HP49G ROM Upgrade

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ROM UPGRADE FOR THE HP49G

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FIRST, Please Read this important information.

# STEP DESCRIPTION

STEP #1

Connect the link cable to the PC and to the calculator.

STEP #2

On the HP, run the SERVER. There are some ways to do it:
1) Press and hold RedShift, then press right arrow (->).
2) Type SERVER and press [ENTER] (on the history).
3) Also, in the Catalog, open it: [CAT] and select SERVER.

STEP #3

Run HPcomm, and it will begin to connect to your HP, and then to read the PC's contents. When it's done, it will show the screen of the image at left ( windows explorer-like), showing the files and folders on your PC, and the contents in HOME.

STEP #4

On the upper side, find the upgrade file, and when you have it, make a double click.
Showing on this image, you can see it's a .flash file, and the name is depending of the version.

This case is: hp49119-5.flash

STEP #5

After you made the double click, a little window like this will appear, showing the options:

Config Comms   (COM Port select),
Talk to Calc       (conect to HP and run the upgrade program),   and
Exit                    (abort).

Make sure that the selected port is the same you have the HP49G connected to.

STEP #6

This is the port selection window.

Here, you can choose the port, and change it if it's incorrect.
By default, the COM1 is selected, but it may be wrong, so check it.

Once you made the correct selection and pressed OK, the screen will return to the window on STEP #5, then wait.
Now continue with the next step:

STEP #7

On the calculator, press [CANCEL] to leave the SERVER. You'll return to the Stack / History.
Then press and hold [ON], after this, press [F4] and then release both keys.
The HP49 will show the Diagnostic Menu (the one of the image).
The ROM upgrade menu IS NOT HERE. You'll need to do a special key combo, explained on next step:

STEP #8

To acces the ROM upgrade menu, press and hold both [ENTER] and [+] (without leaving diagnostic menu), and press [ON]. Release all keys.
Now appears the "No System" menu (see the image).
Press [4] (Terminal mode).

STEP #9

After you pressed [4] on last step, the screen will turn blank, and it will wait the PC's command.

(This is NORMAL, and the HP49 is not blocked).

STEP #10

Now, on the PC, press the Talk to Calc button on step #5.
The HP49G will show the screen of the image, showing a Menu.
You must press 1 (Download System), and the upgrade Begins!
All the next steps will be automatic. And all the messages are normal (like "Erasing System").
NOTE: THIS STEP IS THE LAST CHANCE TO ABORT WITHOUT ERASING THE HP49G'S ROM.
If you changed your mind, you must press Q (Reboot) before select 1 (Download System). Once you selected 1 from this Menu, There is not way back, and you must wait.

STEP #11

Now, all you need is wait (from 10 to 15 min.) until the upgrade is done.
This screen will show the transfer's progress, or:

System, parts 1 to 7, etc. on the File box.
On the CPS box, the speed of transfer is shown.
On File Size the program shows the file size is being transfered (the whole upgrade consists of several files, one for each ROM Bank).
Make sure the Protocol is set to Xmodem 1K-HPCRC (default).

When the download is complete, the HP49 will prompt you:

"Download complete"
"Press Q twice to reboot"

It means that it's done, and you must press the Q key 2 times to do a WarmStart.
Type VERSION and press [ENTER] to retrieve the current ROM version.

IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG...

If an error ocurrs, and the upgrade in not completed, your Calculator WILL NOT WORK, until you download the system again. Don't worry, your calculator is OK. When a 49G does not have ROM, the "No System" menu (screen on step #8) allows you to download it. Open HPcomm 3.0 r4 and do a double click to the upgrade file (.flash). On the 49G, PRESS 4 (Terminal mode), and then [1] (download system), after this, select Talk to Calc on HPCOMM. The process will begin.

Causes of FAILURE are:
* Dead batteries.
* A malfunctioning cable, or it was disconected.
* The COM port failed.
* An electric shutdown.
* The HP49G's serial port has a BUG.

NOTE: There are some HP49Gs, that have a BUG on the serial port, and it does not allow a good conection between the HP and the PC, so you may connect it sometimes good, sometimes not so good.
In case of this failure, try another brand of computer. If you don't get a good conection, even trying several computers, you must contact HP to place a warranty claim.
The HP49G models with this bug are: Earlier models, with serial number before ID94xxxx.
If you have a model ID94xxxx is difficult to have the bug. Mine is ID93xxxx and NEVER FAILED (I have tried all the ROMs, comercials and Betas and it always went good on several computers).

If you have any question, or something went wrong, just E-mail me to help you!.

DISCLAIMER: All the information on this page is only with the purpose to help. I am not responsible for any damage to your calculator or to the PC, directly or indirectly caused for the use of this information. Also, English is not my native Language, so I may have mistakes.
The only kind of warranty I can give to you is that I have done the Upgrade many times, so I know it very well.

ROM VERSIONS FOR YOUR HP49G:

Drop Down Menu!

On The Unsupported versions (Beta) 1.19-5 or higher you'll need to do some extra steps explained in the file hp49.html. It is to save the contents of the 64 KB Bank 0 of port :2:
In the text file hp49g*.txt says the info about the ROM, and what's new. Also contains the list of BUGS fixed.

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