HPX170 Firmware update on Mac

[dcnblues]

*Complete re-edit of post for clarity*

I need to update the firmware on my HPX170, but only have a Mac to do it with, and am having difficulty. Barry was good enough to get me started:

Hardware has nothing to do with it. Download the firmware file and copy it to an SD card (in the proper directory; download the PDF that describes the procedure).

HPX170 firmware updating is done through the SD card, not via a computer.

So, while it takes some effort to find in their corporate / multinational / business-consumer web heirarchy, I found the page where one can download the firmware file and manual here:

https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/support/cs/csregistp2m/ep2main/soft/upghpx170_e.htm

While the firmware file is a compressed Zip, and you can unzip / uncompress it easily enough on a mac, I am still having difficulty completing the procedure. I have taken a blank SD card (SanDisk Ultra II 1GB) put it into the camera, and formatted it in camera. I then put it in my Mac, and follow the directions to put the specific folder onto the SD card.

I think there is some formatting garbage happening, as when the SD card goes back into the camera, it doesn't seem to see what it needs to, and the 'Operation' submenu does not give me an option to 'Update.'

This is rather frustrating. Any help / ideas much appreciated.

More links: P2 Contents Management Software P2 CMS 1.4 for snow leopard page:
https://eww.pavc.panasonic.co.jp/pro-av/sales_o/p2/cms/index.html

 

[Barry_Green]

Hardware has nothing to do with it. Download the firmware file and copy it to an SD card (in the proper directory; download the PDF that describes the procedure).

HPX170 firmware updating is done through the SD card, not via a computer.

 

[Lindquist]

what is the update for?

 

[dcnblues]

I got a response which identified and fixed the problem. Mac OS adds hidden files (Unix files starting with periods) and you have to see them, and delete as many as you can, and the camera will then not have a problem.

Although I recently worked for Panasonic I did not know the answer so I asked Greg Boren, of Panasonic Technical Support in Los Angeles. His answer is below. Hope this helps. Regards, Bill Hogan
==================

There is a bit of a ?catch-22? here. The latest updates allow you to
write the update file using a Mac _the next time you update_??

A couple of people have had luck doing the following:

Turn off file ?hiding? in the Mac (I know there is a way, I?m just not
up on how to do it). This way you can see hidden system files.

Proceed as described: Format the card with the camera. Attach it to the
Mac and copy the ?PRIVATE? folder to the card. Look at the card with the
Finder and delete any files or folders that start with a period (.) at
the beginning of file / folder name. The top level ones would be the
most troublesome but I?d try to get any that appear in the bottom folder
as well. Get these cleared before the Mac replaces them. Eject the card
and try the update in the camera.

Go to MCR mode (button in camera rear) / Menu / Operation. If the choice
for UPDATE appears, it?s good to go. The card?s inhibit switch should be
OFF as the update procedure writes temp files back to the card. The
update will be 15 ? 20 minutes so don?t yank the power until the
completion message appears.

When that message does appear, the power switch will have gone stupid.
Pull all power off the camera, turn it back on and it will be updated.

A good page explaining the Terminal command for revealing hidden files in OS X can be found here:
http://www.macworld.com/article/51830/2006/07/showallfinder.html

Once you can see the hidden files on the SD card, you can delete most (though not all) of them. Worked for me, and I'm now a happy puppy. :thumbup::2vrolijk_08::thumbup: