Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
01-08-2017, 02:23 AM - 4 Likes   #1
Digitiser of Film
Loyal Site Supporter
BigMackCam's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: North East of England
Posts: 20,571
Safer firmware updates for Pentax cameras

There is a certain amount of angst around firmware updates and the possibility of "bricking" a camera during the update process... for instance, when the power source - battery or mains power supply - fails under load. We have several members who have ended up with inoperable cameras as a result of this, and whilst it remains relatively uncommon, it is a very real risk.

One possible solution to this would be to offer two firmware banks, A and B. Bank A would contain the original firmware as shipped, and would be non-updateable. Bank B would be for updated firmware. A new camera would, by default, boot from Bank A. When the update process is executed and completed successfully, the camera would boot from Bank B in future. In the event of a failed update, holding down a certain button combination during power-on would force the camera to boot from Bank A, the original firmware. This would ensure that update failures could not result in an inoperable camera as, at the very worst, the user would always have the option of loading the original firmware.

Offering such a facility would be well-received by current and future owners, and should be an attractive feature - especially since no other manufacturer (that I know of) currently offers it.

Thanks for your consideration of the above.

01-08-2017, 12:55 PM - 1 Like   #2
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,037
Or Bank A just contains enough minimal firmware to basically power up and 'boot' the camera such that it can accept new firmware to Bank B. The amount of memory required for this would be minuscule.
01-08-2017, 01:56 PM   #3
Digitiser of Film
Loyal Site Supporter
BigMackCam's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: North East of England
Posts: 20,571
Original Poster
Yep, that would work too
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
bank, boot, camera, customer service, firmware, firmware updates, future, pentax, ricoh imaging, suggestion, update, updates, updates for pentax
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Pentax Firmware updates vs Mobile App Pewter Pentax DSLR Discussion 16 10-10-2016 10:19 AM
10 Firmware Updates Released: Support for the Pentax Teleconveter Adam Pentax News and Rumors 29 03-10-2014 09:42 PM
Firmware updates for Metz flashes... Catalana Pentax News and Rumors 18 03-02-2011 11:09 AM
Pentax Firmware updates artyfact Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 4 10-29-2010 10:27 PM
How many firmware updates for K-7? ronin67 Pentax DSLR Discussion 2 12-12-2009 07:29 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:22 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top