When Should I Update Dash Firmware

When Should You lot Update Your Firmware?

Firmware, in generic terms, is "stock-still software" in an electronic device. Your CD/DVD drive for instance, has firmware. Your digital camera has firmware. Portable navigation devices (PND for short) has firmware. Even remote controls for televisions take firmware.

I'm the type of person that likes having the latest upward-to-date firmware for whatsoever electronic device I employ. But over the years I've had to train myself not to update if there isn't any issue nowadays with the way the device works.

Example: In one instance a few years ago I somewhat busted a CD/DVD drive I had because I updated the firmware. I found there was an update for the device, so I downloaded and applied information technology. After that the drive wouldn't burn discs any longer. It would read them merely non write no matter what brand of disc I used. It turned my DVD-R/Due west into a DVD-ROM. I tried applying a previous version of the firmware, but that didn't piece of work, then I had to junk it. $40 in the toilet. Lesson learned.

The simply reason I bothered to update the firmware in that particular device is considering it was available. Nothing was wrong with it, I didn't need to practice it, merely did anyway.

Firmware updates for any electronic device serve 2 main purposes. First, the update fixes a problem with the way the device works and/or 2d, the update adds in new features that weren't there before.

If you spot a firmware update for any electronic device you use, but are not encountering any bug nor are there whatever features added in with the update, don't use information technology. If y'all exercise, chances are likely information technology will do more than harm than good and in worst case scenario makes the device unusable.

Every bit said higher up, I had to railroad train myself not to use firmware updates when I didn't need them. I would look at the firmware version for my digital camera and information technology would be at 2.5a. But await, at present there's ii.5b! My mind says, "I should actually get this," but then common sense kicks in. "Hang on. There's nil incorrect with my camera. And this update doesn't add in anything I didn't accept before. No, I won't do it." So I don't.

This can be a temptation that'southward tough to resist. After all, yous want all your electronic stuff to have current software. Psychologically, having an old firmware version puts the message of, "I'm missing out on something" in your caput. Trust me when I say that the vast bulk of the time yous're not missing anything.

Whenever you see a firmware update for whatsoever electronic device you're using, always read the release notes thoroughly. This documentation is e'er provided and is normally on the same folio where the download is, or equally a PDF or another spider web folio describing what's in that particular version. If you run into nada in there that fixes annihilation or adds in features, don't apply it, considering having an update applied that breaks your stuff will ruin your mean solar day real quick. Every time information technology happens it's money wasted that you accept to spend all over again.