[Elecraft] K3 Front Panel Flash.

[Keith Trinity WE6R]

What serial number is your K3? Older ones might need C84 on the front 
panel changes if you are seeing lots of retries during FPF load.
You might try a different computer, or the slow 4800 baud rate.
Or if it is not the "many retires" issue, you might try doing a "Forced 
MCU load" procedure, see manual.
Or, from my K3 notes;

*_** The following three items are related.
Many retries trying to load FPF (MCU loads OK). Applies to older K3’s only.
_*_Fix;_Replace C84 on the Front Panel with E530227. You “can” do this 
by just taking off the front panel, and use a very fine-long soldering 
tip and steady hand. Otherwise, you must take the sheet metal off for 
access.

Also could be low 5V, U12 on RF board-Associated with other misc ERR 
messages (lots of error errors).
*_Config Menu items and VFO B area are gibberish, mix-matched items 
description.
_*Corrupt FPF, (Front Panel Flash). OR FPF does not match MCU code versions.
_Fix:_ Re-load correct FPF version.
SEE associated. Also “Many retries” above if trouble loading FPF.
*_Associated; OR; Radio makes wild frequency hops or jumps or invalid 
frequencies displayed. Also options may turn themselves on or off or set 
to bypass or install themselves.
_*Corrupt FPF, confirmed by looking at the Config menu items “XV1 ON” 
then tapping 1 thru 9 and looking for strange frequency entries and/or 
some set to YES that shouldn’t be. Then look for XVx, RF or IF and look 
for weird values, usually on XV9. (144 and 28 are the default)
_Fix:_ EE-INIT (parameter initialization) then Re-load FPF and re-load 
known good config file (check XV9 after) . Or setup and calibrate. DO 
NOT JUST SET THE XVTR ENTRIES TO DEFAULT! They are an indicator the FPF 
is corrupt, not the cause of it. And just setting them to default will 
NOT fix the corruption.
Keith WE6R