Getting information and updates for your CD/DVD Recorder

Summary: This document will guide you through the process of determining what CD/DVD recorder you have and how to get updates for this device. There are 2 steps required to complete this task:

· Step One: Find CD/DVD Drive Model and Manufacturer information. If you already know the model/brand of CD/DVD recorder, you can skip this step and move onto Step Two.

· Step Two: Locate Updates for your CD/DVD Recorder.

· Refer to the FAQ Section for answers to common questions.

Step One: Find CD/DVD Drive Model and Manufacturer information.

1. Open “My Computer” by double clicking on the following icon -

-A list of CD/DVD drives will be listed under the heading “Devices with Removable Storage”

2. Right-click on your CD/DVD Recorder and select properties.

-The System Properties window will appear. Click on the Hardware Tab to view installed drives on your machine.

-A list of all CD/DVD drives will appear.

3. Locate the CD/DVD recorder on the system and take note of the model number:

-CD/DVD recorders will have the following icon àdisplayed next to it.

Step Two: Finding the Firmware version for your CD/DVD recorder:

1. Right click on MyComputer (Desktop or Start menu)

2. Select “Manage” from the right click menu

3. Select “Storage”

4. Select “Removable Storage”, then double-click “Libraries” on the right.

5. Right click on the applicable DVD RW/CD RW driveàSelect “Properties”

6. Go to the “Device Information” tab. “Revision” indicates the firmware version of your optical drive.

Step Three: Locating updates for your CD/DVD recorder:

Firmware is the most important update for a CD/DVD recorder. Updating a recorders firmware resolves the majority of common writing problems. For more information on Firmware, refer to the FAQ Section.

There are a few different ways to find available firmware updates for your CD/DVD recorder. Below are the most common:

1. Check with your CD/DVD drive manufacturer for updates.

· Most hardware manufacturers provide updates on their website available for download. Go to the hardware manufacturer’s website and look for updates/firmware for your CD/DVD recorder.

· If you received your CD/DVD recorder with a purchase of a computer, check the computer manufacturer’s website for available updates.

2. Get firmware updates for your writer.

· The Sonic KnowledgeBase has a large selection of manufacturer approved firmware updates. Just enter your drive manufacturer or “firmware” into the search field and a comprehensive list will be returned.

· If your firmware is not listed, please contact your disk writer’s manufacturer and ask if any compatible firmware updates are available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Firmware?

A: Firmware is software that is included in a piece of hardware which control how the CD/DVD recorder communicates with a software application.

Firmware is specific to a single CD/DVD recorder, it can not be applied to all CD/DVD drives.

Q: I just purchased my computer; do I still need to update my firmware?

A: Yes, many manufacturers release firmware after a CD/DVD recorder is packaged and shipped to resellers. Looking for updates when you first install your hardware is highly recommended.

Q: I followed the instructions in Step One and am still unable to locate my DVD/CD recorder information.

A: If you received your CD/DVD recorder with the purchase of a computer, check with the computer manufacturer for details on the hardware they included with your machine.

If you purchased this CD/DVD recorder separately, look for drive information on the documentation that was included with your purchase.

Q: I downloaded new firmware, how do I install it?

A: Check with your hardware manufacturer for details on installing firmware for your particular drive. Most firmware updates come with a “ReadMe” file with detailed instructions.