Overview

This document describes the process for replacing the Power Microcontroller (power micro) firmware on a WORKABOUT PRO G2 (7527). There are three different methods, each affected by the version of power micro and Operating System software currently installed on the device.

Picking an Upgrade Method


 Decision:
Use this decision tree to determine which upgrade method is appropriate


Warning
We have found that the backup battery switch must be in the "ON" position when performing this update. If the switch is in the "OFF" position then the keyboard microcontroller firmware wil fail to update and will display "Load error, microcontroller timeout entering update mode".

Information:
See below for details about the versions, date codes and remote methods

Devices with Power Microcontroller v1.xx


 Warning:
Any attempt to upgrade a version 1.xx firmware to a version 2.xx firmware will render the terminal useless.

Devices that currently have power micro version 1.xx must be sent to a Psion Teklogix Service Depot to be J-Tagged to version 2.xx. Affected date codes are:


 Caution:
Please note the version 1.xx date code E218j is very similar to some version 2.xx E218h and E218i.


FW 1.xx Version WinCE Date Code Win Mobile Date Code
1.0 D117 D117
1.1 D307 D307
1.2 E257 E257
1.3 J167 J167
1.4 B258 B258
1.5 E218j F028
1.6 I118 I118

Devices with Power Microcontroller v2.xx

Devices that currently have power micro version 2.xx must be individually upgraded using an external media such as an SD memory card or USB memory stick. Affected date codes are:

FW 2.xx Version Win CE Date Code Win Mobile Date Code
2.0 B048  
2.1 C058 C068
2.2 n/a n/a
2.3 E218h E218i
2.4 I128 I128
2.5 J299 J299

Warning
We have found that the backup battery switch must be in the "ON" position when performing this update. If the switch is in the "OFF" position then the keyboard microcontroller firmware wil fail to update and will display "Load error, microcontroller timeout entering update mode".

The upgrade can be performed using the following steps:

  1. Rename keyboard micro to “7527.img” and rename the power micro firmware to "7527os.img"
  2. Copy the files to the root directory of the media drive.
  3. Insert the media into the memory slot of the device.
  4. Boot the device to BooSt by pressing the [SCAN] key on the front bezel, [BLUE] and [ENTER] keys at the same time and hold them down for 7 seconds.
  5. The device will perform a boot to boost and automatically load the 7527.img and 7527os.img files in this order the automatically reboot the device.

Devices with Power Microcontroller v2.xx that can be upgraded remotely

Devices with the firmware in the table below support an ARC OS update feature using RAM to safely store the files between the Windows OS and BooSt. BooSt can detect these files and load the new firmware. We can send an Executable or CAB file to install the firmware remotely and automatically.


 Warning:
Both BooSt and the Windows OS must support this RAM OS update feature of ARC, therefore the firmware on the terminal must match both BooSt and OS date codes from the table below.

Current release of Firmware that supports this ARC OS update using RAM are:

SW Component Date Code
BooSt B199 or newer
Windows CE5.0 A299 or newer
Windows Mobile 6.1 B039 or newer

Remote Methods

Remote methods of distribution may include the use of Mobile Control Center, ARC, Wavelink Avalanche or another method. The application would then execute and copy the firmware to RAM, which is accessible to both BooSt and the OS. After the firmware has been copied to RAM, the application would initiate a boot to BooSt command and the firmware would upgrade normally.