HELP! Keithley 2701 bricked after upgrading firmware to D05 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: simmconn
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2017, 05:28:27 am
content: I have a Keithley 2701 Ethernet multimeter/data acquisition system with firmware version B0x which was working okay. I downloaded the Keithley FlashWizard32 C12 and 2701 firmware D05 package from Tektronix website. The FlashWizard32 found the 2701 on the Ethernet without problem and the updating process completed without error. However the 2701 unit restarts with 'FPGA TIMEOUT' on the screen. At this point the unit is still able to flash through the RS-232, which I did. The updating took about 7 minutes and the result is the same.I'm wondering if anyone tried the 2701 firmware D05 package from Tektronix website with success. The FlashWizard32 will not allow downgrade (perhaps with a secret command line switch it would), and the only old firmware I can find is the A05/A06 on XDEV (TiN's site).

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 20, 2017, 06:16:48 am
content: What error does it give when you try to flash an older version? Flashwizard allows downgrades with the Keithley 2400, I'm surprised they are different.

author: simmconn
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2017, 09:02:54 pm
content: When attempting to downgrade, the VFD has flashing 'DOWNGRADE BL' and the FlashWizard32 pops up a message box as below picture. After clicking 'OK' the programmer says programming completed.

author: TheSteve
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 20, 2017, 09:16:52 pm
content: If you look at the release notes they mention not allowing downgrades after version C01 because of a newer flash part that wouldn't be compatible. So likely explains why you can't downgrade. I would think they do have a way to still allow downgrades, perhaps post on the Keithley support forum and ask about it.edit:Check out this thread, it indicates that units with B level firmware require a hardware change to be compatible with D level firmware.https://forum.tek.com/viewtopic.php?t=128581I also thought that with Keithley firmware the first letter always indicated the compatible hardware rev. So if you had Bxx firmware you had to stay with Bxx firmware. I could be wrong in this regard though.Does your 2701 happen to have socketed flash chips?

author: simmconn
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2017, 12:42:08 am
content: Thanks. It looks like the case.My board has a sticker that says 2701-100G2 (board version?). The flash is an Intel JS28F320. The sticker on top of the flash says 2701-800B03. So the original firmware version should be B03.I'm surprised that the flash tool doesn't have old firmware back up feature, and doesn't check hardware compatibility before allowing the update.There must be something seriously wrong with the FPGA image binary in the flash. The FPGA is a Xilinx Spartan 2 (XC2S50). The processor must be waiting for the DONE to be high after the FPGA configuration but didn't get it in time.

author: Old Don
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 28, 2017, 09:20:55 pm
content: Can you program it back to original B software with an external programmer or is everything soldered in place?

author: simmconn
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 31, 2017, 12:00:32 am
content: Stuart from Tektronix responded to my post in the Tek support forum and sent me procedures with older firmware. Now the unit get its life back. Thank you all. Case closed.

author: Arman07
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 05:35:26 am
content: I am having similar issue with downfrading 6221A current source the downgrade is getting blocked can ypu please share how to downgrade?

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 05:58:30 am
content: I remember seeing this about the 2700 I have:https://download.tek.com/software/supporting_files/Keithley2700Rev.B09FirmwareReleaseNotes_2700-804B09.pdfQuote

author: Arman07
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 15, 2025, 06:39:12 am
content: Unfortunately the flashwizard doesn allow downgrade, there has to be some secret commands to allow downgrade. otherwise the downgrade gets blocked. tried to contact keithley support here in india but they have no idea.

author: dl250
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 17, 2025, 01:13:48 pm
content: Quote from: Arman07 on May 15, 2025, 06:39:12 amHi, I have the same problem as you, have you solved it? Can you share the process?

author: Arman07
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: June 18, 2025, 10:21:55 am
content: not yet. the deivie is unusable as of now! in case you come up with any solution plese let me know.