WTF! It can't be this hard to install Firmware

[mrwho]

Re: WTF! It can't be this hard to install Firmware

Just a tip from a Ricoh-tech that used to be a KM tech (meaning it's been a long time since I've last updated a KM machine):

Try to completely erase the flash drive's partition (Right click on My Computer -> Manage -> Storage -> Disk Management or using any Partition Management software - Be VERY careful not to erase any other partition on your computer or you'll lose everything there) and then create a FAT32 partition from scratch on the thumb drive.

Maybe that'll help...

[mx6turbo89]

Re: WTF! It can't be this hard to install Firmware

What brand flash drives have you had success with? Now that I think of it the reason I got the cheap ones is I couldn't find 1 or 2gb brand name. The service manual says to use 2gb or less, how critical is the size?

Thanks

We use only Kingston brand flash drives, specifically the 8G and 16G sizes; never a problem even after repeated wiping and rewriting and have never had to format the drives.

[blackcat4866]

Re: WTF! It can't be this hard to install Firmware

In my travels I have come across a SanDisk web based utility specifically designed to remove any disk management software. Maybe that's what you need.
=^..^=

[Copier Addict]

Re: WTF! It can't be this hard to install Firmware

Drop the file marked "CW" into the one marked "mktar_Zeus.bat" and it will create a .tar file. Put this on the thumb drive with the large file you initially put on.
This should allow the firmware to load on the machine.

[copyman]

Houston we have lift off !!!

Finally got it to work. Think it was the flash drives I was using. Tried installing the firmware with copier addict's trick and it didn't work on 1, 2, or 4 GB's cheap flash drives. It didn't even recognize and booted right to basic screen. Finally tried a SanDisk 32GB and it worked. So much for cheap flash drives and K/M saying to use 2GB or less!

Thanks again everyone for the suggestions.

PS, I don't think I'll ever like firmware

[Brett GS]

Re: Houston we have lift off !!!

Finally got it to work. Think it was the flash drives I was using. Tried installing the firmware with copier addict's trick and it didn't work on 1, 2, or 4 GB's cheap flash drives. It didn't even recognize and booted right to basic screen. Finally tried a SanDisk 32GB and it worked. So much for cheap flash drives and K/M saying to use 2GB or less!

Thanks again everyone for the suggestions.

PS, I don't think I'll ever like firmware

I have used a sandisk 8 gig cruzer blade and works fine for me.

[Copier Addict]

Re: Houston we have lift off !!!

I have used a sandisk 8 gig cruzer blade and works fine for me.

I use a cheapy staples relay 8GB and it always works

[copyman]

another question about F/W

When you write new firmware onto a flash drive that already has F/W on it do you format it every time before writing new F/W? Or just delete it off flash drive then write new F/W?

Thanks

[blackcat4866]

Re: another question about F/W

When you write new firmware onto a flash drive that already has F/W on it do you format it every time before writing new F/W? Or just delete it off flash drive then write new F/W?

Thanks

Formatting once is fine. Just delete off old files, copy on new files. =^..^=

[copyman]

Re: WTF! It can't be this hard to install Firmware

Thanks. That's what I thought but wanted to be sure.

[mx6turbo89]

Re: WTF! It can't be this hard to install Firmware

Just came across this and thought it might be useful to someone:


Approved USB Drives for KM machines:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/f7yv6k48ls1yst0/Approved%20USB%20Drives.PDF?dl=0

[habik]

Re: WTF! It can't be this hard to install Firmware

Just a tip from a Ricoh-tech that used to be a KM tech (meaning it's been a long time since I've last updated a KM machine):

Try to completely erase the flash drive's partition (Right click on My Computer -> Manage -> Storage -> Disk Management or using any Partition Management software - Be VERY careful not to erase any other partition on your computer or you'll lose everything there) and then create a FAT32 partition from scratch on the thumb drive.

Maybe that'll help...

This is what I am now doing every time I want to format the USB sticks. (since I started using VM on mac)

And today I had a very interesting thing.

When machine was hooked to network and is running on papercut. I tried loading firmware using the same stick I used yesterday on C454e today on the same model. And guess what. During loading. It managed to load ADF and Scanner and on Saddle stitch it gave N.G.2 and froze.

after about 25min I switched machine off and unplugged network. Re-formatted USB using the above method, copied firmware, plugged it in, switched machine on and within 3 minutes it came with usual firmware boot screen. Loaded firmware no problem.

So either network have to be unplugged or something happened to the stick in the last 24hrs.

[blackcat4866]

Re: WTF! It can't be this hard to install Firmware

... So either network have to be unplugged or something happened to the stick in the last 24hrs.

For one thing I always disconnect the network when doing firmware, or even color calibration. It's extremely annoying for print jobs to boot you out of your desired screen. It's also entertaining to watch the ever growing group of visitors staring at the exit tray, but unwilling to ask.

For another, maybe the MFP just needed a second attempt. =^..^=

[habik]

Re: WTF! It can't be this hard to install Firmware

Just FYI. When deleting USB files on mac it keeps cash of the files until you format it. So you can delete only so many times then it flonks you out that there is no space despite nothing being on the stick.

Byting on bits.

[TheBlueOrleans]

Re: WTF! It can't be this hard to install Firmware

This branch uses Kingston 8Gb USB "thumb drives" and those things take a lot of abuse before failing.
I've accidentally washed more than one in the past five years, and after letting them air dry they've worked fine.
I don't format every time. I just check existing files, see if I need to keep them, if not I delete them all (shift+delete) and then move the necessary files to the root of the drive.
I also have a personal preference: I take the firmware folder, cut out all the contents and paste them to the root of the drive in addition to the (now empty) named firmware folder, depending on which machine is getting the firmware. (C35 has a dedicated 4Gb drive because of the specific requirements for firmware on that model.) That empty folder helps me remember exactly what firmware is on the drive, eliminating over-cautiousness in deleting and reinstalling the same files because I wasn't sure.
Technically the empty folder can be named anything and it shouldn't affect the firmware download to the machine. Sometimes I'll rename the empty folder "G00-K6" or something similar, for ease of recognition.
Works for me. Might not work for you. Don't really know. Other sentence fragments. It's Friday.