C1000 Firmware Update Instructions

C1000 Firmware Update Instructions

Overview
This document contains instructions for updating the two user accessible firmware installations in
the C1000 thermal cycler. Firmware, corresponding file names and the most current versions for
the thermal cyclers are below:

Firmware File Name Current Version

PXA270 processor firmware nkupdate.bin 3.3.155.524
HC12 thermal control firmware update.s19 1.0.176.0

Firmware upgrades are performed by placing a USB flash drive with the appropriate files loaded
on the root directory into any USB port on the C1000 thermal cycler.
For any questions or problems you may encounter, please contact Bio-Rad Laboratories.
For technical support in the United States and Canada, call 1-800-424-6723 (toll-free phone) and
select the technical support option. For technical support outside of North America, contact your
local Bio-Rad Laboratories office.

Updating Firmware Instructions

Obtain the Most Recent Firmware Files

1) Obtain the most recent firmware files named nkupdate.bin and update.s19 by downloading
them from www.bio-rad.com or contacting your local Bio-Rad technical support department.

2) Copy the two firmware files onto the root directory of a USB flash drive. Ensure there are no
older versions of the firmware files on the flash drive. Do not change the names of the files.

NOTE: If you obtain the firmware files from Bio-Rad technical support they may be compressed in
a zip file format. Ensure the files are unzipped before transferring them to the USB flash drive by
clicking on the zip file and extracting the files. Ensure the firmware files are copied to the root
directory of the USB flash drive and not to a folder on the flash drive.

Record the Installed Firmware Versions

3) Insert the USB flash drive into any available USB port on the C1000 thermal cycler. Turn on
the instrument.

4) When the C1000 is fully booted and shows the main menu screen press Utilities (F3).
5) Press 1 to show the About screen. The installed firmware versions will be displayed (the
Firmware Version at the top of the screen is the PXA270 version).

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C1000 Firmware Update Instructions

6) Record the installed firmware versions in the table below:

Firmware Name on Screen Current Version Installed Version

PXA270 Firmware Version 3.3.155.524 __________________
HC12 HC12 1.0.176.0 __________________

7) Compare the installed firmware versions with the current firmware versions listed in the table
above. Use the instructions in the following sections to update individual firmware files that do
not match the current release version.

IMPORTANT: Install the current version of the PXA270 (NKUPDATE) before any other
firmware upgrades. The latest version of the PXA270 firmware is required to enable the
upgrade of the HC12 file. Install required firmware upgrades in the order outlined in the
instructions below.

Login as Administrator
8) Press Main Menu (F4) to return to the Main Menu screen.
9) Press Log In (F1) to log in to the thermal cycler to perform the firmware updates.
10) Highlight ADMIN under System User and press Enter. The cursor moves to the Password
field.
11) Leave the Password field blank (or enter a password that has been assigned by the
administrator) and press Enter again. The password field turns grey and the Current User in
the screen title bar indicates ADMIN.

Update PXA270 firmware

12) Return to the main menu screen by pressing Main Menu (F4).
13) Open the Utilities screen by pressing the Utilities button (F3).
14) If the installed PXA270 firmware is version 1.0.229.114 or lower (recorded above in step 6),
press 5 to open Administrator Settings. Then press 8 to select PXA270 Updater. Proceed
to step 16.
15) Otherwise, if the installed PXA270 firmware is higher than 1.0.229.114, press 5 to open
Administrator Settings. Press 7 to open Update System and press 2 to select PXA270
Updater. Proceed with step 16.
16) Press Enter to start the PXA270 updater. The Update screen appears with the currently
installed version displayed.
17) When ready, press Enter. The system looks for the NKUPDATE.BIN file on the USB flash
drive. If found, the system copies the update file to the storage card and then scans the file.
18) Press Enter to start the update process. Do Not turn off power or remove any devices during
this process. This process will take 8 - 10 minutes to complete.
19) When the update has completed the system indicates “Update Complete! Please Reboot
System.”
20) Turn off power to the C1000, wait 4 – 5 seconds, then turn the power back on.

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C1000 Firmware Update Instructions

Update HC12 firmware

21) Repeat steps 9 - 13 from above (login to the C1000 thermal cycler as ADMIN and return to
the Utilities form).
22) Press 5 to open Administrator Settings, Press 7 to open Update System, and press 3 to
select HC12 Updater.
23) Press Enter to start the HC12 updater. The Update screen appears with the currently
installed version displayed.
24) When ready, press Enter. The system looks for the UPDATE.S19 file on the USB flash drive.
If found, press Enter to start the update. Do Not turn off power or remove any devices during
this process. This process takes 2 - 4 minutes to complete.
25) When the update has completed the system indicates “Update Complete! Please Reboot ALL
Systems.”
26) Turn the C1000 power off, wait 4 – 5 seconds, then turn the power back on.

Verify the Update has Completed Successfully

27) From the main menu screen, press the Utilities button (F3).
28) Press 1 to access the About form.
29) Verify that the firmware versions just updated are correct.

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