What is firmware?
Firmware is a type of computer program that is included in many computer devices. It should be noted that it is not categorized as solely software or hardware, but a mix of both. This categorization occurs because it is both an executable program, as well as integral piece of the computing device such as a router or cell phone.
DVD burners optimize their ability to write to different brands of DVDs by internal “write strategies” that control the laser power and pulse settings to maximize its accuracy with each different dye formula, reflector density and plastic doping chemistry for each brand of blank DVD disc. When a disc is inserted, the drive reads the factory media ID off the disc and queries its internal list of known disc brands and write strategies. If the disc is listed, then it uses the write strategy for that disc. If a write strategy for a particular disc brand is not present in the drive’s firmware, it tries to estimate how best to write to the disc by writing to the small re-writable “power calibration” area on each unknown disc type to see which power setting might produce best results for the unknown disc brand. In some cases, the firmware is unable to produce reliable burning with a particular disc brand, and rejects the disc as having a “power calibration error” or “illegal disc” or a simila
Firmware refers to read-only memory (ROM) chips that store permanent instructions. Firmware boots up computerized or digital devices, as ROM chips are non-volatile, meaning they do not require a power source to hold their contents. This differentiates firmware from random access memory (RAM), for example, which loses stored data at shutdown. Perhaps the most familiar firmware is the basic input output system (BIOS) chip. The BIOS chip on a computer motherboard holds instructions that, upon powering up, initialize the hardware, ensure components are working, and finally roll out the operating system to take over. In the past, firmware chips could not be rewritten. When the BIOS became outdated, the only option was to buy a new motherboard. New firmware would understand the latest hardware so that the user would not be limited to older drives and other legacy technologies when facing inevitable upgrades. It became clear that a new type of firmware chip that could be updated would be extr
