A1 Firmware update failed. Camera Dead.

Hi everyone,

Here's what happened. I had firmware 1.01 in the camera. I followed all the directions on the firmware update page to update to 1.13u. I even formated my Kingston 512 elite pro with the camera prior to the update.

So I started the process. The light was on for about 15-20 seconds and then it shut off. Everything seems ok at this point.
I took out the battery and put it back.

After I turned the camera back on. The screen read "Accessing Data" and the red access light is on. There is a barely percivable high pitched noise. This goes on forever. No buttons work including the power button. The only way I could turn it off after 10 mins is to take out the battery.

Now, the flash card that was in the camera will no longer read in my card reader.

I tried another card, a 16 meg; and it did the exact same thing. Now it will no longer register in my card reader.

I used a third card, another 512 meg card to try to update. But now, after I start the process, the red light will only go on for about a 1 second before it shuts off. I don't want to risk this card by putting it in the camera when it turns back on. The camera will turn on without a card. But it will say "no card" and all the buttons do not work. I have to pull the battery out to shut it off.

Please help if you can. But it looks pretty bad. Also anyone knows where to take the camera in for repairs in the LA area? Thanks for all replies.

Oh no, I wonder if you format the card in your pc. Reinsall the upgrade and see if it will take. I don't know just feeling your pain. Please keep us posted as to how you fix it. By the grace of god it could happen to any of us. Al

Let me tell you, it was a pleasent experience, especially since I lost both the camera and a high quality CF card.

After reading some of the links here I tried the computer format route of FAT 16 and then loading the firmware. Didn't work. The access light would only stay on for about a second before shutting down. At this point, the camera will turn on with a card (Acess continuously in frozen state, card subsequently unusable) or turn on without card. Just says no card and frozen. Both situations, I have to take the battery out to shut off.

anyway, I am a pretty tech savy guy and have updated firmware on many motherboards and electronic gadgets. I always thought long as you follow the directions and the power doesnt go out, you were ok. worst case scenerio, failed update. but here there seems to be some inherent incompatibility issue. oh well. live and learn.

looking at this forum there are quite a few posts since the publication of the firmware for both the A1 and A2 failures or in the A2's case a low battery light and frozen camera. I just hope Minolta gets wind of this and look into the cause.

this morning, I called Minolta service center and described the situation. They basically said there is nothing they can do but to have me send it in. So thats what I did. I am hoping that if they get enough of these A1 and A2's coming in due to firmware update failure they will take some proactive measures, or at least not charge for the repairs.

I will update when I get some news from Minolta.

At this point, I kind of feel like I won the lottery, since my 1.14u A2 firmware update was succesful. But I might hesitate when the next firmware(if that ever occurs) is released, when thinking back to this seeminly high number of failures.

-Chris

photonut70 said:

I am hoping that if they
get enough of these A1 and A2's coming in due to firmware update
failure they will take some proactive measures, or at least not
charge for the repairs.

Click to expand...

I certainly second that. Even though my own update was successful, there seem to be too many update failures. Pity because KM won many hearts over again with this significant update, but then all those dead cameras turning up might severly damage the positive effect the update had on customer loyalty.

In the future, maybe KM should make it possible to update at a certified service centre, and I'm not ruling out a small fee. And then if you decide to update at home, you do it at your own risk.

Photonut - hope you sort this out. It would be a good idea IMO if you and all the other update casualties keep us posted as to the outcome of their ordeals. Hopefully someone somewhere in KM keeps track of this forum.

It happened to me too. I don't know about the card problem since I don't have a card reader. But we seem to have a problem in common. I happen to have a Konica Minolta repair center within 10 km from home, but that doesn't make me happy by itself.... I will let you know when the problem is solved.

Marc

I live in LA, there are a couple of repair centers near my home but when I called they said they did not repair digital cameras. You have to send it in to Minolta.

Gideon01 said:

Pity because KM won many
hearts over again with this significant update, but then all those
dead cameras turning up might severly damage the positive effect
the update had on customer loyalty.

Click to expand...

That's also one of the reason why manufacturers are reluctant to put out firmware upgrades except for their DSLR or high end models. Firmware upgrades is inherently risky, people have to understand that. One glitch, and your camera is dead. The same applies to other electronic items.

And I am sure that whenever the manufacturers release any firmware upgrades, they fully expect to get a number of dead cameras for repair. So it costs them other than the R&D on the firmware.

To be honest, judging by the number of dead cameras in this forum, it is relatively small. You just have to ask yourself whether you really want the new features to take the risk. And "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" advice is sound and the safest way.

Well, here's my update on the failed camera firmware situation.

Sent my camera out to the New Jersey Repair Center 2 weeks ago. Just got it back via UPS this afternoon. Great turn around time. I was not charged for the repairs.

I checked the camera's firmware. It is 1.02u which is kind of disappointing, I thought they would update it to 1.13u.

Of course the $64k question is wheather I have the chuppas to try to upgrade again to 1.13u.

I have decided against it. It was just a little too traumatic the last time. Although I am pretty sure it was due to a corrupt file (ie: didn't eject the card prior to unplugging it from the computer.) I would never forgive myself if it failed a second time and I had to go through the rigamaroll again.

What do you guys think? would you do it? Does the benefit outweigh the risks?

Why don't you call the repair center and find out what they had to do to repair the camera. Then you'll at least have an idea whether your update caused the problem or if it was something else. You may even find out how to fix the problem if it happens again.

Yes, definately try again. It's weird that they don't update after the "repair". I've noticed that this has happened to other people too. It's almost as if some cameras have some weird issue that they fix--thus insuring your updates will work thereafter.

I like the idea of another poster that suggests calling Minolta. Ask them what they did to your camera and have them suggest what probably went wrong the first time and just exactly how you avoid it this time around. Maybe you'll learn the elusive secret as to why some upgrades fail!!

--
Steve W

Í have got mine back, too. It had v. 1.13e allright. I have not been charged costs by Minolta. The same night I took 3 pictures to test and enjoy the camera. Worked fine. However, the next day the camera did not register any incoming light. I guess the CCD now is broken. I had to send the camera back again. I'll have to wait and see....

There were problems when people installed new firmware without checking what firmware was their camera running on and installing the wrong version. That can't be it, though, because I noticed that rule only in the first updates.

However, I don't know if there isn't a preset order of updates -- running one only after another, compatible one, was installed. I followed all the updates from v. 1.10e, and never had problems, so might that be it?

This is my very first posting.

After following the threads on the failure of A1 firmware updates and it's disastrous result on such a fine camera like my A1, I decided to have it done by Zoomtron here in Canada.

I offered to pay for the update but got it free of charge! It must have something to do with the holiday season : ) !

Happy New Year to you all!

--
PaulSan