(1)  Returning BIOS A05 to the original factory settings.

(2)  Upgrading BIOS to version A07.

(3)  Clearing NVRAM (see later). 

(4)  Reseating the DVD and CD data and power cables (unplugging the cables, booting up, reconnecting the cables and rebooting).

All to no avail.  The DVD drive was still not recognized.  After I upgraded to BIOS A07, I got the following error messages:

SATA primary drive 0 not found (O.K. because a SATA drive was not present).

SATA secondary drive 0 not found (O.K. because a SATA drive was not present)

Primary drive 1 not found (O.K. because a slave primary device was not present)

Secondary drive 0 not found (Not O.K. because this is the DVD ROM)

Secondary drive 1 not found (O.K. because this is the CD ROM and its default setting is OFF as a slave to the DVD ROM)

Under BIOS, I changed the configuration settings on all these drives from AUTO to OFF except for secondary drive 0 which I left on AUTO.  All the error messages disappeared except for:

Secondary drive 0 not found (the DVD ROM)

I send three separate E-mails to Dell Technical Support requesting guidance and advice.  None of the responses were helpful.  Although I was quite explicit in detailing the problem, two different technicians recommended that I update the Samsung SD-616T drive with BR66264 (F311) – the exact same flash program that had caused the problem to begin with.  When I pointed out how ridiculous this was, I was informed that my DVD drive was out of warranty and that I should contact Dell Sales to purchase a replacement!    

I then checked out several CD/DVD user discussion forums and found at least 20 postings describing exactly the same problem.  Unfortunately, none reported a solution that was demonstrated to be effective.   I reviewed all the postings and did the following:       

1. Shut down the computer and disconnected the power cable.  

2. Removed the computer cover and disconnected the IDE cables and the power cables from the DVD ROM and CD ROM drives.  

3. Replaced the cover and booted up the computer to Windows XP. 

4. Shut down the computer and started up in BIOS setup (pressed F2 when the Dell  logo showed prior to Windows XP power up).      

5. Cleared NVRAM  (While in BIOS, depressed the Caps Lock, Scroll Lock, and Number Lock until three green lights appeared on the keyboard.  (Had to change from a remote mouse and remote keyboard to conventional hard wired units at the beginning of step 3 to do this.)  Pressed Alt “E” and waited for a beep.  Then changed secondary drive setting from AUTO to OFF then back to AUTO.  (This step is probably unnecessary but if no “changes” are made in BIOS then the “save changes” command does not appear.  Saved changes.   (Note:  Could find no jumpers on the 8300 board so could not follow the “clear NVRAM” procedure as described in Bulletin FA1023538 for Dell computers shipped after 1997).

6. Booted up the computer to Windows XP then shut down again and disconnected the power. 

7. Reattached the power cable and the IDE cable (at the “end” connection) to the DVD drive but left both cables to the CD drive unattached.   

8. Rebooted the computer.

9. Downloaded MTKFLASH 1.55 (mtkflash1.55.zip) from http://etna.rpc1.org/mt/index.html and unzipped the files to a freshly created “C” directory, C:\Firmware.     

10. Downloaded the E 310 (DEL).zip file (RPC1 free) from http://etna.rpc1.org/samsung and unzipped to the C:\Firmware directory

11. Made a bootable floppy (“A”) disk.  (See:  http://dhc014.rpc1.org/howto.htm)

12. Copied the files in C:\Firmware to an “A” subdirectory, A:\Firmware

13. Shut down the computer and rebooted from the floppy.

14. At the “A” DOS prompt, changed to the A:\Firmware directory and typed:  Mtkflash 3 w/b /m 310del.bin 

 (Carefully read http://dhc014.rpc1.org/howto.htm for an explanation of the flash protocol.  It will vary depending on the location of the drive being flashed and the nature of the firmware update.  In this case, the “3” designation identifies the DVD drive as being the IDE secondary master (i.e., the drive to which the “end” of the IDE cable is connected).  310del.bin was the selected flash program because it was the original version on my DVD drive.   

The program ran flawlessly and ended with a “reboot computer” command. 

During the reboot the hitherto dead “D” drive sprang to life.  It was now recognized by BIOS and Device Manager.  Most important, the tray now opened and the drive read DVD’s.   

  15.   Shut down the computer, disconnected the main power cable, and re-attached the IDE and power  cables to the CD drive. Rebooted.

The above procedures restored the Samsung SD-616T DVD drive to its original functional state.  Maybe all the foregoing steps are not absolutely necessary but at least these are the procedures that worked for me.   I post them here in the hope that it saves someone the countless hours of frustration I experienced attempting to correct the DVD crash caused by the F311 firmware update.  If this posting further obviates nonproductive correspondence with inept Dell technicians then that is an added bonus.  But a word of caution here.  Do this at your own risk.  What worked for me, may not work for you.     

In my opinion, Dell firmware update F311 is seriously flawed and I strongly recommend against its use as described.  I’ve not attempted the Samsung 311 update with the 1.55 MTKFLASH program.  I’m so overjoyed at getting the DVD drive back to its original state that I’m not going to risk it.