100% software-based flashing of BenQ confirmed!

[PSPUKDemon]

Tuesday 06:04
(2007-10-16) 100% software-based flashing of BenQ confirmed! | iXtreme BenQ internal beta testing this coming weekend

according to #fw on efnet Benq software flashing now do able. Cant wait for more info. :cool:

[sneeky]

its great news well for me anyway means i can run linux :) :) :)
just hope the software flasher is released before ixtreme.

[lenselijer]

great news, also got my passkey for the 79 today, so that means all drives will be moddable again soon :D

[saleem]

so looks like you have to run linux to do it?

shouldnt anyone be able to run linux or is there an hardware limitation with it?

just format an harddrive with linux?
:)

[idog]

so looks like you have to run linux to do it?

shouldnt anyone be able to run linux or is there an hardware limitation with it?

just format an harddrive with linux?
:)

Why not a custom version of slax.. a la hitachi modeb stuff ?

[kal777]

ive never used linux ! its great news tho for benq owners :) Cant wait to see the software.

[sneeky]

saleem where you find out about linux needed to flash????

[darkvokhens]

check the fw channel on irc, if its posted as news everyone will try to get as much tidbits of info they can on it, which im pretty sure it is :)

[AcCeSsDeNiEd]

What's wrong with linux?

It may not be the default OS in today's computers, but once you use it, you'll find it's far more stable that M$

[saleem]

its great news well for me anyway means i can run linux :) :) :)
just hope the software flasher is released before ixtreme.

this is where!
:D

[ersatz]

so looks like you have to run linux to do it?

shouldnt anyone be able to run linux or is there an hardware limitation with it?

just format an harddrive with linux?
:)

Yeah, min specs for unix are what, a 486 processor with 12mb Ram. Shouldn't be too hard for most to mod their drive. Might be an inconvenience but what else are you gonna do.

[sneeky]

this is where!
:D

oh no no sorry by meaning i can run linux it is on 360 via KK.
i just need to dump my benq key.

[trev1234]

wounder when we will all get the info..??..

[ando2k5]

probably after the beta testing of the firmware

[Fussy]

So will you still need to solder the drive to get the key or is it just about flashing the drive?

just saw saleem's post so maybe not then ;).

[PSPUKDemon]

Been confirmed working with NForce only chipsets so far .:(

[jiminton]

No need to format HDDs just make a bootable CD.

[XxBigP123xX]

cool. now if i ever have to buy a new 360 and it has a benQ drive i can still play my back ups:D

[ando2k5]

nforce only though pain! damn

[rjtd]

So, all the drives will soon be software modable :) (currently, only Benq was not software modable, right?)
Great finding. No more fear of getting a Benq after a warranty repair.

[jiminton]

Don't go out and buy a Nvidia sata card just yet. When they release this in a few weeks they may have it working for the VIA chipset.

[jayfunk]

This will not allow you to run linux or any homebrew. To do that you need to downgrade the kernel to one that is exploitable.

edit: also prob able to use cygwin if you run windows.

[Murc]

ah man, finally, It feels like I've been waiting forever for the release of the benq firmware. and I hope that it really is 100% software...cause I do not want to have to (atempt) to try and solder a switch to the dvd drive...I would probably ruin my 360...I'm allready on my second one...but luckily the ol' wal-mart swap worked for me. :D:cool:

[yorobbo]

this is good news for me in two ways, one my mobo is a nforce chipset and two i have a benq drive in my 360 so can't wait :)

[ando2k5]

nice ash :)

now alls we need is a firmware toolbox to read em ay ash :cool:

[ando2k5]

Oh you mean like this one......................... :D


---------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximus - FIRMWARE TOOLBOX V4.5 - BETTER BENQ SUPPORT
---------------------------------------------------------------------
MAIN NOTE:

THIS TOOL DOES NOT MAKE YOUR VAD6038 DRIVES RUN BACKUPS ON ANY WAY, THERE IS NO
RELEASED IXTREME NOR XTREME FIRMWARES FOR VAD6038.

THIS TOOL NEITHER ALLOW DIRECT READING/FLASHING OF THE VAD6038 FIRMWARE
YOU STILL NEED DUMP THE FIRMWARE WITH DOSFLASH Tools or with external programmer.

Special thanks to Modfreaks who send me a lot of Retail VAD6038 Dumps to test.

If you also want to contribute to make better toolbox send any new firmware to:
carranzafp@hotmail.com make sure is a 360 drive's firmware that is not currently
supported by toolbox (Unsupported BRAND, Unsupported ROM VERSION, etc).


WHATS NEW ON V4.50:

- FIXED: Properly support Handling of VAD6038 Firmwares (see notes).
- FIXED: Previously Hitachi spoofed drives were not visible on toolbox anymore
now you can see it and unspoof it or re-spoof them
- FIXED: Several other bugs

Release Notes:

The VAD6038 firmwares are tricky, the KEY could be placed on too many places, and
the code locations could vary a lot between same ROM drives. (Like on Hitachi 78/79
drives but on VAD6038 there are a lot o of posibilities)

This Toolbox support the 2 retail VAD6038 firmware versions known till now.
(62430C and 64930C). You can now:
- Read / Extract Keys
- Spoof Samsung/Hitachi drive as Benq
- Spoof Benq drive as Hitachi/Samsung


WHAT IS IT ?
----------
A graphical tool to handle several common dvd-drive firmware
tasks. This is the better tool you will find.

You can copy-paste the keys from one firmware to another not
matter if they are different vendor (samsung / hitachi / BENQ)
and not matter the version of the FW

Allows SMART PATCH for rolling code firmwares (Hitachi 0078/0079) and
also Direct Flash on all drives, even the nasty 78/79 drives.

RAWDUMP does not work fine with SIL chipsets yet, be aware of use
the validate checksum feature to avoid bad dumps and bricks. We
will be working on SIL chipsets later.

The flasher/restore appears to be rock solid now, also very easy
to understand, so this could be the base to flash future firmware
releases, even on the 78


FEATURES:
---------
- Direct Dump and Direct Flash over all versions of GDR3120L drives
even the 0078 FK drives. For 79 FK you will need aditional device
attached to the drive.
- Allow copy-paste of the keys between firmare not matter if
they are crypted or not or if they are different vendor or
even better, not matter which version of Fw (46,47,59,78 etc)
- Do common firmware tasks with a mouse click
- Supports Samsung and Hitachi firmwares All Versions
- Shows Vendor, ROM version and also if its CRYPTED or NOT
- Allow crypt or decrypt the files
- Shows the 16 byte Keys not matter if the file is Crypted
- Allows adding of TAGS to a KEY like Owner, Serial No, Date.
(Dont worry, the tags are not saved onto firmware file)
- Fully Integrated with Windows Context Menu (like winrar)
- Fully Supports 512 KB firmwares (2 banks)

oh ye thats the one ash damn it aint out yet though so... ahh well guess we'll have to hexedit :p

[stonemonkey]

will this prevent/fix the no APTI device found error?

[PSPUKDemon]

Ok people, here is the first part of the package.
Found this on #xbins. Remenber its a beta and you use at your own risk.
Much respect and thanks to the creators and testers to get to this point.

When the ixtreme benq arrives it will be like xmas come early.

DosFlash 1.3beta attached for benq reading/writing

This does not contain the firmware.:)

[saleem]

obviously this is just for dumping the firmware from the drive.before anyone asks how to hack the drive.it will not allow you to play backups.

also i ran it in windowsxp and it picked up my samsung d163a so it obviously is designed to scan the sata ports of the pc.

no need for 10sec fancy tricks.

roll on the xtreme fw so backup playback is supported.

good tool but,you still need a replacement drive just saves you getting someone to do the soldering which was the old way.

am i right in my assumptions or am i wrong?
:)

[sneeky]

Ok people, here is the first part of the package.
Found this on #xbins. Remenber its a beta and you use at your own risk.
Much respect and thanks to the creators and testers to get to this point.

When the ixtreme benq arrives it will be like xmas come early.

DosFlash 1.3beta attached for benq reading/writing

This does not contain the firmware.:)

this has made my day :cool:

[Zak]

Its important to not that this only works on Via and Nforce SATA chipsets.
But those should be very widespread and you can Via PCI/PCMCIA cards...

[retardbud]

I have Intel(R) 82801FB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers, Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM Ultra ATA Storage Controller, Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller, and an Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB2 Enhanced Host Controller, does this mean I can run it?

[sneeky]

I have Intel(R) 82801FB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers, Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM Ultra ATA Storage Controller, Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller, and an Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB2 Enhanced Host Controller, does this mean I can run it?

i got the same but also got via chipset mobo too but id prefer to use the intel
one.
anyway but from what i read seems Via and Nforce SATA chipsets are only suppported at the moment for benq.

i take it all the other mobos in the readme are for other drives which previously
worked in 1.2.????
also they say to report peoples success/failure rate so i take it not all mobos have been tested yet??

[retardbud]

I have an Intel 82801FB ICH6 mobo, hopefully I'll be able to flash soon

[Skevast]

I have a VIA VT6421 PCI card, will I be able to read my BenQ? Has anybody on Maxconsole tried to Read/write to a BenQ??

[wiggim]

I have a VIA VT6421 PCI card, will I be able to read my BenQ? Has anybody on Maxconsole tried to Read/write to a BenQ??

This is almost the 'standard' flashing card, so I would presume that one way or another, you can dump your samsung and benq drives with this card.

[retardbud]

I have VIA VT8233, can I flash my benq with that?

[Skevast]

This is almost the 'standard' flashing card, so I would presume that one way or another, you can dump your samsung and benq drives with this card.

What I ment was to read the drive without trashing the BenQ, the software way..Dont want to loose my waranty just because I want to replace the drive. Want to read the key from the drive and then put the BenQ somewhere safe so I can switch it back in case I ever get the tre redligts.

[dugan661]

awesome i just ordered a VIA VT6421A PCI card! i cant wait to get this all working!!! its the xmas in October! :)

[zandi]

awesome i just ordered a VIA VT6421A PCI card! i cant wait to get this all working!!! its the xmas in October! :)

does this mean that, i can read firmware of BenQ by using VIA VT6421 as to read Samsung MS28, because I have a VIA VT??? to read samsung but cannot remmeber the series.

[PSPUKDemon]

Yes you can use Via card you have.:)

[noxidius]

ive got a via-based motherboard, would that work?
if not any sites that sell the via pci card in canada

[fanni]

So reading into this it doesn't look like we need linux as previously stated

Would i be correct in saying this

[PSPUKDemon]

Correct you do not need linux, he was talking about a console with Benq ixtreme and linux kernel. :)

[yorobbo]

hi guys, i cant get dosflash to do anything,,,i have a kn1 sli mobo with 4 onboard sata ports, i do everything what the tut says but i cand seem to get my drive to communicate with dosflash i gte a message sayng mtk vendor intro failed do you want to resend the mtkvender intro cmd, i click yes, power off the drive for 2 secs, power up then nothing ? i have tried this a few times in all the ports,,,,if i click no the box pops up and i can clearly see my benq in the box but when i click read it pops up with an error,,something like unrecognisable flash or something, any help would be great,

cheers

yorobbo

[cwindsor]

Just like the old flashing tools....

Chipset details (What is supported) I have the Nforce chipset and also the Via (Special chipset). So if testing is needed let me know. :D

[fits79]

Can i flash(Read/write) benq drivers without soldering and without pci via 6421 card only with my intel ich5 sata controller i have in my computer? If i can how exactly do that?

[achirinos]

I have and old MS-7135 mobo with nForce4 4x (athlon64 3000+) 4 sata ports. That should do, right?

[JDAWG11]

Everyone on #fw and #dosflash have said the Via 6421 is the best chipset to use. You can find it cheap on ebay. There are many different versions, I ordered 6421L.

[kal777]

so is there a benq fw hack made yet or not? is it still being tested ?

[JDAWG11]

The rumor is we have another week and a half until the firmware is released.