I see and hear more and more people talking about flashes, firmware and service menus, not limited to MPx players, but also on phones and so on. A lot of uninformed people talk about flashes as the cure to all problems. Being interested in electronics since i was little thanks to my dad and having repaired/upgraded/built my fair share of hardware (computers, CRT TVs, audio amps, various other electronic devices) and still having a lot to learn, i can tell you it's most likely NOT the case.

I want to discuss the meaning of firmware updates and secret menus, what do they do, and why most problems have a different solution. This topic is not limited to MPx players, but i will try to focus on them as they are the main object of this site.

I will start with the most asked question, that is:

1. Should i flash my firmware?
Short answer: No.

2. What is firmware anyway?
If you didn't know the answer to this question, you probably understand why i answered the first one like that.

The firmware is the logic component of your device. The chips inside can't do anything by themselves, they have to be programmed. Think of it as the BIOS of your computer, but more complex. Or in other words, firmware is BIOS + operating system in one. It gives all the user-accessible features to your device, without it your device is just a bunch of chips on a board doing nothing.

3. So, why shouldn't i flash?
Do you know how to fix it if it breaks? Think about it. If you have a problem with your player it's best to send it back to your seller.

Top misconceptions about firmware updates:
It will add extra features to my device. NO IT WON'T. If your device is working properly, DO NOT FLASH IT under any circumstances. Even if the firmware update is published by the manufacturer (which in the world of Chinese electronics is pretty unlikely btw).

It will prolong battery life/make it sound better/make it run faster. It will not do any of those things. The settings you already have in your current firmware are the best you're going to get.

It will make it look nicer. Different interfaces come from different manufacturers. The most likely result when flashing a firmware from a different manufacturer is a non-functional device. There are limited theming tools on this site, the people here are doing their best to provide customizations but that's as far as it gets. If your player is not supported by the customization software found on this site, DO NOT FLASH IT.

So we have covered what firmware flashes won't do. Now for the more stubborn of you, let's cover what they could possibly do.

Recover a crashed device.
That's what most of you are here about, right? Well, yes, it can, provided you have the original firmware from your manufacturer. Most crashed players are impossible to recover not because they got permanently damaged in any way, but because you just can't find the original firmware. So the first thing to do when you get a new MPx player is to back up the original firmware. There are tools available for most players, always keep a backup handy in case things go wrong. In the case of the Sigmatel Recovery Guide i wrote, i did all testing on my own player and was able to get it back working after each test because i had saved the original firmware. And i have never flashed my Actions v9 player, and the reason i don't have it anymore is a hardware failure, more specifically the battery died.

General misconceptions about service/hidden/secret menus of various devices.
My battery life dropped/my screen displays an incorrect picture/my sound is weird. If i find the service menu codes i'll be able to get it working properly again.
That won't happen. Service menus are designed for adjusting a NEW device, if it wasn't calibrated properly at the factory. Everything else is hardware faults caused by the aging of electronics. If you have a warranty on your device, send it back to the shop, if you don't, call a technician if it's a serviceable device such as a TV, a monitor or a mobile phone. MPx players aren't really worth fixing if they go bad. Sure, service menus CAN correct minor flaws caused by aging parts, but if the parts themselves are left unchanged the situation will get worse over time and possibly cause other issues. If you do use the service menu of your device, always note the original values before adjusting them.

That should cover it for now. There will be more to this later on, until then enjoy and keep your electronics safe.