ARC-270 Stuck in bootup ...

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • RTrotto
    • Jun 2025

    #1

    ARC-270 Stuck in bootup ...

    Wish I had found this forum with the last few fixes on this unit!

    When the unit is turned on it sits on the AR "splash screen" and will stay there apparently indefinitely. The copier does not go through the start up routine other than the delayed relay clicks and that is basically where the action stops. We have checked all of the AC/DC power supplies/fuses and have double checked all of the connectors. Everything appears to have the proper voltage that needs it. Anyone have input on the next steps?

    I cannot seem to find very much chatter anywhere on the net concerning the ARC-150/270s ... were they not very popular, this particuliar unit seems to be a recurring nightmare ...

    Any help would be appreciated .... thanks in advance!
  • RTrotto

    #2
    Hmmm no takers ....

    No takers on this one? I am thinking it is a problem with the PCU Main Board but really do not know how to test it ... any suggestions on this one? I could really use some help as we are a bit under the gun to get the unit functioning again.

    Thanks!

    Comment

    • blackcat4866
      Master Of The Obvious

      Site Contributor
      10,000+ Posts
      • Jul 2007
      • 22997

      #3
      The whole Bear line of copiers is a re-occurring nightmare. If you are stuck in the boot up screen you've probably got a dead hard drive.
      If you'd like a serious answer to your request:
      1) demonstrate that you've read the manual
      2) demonstrate that you made some attempt to fix it.
      3) if you're going to ask about jams include the jam code.
      4) if you're going to ask about an error code include the error code.
      5) You are the person onsite. Only you can make observations.

      blackcat: Master Of The Obvious =^..^=

      Comment

      • RTrotto

        #4
        I kind of suspected that was the case ... the drive is ok though, we pulled it all apart and actually took an archival image of the drive ... any other thoughts other than using a big hammer to fix this one?

        Comment

        • blackcat4866
          Master Of The Obvious

          Site Contributor
          10,000+ Posts
          • Jul 2007
          • 22997

          #5
          I guess the next choice would be to flash the Boot ROM, then replace the Boot ROM, then the MFP PWB.
          First choice is to find a big rock to bury it under.
          If you'd like a serious answer to your request:
          1) demonstrate that you've read the manual
          2) demonstrate that you made some attempt to fix it.
          3) if you're going to ask about jams include the jam code.
          4) if you're going to ask about an error code include the error code.
          5) You are the person onsite. Only you can make observations.

          blackcat: Master Of The Obvious =^..^=

          Comment

          • RTrotto

            #6
            Ok, this is where I might need some advice on where to get the images, is there a vendor that carries the equipment to do this ... I wouldn't mind using this as a bit of an experiment ... we are a computer consultancy shop so the tech part is easy, just need a push in the right direction on where to get the equipment ... I really appreciate the input thus far ... nice to know that I may be barking up the right tree

            What really stinks about this is that we just got it to the point where it was outputting some great color copy ... after replacing alot of hard to find (translated - hard to find inexpensively) parts ....

            Comment

            • blackcat4866
              Master Of The Obvious

              Site Contributor
              10,000+ Posts
              • Jul 2007
              • 22997

              #7
              If you can't get the machine to boot up, and don't have another Bear ( I sure hope not, 1 is plenty!) you won't be able to flash. I've never had to replace one of these ROMs. According to the manual when the ROM is replaced the serial # must be programmed into it via service manager mode. Its the ICU Rom (VHi28F162A33F for AR-C270) by the way.

              I won't be able to help you with the service manager mode on this one. If you really want to fix this one, my best advice is to contact your local Sharp dealer. They may even have a good ROM lying around, or a live machine to flash one from. And they'll be able to access the service manager mode.

              If there is an external device to flash this ROM I don't know about it.
              If you'd like a serious answer to your request:
              1) demonstrate that you've read the manual
              2) demonstrate that you made some attempt to fix it.
              3) if you're going to ask about jams include the jam code.
              4) if you're going to ask about an error code include the error code.
              5) You are the person onsite. Only you can make observations.

              blackcat: Master Of The Obvious =^..^=

              Comment

              • choicecopyguy
                Trusted Tech

                100+ Posts
                • Mar 2006
                • 111

                #8
                You will need another bear plus a level converter from Sharp to flash thisone. Like Blackcat said your best bet is to find a dealer to flash them for you. You need to flash the main, boot, pcu, and icu together to make sure the versions match. I know you said the hd was good, but i would try another anyway.

                Comment

                • RTrotto

                  #9
                  Ok ... thanks for the info, called a couple of local "authorized" centers and was about as far from impressed as one could be, not going to mention any names just in case... we have already started looking for a spare machine ... anyone have a arc-720 boards hanging around ????

                  I will update this thread with any progress, we are going to try another hd. We took an image of the hard drive using one of our internal tools, it recognized four partitions and recognized the partitions as linux derivatives. Does anyone have knowledge of what we should be seeing on the drive? I assume that reloading the drive requires an image and and a loader which we will have to find a SHARP authorized dealer for if we need to reload it (ie if the image we have is damaged ...). The bear board itself appears to be going through and trying to do a boot cycle as we see some "gren light" activity on the board and then mulitple sequences of "red light" hd activity - but - the hard drive just doens not sound 100% what I would expect so we will try, anything we need to try to match on the hd aside from size cylinder and sector match?

                  Once again, thanks in advance ....

                  Comment

                  • choicecopyguy
                    Trusted Tech

                    100+ Posts
                    • Mar 2006
                    • 111

                    #10
                    what happens when you try to boot the machine without the HD? It should come up with a code.

                    Comment

                    • RTrotto

                      #11
                      When it is powered up without the hard drive, I get a solid red light on the EFI board in the area below the hard drive but nothing new on the display ... still has the AR centered with the stars going round and round like someone hit it with a hammer and it is seeing stars (or it is about to)...

                      Comment

                      • blackcat4866
                        Master Of The Obvious

                        Site Contributor
                        10,000+ Posts
                        • Jul 2007
                        • 22997

                        #12
                        I still say it's the hard drive. This machine will not run without it, so that's no surprise.
                        If you'd like a serious answer to your request:
                        1) demonstrate that you've read the manual
                        2) demonstrate that you made some attempt to fix it.
                        3) if you're going to ask about jams include the jam code.
                        4) if you're going to ask about an error code include the error code.
                        5) You are the person onsite. Only you can make observations.

                        blackcat: Master Of The Obvious =^..^=

                        Comment

                        • RTrotto

                          #13
                          Ok, waiting for a drive to come in to try this, should be by Wed ... also found this really cool site ... EPROM PROGRAMMER DEVICE PROGRAMMER BY ANDROMEDA RESEARCH they seem to carry the programmers needed to flash the sharp ... at $170 they seem to be worth it ... how do I go about getting access to SharpNet? We are a full service computer consulting company, maybe it is time we service copiers as well as printers?

                          Comment

                          • blackcat4866
                            Master Of The Obvious

                            Site Contributor
                            10,000+ Posts
                            • Jul 2007
                            • 22997

                            #14
                            Sharpnet is only available to Sharp dealers. My login expired with my employment at a Sharp dealership.
                            If you'd like a serious answer to your request:
                            1) demonstrate that you've read the manual
                            2) demonstrate that you made some attempt to fix it.
                            3) if you're going to ask about jams include the jam code.
                            4) if you're going to ask about an error code include the error code.
                            5) You are the person onsite. Only you can make observations.

                            blackcat: Master Of The Obvious =^..^=

                            Comment

                            • RTrotto

                              #15
                              Update ... HD Replaced, Same Behavior

                              So we received the hard drive and made an image of the old one and put it on the new one. It goes through the same cycle as the old one in terms of behavior of the hd activity light that is on the board, etc. Cleared the drive and got a blinking red light so I am assuming that we are ok with the image. Next step is to reflash everything. I am more than willing to pay someone for the image files that I can flash (supposedly available on Sharpnet) or I will send all of the modules out as Sharp has not even replied to our application yet. Please let me know if anyone is interested, I want to get this fixed ASAP.

                              Thanks In Advance ...

                              Comment

                              Working...