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DM42 Firmware V3.5 available

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 3:33 pm
by grsbanks
Image

Release notes
  • Flashing firmware from FAT
  • Second row of keys replicated soft keys when BASE / A...F menu open
  • Free42 version 2.0.20
Flashing firmware from FAT

This is something that is going to make things a lot easier for future updates.

You will need to flash this version 3.5 in the traditional manner, but for future versions you will be able proceed as follows:
  1. Connect the DM42 to USB and activate USB Disk mode
  2. Copy the firmware file DM42_flash_#.#.bin to the root of the DM42's FAT drive
  3. Eject the DM42 on your operating system (but don't physically disconnect it)
  4. On the DM42, SETUP > System > Flash firmware from FAT
  5. Follow on-screen directions :)
Only copy one firmware file at a time to the FAT disk. If multiple firmware files are there, then the results are unpredictable.

Once the firmware has been flashed successfully, the .bin file is deleted from the FAT disk.

The DM42 must remain connected for this process to work in order to avoid unnecessary battery drain.

This method can be used to flash any firmware version from 3.5 onwards (upgrading or downgrading), so you can test it as soon as you've flashed it by flashing it again using this method :)

Second row of keys replicated soft keys when BASE / A...F menu open

Instead of performing the expected functions (∑+, 1/x etc.), pressing the keys on the second row of the keyboard would repeat the HEX digits 'A' to 'F'.

This has been fixed.

Free42 version 2.0.20

Free42 has been updated to address the issued fixed since version 2.0.17.

Details of the updates to Free42 are available on Thomas Okken's site here: http://thomasokken.com/free42/history.html

Update procedure

This is the last time you have to do it this way :)

Download DM42_flash_3.5.bin and follow instructions in the manual

SHA1 Checksum

c26bf3835b02208f710d753dc6c01653f840bbc9 DM42_flash_3.5.bin

Re: DM42 Firmware V3.5 available

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 3:42 pm
by Walter
Another smooth update (from v3.4 to v3.5). Thanks to the SM team!

Re: DM42 Firmware V3.5 available

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 3:49 pm
by c785
The update itself went without trouble, but the DM42 crashed during the saving of the state file, which effectively erased everything I have ever done. Luckily, I saved most of my programs to flash and the PC, so not too much of a disaster in the end.

Re: DM42 Firmware V3.5 available

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 4:33 pm
by HPMike
c785 wrote:
Sun Mar 25, 2018 3:49 pm
The update itself went without trouble, but the DM42 crashed during the saving of the state file, which effectively erased everything I have ever done. Luckily, I saved most of my programs to flash and the PC, so not too much of a disaster in the end.
So, did this happen after you made the update ? Did this just happen once, or does it now happen every time you try to save the state file. BTW, I also make a backup state file STATEBAK.s42 just in case something like this ever happens.

Re: DM42 Firmware V3.5 available

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 4:51 pm
by rprosperi
Quick and easy update to both production and beta machines.

Question: Can the current update method (with dm_tool) still be used in the future as well as the new boot-from-flash? I find it's just as easy, maybe even easier.

Thanks for update with no bumps.

Re: DM42 Firmware V3.5 available

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 5:08 pm
by grsbanks
rprosperi wrote:
Sun Mar 25, 2018 4:51 pm
Question: Can the current update method (with dm_tool) still be used in the future as well as the new boot-from-flash? I find it's just as easy, maybe even easier.
Yes, it can. In fact it is required if you feel the urge to downgrade to a version prior to 3.5.

Firmware binaries from 3.5 onwards contain a signature and a checksum that the DM42 looks for when doing a flash from FAT. If the signature and checksum are not found then the calc will refuse to proceed.

Re: DM42 Firmware V3.5 available

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 5:19 pm
by rprosperi
grsbanks wrote:
Sun Mar 25, 2018 5:08 pm


Yes, it can. In fact it is required if you feel the urge to downgrade to a version prior to 3.5.
Great, thanks for confirming.
grsbanks wrote:
Sun Mar 25, 2018 5:08 pm
Firmware binaries from 3.5 onwards contain a signature and a checksum that the DM42 looks for when doing a flash from FAT. If the signature and checksum are not found then the calc will refuse to proceed.
Wise to do so. I'd guess that it's just a matter of months before 'alternate' versions of DM42 f/w start to appear, though far fewer than have been suggested.

Re: DM42 Firmware V3.5 available

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 5:31 pm
by Walter
rprosperi wrote:
Sun Mar 25, 2018 5:19 pm
I'd guess that it's just a matter of months before 'alternate' versions of DM42 f/w start to appear, though far fewer than have been suggested.
What makes you guessing that??

Re: DM42 Firmware V3.5 available

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 5:36 pm
by akaTB
All is good, thanks a lot!

Re: DM42 Firmware V3.5 available

Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2018 5:43 pm
by salvomic
thank you!
smooth update from Mac OS X.
All went ok.

Salvo