Currently, the development of microprocessor technology has led to the fact that almost any device - CD drive, printer, etc. - is equipped with its own specialized computer. Let it be simpler than the personal computers we are used to, but nevertheless it is a real computer capable of processing information according to a given program.
This program is called firmware, or firmware, and is stored in the built-in flash memory of the device. Due to the fact that the logic of the device's operation is implemented not in hardware, but in the form of a set of programs, the manufacturer gets the opportunity to improve its operation and correct possible errors without replacing the entire device, releasing only updated firmware kits for it.
You can update the firmware, or flash the drive, using a special firmware replacement program supplied by the device manufacturer. Firmware generally improves drive performance, performance or reliability, and provides better compatibility with new software or hardware that did not exist at the time the drive went into series production. In addition, in the case of a DVD drive, using the firmware, you can unbind to the region or riplock.
Riplock - software limiting the rotation speed of some disks. Its main purpose is to fight piracy, because it does not allow copying the contents of a licensed disc at the maximum speed possible for the drive. Removing the riplock allows you to read information from the disc faster, but may increase the drive noise.
Before flashing the drive, it is recommended to make a copy of the current version of its software. It will come in handy if the firmware fails and you are not satisfied with the results of the drive with the new firmware. With the help of a backup, everything can be returned to its original state.
A firmware backup can be made with the same software that performs the flashing, or with a specialized program such as binflash. Just select the drive that you plan to reflash, make a dump and save the resulting file.
The firmware itself can be run under Windows or under MS DOS. The procedure for flashing from under Windows is generally similar to the procedure for creating a backup, only instead of saving the file to disk, you should select a previously prepared file with the new firmware. During the flashing, any manipulations with the drive are extremely dangerous, for example, an attempt to close it (open the tray before starting the flashing). A computer freeze or other failure of the firmware process is also fraught with irreversible failure of the drive, so if you have any doubts whether you can successfully flash the drive, it is better to contact a more experienced specialist.
