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General discussion

NEC Superscript 4650N Error Code

Sep 29, 2004 12:53PM PDT

I am getting an error code F5, from a printer that I just got for free. I could go to a shop or NEC to fix except for one thing... money.

Does anyone have any idea EXACTLY what the "F5" error code indicates? The manuals say, "F5 = take it to the shop".

I have set up up via Ethernet with my computer and it seems to POST okay. HD and DIMM's are fine. Aside from 'power' and 'online' lights being lit, the 'warning' and 'data' lights are flashing. I had restored all factory defaults prior to powering it up, then I assigned an IP, and once I installed the driver, it would communicate with my PC. I have gone over the printer conducted all the cleaning procedures (no parts are missing). One thing that I thought was odd was the fact that there was blue toner on the main Selenium drum. Anyone got any ideas?

Discussion is locked

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Re: NEC Superscript 4650N F5 Error Code
Sep 29, 2004 10:54PM PDT

That error code is one for board and other faults which are not related to parts you can change out.

How old is the printer?

Bob

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Re: NEC Superscript 4650N F5 Error Code
Sep 30, 2004 3:36AM PDT

It's a couple of years old. It has been well maintained. When I cleaned it up there was not a lot of residual dust, etc., inside.

I took a look at the main board last night. There is a Quantum Fireball se hard drive and 96 MB of RAM... a 64MB DIMM and a 32MB SIMM. What do you think? The data light is flashing... could that possibly indicate a bad stick of RAM, or is there an issue with something else.

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Re: NEC Superscript 4650N F5 Error Code
Sep 30, 2004 4:35AM PDT

It doesn't matter since they don't share the diagnostics or tools that the repair depot has. It's a fault that requires the tools that we don't have.

Sorry to hear about your loss.

bob

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Re: NEC Superscript 4650N F5 Error Code
Sep 30, 2004 4:42AM PDT

Anyone want to buy a small HD and some used RAM? Thanks for the information.

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NEC SuperScript F5 Error....
Mar 11, 2005 1:11AM PST

I also have one of these printers (actually, a 4400N) with the same error message.

You shouldn't give up so easily, there is always a solution. I think it's a software problem on the operating system the printer uses internally (Linux?), and not a hardware problem. We are a service company, but not a NEC service center. The nearest one is over 100 miles away. I'm going to try and get a service manual from NEC and perhaps a downloadable image for the printer and try and fix this thing myself. I'll post here again if I find the solution. I would appreciate any constructive suggestions if anyone has something other than "sorry for your loss" Wink

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Notice...
Mar 11, 2005 1:22AM PST

No one else fixed it...

If the internal OS (Linux) has an error, how would you fix that?

Bob

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NEC SuperScript F5 Error
Mar 11, 2005 2:00AM PST

The operating system on the printer controller board boots from the hard drive mounted on the controller board. Just like routers, or other embedded controller equipment with a flash-ROM or re-writable storage there must be a way to download a new immage to the printer (tftp over the ethernet or through the serial port). I could also remove the hard drive, hang it onto a PC and do a Ghost or sector copy from a working printer of the same type (if I had one) or someone could post an image, or.... perhaps it contains a self check or repair, just like Linux desktop / server OS's do (assuming it uses Linux).
I try not to look at these things like a "black box" you can only diagnose from the outside. I have usually been able to "hack" my way to a solution.
Most likely, someone out there knows a solution, or at least a way to diagnose the problem. That's why forums like this exist.

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Supply a web page about this procedure.
Mar 11, 2005 2:09AM PST

Best of luck with it.