Has the TR12-TR_07_00_00-3_mvl40-x86-opt firmware just been released on the 4th Sept? I can't find a file saying what the improvements are actually about?

With thanks mehdi

The most recent I can see is:


TR12-TR_06_00_00-8
18 Apr 2008

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechS...5&swEnvOID=4019

Answering my own question:
You will be able to replace a cartridge that has run out of ink in the middle of a print without needing to cancel the print.
When loading photo papers, the printer will ask if you want to cut the leading edge of the paper.
You will be able to load 11-inch-wide rolls.
A firmware upgrade will not delete custom paper presets from the printer.
You will be able to assign an IPv6 address to the printer from the front panel.
There will be a new option in the Paper menu to advance and reverse paper without cutting it.
Note: During the upgrade, the printer's front panel may display a white screen for two minutes before continuing with the upgrade process.

Sounds pretty nice. I guess we can hope for an update for the Postscript version before the new year then . . .
-Ron H.

Thanks, Medhi!!!!!

In the usual HP bizarre website experience the new firmware wasn't visible for Windows and my 24" Z. Now it is but the release notes are for the previous version.

This sounds like an excellent firmware update. Thanks again for letting us know.

I've been downloading the Windows XP version of the firmware for the 24" Z TR12_07_00_00-3_mvl40-x86-opt.exe but even after three downloads I still receive an error message when trying to execute the file:

"Zip file is damaged, truncated, or has been changed since it was created...."

Has anyone had any luck with the new firmware on XP?

File is corrupt for me also

Dan

I was able to successfully install this upgrade from my Macintosh. I compared a few newly printed images to some previously printed and I see no changes. This is always a concern to me when upgrading firmware.

It looks like there are some new calibration entries in the image quality menu on the printer. "enable color calibration" (on/off). I don't remember seeing this one before.

The new ability to move roll paper forward and backward using the up/down arrows is welcome. I wish they would have set it up so you didn't have to go into the paper menu to do so. The up/down arrows don't work for anything unless you are in the menus. The could have just made them work for moving paper all the time it seems.

I always like to hear some success stories before I upgrade my firmware so I hope this helps someone else.

Hmm, din't have luck with update. Updated from Mac and after restarting the printer reports error code 08:11 and refuse to boot.

I guess I will need to call support next week.

This is interesting. I've tried to restart the printer twice as it asked for and always it ended up in 08:11 shortly after showing 0% progress bar. Then I've removed ethernet cable from printer, restarted and printer is back alive again and definitely with new firmware. Will give it a test run now.

Apparently in 6 months of testing the new driver HP forgot about ethernet support?

OK, after rebooting printer lost usage statistics (i.e. only overall ink/paper usage was preserved). If I knew that in advance, I would export it first. Paper presets was there, calibration too, but I've re-calibrated anyway because it was a while since I calibrated last time. Since the exagons seemed a bit more off each other than usual, I also re-did head alignment.

Then the printer refused to print from Mac I did all the other work from. The driver reported that it no longer can connect to the printer. Interestingly it printed from Windows machine. This got fixed by removing the printer and adding it again.

Now all seems to be back in order first prints are same as usually. I think for HP Mathe Litho the printer is now printing slighly faster, or at least machine tends to resonate differently than before, but it might be just me. Can't tell for sure since the logs listing printing times was lost...

I might sound scary, but overall this seems nice update with little improvements all over the place (i.e. web server and menu was slightly extended). Especially look forward to be able to replace the cartridges.

Honza

Same problem with mine - tried it twice - an hour each time.

Just update the mac version.

It took far longer than other updates ( more than 15 minutes) and it was a lot heavier than previous updates: 550 mb instead ogf the usual 380 mb.

But leaving the machine in peace for some time in the end all works well.

I see some little changes but there is no information from HP about what has changed - I don't know why they don't add a pdf with with information in the download.

Just fyi... I let Ben Wolf (HP) know of the problem with the Windows firmware and he said he'd look into it.

Thanks Ron

You're welcome. Ben responded that the engineering team is now aware of the problem and we should see a new file by tomorrow at the latest.

Hi folks,

just downloaded and installed the MAC version, everything went flawlessly. Including download it took 1 hour.

Printer is back alive... Didn´t do a test print though.

Best,

Clem

The link to the Windows 32 bit version is no longer available. Hopefully, when it becomes available again, it will link to a usable file.

Mike

Nothing yet. Hopefully this time they're testing before posting.

Its a firmware update I'm looking forward to.

Still no new firmware file for XP.

and still no new firmware for XP.....

Since upgrading my Z3100 44" to this firmware I've gotten the following error twice in the last 2 days while the printer was sitting idle:

79.1:04

In the service manual it lists this as: Recoverable firmware error that does not stop the printing process.

I've had to unplug the printer and restart to continue. I've never seen this before this firmware upgrade.

Anyone else seeing this?

and still no new firmware for XP.....

Well--The XP version of the new firmware must have needed lots of work because it is still unavailable for download.
This is disappointing, but I'd hate to install a not ready for primetime build as well!!
Still waiting.

Dave

It may also be that the dev staff is all busy fussing with whatever printer they're going to announce/show at Photokina.

Oh, sounds nice. I switch media often and grunt resentfully at the dollar in paper the printer eats each time I load a roll. Arrow control of loaded media would be nice also to get those canvas batches cut off cleanly (it always feels so lame to pop the lever and do it manually). But changing ink mid print!! That's the best news ever.

n.b. 18 months into ownership and continue to be thrilled with the z and its output. been doing some extremely high res tests (full 1200 dpi data) and 10x loupe examination is always a revelation.

It’s interesting that it’s taking this long to replace a file. The firmware is the same, whether you’re using Windows or OS X. The firmware just get’s uploaded to the printer. The Windows problem is either a delivery issue (the program that uploads the firmware to the printer), or a corrupt file on the HP server. If the file is corrupt, it’ll take a few seconds to replace it on the server. Done. We all have access to it. It doesn’t take days to perform that task. If it’s a delivery issue, they should only have to recompile the setup program, and put that on the server. Assuming they still have the setup used to create the original executable, it will take a few moments longer to update the server. Either way, it’s not a one week task, not even where I work.

I think they’re testing our patience (at least mine).

Mike

I couldn't agree more. We QA a system in less time than they're taking to provide an uncorrupted file. Unless.... those on the Mac are reporting problems with the firmware and they've had to rethink a thing or three.

My patience is being tested as well.

What's always most frustrating is the total lack of communications from HP.

I would imagine so. That is no excuse for not having support on urgent issues for current users. Throwing a fmwr together , posting it then running for cover under the guise that there is a new product launch?
BTW the op sys on Z is a Linux set up so if there are problems in getting it into the printer it's the installer, probably not the firmware itself.

Time to report once again that there is no new firmware for XP for the Z3100.

With this kind of customer support I don't understand why anyone would buy a Z3200 no matter how good the printer is.

Oh yeah, no word at all from HP on this.

I did receive a goofy "HP Support" email from them that really contained no useful information at all.

Hi Ron-

yeah, I got a "support email"; Every time I get one I think "this one will finally have something important." But no, even though I only signed up for z3100 updates, it only has something about "ITRC or BSC", whatever the hell that is! And the worst part is I never do get the emails about the new z3100 firmware, I have to hear about that here first!

But the z3200 is great, I have to say. If I had to choose between good emails or good printers, well...

Hang in there, buddy.

Bill

Hi Ron,
I was just over to the HP Site and there is a new Firmware for the HPZ3100ps entitled:

HPZ3100ps GP PHOTO Printer Firmware Upgrade

Download »Type: Firmware
Version: TR12PS-7.0.0.3-5 (9 Sep 2008)
Operating System(s): Mac OS X, Mac OS X 10.5
File name: TR12-TR12PS_07_00_00-3_mvl40-x86-opt_B.dmg (332 MB)

Is this what you are looking for?

Also, it doesn't appear that the drivers have been updated.

I'm holding off until I hear more from regular users.

Thanks for the info!

Unfortunately I'm looking for the latest firmware for the base Z3100 on Windows XP. The firmware for base Z on the Mac has been available for several weeks now.

Come on Tom! You first. You act like you've been burned before or something.

Oh yeah, me too.

I am curious if this version might solve my problem with needing to connect my Z3100ps GP over USB directly to retrieve my paper list and add profiles, a feature brought about by the last firmware upgrade.

As with Bill, I choose good printing over good email (support), but I sorely wish the decision wasn't binary. Could we have a little middle ground, please?

Did I mention that I'm more than a little jealous, though, at those that were a part of the beta program on the Z3200? Were you involved with HP before this model, Bill? Was this a result of your being a vocal critic of aspects of the Z3100? If that is the case, you have to give a little back to HP for the foresight to get input from sources outside the HP glee club.

Why they can't manage to post the new software for XP, and why they can't seem to make their alert system function for useful purposes like software alerts though, is all a part of the strange black box we call HP.

-Ron H.

PS: I just noticed that there are new paper presets available for many, but not all HP substrates, on the Postscript downloads page. While it would be nice to know what is different about these from previous presets, I guess if you are going to be reprofiling anyway due to new firmware, you might as well delete all of the older presets and replace them as a matter of course. That old wary feeling still creeps back sometimes, though . . .
-Ron H.

I wouldn't be jealous of beta testing HP stuff. I am glad however others will do it as someone will have to.
I had to print on one (well didn't have to they had Epson and Canon too) at Photokina.
They have tagged the profiles into the media presets. Who ever did the testing might not have seen the bugs I saw in the software. Good luck is all I can say.
I saw print defects that were in the original Z printers before the mad dashes at fixing the red for matte paper which were to the detriment of the other color maps come back again in the 3200. Grey transition problems, GE problem, contouring and other things that were at least on this particular 3200 PS shocking. Oh maybe someone put the wrong inks in.....

Neil-
Are you suggesting that you shouldn't need a hammer to get stubborn cartridges that don't seem to fit right? What if you run out of the right kind of cartridge at a major trade show? Even then?

Your point about the beta testing is well taken. Shiny and new is great when it all works, but sorting out green software and hardware must have it's own special frustrations at times. Extrapolating from some of my own troubles here and there, of course, which must pale by comparison.

Your post implies that only part of the red gamut expansion on the Z3200 was from ink formulation, and the rest was from adjustments to the color lookup tables? Yours seems to be the first less than enthusiastic comment I've read about it, if so.

-Ron H.

Good points, Ron.

Epson has the Print Academy and Canon has the poohbahs of Light. He have Robert and Bill for the Z3200. I am very thankful that both have had the opportunity to work with HP much as Neil did with the Z3100. It seems to be the main pipeline of real world information on the printers.

I'm not afraid of the new firmware and will try it once its available. I've not been burned on firmware yet. Drivers and software, well that's a different story, but I was able to recover from their mistakes.

My Z3100 is still doing a super job for me but I'm getting irritated by the treatment from HP. I guess they really don't understand this market niche.

Hi Ron,
Sorry, I thought you had the same machine as me ;-)

Here are a few quick questions for you or anybody....

When you do a firmware upgrade, the printer looses all the jobs in the queue, and you have to recalibrate your papers and make new profiles. It would be really great for me if you could pull jobs of the printer and then upload them later, as I have done years ago with RIP Software on my then large format Epson Stylst Color 3000 printer. Doesn't that make sense or not? Also I used to be able to archive jobs that require reprinting. Of course back then the RIP was in the computer and controlling the printer.

Wouldn't it be great if HP offered a list of what changes are incorporated into the new firmware?

Is it just me who sees this as an oversight?

Thanks, and so long for now, TOM

Tom-
I'm the Ron with the same printer/OS as you. Rons are a dime a dozen around these parts . . .

Here is what HP lists under fixes on the download page. I assume these apply to all of the 3100 models:

"--You will be able to replace a cartridge that has run out of ink in the middle of a print without needing to cancel the print.
--When loading photo papers, the printer will ask if you want to cut the leading edge of the paper.
--A firmware upgrade will not delete custom paper presets from the printer.
--There will be a new option in the Paper menu to advance and reverse paper without cutting it.
--The processing speed when printing large images or rotated images through the PostScript driver has been improved"

They all sound good to me.

I will most likely take the bait and upgrade when I'm back at work on Monday. Details to follow.

-Ron H.

Hi everyone,
In case it helps anyone, I got fed up with waiting for HP to supply the XP version of the new firmware, and logged a call with them for it.
They responded with -> use the MAC version - Download it, expand it and then ftp the file to the printer.
So I downloaded the MAC version for my printer (Z3100 44 inch) and extracted the firmware file using Transmac. I ended up with the file TR12-MVL-U-7.0.0.3-5.fmw.
Instead of using ftp to transfer it to the printer as HP suggested - I just used the standard web interface to upload the new file.
It all appears to be working perfectly.
Hope this helps,
Richard.

Hi Ron H.,
Thanks for the clarifications. Especially that there is a Ron out there with my model I knew that!

Cartridge replacement is very helpful. The warnings for low ink seem to start at around 20 ml, a point that leaves a fairly useable quantity of ink left wasted. I've tried to "run them dry" but that gets nerve racking, so I usually try to keep an eye on the reported amount of ink left and change them when they get to less than 5 ml.

Processing speed will be very welcomed also. I try not to flip jobs knowing it will take longer, and I have a few really large PS jobs that have crunched for nearly 2 hours before they actually printed. That's why I would love to be able to off load the RIPPED files from the Queue and archive them. Maybe someday? Processing. Processing.

Can't wait to hear of your experience with the latest FW upgrade.

Keep us posted, please.

Thanks, and so long for now, TOM

Thanks, Richard!!!! I'll give it a try.

Hmmmmm..... $54 for TransMac - maybe I'll wait

I downloaded the 30day trial version - works well.
Richard.

Excellent!!! Thanks for the quick response, Richard. I'll definitely give it a try.

Richard,

Thanks for the heads up and for thinking outside the box. I used the TransMac trial version to copy the fmw file and all updated on my Z3100 smoothly. No errors.

The option to cut or not to cut off the leading edge of the glossy paper is a great addition to the firmware, and if you do elect to cut off the edge, it now only cuts off 2 inches. This is great!

Jim

Tom, and others interested in the PS version on a Mac-

I just ran the firmware updater and successfully loaded the new firmware. All went according to plan, except for an error message that seems to have been a red herring. I got an error of 68:03, which means "loss of engine counters tracking". It was cured with a restart, and all seems fine after the upgrade.

To your delight, Tom, the Job Queue and Job Accounting logs are intact and unchanged. Unfortunately, for my particular problem, I'm still unable to retrieve the Custom Paper list while connected via ethernet network, although I can calibrate and add new paper types over the network.

I notice that there is now a paper move menu command in the paper submenu. I'm looking forward to that new functionality, as well as the ability to change cartridges on the fly (testing this feature soon). I will test the ability to load photo papers without trimming the leading edge with my next paper change, although I won't know what to do about wrapping in progress rolls of paper without a bountiful supply of three inch paper trimmings (!).

-Ron H.

Hi Ron H.,
Thanks for the report!

I now have no excuse to do mine at the first possible chance.

So long for now, TOM

Free programs such as PowerISO open it too. Thanks for the info to use the mac version, I didn't even think they would be the same! Worked great!!

So, does this firmware upgrade work on all versions of Mac OS, WinXP, Vista, Vista64bit, etc. or is there a difference with 64 bit versions?

Larry