How To Install Custom Firmware on Your WDTV!

GET THE FILES FROM HERE: http://romanstechhelp.blogspot.com/2010/09/buy-me-drink.html

This is a Step-By-Step video guide for noobs on how to flash your WDTV with custom firmware. All of the software used is free and legal. I have put together a very well organized .zip file to go with this instructional video to make it as easy as possible. This Zip file includes EVERYTHING you will need to upgrade your WDTV (1st or 2nd generation) to B-Rad's custom firmware.

First you need to know if you have a 1st or 2nd generation unit. Visit the links below to compare you unit's model number and find out:
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GEN 1: http://support.wdc.com/product/install.asp?groupid=1001&lang=en
GEN 2: http://support.wdc.com/product/kb.asp?groupid=1004&lang=en
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Before you begin, you will need to download the appropriate zip file. Visit my website and click on the download link for your version of the player (Generation 1 or Generation 2). I was using Sharecash to host my files (and making about 50 cents per download) but a lot of people were having trouble getting the files and everyone hated filling out surveys so now I am using completely FREE hosting, you click on the link, then you click download and you get the file. No tricks and very few, if any, advertisements!

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http://romanstechhelp.blogspot.com
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There is one difference when using the software pack for Generation 2, (other than different file names for some things), Ignore STEP 4 on the video, I already took care of it for you :)...

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If you download the files, go through the video, and have any questions, feel free to email me, or even better, leave a comment in here. I will do my best to respond to questions.

---WHAT NEXT?----

Now that you have your fancy new custom firmware installed, some of you may be asking, "What Next?" To that I ask... Have you ever been annoyed by the fact that your WDTV only has TWO usb ports? I sure have... One very easy to implement feature of your new firmware is its support for USB Hubs. I have a short, easy to read tutorial that talks about how to add one to your system so that you can plug in up to 8! total devices.

Check it out here: http://romanstechhelp.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-add-usb-hub-to-your-wdtv.html

You can now WIRELESSLY NETWORK your 1st Generation WDTV:
http://romanstechhelp.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-network-your-1st-generation...

AFTER you network your device, this tutorial shows you how to SHARE FILES AND STREAM VIDEOS over your network!:
http://romanstechhelp.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-stream-videos-and-share-fil...


------DISCLAIMER---------

This is for either a FIRST GENERATION WDTV or a SECOND GENERATION WDTV (depending on which pack you are downloading). Not a WDTV Live or a WDTV Mini.

What we are doing today is upgrading the "firmware" on your WDTV box. Firmware is like semi-permanent software that runs or operates your hardware. Most electronic devices have firmware. Firmware can be used for different things, in the case of the WDTV, it is essentially the operating system for the device and the on-screen display. Whenever you upgrade or change the firmware of a device, your risk destroying the device. This is because firmware is stored on in a special "read-only" type of memory in the device. Whereas you can easily install and uninstall "soft"ware, firmware is a bit tougher to change. The process of installing new firmware to a device is called "flashing." What you need to know is that if you screw it up while it is installing or otherwise, it could make your device not work, in which case you have a nice looking paperweight. Suffice to say, it is always a bit nerve racking the first time you do a firmware upgrade on a device. However, if you are careful, you shouldn't have a problem. I have flashed the firmware on my device probably upwards of 20 times now without incident. As a final note, if everything works correctly, the process is reversible in that I have included a legitimate Western Digital firmware and instructions on how to "flash it back" to that.
-----END DISCLAIMER-----

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• WDTV
• Custom Firmware
• Install
• How to

[TheRoman2025]

To the person whose comment I cannot find in here now about having problem with the custom firmware. My suggestion is to roll back to stock :). Here is the page for that: h-t-t-p://-romanstechhelp-dot-­blogspot-dot-com/2011/03/how-t­o-restore-your-wdtv-to-factory

[TheRoman2025]

To all who have commented or will comment on the file downloads... I just tested them again (I know i have been absent for quite some time... life has gotten a bit busy) and they work. My guess is that your computer or connection is having issues with the File dropper website OR the file dropper website is just having issues. If it fails the first time, try every day for a week. and then once again a week later. If it still fails and multiple folks are reporting, I will do my best to check :)

[TheRoman2025]

So, if you are not part of the C or D crowd, I recommend you wait some time and try the download link again. All I can do on my end is test them out and make sure they work. They are working perfectly when I follow them and download the files. Cheers and good luck!

[TheRoman2025]

I have tested both download links (Gen 1, Gen 2) as of TODAY 09/20/2011 and both work perfectly. I have not re-uploaded anything. If you are experience trouble with the download links it is one of several things: A) Your computer/internet connection is messing up, B) The Download Link is "Temporarily" messed up? C) You may be unfamiliar with "RAR" files, google "WinRar" D) You didn't realize not all steps have folders.

[exmilguy]

Thank you SO much! I have been jumping around for the past couple of days trying to figure out how to do this and then it FINALLY dawned on me to youtube it and yours was the first (and only) video I watched. Thank you!

[TheRoman2025]

@exmilguy

Cheers!

[idulkoan]

So what do you actually get out of having cfw? Ou

[newbeechris1]

@TheRoman2025

after i install do i have to keep the usb stick in or can i format the usb stick again and use it for other stuff?

[MegaJohnnyVegas]

if u want to pass that surveys only tool that works is SURVEYBYPASSER(.)TK ...remove the "(" and ")" ..worked on many surveys!!!

[4ftofflame]

just to let everyone who's having problems know, the pack for a gen 1 DOES work! it took me quite a few trys but it did eventually download the entire thing correctly!

[4ftofflame]

this is by far the easiest walkthrough to follow that i've found and i really like the way you've got all the files needed in one zip so we don't have to go all over the place. just wish i could get it to download properly! i know it's not your fault but that site seems really iffy, i've tried tons of times and the most it's downloaded is steps 1 - 3 but normally less and every single time i'm getting a unexpected end of archive warning on winrar but i'll keep trying to get it to download fully