HP drives current modifications

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Visit this page in order to see how you can indentify the model of your HP CD-Writer

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Convert the HP8200 (#C4495) to HP9300

"... I have tried to upgrade my HP-Writer +8200i #C4495 May2000 (4x/4x/24x) to a HP-Writer +9300i (10x/4x32x). No problem to upgrade the firmware, but the CD-Writer cannot burn CDR's higher then 4x without mistakes. If i tried to burn with 8x or 10x speed, then all burnprograms canceled. Now I changed the firmware from HP +9300i to a Sony CRX 140E with the tool D140E10N.EXE and the firmware from a CRX140E (fixed version) and now the CD-Writer work's fine. I can burn CDR's with 8x speed,CDR-W's with 4x and read cd's with 32x speed. Without burn problems!!..."

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Convert the HP8250 (#C4464B) / HP9100 to HP9300

- Special note HP8250 users: PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR HP8250 is identified in Windows as "HP8200+" , is made in Malaysia and has #C4464B serial number. If your drive is identified as "CD/RW 4x4x24" and has #C4464A serial number then it is based upon Phillips CDD4201 (The faceplate on these drives were usually charcoal in color) and this hack WILL NOT WORK! DON'T TRY IT!

- Why attempt it?

The HP8250 supports 4x writing, 4x re-writing and 24x reading. The HP9300 supports 10x writing, 4x re-writing and 32x reading. :)

- How i can do it?

First you must download the following files:

- HP9310 v1.0c firmware
- Sony dos-flasher (+ the 1.0n firmware) - from CD-R Server

Unzip the Sony firmware into a easy find directory ex: C:\FLASH. Put in the same directory the 9300_10c.bin-file. Now it’s time to flash. Boot from a disk, WITHOUT any CD inside or drivers. Go to the flash-directory.

Run the program like this: Updcrx21 9300_10c.bin /AT /M (Change the /M to /S if your cdr is “Slave”)

Shut down the PC. Reboot and check how the drive performs as an HP9300!

FAQ

- I try to make the firmware hack and I am getting a "drive busy" error message. What i can do?

Are you sure that the recorder is empty CD? Remove any CD and re-try. Also as one of our viewers emailed us: "...What I did at last was just to run the sony *.exe file and it prompts me there is a earlier version and ask me whether I want to replace the bin file. I clicked yes and it works. So the easy way around is just to run the *.exe file and let the program do it auto..."

- I tried the firmware hack in my HP8250 and the drive is broken/not working properly..How i can go back ?

- If your drive is based upon HP mechanism

1) Download the v1.0g firmware for the HP8250 series.
2) Use the Sony updater (already have download it) in pure DOS and type: Updcrx21 8200a_10g.bin /AT /M (Change the /M to /S if your cdr is “Slave”)

Shut down the PC. Reboot and check if the drive is now working as HP8250...

- If your drive is based upon Philips CDD4201 mechanism you must download the Philips CDD4201 firmware updater...

- I tried the firmware hack in my HP9100 and the drive is broken/not working properly..How i can go back ?

1) Download the v1.0c firmware for the HP9100 series.
2) Use the Sony updater (already have download it) in pure DOS and type: Updcrx21 9100_10c.bin /AT /M (Change the /M to /S if your cdr is “Slave”)

Shut down the PC. Reboot and check if the drive is now working as HP9100...

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- Upgrade your HP8250 to an HP9100 CDR-W drive

"...The drive I have is (was) identified in Windows as a HP CD Writer+ 8200a. According to HP this is the only drive to use the 1.0g firmware update with. I doubt any of the other 8250i's are a 9100 but who knows for sure. The label on the top of my drive says 4x4x32x and was "Made in Malaysia" in the month of March. Someone posted that they had a drive that was made in Malaysia in the month of March but had 4x4x24 on the label. My box says C4464B as a product number. Be careful. Make sure you are working with the proper one. I have no idea if you could screw up the other drives with this method. Remember. It ain't MY fault if ANYTHING goes wrong.

Update the Malaysia made 8250i (8200a) to a 9100
1. Download the 8200_10g firmware. Use the build-in installer and do the firmware.
2. When the flashing process is about halfway complete, turn off your computer(Yes really, turn it off)
3. When you restart your computer you will see a window that says the firmware update failed. Click on the finish button. Windows(check in device manager) will now see your 8250i as a 9100.
4. Install the 9100_10c update software and flash your drive..

I do not believe it will work with burners my burner identified as IDE CD R/RW 4x4x24. The drive identified as an 8200a appears to be a HP 9100 with the burn rate cut back in the firmware. Remember: Your crashing Windows during this process. I recommend that you do not have any other programs open during this time. OH: I have not found a way to reverse this process. I bet HP wont honor your warranty if you update their cheaper drives for free. :^ ) - Sam Berown.."

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- Upgrade your HP75xx to an HP8100 CDR-W drive

We got an email which said that:

"..I have successfully update the HP7570i to a hp 8100i. Before the update the 7570 has 2 speed write and 2 speed re-write. After the update the name has been change by the firmware to hp 8100 and now it supports 4 speed write, 2 speed rewrite and 80 min cds!..". We don't if it really works but you can try it yourself by getting the firmware over here.

Another related email:

"..I have got an HP7540i (sold just in Germany and Austria with special edition software package) which is manufactured May 1999 and labeled as hp c4410-56000. The firmware says HP-75xx series and the old firmware version was HP-75xx v.1.0a. Yesterday I flashed the BIOS with the latest hp firmware for the 8100 series v.1.0g from hp's website (it is NOT the changed Sony firmware 1.0n you have a link set to) and now the writer boots up as hp cd-writer plus 8100 and it really works: now it supports 4-speed writing!

BUT there is a big problem: I have tried some simulations with CDs at 4-speed (WinOnCD 3.6) and writing CDRWs at 2-speed - everything fine; but when writing an AudioCD at 4-speed the cd is not without mistakes - after some time (half an hour or so) the quality of the recording gets worse and the last 3 songs are completely destroyed (sorry don't know the english words to describe the problems like "knacken"... ;-) )

I have not tested further but it could to be an overheating problem of the hardware - perhaps I'll try to install an extra cooler, then I'll report what happened, but not the next week - and perhaps I'll try the firmware update to 1.0n (but this should only correct problems with 80min CDs, or what?)  So it seems that firmware update to HP8100 is worth trying - perhaps someone is lucky and got other hardware revisions or better cooled system and it could work fine, then you got a nice upgrade to a 4-speed writer; if not just write still at 2-speed... this still works fine. Hope this was helpful, cause I still have not found a way back to HP75xx firmware..."

"...I read an article at your web that said that the HP 7570i can be updated to HP 8100 by it firmware. I have installed the firmware of HP 8100i into my HP 7570i and it works correctly. It/s more, my HP can write at 4 speeds. I had proved with many CD/s and the cd-writer wrote all cd/s correctly at 4x. The firmware was 1.0n (for 8100i)..."