At this thread we will discuss the various NEC 3500A official firmware revision. Please keep in mind that flashing usually voids your warranty, so USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK!

A) The Basic Stuff

Q: What is NEC 3500A?
A: You should already knew what is NEC 3500A since you are reading this thread, anyway its the latest 16X and 4X DL recorder from NEC.

Q: What are the so called OEM 3500A drives?
A: NEC sells the ND-3500A to other OEM manufacturers, like TDK/HP/MadDog and few others...

Q: What is firmware?
A: In short, is the hurt of the recorder, including all the necessery commands to eject/close tray, start recording, adjust laser power etc...

Q: Why NEC releases firmware updates?
A: NEC and most manufacturers release firmware updates to improve/fine tune their recorders. Most times, bugs are found after the drive ships the market, new CD/DVD media are sold, so each manufacturer has to update the supported media list to offer the best writing speed/quality combination.

Q: Should I use or not the latest firmware update for my NEC ND-3500A drive?
A: The answer would be yes, we suggest updating to the latest firmware to keep up with the latest improvements. Of course you can go back to a previous firmware without any problem.

Q: How can I update my NEC ND-3500A firmware?
A: When NEC releases official firmware, they come with a embedded flasher. In order to use the .bin files, you can use *un-official* flashers, offering higher compatibility, especially with external USB/FireWire cases, that can be found below!

Q: Why OEM manufacturers release more frequently firmware updates than NEC?
A: That's rather hard to answer, but since OEM manufacturers are customers to NEC, they can ask for specific requests (Bitsetting) and NEC have to support those features...

Q: Can you explain the firmware numbering cause I am confused, 2.06=2.16=2.76?
A: NEC follows a pattern for each firmware revision: 2.xy, where:

X = Type (Retail, OEM, Rebadge)
Y = Revision number

Till today know patterns:

X = 0 (OEM)
X = 1 (Retail)
X = 2 (I-O Data)
X = 4 (Freecom)
X = 7 (TDK)
X = B (Ricoh)
X = F (MadDog)
----------------------
Y = 6
Y = 7
Y = 8
----------------------

Combining the above info for example we have

* 2.x6 (2.06/2.16/2.76/2.F6)
* 2.x7 (2.07/2.77)
* 2.x8 (2.F8/2.78) etc...

While the 2.x6 builds supposed to be the same, there is high possibility that due to writing strategy and released date differences, some of them are newer and hopefully better.

Q: Where can I find region free firmware for my NEC ND-3500A (and OEM) drives?
A: The Dangerous Brothers have released almost all NEC ND-3500A (and OEM) drives region free (RPC1) and riplock (12X ripping) firmware.

B) Utilities

Q: With which utilities can I flash/extract the firmware from my NEC ND-3500A (and OEM) drives?

- DOS Flasher

A: The first ever released utility for flashing/extracting firmware under DOS comes from the Dangerous Brothers. You can grab a copy by visiting the Dangerous Brothers website or by scrolling down few lines

In order to use the NEC3X00A.EXE file, you have to boot at PURE DOS. Next you have to know at which IDE channel your ND-3500A drive is installed in order to use the appopriate switch:

-pri = PRIMARY
-sec = SECONDARY
-mas= MASTER
-sla = SLAVE

Assuming your drive is installed at SECONDARY channel as MASTER, the proper switches to flash the drive with a new firmware would be:

A:> NEC3X00A -sec -mas -flash xxx.bin

, while for extracting the installed firmware:

A:> NEC3X00A -sec -mas -out filename.bin

You can also first output the installed firmware and flash with a new one at one command:

A:> NEC3X00A -sec -mas -out filename.bin -flash xxx.bin

The Dangerous Brothers also have released Windows flashers (not extractors), for the various ND-3500A and OEM firmware, much safer to use for amateur users.

- Windows Flasher

The only available utility is called BinFlash and can be used Dump/Extract firmware and Reset/Change booktype settings from NEC ND-3500A (and OEM) drives








Q: With which utilities can I set the bitsetting for DVD+R DL media to ND-3500A (and OEM) drives?
A: NEC has released a utility called WinBType.exe that sets the booktype to DVD-ROM for both DVD+R and DVD+R DL media, depended upon the firmware version. Alternative you can set the booktype with Nero or DVDInfoPro. Lastly, BinFlash can reset the booktype change number to 500.

Attached files

* NEC3X00A.ZIP (NEC 3500A and OEM Firmware Flasher/Extractor [DOS])
* WinBType2.exe(Windows Bitsetting software for DVD+R/RW/DL media)

* External Links
- Alternative NEC 2500/3500 Firmware Page
- NecDump 1.0 RC3NECDump v1.0RC3

NEC ND-3500A/AG

NEC silent updates the stock firmware for the OEM/Retail drives, meaning the posted here 2.06/2.16 build is not the same as yours, its advised to keep a backup before update to a new version...

Officially Released Firmware Binaries (Attached below)
* 206.bin (Stock Firmware for many 3500AG drives, Supports DVD+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting, Doesn't support Ritek DL )
* 216.bin (Stock Firmware for many 3500AG drives, Supports DVD+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting, Doesn't support Ritek DL)
* 227.bin (Stock firmware found at I-O DATA DVR-ABN16W drive)
* 217.bin (First Official Firmware Update, Supports DVD+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting)
* 218.bin (Official Firmware Update, Supports DVD+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting)
* 219.bin (Official Firmware Update, Supports DVD+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting)
* 228.bin (Official Firmware Update from I-O DATA DVR-ABN16W drive, Supports DVD+R/+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting)
* 258.bin (Stock firmware, Supports DVD+R DL bitsetting)
* 298.bin (Stock firmware, Supports DVD+R DL bitsetting)

Writing Strategies Comparison

(in reply to emperor)

TDK 1616n

Officially Released Firmware Binaries (Attached below)
* 277.bin (Stock Firmware for many 1616n drives, Supports DVD+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting, Supports Ritek D01 DL)
* 278.bin (First Official Firmware Upgrade from TDK Europe, Supports DVD+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting, Supports Ritek D01 DL)
* 2C7.bin (First Official Firmware Upgrade from TDK Singapore, Supports DVD+R/+RW/+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting, Supports Ritek D01 DL)
* 2C8.bin (Second Official Firmware Upgrade from TDK Singapore, Supports DVD+R/+RW/+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting, Supports Ritek/Ricoh DL at 2.4X)
* 279.bin (Official Firmware Upgrade from TDK Europe, Supports DVD+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting, Supports Ritek/Ricoh/Philips DL media)

---

* The 2.78 firmware is originated from Europe and the it has been fine-tune to support the additional DVD media for the best write strategies. However, the booktype settings is only applicable to DVD+R DL which has been preset in the firmware to DVD-ROM.
* 27A.bin (Official Firmware Upgrade from TDK Europe, Supports DVD+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting??)

Writing Strategies Comparison

(in reply to emperor)

Mad Dog MD-16XDVD9

Officially Released Firmware Binaries (Attached below)
* 2F6.bin (Stock Firmware, Supports DVD+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting, Doesn't support Ritek D01 DL)
* 2F8.bin (First Official Firmware Upgrade, Supports DVD+R/+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting)
* 2F9.bin (Official Firmware Upgrade, Supports DVD+R/+RW/+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting)
* 2FA.bin (Official Firmware Upgrade, Supports DVD+R/+RW/+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting)
* 2FC.bin (Official Firmware Upgrade, Supports DVD+R/+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting)
* 2FD.bin (Official Firmware Upgrade, Supports DVD+R/+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting)

Writing Strategies Comparison

(in reply to emperor)

Freecom FX50 model 16B9 external USB/FireWire

Officially Released Firmware Binaries (Attached below )
* 246.bin (Stock Firmware, Supports DVD+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting, Doesn't support Ritek D01 DL)
* 248.bin (Official Firmware Update, Supports DVD+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting,Supports Ritek/Ricoh, Philips/CMC Magnetics DL)
* 249.bin (Official Firmware Update, Supports DVD+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting,Supports Ritek/Ricoh, Philips/CMC Magnetics DL)

(in reply to emperor)

RICOH MP5163DA

Officially Released Firmware Binaries (Attached below )
* 2B9.bin (Stock Firmware, Supports DVD+R9 DVD-ROM Bitsetting)
* 2BA.bin (Firmware upgrade, supports DVD+R DL Bitsetting)

- Writing Strategies

(in reply to emperor)

14/10/2004

* Added 246.bin for Freecom FX50 16B9

(in reply to emperor)

Emperor,

thanks for the clear updates. I have a question though...which one is Herrie's 2.17 firmware? Thx.

(in reply to emperor)

quote:

ORIGINAL: randomwalk101
which one is Herrie's 2.17 firmware? Thx.

MadDog v2.F8

(in reply to randomwalk101)

I'm desperate!! I have a NEC ND-3500AG and i've tried every firmware i could find to get it to work with CD-R 4X Princo Budget. It doesn't recognize the media. When I try to copy a DVD with Nero, altough I have inserted a blank media, it always push it out saying to put in a recordable media. It works fine with DVD+R media from the same brand. The latest firmware update I did was to 2C8 SE. Earlier I've tryied 2F8, 2.17 and 2.16 that was the one it came originally with the drive. Could you help me solve this questions? Is this normal to happen? What is the latest firmware, oficial or not that I should use? Shell I install all the firmwares since 2.16 one at a time or is the latest updated with the oldest ones? Is there a firmware that allows this drive to recognize those DVD-R? Is this a problem with Nero? The Nero I use worked fine with this media with an older recorder Philips 804. Shell I wait until a firmware that supports this media comes out or simply give it up, put this media in the trash (about 1000 units) and buy a suported brand? Sorry for the inconvenience but I've tryied everything, and seems to me you are experts an this matter. Thank you very much.

(in reply to emperor)

I just cant understand this... I updated my firmware to 2C8SE and now my nero say max speed is 6x. I thought it was Nero problem and installed version 6.6. 6x Max again! Try to change the firmware (to 2F8) and 6x again... Can anyone have the solution??? (Emperor required )

(in reply to shimneon)

About the Princo media, i think that NEC 3500A supports various Princo IDs, one at 2X and one at 4X, can you post the media ID?

To revenant, about the 6X writing speed, does this happen when you insert a DVD+/-R media or it shows such speed when just opened Nero?

(in reply to revenant)

No... of course not. It's with the recorder "empty" without any media on it. That's why I think its strange.

(in reply to emperor)

maybe a software bug, haven't seen that, shouldn't trouble you anyway

(in reply to revenant)

I tried with Nero 5.5 nero 5.6 and Vso CopyToDvd and still nothing. Well I think it can trouble me because the max speed I can record is 6x!!! Don't u have any solution???

(in reply to emperor)

From eros in TDK 1616n v2.C8 SE -> NEC ND-3500A v2.C8 SE release! :"When I check the burning sped capabilities in Nero 6.6 , without a CD, I see these available speeds:
x1, x2, x2.4, x3, x4, x5, x6 and Maximum. Is the way it's supposed to be without a CD? I have no x16 media to test if this changes with a CD. My current media , Precisa x4 , can only be burned at x2.
Ia this related to this specific firmware, or do all firmwares of the NEC 3500 behave this way?"
He also have the same problem has I do...

(in reply to revenant)