🚀 go-pugleaf

I'll try to clarify this mess for you.
Creative sold at least five different drives in their 8432 box. Thay have
provided firmware upgrades *only* for the original drive (a rebadged
Plextor) sold and used to get good initial reviews in the media. Than, they
switched to cheaper, less capable drives. The drives I am aware of are (as
identified in Device Manager): RW8432E (Plextor), RW8433E (Panasonic, I
think), RW8435E (Samsung), RW8438E (Samsung) and RW8439E (Panasonic).
Samsung *has* issued firmware upgrades applicable to the 8435E and the
8438E, but when CL rebadged the drives, they also changed the firmware ID
string from the original Samsung ID to a CL designation. Because of the
change, the Samsung flash program will not recognize the drive. Creative
refuses to issue firmware updates for the 8433 - 8439 drives, claiming that
"they are not needed".
Bottom line? You get NO support because CL appears to not care at all about
supporting customers once they have our money.

"ivorycruncher" <ivorycruncher@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:9mf107$6sq$1@news.creativelabs.com...
> I've also got a 8438E drive and I was just looking into finding a flashrom
upgrade for it.
> But now I'm a little concerned that I might render the thing useless if I
try to flash it
> based on what you said.  Now, I've heard that there are different versions
of the 8438E on
> the market.  Here's all the info on mine that I have available.
>
> In the Device Manager in Windows 98SE, it lists the drive as an Creative
CD-RW RW8438E.
> The firmare version is listed as FC03.  On the side of the box it came in,
it says that
> it's Model MK4214.  I want to know if this is a drive that's safe to flash
and if so,
> where to get the flash patch.  Do you have a clue as to which drive is
which?  Thanks.
>