101Downloading FirmwareThe controller board contains 256 MB of FLASH memory. The printer firmware which includes the printercontrol languages (emulations), engine control, and printer operating system software are loaded intoFLASH memory at the factory, but there are occasions when you may need to load the software:• firmware upgrade to a newer level• replacing a controller or reloading firmware if FLASH becomes corrupt.Different firmware types are included on the CD-ROM for printer upgrades. It is recommended to copy thetarget firmware type to a computer’s hard disk. From there, employ one of the various download methodspresented in this chapter. Downloading firmware can be accomplished through any host IO installed onthe printer, but it may not be valid for all methods.IMPORTANT The target firmware must be consistent with the options present in the controllerSecurity Key. Otherwise, the firmware download will be prevented.NOTE: With exception to the manual two-key and manual three-key power-up sequences, downloadingnew firmware does not require the user to put the printer into any special mode. Mostdownloading methods are employed when the printer is ONLINE and ready to receive data,making the download procedure easy.FLASH is used to store the firmware, but also contains a file system that holds System and User FlashFiles. User Flash Files consist of downloaded fonts, logos, forms, setup files, feature files, and filesspecific to the user’s setup or application. These files are either preserved or deleted based on thedownload method used in Table 10 on page 102.IMPORTANT Regardless of download method, any saved configurations will be erased. Beforestarting a download procedure, be sure that you have printed or savedconfigurations on your host computer so they can be restored after the downloadprocess is complete.
