Printer firmware - is updating it risky?
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- Опубликовано: 2 сен 2022
- Keith updates printer firmware whenever it's available.
Looking at why updates happen and why it's almost always worth doing...
Printers may sometimes tell you that new firmware is available, or you may need to check the manufacturers web site.
Before any printer testing, Keith always checks for the latest firmware.
Unfortunately there is often very little information available on the contents up updates - Keith discusses the sorts of things updates address, and why he thinks they are always worthwhile.
The printer capping centre Keith is holding, is covered in a lot more detail in this article
www.northlight-images.co.uk/r... 
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![3 steps when printing your photos. What's so difficult? Really - I'd like to know [AMA request]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/UgCn63JZK7Y/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for this video, Keith. Just a few comments:
My printer dealer, a photo printing genius whose talent rivals yours, says you shouldn’t bother updating the firmware. It’s true that every time I do, I have to reinstall the drivers or lose my ICC profiles. But… my guy’s genius is printing, not security. I have worked with “white hat” hackers who explain that wireless printers are an easy way to get into a network. It’s quite possible that firmware updates try to cover gaping security flaws as well as printing issues. So: do the updates.
I second your other point: connect your printer to a UPS for the update to avoid the expensive and time-consuming consequences of a power outage. Been there, faced that and won’t ever again.
Well, I disagree quite strongly with your expert ;-) I've yet to come across any reasons not to update [waiting a while if need be].
The wireless security point you make is a good one as well
I've never had to do any re-install after an update - that's just the printers I've tested though.
I've had some lengthy chats about firmware with both Canon and Epson and even for a printer that's several years old like the P5000 (or Canon PRO-1000), it's something I keep up to date
For newer printers like the P900, and especially the P7500, not updating firmware is to my mind careless at best ;-)
Fully agree! True for many electronic devices (camera, drones, computer, phones, etc..)
Thanks
I just bought a new Epson printer and I know updates are recommended. However, before I bought this printer, I did a lot of research online and many people advised not to install any updates because Epson will limit your device in some way. I'm afraid to do an update, but since the printer works perfectly, I won't touch anything.
Stop worrying!
Ah, the tinfoil hat brigade ;-)
The complaints tend to come from those who want re-fillable carts, alternate inks and other warranty busting actions. Just goes to show how much uninformed tosh can be found on-line ;-) :-)
If you intend to convert the printer to some other ink type or system, I'd likely not update firmware, but using original inks I've no issue with it.
For larger printers and ones announced within the previous two years, I'd update every time.
If you want to be ultra cautious, wait a few weeks from when you first notice the update is available
Thanks Keith.
On power outage, attach to a PSU to your systems or network devices, which should give you long enough to upgrade in the event of a power outage. Also, I tend to wait two or three weeks before upgrading any firmware on any device, which is usually long enough to hear of any problems the new firmware might install. Firmware updates are a good idea in the main, but do so cautiously.
Yes, I tend to wait a while, but for this one I checked the date and it was months ago.
Very sound advice thx
Glad it was helpful!
from the title .. yes it was RISKY that it fukkked my p6000 printer and now the ink doesnt work, I got new one also doesnt work, so Im waiting for another new one, mean while I thought it was the ink from the start that I was pushing in and out the track and the thermal reads the ink chip , one of them got damaged .. all that thanks to the updates.
Despite your unfortunate example - I would always update firmware, my advice is unchanged. I would do it on any printer I owned.
Absolute agree.. Especially for P7500 and P9500.
Yes - I made sure I'd the latest when I had the P7500 here to test
Depends on two factors. 1. WebUi that is exposed to the internet and is venerable to attack. 2. If you need a function that is otherwise broken. If you don't fall into these two categories I would not update the firmware.
Wrong IMHO - My opinion comes from discussing the post launch development process with non public facing engineers and designers at both Canon and Epson.
Very very wrong for large format printer like the P5000 here - less so for cheaper consumer level products.
I see no reason not to apply firmware to either my cameras or printers. Like you pointed out, they do fix genuine issues and can prolong the life of your device. I'll normally leave it a few days after release though in case the find an issue after release, but generally I'm clicking on update.
Yes - I'll ideally wait a bit
Thanks Keith,
Have a question here, our internet connection not fantastic and PC disconnects frequently, any way that one could use a USB stick to get Firmware transferred to first, then used to put it onto the printer.
I always use a CF card for the Camera. This is the reason that I will not purchase another TomTom, as they are all Internet updates.
Keep up the great work and videos. 🙂
Depends on the printer
Many of the updates can be downloaded from Canon/Epson sites
The one I'm showing here was downloaded to my laptop and then installed - no internet connection required for the actual updating process, all over our local network.
I've never come across printer firmware that could be put on a storage device and directly updated (as with cameras)
Thank you for the information. Will you show the picture behind the printer?
Yes, I'll probably be looking at printing a new version of it at some point.
It's from over 15 years ago - taken with an 11MP 1Ds , Printed on a 44" Epson SP9600
@@KeithCooper It looks nice and I'm into landscape and woodland using D700 a 12 Mpix and aD800E a 36 Mpix. I find a comment on RUclips that we need 24Mpix to print A2 for a viewing distance of 1 meter but you manage that with an 11 Mix camera or is it A3?
It's slightly bigger than A2
Any comment about you 'needing' a certain number of MP is automatically wrong IMHO ;-)
@@KeithCooper There seems to be some formulas or rules of tumb but I have not have time to understand them.
I would be deeply suspicious of any such formula... :-)
Select your product (drop down box is empty).... Printer is working but takes a long time to do so.
What printer - what system, what are you trying to do?
I assume Keith the Epson engineer came to you - can't imagine you popped that printer back into its box and sent it off Epson.
Yes, I didn't keep the pallet and box it came in ;-)
They change the capping station for a lot of other repairs - I've two sitting in my junk box with very little use - one may have a fault (the P5000 1433 error)
As a former electronics engineer, the electrostatic paper free nozzle test impresses me the most - detecting the static charge on single (minimum size) ink droplets ;-)
Hello I have a epson ET-15000 and I have a scanner error 100016 do you know how to fix the problem
Sorry - no
I'd ask on the relevant film forum at fred miranda or luminous landscape?
Why is there a monster face in your church painting on your wall?
Put it down to your imagination... :-)
It's a photo of Wells Cathedral