Something I never knew until today.

[VampDude]

DVD Players/Recorders can "BRICK"

I downloaded an official firmware for my DVD player/recorder (from the manufacturers site) earlier and followed all the steps (even for making the CD image and burning), then I placed the CD in the disc tray and it went through the process of upgrading the firmware.

The screen showed that it was upgrading and then showed it had successfully finished, but when I inserted a DVD disc it showed an error message saying "Put Cd In" and I though to myself that it meant the upgrade firmware CD I had created. But it wasn't, and my DVD player/recorder then refused to show any output whatsoever so I came to the conclusion it had bricked...

...But to my suprise when I Googled it, it had also happened to other people. I then went to think why the company didn't fix the firmware (it's just over a year old), but thankfully due to the manufacturers neglect a group of hackers had made a program to hack and customize the official firmwares within seconds which then with my new firmware I re-followed the steps of creating the disc image and burning. And to my total amazement, the firmware I had customized with the software unbricked my DVD player/recorder.

Firmwares are everywhere thesedays, and hackers who do their own things to these firmwares. Those hackers saved me from having to send my DVD player/recorder (which is past it's warranty) away to be repaired, it's cool how hackers help us more than the manufacturers on lots of things

[TeenDev]

that sucks... I wonder if I can 'BRICK' my router and modem?

[Elmarco]

I might have bricked my toaster...... i better check...

[VampDude]

that sucks... I wonder if I can 'BRICK' my router and modem?

You can, by trying to uncap the bandwidth limit (for faster downloads) which is somewhat illegal (but as is just about any hardware alteration).

Read This: *

Of course, the cable industry has it's own impossible dreams, which include preventing smart coders with lots of time and restless passion from hacking the next generation of cable modems. "What you're talking about only affects the DOCSIS 1.0 modems," says CableLabs' Marcia of the Surfboard hack. The DOCSIS 1.1 and 2.0 specifications only accept firmware that's been digitally signed by the cable company. "Once you move to a DOCSIS 1.1, and we already have some cable operators deploying 1.1, this hack is not a viable hack any more.... One mistake, and it turns the modem into a brick

[steve520]

Actually you can brick your router ive installed a custom firmware on mine. as long it has built in flash it can brick.

[wolfpack]

i should BRICK MY MICROWAVE!

[kcajblue]

lol, vamp.
i though you knew stuff like this.
even i knew you could brick.

that sucks... I wonder if I can 'BRICK' my router and modem?

lol yes you can.

[Shrygue]

@ wolfpack and Elmarco: I don't think you can brick a microwave or a toster as kitchen appliances don't have flash memory in them. It really applies to other electonic gadgets such as the PSP, iPod, possibly a computer BIOS and others that have onboard NAND flash memory.

As for CD/DVD drives, I had already long known that they could be rendered unfunctional by bad firmware updates as many have flash memory in them.

[kcajblue]

lol ykb.
i cant tell if youre serious or not.
but i dont think that they both were serious.

[VampDude]

lol, vamp.
i though you knew stuff like this.
even i knew you could brick.
lol yes you can.

Nah, some things I just take for granted. After all it is a DVD player/recorder, they just seem like everyday non-technical household appliances (for playing and recording DVD's).

As for CD/DVD drives, I had already long known that they could be rendered unfunctional by bad firmware updates as many have flash memory in them.

Xbox 360's disc drive has flash memory.