WDTV firmware dvd-rom+ enabled 0.3
March 5th, 2009 00:06

So it struck me today that the general populus might appreciate the cd-manager program I created for Zoranders ext3-boot. I have therefore remixed both official firmware releases and added cdrom support via cd-manager. Yes, this means you can boot with a usb dvd drive connected and play from it on your WDTV now. The only limitation is that since dvd drives are officially unsupported you must have a supported (aka FAT32, NTFS, HFS,…) drive/flashdisk inserted. If there is no supported drive in the WDTV reports ‘no storage present’ and you will be unable to navigate to the browser. This firmware is flashed to your WDTV like the updates that have come from Western Digital, unlike the custom ext3-boot firmware that is available from WDTV HD player unofficial firmware wiki. Whereas ext3-boot is for pros (sorta) this ones for joes.


NOTE: I am not responsible for anything crazy that might happen during the process of flashing this firmware. Nothing should go wrong and everything should work accordingly, BUT if it does…

If you desire further functionality don’t miss WDLXTV, my extra souped up firmware with network capabilities.

NOTE NOTE: There is a bug that I noticed after I posted this…you can’t have an NTFS drive in as your only drive when you boot **IF** theres a cdrom connected. lame, I know. I’m workin on it. It will boot correctly with cdrom connected if a FAT32 drive/flashdisk is in the side slot (USB1) and an ntfs drive is in the back slot (USB2). Oh and one other thing; currently if theres a dvd in the drive and you eject the device in the slot that it appears under, your wdtv will crash upon insertion of new media. If you eject the disc first you’re all good when you insert something new. <<< FIXED >>>

All current errors have been taken care of. You may now boot with NTFS drives. You may now eject both USB slots and reinsert media without crashing.

You must have media manager turned on to see your external dvd drives now.

To find your drive go to the videos section and browse folders, you will be displayed the currently available devices. USB1, USB2, cdrom[s], and any ext2/ext3/xfs/reiser partitions will all be available there. Oh yes, with this release I have enabled ext2/ext3/xfs/reiser filesystems : D Neither cdrom or the new filesystems support hotplugging, yet, so stay tuned.

So in summary:

  • Flash this

  • connect a powered hub if you need one now ; )
  • attach any external dvd drives
  • attach any ext2/ext3/xfs/reiser formatted disks
  • attach anything else supported
  • boot wdtv

After the wdtv has booted if media library is on go to Video Folders and you’ll see everything you have connected! If media library is not on, you will not see anything connected

Current limitations are:

  • no hotplugging

  • dvd/ext2/ext3/xfs/reiser partitions not added to media library, means you **must** use folder view
  • you must still have at least one officially supported drive/flashdisk in to be able to browse the folders.

I’ve started a thread at AVS Forums thread to deal with questions. Go here to check drive compatability and ask questions. My drive is a Plextor 716A and it will fast forward, rewind, and can be resumed. If yours can’t or doesn’t work that threads the place to say.

Go to the DVDMOD firmware page for the latest release.

*** WDTV_FW_1_00_01_B-RAD.CC_DVDMOD-0.3 ***

*** WDTV_FW_1_01_02_B-RAD.CC_DVDMOD-0.3 ***

Don’t forget to check out the WDTV HD player unofficial firmware wiki page.

I’ve spent a tremendous amount of time hacking around in the WDTV firmware, so if you appreciate my efforts please donate a little something using the link below : ) Thanks & enjoy.



Posted in DVDMOD, WDTV by b-rad
RSS 2.0
Konrad
March 5th, 2009 01:29

OK Friend, when i will back home i will check this 2 versions with my LG… Is this version have debug mode enabled? Thank you for your efforts :) br condi

BigBoppa
March 5th, 2009 12:13

I see that you have removed the rapidshare files, i´m hopefully waiting for the fixed version… :)
Keep the good work going!
(i will donate after flashing… :) )

bbop

<<< edit: I removed them because I managed to put my wdtv in a loop late last night. Cannot reproduce it this morning after many tries so not sure what I did at 5:30am last night. Slightly updated and links back up. Thanks! >>>

bplus73
March 6th, 2009 06:55

Really nice feature and great work.
Hope you solve the bug “you can’t have an NTFS drive in as your only drive when you boot **IF** theres a cdrom connected.” as all of my drives are NTFS at the moment.

<<< edit: I’m low on time, but will get it taken care of eventually. Donations would definitely speed development up ; ) –b-rad >>>

BigBoppa
March 6th, 2009 11:18

I installed your fw today but wdtv does not recognize my DVD (Optiarc 7173), so i have to wait for a later release… :(

<<< edit: download and install ext3-boot-0.8.5.3, read the instructions and run it. When you have run it get the messages.txt file, upload it somewhere and post it at the AVS forums thread i linked above. This will be the only way for me to debug things. –b-rad >>>

Colton
March 11th, 2009 03:05

I tried it with my external LITE-ON EZ-DUB, but it just said “unrecognized USB device”. Any chance it’ll be supported? Thanks for the great work!

<<< edit: d/l and run Zoranders ext3-boot. It will produce for you log files called messages.txt, upload those somewhere and post the link in the main support thread. Only way for me to know anything, short of someone physically giving me one of those drives. –b-rad >>>

Soulcoco
March 19th, 2009 23:26

Is there any way to lower the read speed?

<<< edit: Yes and i’ve done it now based on your suggestion. Speed is set to 16x, which is silent with my drive and still allows seeking with 1080p material. Will update this soon for the public. –b-rad >>>

mous2
March 27th, 2009 14:13

If my GGW h20l an original blu-ray or dvd play always comes from a black screen. Can someone build a tool the original dvd or blu-ray running? Because it does not do that was meaningful.
Thanks in advance

<<< edit: someone can, maybe. If you’re asking me to, then you’re free to hire me, but otherwise I have a perfectly capable dvd player already. –b-rad >>>

mous2
March 29th, 2009 05:35

Hei b-rad you has a solution for me? I am the original dvd and bur-ray can play?
So everything is running, only one with no copy protection, if I run it stays black no picture and no sound
I can not English but I can help myself with google translator
I know not to have your FW on it, I have all but tried without success

Ps plaster also a possibility which covers the film with Ortner to display?
I see only the cd Iken although I covers with the movies have Ortner
1000 mall thank you for your great work

mous2
April 2nd, 2009 01:08

WDTV_FW_1_01_02_03_B-RAD.CC_DVD
WDTV_FW_1_02_00
how do I get the drivers to the new fw ?????
Thank you

mous2
April 14th, 2009 17:44

Prerelease 1.02.04 dvd-rom ????
24p ok ;-)

<<< edit: cough, cough…ta da :D –b-rad >>>

Steve
May 7th, 2009 18:43

Hi Waiting for my WDTV to arrive. Gonna try out a buffelo bluray hd dvd combo drive. would love it if i would be able to play official blu/ hd dvd releases.

If drive works can you sort out playing these.

How much would it cost for someone such as yourself to come up a solution???

<<< edit: I don’t have a bluray drive. Its probably possible, but it could take a lot of time and its not very high on my list. I’d need equipment to test on and a fair bounty to work on. –b-rad >>>

*Name
*Mail
Website
Comment