CDRLabs.com

Hello, my first post! Hope everyone is good.

I recently bought the above drive, and after numerous problems with it being recognised by Windows (XP Pro, SP2, 512 ram, P4 3Ghz), or Windows saying it was plugged into a slow USB port (not usb2). I flashed it with the firmware for an LG 4166B (v1.01) and the performance seems good, I managed to burn a 4.3GB iso in under 6 mins.

However, the Lightscribe function doesn't seem to work. I didn't try it before flashing with the LG firmware though, and have only tried it with the supplied disc.

Would anyone know where I could;

A) Find the original HP firmware, as the site isn't very clear.

B) If the LG 4166 v1.02 firmware would work with this drive.

Many thanks,

Paul.

did some quick scouring, no firmware available anywhere for the hp dvd840e

only firmware available is the 66ff, and nobody offers a download to reflash your drive

also signs are pointing to this drive being a Lite-on so LG firmware deffently wouldn't work, you can also tell its a lite-on from the bezel design

Hello!

The 840e is an OEM-LG 4166, so i guess (but cannot guarantee) that 1.02 should work. HP is very lazy with FW-updates

@hoxlund

Take a closer look at the front-bezel; maybe it looks similar to a Liteon but Liteon-drives have the emergency-hole and the LED on the left side, LG more at right.

http://cdr.cz/dvd_rekordery/liteon/sohw_1693s.html

http://cdr.cz/dvd_rekordery/lge/gsa_4166b.html

http://cdr.cz/dvd_rekordery/hp/dvd840i.html

your right, i just gathered my guess from 15 seconds of googling

Thanks guys.

The reason I flashed it with 4166 firmware is due to a post on CD freaks, which led me to believe the lightscribe would work too. Apparently Nero hides the Lightscribe function if it doesn't detect a compatable drive, and I have the option but get an error message saying the media isn't a lightscribe disc.

Very confusing as I've head it's a 4166 drive, but the power transformer says Lite-On. Burning is fine for now so I might hold tight, rather than flashing with v1.02 and risk screwing things more.

Thanks again.

Try updating your LightScribe drivers:

http://dl1.nero.com/LS_HSI.EXE

Thanks, think I already had those but reinstalled anyway, just incase.

Nothings ever easy when it comes to computers eh?!

paulmarshall wrote:Would anyone know where I could;

A) Find the original HP firmware, as the site isn't very clear.

DVD-RW 16X HP DVD Writer 840b Drive Firmware Update (sp26594.exe) HI86, Release Date: 2005-11-17
Not really new, but the only available HP update.

thanks

i still get the usb error message despite the new 4166 firmware, anyone know why this might be?

sorry for all the q's

awww crap. i downloaded the 840 firmware but can't install as now the drive isn't recognised as an 840. I think I'm screwed.

Some reported that Verbatim LS discs have this problem sometimes.
Try another LS brand, format (DVD/CD-R ?) or package (spindle/case).

Overall, I think this a nothing to do with a firmware issue.
A/ a media issue (as I've just said)
B/ a software issue

For info, I use Windows XP SP2, Nero Burning ROM 6.6.1.4 (english, because language pack is broken and Nero 7 buggy with LS in many case if you do not have the right "1C80*" licence key), last Nero LS Host Engine as linked by Ian and a LG 4166 1.02 : I manage to print on Verbatim CD-R LS and Philips CD-R LS.

Note : There is a way (quite hard I think for a newbie) to go back to your HP firmware, but this is not the solution to your problems.
Nevermind, I give you the main parts of the plan :
1- edit the LG 4166 1.01 bin firmware with an hexa editor and change the id-string (from "HL-DT-ST DVDRRW GSA-4166B" to the original HP id string)
2- flash it with the 1.01 flasher
3- pray
4- If needed, correct id-string and go to 1
Disclaimer : take you own risks.

Thanks for the help, I think I might try different discs first though.

Thanks again!

v1.02 firmware flashed OK by the way, if anyone else fancies trying it.