Ricoh Firmware using a PC MCIA card

[bob6313]

Hello, Have a few very old Ricoh,Savin,Lanier copiers that used the 4MB cmia card to update the firmware, the new pc's don't have the mcia port so I need to get a cheap mcia to usb adapter looked on the internet found some but am not sure which one is the one that I need. Any help would be grateful on a model number who makes 's it any info. thanks

[Gift]

Re: Ricoh Firmware using a PC MCIA card

I recall that the necessary software for writing the firmware (MCE) was pretty picky with supporting mainboard/pcmcia chipsets back then. I'm not shure if any USB adapter will work.

[ccchuah]

Re: Ricoh Firmware using a PC MCIA card

It won't work, try to look for PCMCIA adapter on PCI card and install it on computer with window XP only.

[slimslob]

Re: Ricoh Firmware using a PC MCIA card

What ever you get, make sure that it is PCMCIA I not II. Ricoh used to have an adapter board available for older desktops and towers. Your best bet is to get an old laptop with a functioning PCMCIA I slot on 2. I think the trial version of the software is still available. If you use the trial version, backup the registry before installing the software. When it tells you that the trial period is over, uninstall the software, restore the registry and reinstall the software. Installation places a date stamp in the registry that remains after uninstall. Hope you have or can find the 4MB cards.

[bob6313]

Re: Ricoh Firmware using a PC MCIA card

I recall that the necessary software for writing the firmware (MCE) was pretty picky with supporting mainboard/pcmcia chipsets back then. I'm not shure if any USB adapter will work.

Thank you for the reply, I was thinking of just coping the bin fill to the 4MB card then installing it in its slot to rewrite the firmware

[bob6313]

Re: Ricoh Firmware using a PC MCIA card

It won't work, try to look for PCMCIA adapter on PCI card and install it on computer with window XP only.

Thank you for the reply, I will check on that thanks would the pci card also work under windows 7?

[bob6313]

Re: Ricoh Firmware using a PC MCIA card

What ever you get, make sure that it is PCMCIA I not II. Ricoh used to have an adapter board available for older desktops and towers. Your best bet is to get an old laptop with a functioning PCMCIA I slot on 2. I think the trial version of the software is still available. If you use the trial version, backup the registry before installing the software. When it tells you that the trial period is over, uninstall the software, restore the registry and reinstall the software. Installation places a date stamp in the registry that remains after uninstall. Hope you have or can find the 4MB cards.

Thank you for the reply, I do have the 4MB cards just looking for a way to put the bin file on them you gave me some of the information I was looking for thanks..

[slimslob]

Re: Ricoh Firmware using a PC MCIA card

Thank you for the reply, I was thinking of just coping the bin fill to the 4MB card then installing it in its slot to rewrite the firmware

Thank you for the reply, I will check on that thanks would the pci card also work under windows 7?

Thank you for the reply, I do have the 4MB cards just looking for a way to put the bin file on them you gave me some of the information I was looking for thanks..

The main thing is that you need to use Memory Card Explorer to write the .bin file to the memory card. I don't know if it will run on Windows 7 as I have only used it on XP. If you have a laptop with a PCMCIA I slots or a desktop/tower with a PCI PCMCIA card board, you could try running it in XP compatible mode.
Ricoh site for software: MCERICOH Home
You might also try Memory Card Explorer by Elan: Memory Card Explorer - Elan Digital Systems Ltd. Software Informer.. It shows a later version number so might run on Windows 7, again if you have a compatible PCMCIA card slot.

[RRodgers]

Re: Ricoh Firmware using a PC MCIA card

The main thing is that you need to use Memory Card Explorer to write the .bin file to the memory card. I don't know if it will run on Windows 7 as I have only used it on XP. If you have a laptop with a PCMCIA I slots or a desktop/tower with a PCI PCMCIA card board, you could try running it in XP compatible mode.
Ricoh site for software: MCERICOH Home
You might also try Memory Card Explorer by Elan: Memory Card Explorer - Elan Digital Systems Ltd. Software Informer.. It shows a later version number so might run on Windows 7, again if you have a compatible PCMCIA card slot.

Thanks for the links

[copier tech]

Re: Ricoh Firmware using a PC MCIA card

Damn, old technology, upgrade that box & move on!

[M0scb]

Re: Ricoh Firmware using a PC MCIA card

Thanks for the links

I tried to run this on windows 7 and it failed. In my opinion you will need XP. Out of curiosity why is the machine still around, shouldn't it have been upgraded by now?