Cross-flashing a LiteOn DVD burner

[Steve]

I dunno just how often people buy DVD burners, lol, but maybe someone will find this useful.

 

LiteOn make a range of DVD burners called the iHAS series. What's cool about particular models of these drives is that the hardware is all the same, but the features are only limited by the firmware which means that you can convert an entry level burner (£15) into a higher level model with all of the features (£30+) although doing so will void your warranty.

 

Here are the 6 drives and their features: -

 

LiteOn iHAS124 B - A basic, no frills burner

LiteOn iHAS224 B - LightScribe

LiteOn iHAS324 B - Smart Erase

LiteOn iHAS424 B - LightScribe & Smart Erase

LiteOn iHAS524 B - Smart Erase & LabelTag

LiteOn iHAS624 B - LightScribe, Smart Erase & LabelTag

 

LightScribe = Works with special discs and allows you to imprint designs or text on to the top of the disc.

Smart Erase = A feature that allows you to essentially destroy a disc (without physically destroying it) so the data can no longer be read.

LabelTag = Allows you to "tattoo" the data side of a disc with text so that you can label it. Works with standard discs.

 

All of the drives that start with an odd number (124, 324, 524) are the same in terms of hardware and none of them have LightScribe. All of the drives that start with an even number (224, 424, 624) are also the same in terms of hardware and all of them have LightScribe. This means that you can convert a 124/324 to a 524 or a 224/424 to a 624, thus unlocking the extra features. Here's how to do that (try this at your own risk!): -

 

1. Download Flash Utility and EEPROM Utility from HERE. Use these apps to create a backup of the drive's firmware and EEPROM.

 

2. Download the firmware for the drive you are converting to HERE. If you're converting a drive to a 524, you want the stock firmware for the 524 and obviously if you're converting to a 624 you want the stock firmware for the 624.

 

3. Run the firmware update you just downloaded and update your drive. If you have more than 1 drive installed in your PC, ensure that you select the correct one or you may flash the wrong one and brick it.

 

4. Run EEPROM Utility again and click on the CrossFlash tab then click the "Convert Drive" button and convert the drive.

 

5. Power off your PC.

 

6. When you turn your PC back on, it will detect your "new" drive as either a 524 or 624 (whichever you converted to) and all of the features will be unlocked. You should then update the drive to the latest firmware using LiteOn's SmartPack utility, which is available HERE.

 

Job done!