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Firmware and You: A Comprehensive Guide to Updating Your Hardware
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#2
MasonStormatPCWorld 
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Posted 30 June 2009 - 02:55 PM
I wanted to point out one safety tip: I recommend plugging in whatever device you are flashing into an Uninterruptible Power Supply, at least for the duration of the flash/update process. It goes without saying that a power outage occurring in the middle of a flash will typically render the device unusable.
#3
aspicer
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Posted 03 July 2009 - 07:11 PM
Firmware updates also are needed in 3G routers like Ericsson W35 and W25 - which are interesting hardware when looked at compared to iPhone and most hand phones with Internet that people have. Some other routers like Linksys have after-market firmwares made by third parties which add features and almost magical powers that the original product does not have running factory firmware. A good percentage of firmware software running on devices is miniature Linux Operating System running in flash memory in the unit.
#4
carl1961
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Posted 21 July 2009 - 06:14 AM
firmware update as MasonStormatPCWorld said is dangerous also its not for the average PC user, I just went through a bad flash and had to reprogram the chip with another computer, just as MasonStormatPCWorld said, my computer was unusable If Your Device works then best to leave it alone.
#5
DamirV
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Posted 21 August 2009 - 12:25 PM
I've been burned by firmware updates more than once to re-iterate an old saying: "IF IT AIN'T BROKEN, DON'T FIX IT!". Because if there's a problem not always you'd be able to revert back!
Last two horrors are still vivid in my memory since I spent hours trying to fix problems those updates have created.
One was ASUS motherboard update, which resulted in my brand new $2000 PC not booting at all! Windows would just not boot! Luckily I was able to find an old firmware on ASUS site (wasn't easy either, since they delete old versions!) using my laptop. After booting into BIOS I was able to flash firmware with old version from CD.
Another time was updating D-LINK DIR-655 router to latest firmware which caused my 3 out of 5 wireless devices in the house to stop connecting if WPA-PSK security was enabled. I had to switch to WEP, but then my media player would not read files from NAS share. Explaining all this to D-LINK tech support was like hitting brick wall. They even hung up on me one time! Again, I had to revert to an older firmware. I was lucky I could, because the next revision after that (1.31) doesn't allow one to revert back!
So, again: "If it ain't broken, don't fix it!"
Last two horrors are still vivid in my memory since I spent hours trying to fix problems those updates have created.
One was ASUS motherboard update, which resulted in my brand new $2000 PC not booting at all! Windows would just not boot! Luckily I was able to find an old firmware on ASUS site (wasn't easy either, since they delete old versions!) using my laptop. After booting into BIOS I was able to flash firmware with old version from CD.
Another time was updating D-LINK DIR-655 router to latest firmware which caused my 3 out of 5 wireless devices in the house to stop connecting if WPA-PSK security was enabled. I had to switch to WEP, but then my media player would not read files from NAS share. Explaining all this to D-LINK tech support was like hitting brick wall. They even hung up on me one time! Again, I had to revert to an older firmware. I was lucky I could, because the next revision after that (1.31) doesn't allow one to revert back!
So, again: "If it ain't broken, don't fix it!"
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