Ricoh Ap3800 Replacing HDD

[michel]

The HDD failed on my Ricoh AP3800CMF recently and I had to replace it. I used an 80GB drive (not 40GB) since I had one in the drawer and it installed fine. I ran the HDD format routine and the drive now shows as installed on the config page.
The problem is that the duplex unit is now not available to the copier - those options have disappeared from the panel - although it shows as installed on the config page and it works fine in print mode. The document server is also no longer recognized.
I installed the HDD according to the manual, which does not mention any further requirements beyond formatting. Is there something else which needs to be reset to restore the missing functionality?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Michel

[Eric1968]

Re: Ricoh Ap3800 Replacing HDD

It's a long time ago since I worked on those dinosaurs, but it could be that the machine can't use a 80GB drive. It sees the drive but it can't allocate 80GB.

[blackcat4866]

Re: Ricoh Ap3800 Replacing HDD

If I remember my Ricohs correctly, additional options each required some addition of memory to be recognized and function. Perhaps it just needs to be re-allocated. Like Eric says, the most it can ever recognize is 40G HDD. Sorry, nothing more specific.

[michel]

Re: Ricoh Ap3800 Replacing HDD

If I remember my Ricohs correctly, additional options each required some addition of memory to be recognized and function. Perhaps it just needs to be re-allocated. Like Eric says, the most it can ever recognize is 40G HDD. Sorry, nothing more specific.

Thanks for your input. Yes, I realise it will only use 40GB of the 80 - but that seems to be working, as I said in my original post. The HDD shows up as installed and working on the config page.

Hopefully someone out there will have come across this problem and be able to put their finger on it .....

[oldcopy]

Re: Ricoh Ap3800 Replacing HDD

eric1968 is correct the hdd is to big if you have the old drive you can try a low level format hook it to a laptop or Pc with a PPA usb adapter or simlar device or partition the 80gb to 40gb use FAT32 or FAT16 and you may have to format again in the machine good luck

[michel]

Re: Ricoh Ap3800 Replacing HDD

eric1968 is correct the hdd is to big if you have the old drive you can try a low level format hook it to a laptop or Pc with a PPA usb adapter or simlar device or partition the 80gb to 40gb use FAT32 or FAT16 and you may have to format again in the machine good luck

Hi - thanks for your suggestion. I've read that Ricohs are OK with bigger drives, but anyway I tried your idea and removed the drive, formatted it to 40GB FAT32 and put it back in the copier. Again, it was formatted OK by the copier, but my missing functions are still not available. I'm pretty sure the problem does not lie with the HDD, but just where it is, remains a mystery ....

Any ideas, anyone ??

[oldcopy]

Re: Ricoh Ap3800 Replacing HDD

Hi - thanks for your suggestion. I've read that Ricohs are OK with bigger drives, but anyway I tried your idea and removed the drive, formatted it to 40GB FAT32 and put it back in the copier. Again, it was formatted OK by the copier, but my missing functions are still not available. I'm pretty sure the problem does not lie with the HDD, but just where it is, remains a mystery ....

Any ideas, anyone ??

re seat the controller remove dimms 1 by 1 disconnect all options you may be looking at a defective controller or BICU

[michel]

Re: Ricoh Ap3800 Replacing HDD

re seat the controller remove dimms 1 by 1 disconnect all options you may be looking at a defective controller or BICU

I've tried all of the above, but it has made no difference. The problem seems to be simply that the copier no longer knows the duplexer is present, but the printer recognizes and uses it as normal. I tried a factory reset on the UP settings but that didn't help either. It re-assigned the function icons, but not to include any duplex settings.

Still hoping this can be resolved .....

M.

[michel]

Ricoh Ap3800 Replacing HDD - Update

I've spent more time on this problem today and I am now firmly of the opinion that the problem lies with the copier expander not recognizing the HDD. The printer is fine, and the config page reports the HDD as installed, but ALL the copier functions requiring the HDD are not available - scan to file, document server, duplex copying etc. The scanner reports that no HDD is available - but it still scans to the PC OK.

Did Ricoh do something particular with the HDDs on this model?? The most confusing aspect is that the copier is happy to format the replacement drive - reports that the format was successful - then promptly ignores its presence and refuses to use it!

Any thoughts / experience out there??

Michel

[sandmanmac]

Re: Ricoh Ap3800 Replacing HDD

All documentation I have on this issue points to an 'incorrect' or defective HDD. I understand that a reformat of your old drive succeeded, but there might still be a damaged area causing the issue. I have a shelf full of 40GB drives, and I would gladly give you one of them if you were nearby, but I doubt that's the case. Bottom line is, spend $10-$20 bucks on a known working 40Gb drive, and get back to us. If that doesn't do it, then it's most likely a board problem, and you don't want to go there, and it may enmd up being an issue you simply have to deal with or replace the machine. After-all it is getting on in age, and nothing, including us, works as well as it used to

[michel]

Re: Ricoh Ap3800 Replacing HDD

All documentation I have on this issue points to an 'incorrect' or defective HDD. I understand that a reformat of your old drive succeeded, but there might still be a damaged area causing the issue. I have a shelf full of 40GB drives, and I would gladly give you one of them if you were nearby, but I doubt that's the case. Bottom line is, spend $10-$20 bucks on a known working 40Gb drive, and get back to us. If that doesn't do it, then it's most likely a board problem, and you don't want to go there, and it may enmd up being an issue you simply have to deal with or replace the machine. After-all it is getting on in age, and nothing, including us, works as well as it used to

Hi - thanks for your thoughts. Well I do have another 40GB drive which I can try - I know it's working as it is currently in an old PC. I'll give that a try tomorrow. Thanks for your offer, too .... but I don't think SW France would come under your definition of "nearby", alas!

[michel]

Re: Ricoh Ap3800 Replacing HDD

Still no joy - tried three different HDDs and all behave exactly the same - format no problem, appear as installed in the printer, but the CF expander can't see them, even though it is happy to format all three.

Running short on ideas now .... anyone had similar difficulties??

[michel]

Re: Ricoh Ap3800 Replacing HDD - SOLUTION

Fourth time lucky!!

I stipped out the 40GB HDD from my standby computer and put that into the Ricoh; it then worked straight away, after a format, of course. I didn't even wipe the drive, so it still had Windows XP installed on it when I put it into the copier!

Clearly, although the AP3800 is happy to format larger drives it can't use them. A useful thing to have learnt - I'll have to keep an eye open for a spare 40GB drive to keep in the drawer, now.

Thanks to all for your suggestions along the way.

Michel