videohelp.com, not really this forum.

Yes, that's right. On the Doom 9 forum they mention that Samsung players are very "picky" about book type, so odds are these DVD-Rom booktyped discs would work on many players, but not this Samsung. I've also used VSO Inspecter to actually check the burned media with the DVD-Rom book type, and it's flawless. So it looks like the problem is book type.

What about using DVD-R DL media then??

Might work. Another expense though, and I have about 30 DVD+R s to use up. I'm going to try to change the book type manually in Imgburn, and see what that does. It may output as DVD-Rom no matter what I do.

Just to follow up, and because others might experience similar problems involving LG and other players on the same Samsung series (BDP1600 or BDP3600) there is a parameter in the setup of Imgburn that, by default, changes the book type on all + media to DVD-ROM. This will only have an effect on LG drives, and some NEC and Pioneer drives that have been "hacked." After I unchecked this box in Imgburn the default book type was set to "normal" which passes through the book type that's set in the software used to back up the disc (in this case +R DL). Having done that, the discs burned on the LG play fine in the Samsung player. As I understand it the DVD-Rom book type is an attempt to allow older drives to play + media, but since there aren't really any elder drives for Bluray, odds are this isn't needed, and obviously causes problems on the Samsung series.

Thanks for all your help.

That's not entirely true.

Most Pioneer dvd burners have AUTObitsetting for DVD+R DL media, booktype will be set to DVD-ROM whatever you do and no one can alter that.
It's always a question of the combo drive, firmware and tool used.