hp 50g rom upgrade

[No88Fan]

I just got an HP 50G Graphing Calculator and downloaded the v. 2.15 ROM upgrade for Windows XP. I'm running Windows 7 64-bit. Any known problems upgrading with Win 7?

[BartdB]

Hi,

In my opinion, the SD card is the best method for upgrading the 50g. This should work for all versions of Windows.

Please use a full size SD card that is NOT high capacity type (i.e. not SD-HC), that means 2GB or less. Format it on a computer (not the calculator) as FAT (not FAT-32). 

1: Copy the files 4950_215.bin and update.scp that are in the zip file, into the root of the SD card. Put the SD card into the calculator.

2: On the calculator, press and hold ON and F4 together. Release F4 and then ON. A test menu showing 1. LCD through A. AUTOTEST will appear.

3. Now press and hold ON and F3 together. Release both keys and then hold down + and - together. Hold these for three seconds, and then release both keys. A menu showing 1. UPDATE CODE will appear. If it does not, please repeat steps 1-3 until it appears. There must be a tiny delay between ON-F3 and + - in which no key is pressed. If you are too quick at pressing + - , or leave too long a delay, the 50g will reboot instead.

4. Once the update menu appears, press 1 to select UPGRADE CODE, and then 2 for CARD. The calculator will erase the ROM, and flash the new version. After about a minute, the 50g will be upgraded. Press ENTER or remove and then replace a single battery to reboot the calculator. Your calculator is now ready for use.

A hint for point no. 3:

Put the calculator on a flat stable surface. Press the ON and F3 with the thumb and index finger of the left hand, and have the thumb of the right hand on both the + and - keys. It took me a few tries to get the timing right, but I found it to be the best way to do it.

These instrusctions are also in the PDF file in the update zip file.

For USB upgrade, the USB drivers must be installed before the commnications program is installed. As far as I can recall, there are no USB drivers for 64 bit versions of Windows. Also, many users have problems getting the calculator to reliably communicate with the PC over USB.

[No88Fan]

Thank you for the help.

Turns out that I typed <ALPHA><ALPHA> VERSION<ALPHA> and got:

"Version HP50-C

 Revision 2.15"

     "Copyright HP 2009"

Thus, as v. 2.15 was the latest version I saw on the HP support website, I think my ROM is up to date (just got the 50G) and don't think I need to upgrade after all. Please correct me of I'm wrong.

[BartdB]

You are correct, there is no need to upgrade the ROM. Enjoy the calculator 🙂