Firmware downgrading and package firmware on the IM series

[zed255]

The recent issues related to the IM series with fax option are requiring us to temporarily downgrade firmware. Some have reported that the package, the primary delivery method on the latest machines, won't downgrade and the required System/Copy module is not posted seperately on the TSRC. There is however a way around this:

Download the package and perform the initial unzipping, rfgxxxxxx.zip > Package (folder)
Open the Package folder and use an archive tool like 7zip to decompress xxxxxxxxx.pkg > firm.tgz (a 'tarball' of the firmware)
Open firm.tgz using an archive tool like 7zip and decompress it to reveal all individual firmware files, firm.tgz > xxxxxxx.fwu (multiple files)
Copy the required firmware modules into the normal folder structure for module firmare romdata >model code > firmware files

This will contain all traditional modules as well as the SOP OS and Apps. Hope this helps anyone struggling with package firmware.

[Klydon]

Re: Firmware downgrading and package firmware on the IM series

Good info, but I would be really cautious doing this and not do it unless absolutely necessary.

One of the reasons they have come out with package firmware only for these is each firmware package is designed to not have conflicts between the various pieces of firmware it contains. By cutting and pasting different pieces in there, you are defeating that objective. More often than not it should not hurt, but I am also sure the engineers are not being nearly as cautious about compatibility from one version to the next with the various pieces as long as the overall update is good as a package.

[Oze]

Re: Firmware downgrading and package firmware on the IM series

Downgrading the package alone has fixed the issue for us.

[zed255]

Re: Firmware downgrading and package firmware on the IM series

I fully appreciate the potential for issues if meddling with the contents of a package. That wasn't really my point. We hadn't really looked closely at the packages until recently and discovered it is just archives within archives. All files within work as if you downloaded individual modules.

The official response from Ricoh concerning this significant bug is to downgrade to a specific package, which installs a specific System / Copy firmware level as a temporary solution. We have found units that will not downgrade via the package, I suspect others will too. Since the required System / Copy version is not posted as a stand alone module it was found that the package could be extracted to expose the individual modules. With this, we have been able to perform the downgrades where necessary. I thought this might be helpful. For full compatibility, like you caution, one should install all modules extracted as mentioned earlier as a set.

It is also possible to turn off tracking which circumvents the worst part of the firmware bug without really fixing anything.

[slimslob]

Re: Firmware downgrading and package firmware on the IM series

Often times Ricoh will release a "New" Package that although one or more of the modules is older than what is on the machine, those modules will be reflashed.

[Oze]

Re: Firmware downgrading and package firmware on the IM series

Ricoh originally supplied us a version of the package that was split into individual parts....it failed.
Downgraded using the Package Ver.2.20.04 and it fixed it.

[semi]

Re: Firmware downgrading and package firmware on the IM series

Why not use this??
Go to the download site on My-Ricoh and to the firmware for your device, next where the package firmware "destination" is click GEN_(ALL), then click "Modification History" and scroll to the bottom of the next window, there you can download any available older packages.

[illude2]

Re: Firmware downgrading and package firmware on the IM series

What issues are you guys experiencing? We just setup an IM C3500 yesterday with a fax option. We used the current package 2.23. Should we be worried?

Thanks

[slimslob]

Re: Firmware downgrading and package firmware on the IM series

What issues are you guys experiencing? We just setup an IM C3500 yesterday with a fax option. We used the current package 2.23. Should we be worried?

Thanks

Might be the issue discussed in this thread:
IMC 2500 Fax - Problem

[Oze]

Re: Firmware downgrading and package firmware on the IM series

What issues are you guys experiencing? We just setup an IM C3500 yesterday with a fax option. We used the current package 2.23. Should we be worried?

Thanks

The issue tends to occur if the machine also has embedded software...like Equitrac for example.
We tested all our affected machines at run up and prior to loading PCC and they all faxed just fine.
Once PCC was installed onsite you could no longer use the fax without copping a functional restart.

[Zaxxon]

Re: Firmware downgrading and package firmware on the IM series

What issues are you guys experiencing? We just setup an IM C3500 yesterday with a fax option. We used the current package 2.23. Should we be worried?

Thanks

[JayPaul]

Re: Firmware downgrading and package firmware on the IM series

I have 2x IMC 5500A at a customers who have been having problems with equitrac for ages on and off. Had Ricoh remote into server and apply 'hotfixes' etc been told to update firmware, then told to roll it back because it wasn't compatible with the software, then a patch fixed it... This customer has been waiting about 2 weeks for a resolution now. Me and my boss and the sales manager have been speaking to so many people at Ricoh just trying to get a fix of any kind. Level 1 and 2 support just don't have any answers right now. Got a conference call with them in 5 minutes, if they tell me anything useful I will post it in here.

[JayPaul]

Re: Firmware downgrading and package firmware on the IM series

Ok so I have been told to put both IMC machines on the same firmware version, despite one having a fax and one without fax.
Version is D0BN5592G (2.20.04 I think but an alternate version)
Then there is a word document to follow instructions but the file is too large to upload for now. I will be doing all this tomorrow morning so if it works then i'll find a way to compress it and put it on.
I am also based in England so not 100% sure if this would be the same fix for other parts of the world.

[JayPaul]

Re: Firmware downgrading and package firmware on the IM series

Login Logout Issues PCC 5.doc

Sorry here is the word document if this helps anyone. I had to delete half the pictures quickly to get the file size down and I added a bit about turning off auto notify for updates as that is very annoying when it does it.
I did all this on site, with a Ricoh Software guy who was working remotely on the Equitrac server to do the PCC stuff. I did the firmware etc.
One thing I will say, if any of you guys have to do this, on both the machines after completing the work I got customers to send their print jobs, release them and then scan them back to themselves to test functionality. On both of them, the very first print job that a cusomter tried to release, just disappeared. Blue data button flashes and machines whirs up but then nothing comes out and the print job is deleted from the list. So if you test it, keep this in mind as it may happen to you as well. After that it runs ok, haven't had a call since I left the building so looking good so far.

[Oze]

Re: Firmware downgrading and package firmware on the IM series

Just read the word doc.
Most of those things are meant to be turned off at run up anyways.
Seems more like a config issue with PCC and Ricoh just trying to baffle you.
I've seen it a lot where the PCC config just doesn't take (weird issues where the Follow you Print button randomly disappears for one) and has to be reinstalled a few times before it sticks.