[Elecraft] K3 Problem: Blank display & Won't turn OFF

[Rick Bates]

Roger, 

Do you have a KAT500?  It must be ON before booting the K3.

Does it say MCU LD on the display (may be unlit, use a flashlight)?  Then
reload the firmware.

The COM3 busy may (probably does) require a reboot of the computer.

Try disconnecting the serial port.  Since the computer hung that port out to
dry, it may be toggling something that denies the K3 the ability to boot.

73,
Rick wa6nhc

-----Original Message-----
From: K8RS

While loading new firmware into the KPA500, something happened to my K3.
The firmware load to the KPA500 appears to have succeeded, but now the K3 is
ON with a blank display, the K3 won't turn OFF and the K3 Utility says that
"COM3 is being used by another application".  It looks like I've lost my K3
firmware and cannot access the K3 in any way.  Wow, what a mess!  I tried
turning things OFF and , then, ON again to no avail.

What happened?  And what can I do to get the K3 to identify itself and work
again.

Roger K8RS