I also turned my Z31000 into boat anchor with the bad firmware update
-- also not under warranty.
The problem with the bad firmware was that the file was cut short.
The firmware update does two things: it reflashes a small PROM and it
rewrites the information on the disk.
If the PROM is intact you can boot in debug mode and ftp a corrected
firmware update.
In my case the ROM was not flashed properly so I couldn't do that.
In theory HP could have sent me a new PROM, which is cheap and easily
installed in the formatter since it's socketed on the board. But they
aren't setup to do that. After bugging them they offered to send me a
new formatter for free in exchange for my old one. As it happened they
didn't have a formatter in stock so I had to wait two weeks.
Installing the formatter fixed the problem. I'd be extremely surprised
if you had a problem with firmware update that wasn't fixed by a new
formatter -- after all the firmware update is only software, no
hardware is involved.
I'd suspect that you didn't seat the formatter correctly, or maybe you
somehow got a bad formatter.
I'd also try to boot the printer in diagnostic mode and see if you can
ftp the firmware update.
John Anderson
On Oct 23, 2008, at 6:35 AM, toasterboy66 wrote:
--- In [email protected], "snap75015"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> --- In [email protected], "ggkelly1946"
<ggkelly@> wrote:
>
> > > >
> > >Unfortunately the issue is not power related it was software
related.
> > I loaded the new firmware and the printer gave me an error post.
> > Calling Hp they sent a tech who i8ndtalled a new formatter card
and
> > now it will not access the printer to install new paper profiles.
> >
>
> Well if I remember right, the new hardware has to be programmed by
a teleport on site. If the
> comm ports are not redirected and set up correctly they will not
allow full functionality
> between the logic board, and the controller. IF anything they
should know about this better
> than I, but do insist.
>
Unless you replace the printmech AND the formatter AT ONCE there is
no "reprogramming" involved, the eerom automatically backups itself.
Indeed the formatter is defined as a user-replaceable part and
usually needs no CE to replace.
If the internal prints are fine and the printer works fine standalone
as well and prints a testsite, 20 Bucks say your issue is completely
software related (or one of the weirdest Hardware bugs I've ever
seen.)
Those HP Agents are probably throwings parts hoping either an OS-
engineer will fix it by accident, that they sent you a tech with that
formatter is a sure sign of this, or they hope you will enventually
figure it out alone.
I'd go and install your printer on a different PC with a different
connection type to see what's what.
