d200 - firmware upgrade problem (2.01)

[noosphere]

I just upgraded my A/B firmware to 2.01, but now the firmware version reads as A: 1.01, B:2.01.

Has anyone else ran in to this?

This is the procedure I used to upgrade my firmware:

I downloaded the firmware from here:

http://support.nikontech.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/16094

Then copied both "A2000201.bin" and "B2000201.bin" to my CF card, put it in the camer, selected SetUp-> FirmwareVersion-> VersionUp. Then waited until the camera told me "Firmware upgrade complete. Turn off camera," which I did.

So it seemed like everything went fine, except for the A firmware still being at 1.01. Anyone have any idea how this can be fixed?

 

[archer69]

I just upgraded my A/B firmware to 2.01, but now the firmware version
reads as A: 1.01, B:2.01.

Has anyone else ran in to this?

This is the procedure I used to upgrade my firmware:

I downloaded the firmware from here:

http://support.nikontech.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/16094

Then copied both "A2000201.bin" and "B2000201.bin" to my CF card, put
it in the camer, selected SetUp-> FirmwareVersion-> VersionUp. Then
waited until the camera told me "Firmware upgrade complete. Turn off
camera," which I did.

Not trying to offend you, but in the link you posted above it descibes under "The basic steps to update the firmware are:" in 9 steps exactly how to do the firmware update. Read it and follow exactly what is written and it works.

The way you did it will never work.

So it seemed like everything went fine, except for the A firmware
still being at 1.01. Anyone have any idea how this can be fixed?

Again, follow the instructions and do it again...

--
Regards,
JH
http://www.jh-photography.net

 

[keithmatts]

--

The firmware upgrade process is very precise. I plunged into my upgrade and had to repeat the process 3 times before I got it right. I've never been very good at following directions. I now have a D300 and had the same problem with the firmware upgrade. I tend to think I can figure it out on my own. I discover all too often that my common senses isn't all that common.

I don't remember the D200 specifics, but I think my problem was I was trying to do both A and B at the same time, and you have to do them separately.

Good luck,

Keith

 

[noosphere]

Thanks for referring me back to the instructions. It seems I didn't read and follow them carefully enough.

So, the problem I had turned out to be that I had coped both** firmware A and B to my CF card and selected "version up", which wound up upgrading only firmware B.

What I should have done is copied only** firmware A to the CF card, selected "version up", which would have upgraded firmware A.

Then I should have formatted the card, copied firmware B to the CF card, and selected "version up", which would have upgraded firmware B.

If I had read the firmware upgrade instructions more carefully, I wouldn't have had this problem. Thanks for setting me straight.

On the other hand, I think the Nikon firmware upgrade software could be just a little bit more user-friendly and intuitive. Would have saved a bit of frustration there.

But at least now I've got both firmware A and B upgraded to 2.01, and upgrading them out of order doesn't seem to have caused any problems (crossing my fingers).

 

[blackdiesel]

On the other hand, I think the Nikon firmware upgrade software could
be just a little bit more user-friendly and intuitive. Would have
saved a bit of frustration there.

But at least now I've got both firmware A and B upgraded to 2.01, and
upgrading them out of order doesn't seem to have caused any problems
(crossing my fingers).

--

They provide step by step instructions with picture illustrations for every step. You didn't scroll down and read all of the instructions.

 

[archer69]

And sorry I didn't point the problem out directly (trying to update both firmware at the same time) but rather pointed you back to the instructions.

The reason was that it's better that you read, understand and follow the manufactures instruction rather than me telling you something and maybe make it worse. There are ways to mess the firmware up completely during an update, and the only way to fix that would be to send it back to Nikon.

But at least it worked out now
--
Regards,
JH
http://www.jh-photography.net

 

[noosphere]

I did read the instructions, just not carefully enough.

The summary near the beginning of the instructions is actually pretty good. But the detailed instructions could definitely be a lot better and the whole process could be a lot less confusing.

Problems with the process:

• First, why do does the user need to upgrade two sets of firmware instead of just one?

• Second, even if for some technical reason Nikon had to separate the firmware in to two files, why not give the user the ability to upgrade both at once?

• Third and most confusing, why have the camera upgrade firmware A only if it's the only firmware on the CF card, while firmware B will get installed even if both A and B are on the card?

• Finally, if A and B should be upgraded in a certain order, why not refuse to upgrade B if A has not been upgraded?

Problems with the prompts:

• Why not prompt/remind the user to upgrade the other firmware when one has been upgraded while the other one has not?

• If two firmwares need to be installed separately, why not let the user explicitly select which firmware to upgrade rather than guessing which firmware to install based on what's on the CF card (an obviously unreliable process)?

Problems with the instructions:

• It's true that in Step 5 (of many convoluted, recursive steps) it says "Copy A2000201.bin (A firmware) or B2000201.bin (B firmware) from the D200Update folder to this removable disk." If the user happens to be reading very carefully he might spot the "or" buried in these instructions. It would have been much clearer if this step was split in to two steps, one for firmware A and the other for B.

• The illustration in step 8-3 shows both firmwares to have been upgraded to 2.01. Despite the note to the left of the illustration, this is confusing for people who just aren't reading the instructions carefully enough, and are only skimming through the text. From the illustration, it seems like both A and B should have been upgraded at once.

• Since step 8 was "Confirm that the update was completed successfully.", and the picture showed both firmwares at 2.01, I'd assumed that because what I saw on my camera's screen did not match the illustration, the firmware upgrade was not completely successfull, panicked, and posted a message here without reading further. This step could better be titled, "Confirm that firmware A was updated successfully," with an accurate illustration.

Problem with the user:

• Yes, it's true: I skimmed the instructions (I already know how to copy files to the CF card and put the card back in to the camera, so do I really need to pay close attention to instructions on how to do that?) Guilty as charged. I've upgraded so many firmwares in my life that I was overconfident and ignored the nagging voice in my head that wondered if maybe I should be paying closer attention to the actual instructions. And I paid the price.

• Fortunately, my camera was not broken beyond repair (as may well happen with some other failed firmware upgrades), and the people on this forum have been very helpful. For that I am grateful.

Conclusion:

I think it's pretty clear that Nikon's instructions and firmware upgrade process/software could be improved to make the upgrade virtually foolproof (even if the user does not read the instructions very carefully).

Since I am clearly not the first or only user who's run in to this problem, Nikon could probably save some panic/frustration on the part of at least some users, and save themselves having to field some technical support calls by improving their documentation and software.

 

[noosphere]

Yes, you were quite right to send me back to the instructions. Thanks for your help!

 

[deerfly]

I just updated mine too, 2.0 -> 2.1 per the instructions and amazingly enough it worked.

 

[MarkB56]

Which from a software point of view, and maybe hardware, is not necessarily an accurate conclusion.

I successfully upgraded my firmware on my D200, yet the whole process reminds me of how I upgraded various elements of my PC in the 1990's, and even going way back to modem upgrades....

Each one of your points is well taken, for even if there is a valid technical reason for doing it the way it is, there is a very poor non-technical explanation for the process.

--
Mark
pbase supporter
PAS #29
Coolpix Five seven zero zero & Delta Two Zero Zero