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Question

HOW TO UPDATE FIRMWARE PANASONIC VIERA PLASMA

Jan 26, 2015 4:16AM PST

HI
I HAVE A TCP50G15 Panasonic PLasma.
im following the instructions on their website ot update the firmware but the TV DOES NOT respond.

I used a 32G sdcard, formatted it in my mac for fat16 dos
i copied over the single .sec file from panasonic
I turned on tv
installed the card
pressed ok on remote

Nothing happens

help?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
I'd try a much smaller SD CARD.
Jan 26, 2015 4:22AM PST

I read the install notes but many sets don't understand big cards.

The .sec file looks to be 15.8MB so any 2GB or smaller card will do fine.
Bob

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is fat16 doc format done on mac ok?
Jan 27, 2015 1:04AM PST

ok . i will try a smaller card.
is it ok that i formatted the card on a mac... i am using the fat16 dos format.. which i think is universal?

also - all im doing is turning on the tv and then inserting the sdcard and waiting for some message on the screen (which never comes). is there any keys i have to hit to force the tv to read the card.

thx

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Iffy.
Jan 27, 2015 1:09AM PST

Believe it or not, some file system code was done by reverse engineering but that's a deep topic.

Try all formats next time but that's a pretty big card and I've run into times that devices can't handle it.
Yes, 32GB cards have been out for a few years but devices are usually behind the times.
Bob

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Still Cant Update Firmware
Jan 27, 2015 3:13AM PST

i tried a 256MB card.
I erased it on mac in os x
i selected MS DOS (FAT)
I copied the single firmware update file to the sdcard
inserted it in the TV and no response at all

any suggestions anyone ?

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I'm sorry I forgot a basic question.
Jan 27, 2015 3:23AM PST

If the TV is already updated it should fail to update. Now we can broach the subject of it should have coughed up a message "up to date" or more but I find this area to be fraught with barely good enough programming.

Did you check what firmware revision the TV is at?

There's another issue too. These updates sometimes fail to offer much. That is, I rarely update since it can cause issues. Samsung has has real issues with, well, that's on the web. Why do this?

One last thing. Factory reset the TV to blow off any apps and clear memory before the update.
Bob

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firmware not updating
Jan 27, 2015 6:26AM PST

i really dont think the tv is smart enough to give no message if the firmware on the sd card is already installed in the tv. i think these user interfaces are pretty basic and if working right... it would let you reflash the firmware even if the version on the sdcard was the same.

i did reset the tv to factor settings when i installed it (i.e. im the second owner) recently.

i was going to reformat the sdcard on a pc instead of my mac.. but now im thinking that since the tv can show photos from an sdcard from my mac then this is not the problem

oh well...

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I can't write about Pans.
Jan 27, 2015 6:59AM PST

The Sams will not update if the firmware is up to date. The messages are not always given and may cough up programmer geek code messages.
Bob