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Introduction

The HardwareUpdate Tool is used to program Firmware (FW) and FPGA images to the storage memory on the Demo2X and Demo3 baseboards. Please note that the screen shots will be for a Demo3 board; any major differences to Demo2X will be highlighted, otherwise the display name will be "Demo2X"  It also applies to other devices if detected.

The tool is GUI based, and can be started via the "start" menu:

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Once launched, this dialog will appear

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Select "Next" to continue.

Note: "Prog fw:" applies to Demo3 only.

The main screen displays the current revisions of the FW and FPGA, and allows you to select which one to check for a new revision.

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Select the radio button of the item to verify, then select "Next" when that button is available.

       This is an example of the display when all items are up-to-date.

       Note that "Current Boot Firmware" applies to Demo3 only.

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"Firmware Information" screen when no update is available

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If the item is already at the newest revision, the "Auto Update" item is not selectable.

You can either select "Back" to choose another item, or select "Leave the firmware as is" and then select "Next" to exit the application.
Advanced users can select "Let me choose a new file", but this is only recommended when directly by an Aptina support representative – using an incorrect file can render the baseboard unusable and require it be returned to Aptina for repair.

"Firmware Information" screen when an update is available

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The "Current" and "Latest" Firmware fields display those revision values.

If the "Auto update" button is selectable, then the FW needs to be updated.
Select it and then select "Next".

The "Updating" screen appears next

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Select the "Start Firmware Update" button to start the update progress.

The screen will be updated as the update procedure progresses

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The "Next" button will appear when the update procedure has completed.

The "Finish" screen will appear next
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Select the "Finish" button to exit.

Unplug and reinstall the USB cable to reboot the board.

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This is an example that down-revision FPGA has been detected:

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Select the radio button of the next to the item in Red, and then select "Next".  

Leave "Auto Update the FPGA code" as-is, select "Next".

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The Next dialog allows you to select "Start FPGA Update" - select it and then "Next" and the download will start.

In the case of the FPGA, this can take several minutes.

Select the "Finish" button to exit.

Unplug and reinstall the USB cable to reboot the board.

The entire process should be performed again to verify the other items for the baseboard.

This same process is followed for the Firmware or any other item that needs upgrade.

Manual Select of a File to Download

       In some situations, you'll be requested to manually install an image - most likely an FPGA image.

       When that occurs, the "Choose Update" dialog will show nothing in Red.

       Select the Radio Button next to the item to be updated, and then "Next".  On the following dialog, select "Let me choose a new file".

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Select the "Browse" button and navigate to the location per the instructions provided, then select "Open".

The selected file path will appear in the Text field next to the "Browse" button.  Select "Next" to continue with the process - select "Start FPGA Update" - select it and then "Next" and the download will start.

Recovery Instructions

It is possible that a Stage-2 FW update could render the Demo3 inoperative.

Here's a link to Recovery Instructions in case that happens.