[Elecraft] MCU LD and K3 Utility

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Running the utility trying to access an invalid port should not cause any
problems at all, except that you won't be able to communicate with the K3.
And invalid or missing port should not cause it to hang in any way. 

The first step is to load the Utility with *nothing* connected between the
PC and K3. It should run normally except that it can't "talk" to the K3, so
you won't get any report on current firmware, etc. You'll see ??? on the
Utility screen in those places. 

You didn't describe your "best efforts to uninstall and reinstall" or what
computer/OS you're using, but if you're running Windows that should include
removing the program using the install/uninstall utility in the Control
Panel, then rebooting the computer *before* trying to install the new
Utility. Then, of course you download the utility program again from
Elecraft rather than trying to install a potentially-corrupted version
already on your HD. 

I may not have the latest K3 Utility, but the version I have and all the
earlier ones offered a way to choose the port from the screens. Click on the
PORT tab. If a list of ports isn't shown in the drop-down window, click
REFRESH PORT LIST. 

Normally, if you're not sure which port works, you'd first be sure you have
the K3 connected to the PC and turned on, then click on TEST COMMUNICATIONS.
If that fails then you'd try a different port. 

In your case, the K3 is "hung" so it may not respond to a TEST
COMMUNICATIONS query. In that case you need to "force" an MCU load as
described on page of the Owner's Manual (Rev D). Since you don't know which
port is correct, you may need to do that trying different ports until it
works. 

Ron AC7AC



-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Vic K2VCO
Sent: Friday, July 10, 2009 9:15 AM
To: Peter Chamalian
Cc: Elecraft
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] MCU LD and K3 Utility

Peter Chamalian wrote:
> Things are really balled up.  I tried to upload the latest firmware but as
I
> was checking to see which serial port was connected to the computer, the
K3
> Utility blew up and in spite of my best efforts to uninstall and
reinstall,
> when I launch it, it tried to connect to the K3 on a port that doesn't
exist
> and just hangs and crashes.  I've rebooted, looked for a .ini file that
> might be referenced for that bogus port, but I can't find it.

Hi Pete,

I was waiting to see if K6KR or someone more knowledgeable than I was
around, but I guess 
not, so here goes.

Run REGEDIT. Look for

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Elecraft\K3 Utility

That's where the port (and other) information is kept.

I hope this helps.
-- 
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html