UPDATE NOTE: BTFLASH2 is updated Bootcode Flasher with Binflash V1.25 firmware
       	     flasher support. As long as you use the Binflash version older
	     than 1.25 you don't need to use the BTFLASH2 Bootcode Flasher.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
	NEC ND-3550A, ND-3551A, ND-4550A, ND-4551A (and compatibles)
	    	      Bootcode Flasher for Windows
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


This program can change the bootcode of some NEC DVD writers allowing the full
conversion of these drives into another models with which they share the
identical hardware such as the ND-3550A - ND-4551A series.

The goal of this procedure is to get the capabilities of the higher model even
if you have bought the cheaper lower model from these NEC burner series.

The main differences between these drive models are as follows:

      -----------------------------------------------------
     | Drive model: | DVD-RAM support | LabelFlash support |
     |-----------------------------------------------------|
     | NEC ND-3550A |        no       |         no         |
     | NEC ND-3551A |        no       |        YES         |
     | NEC ND-4550A |       YES       |         no         |
     | NEC ND-455aA |       YES       |        YES         |
      -----------------------------------------------------


This Bootcode Flasher is only what it is: the bootcode flasher. This means that
it has no capability of dumping the bootcode from the drive. This is because we
still don't know why the author of the first bootcode flasher has
completely abandoned his flasher and now he behaves like his flasher has never
ever existed. So we don't want to reveal all the information about the bootcode
changing procedure because we're unsure about what reaction from the drive
makers (or perhaps the owner of LabelFlash license) it could cause.


The program contains the bootcodes of the ND-3550A, ND-4550A and the ND-4551A
drives. The reason why this program doesn't contain the ND-3551A bootcode is
just because we didn't get this drive model into our hands. But even though this
program doesn't contain the bootcode of the ND-3551A drive it fully supports
this drive, but unless you have the bootcode of this drive model available in
external file you will be unable to revert the changes done by this program.
This may be important for the warranty matter. Changing your drive into another
model will lead to loss of the warranty of that drive, but in some situations if
your drive will damage you may be still able toc hange it back to the original
model and successfully claim that drive.


This program is also capable of flashing another bootcodes from external
files and may be able to work with another NEC DVD writer models as well.


BUT DON'T TRY TO FLASH ANY OF THE ND-3550A - ND-4551A BOOTCODES INTO ANOTHER
DRIVE MODELS! THIS WILL MOST LIKELY DAMAGE THOSE DRIVES! FLASH ONLY THE
BOOTCODES WITHIN THE RANGE OF SAME HARDWARE-BASED DRIVE MODEL SERIES!


SOME SYSTEMS MAY LOCK-UP SHORTLY AFTER THE PROCEDURE IS FINISHED. BUT THIS
DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE DRIVE HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFULLY FLASHED WITH THE BOOTCODE.
JUST REBOOT THE COMPUTER AND FLASH THE NEW FIRMWARE INTO YOUR DRIVE TO COMPLETE
THE CONVERSION PROCEDURE.

BUT BEFORE YOU WILL USE THIS PROGRAM MAKE SURE YOU CLOSED ALL RUNNING
APPLICATIONS TO PREVENT YOURSELF FROM THE LOSS OF SOME UNSAVED DATA!
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!


Note that the another ND-3550A - ND-4551A bootcode flasher causes this system
lockup as well - perhaps because of some bug in the PLSCSI tool whose SPTI/ASPI
communication interface both of these bootcode flashers use.


How to use the flasher:

    1. If you have previously used the Drive Converter tool to change your drive
       ID, revert this change first!

    2. Close all running programs! Especially those which may attempt to access
       your NEC drive.

    3. Open the Command Prompt in the directory containing the Bootcode Flasher.


    4. Start the program with switch "-i" ( btflash.exe -i ).

    5. The program will guide you through the procedure. First you will select
       the drive to be flashed, then you will select the bootcode to be flashed
       into that drive and then you will just have to wait.

       DO NOT TRY TO INTERRUPT THE PROCEDURE UNTIL IT'S FINISHED!

    6. After the procedure is finished reboot your computer and flash the drive
       with new firmware designed for the model into which has the drive been
       converted. This will complete the conversion procedure.

    - Another option is to start the program with the "-f" switch and specifying
      the external bootcode file to be used ( btflash.exe -f filename.bin ).

    - In this mode the program will flash the contents of the specified file
      into your drive. This option might be useful for using the program with
      another NEC DVD writer models because the program is believed to be
      compatible with more than just the ND-3550A - ND-4551A model series.

    - PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN USING THIS MODE! ALTHOUGH THE PROGRAM HAS SOME
      BASIC PROTECTION AGAINST FLASHING THE INCORRECT DATA INTO THE DRIVE IT'S
      STILL POSSIBLE TO PREPARE THE FILE WHICH WILL BYPASS THIS PROTECTION AND
      FLASH ITS CONTENTS INTO THE BOOTCODE AREA OF THE DRIVE WHICH WILL
      PERMANENTLY DAMAGE YOUR DRIVE!



THE FOLLOWING NOTE APPLIES TO BOTH FLASHER USAGE OPTIONS, BUT ESPECIALLY TO THE
SECOND ONE:

IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT WHICH DRIVE MODEL YOU CAN FLASH WITH WHICH BOOTCODE
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FLASH YOUR DRIVE WITH THIS PROGRAM AT ALL!

You can feel free to flash the ND-3550A - ND-4550A bootcodes into the drives
within these drive series, but again : DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FLASH ANY OF THESE
BOOTCODES INTO ANOTHER DRIVE MODELS!



As is was already mentioned above this program is based on the PLSCSI tool
source code. Big thanks to the author of this great tool.


Another very helpful tool that was used is Trace SPTI. Also big thanks to the author.


There's no thanks to anyone else except for the anonymous author of the second
bootcode flasher with who we worked out the method of dumping and flashing the
bootcodes. There are few another persons who helped us with some bits, but
neither the creator of the very first nor anyone else from that group of
firmware gurus helped us with figuring out how to make this possible. They have
no responsibility for existence of these bootcode flashers(so there's no way for
the drive maker company to sue them for this).

(But to be honest, there's one thing which has been taken from their
firmware flasher - the disclaimer text. Thanks for that)
