HARMAN KARDON® AVR 255/AVR 355 SOFTWARE UPGRADE INSTRUCTIONS
This Harman Kardon® software upgrade will improve the performance of your AVR 255 or AVR 355 by updating its internal operating system, DSP firmware and videoprocessing software. Unlike many consumer products, which are designed with “fixed” memory, these Harman Kardon products feature flash memory that is upgradeable through a standard RS-232 serial port. To install the software, please follow these instructions. If you have any questions, consult the Harman Kardon Web site at www.harmankardon.com.
Important Note:
This software is specially designed for use with Harman Kardon AVR 255 and AVR 355 receivers. Use with any other models or brands may cause damage to the product. DO NOT USE THIS SOFTWARE WITH ANY OTHER PRODUCTS.
System Requirements
To install the software upgrade, you will need to purchase a standard RS-232 connection cable. Do not use a “null modem” cable, as it uses connection links that are not compatible with your AVR. If your computer is not equipped with a serial port, you may use one of the USB-to-serial-port adapters shown below that have been tested for interoperability with the AVRs. Most brand-name adapters will also work, but due to the wide variety of computers, operating systems and adapters, we cannot guarantee that other adapters will work in all situations.
•Gigaware Model 26-949
•StarTech.com Model ICUSB232
•IOGEAR Model Z-GUC232A
You will also need to have access to a computer that is close enough to be connected to the AVR being upgraded. The minimum system requirements for the computer are:
•Processor: Intel® Pentium® II processor or equivalent, or higher
•Operating system: Windows® 2000 SP4 or higher (for Windows 2000 or Windows XP, your system may require you to have “administrator” user rights)
•Hard-drive space: 10MB available
•System RAM: 128MB
•CD-ROM drive (when using the CD-ROM version of the program)
•RS-232 serial port
Installation Instructions
Upgrading your receiver is easy, but for the upgrade to work properly, it is important to precisely follow the instructions below. The upgrade will take about 45 minutes, and once it begins you must complete the entire process in one session. Please allow sufficient time to run through all the steps. PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING.
•Upgrading your unit will erase all system memories. This means that any configuration settings or
tuner presets that you have entered will be lost. To make it easier to reestablish the settings after completing the upgrade, you may wish to write down your current system configurations using the worksheets that are part of this software package. To print those worksheets, use Windows Explorer or another file-management program to locate the Worksheets.pdf file in the directory where the upgrade files have been saved. Click on the file to open it with the Adobe® Reader® tool, and then print copies as needed.
•Press in the Main Power button on your AVR, but leave the receiver in the Standby mode.
•If you are using files downloaded from the Harman Kardon Web site to upgrade the AVR, use Windows Explorer, or any other file-management program, to locate the folder where you have downloaded the upgrade file. Click on the file named
HKAVRupgrade.exe. The file will then automatically unpack all of the files needed to upgrade your AVR.
•If you are loading the upgrade from a CD-ROM, insert the disc in your computer’s drive.
•Locate the directory for the CD-ROM or the downloaded files and click on the file named HK_ Upgrader.exe. It is easy to recognize; depending on the display mode for your file manager, the icon will be a stylized version of the volume control knob on your AVR.
•A new window with the “Welcome” screen will open when the Loader program starts. Click “Continue” to proceed.
•You will be reminded to record your receiver’s settings if you have not already done so. Click “Continue” to proceed.
•The next screen contains the End-User License Agreement for this software upgrade. Please read this important document, using the scroll bar on the right side of the window to move down through the copy. If you agree to the terms of the agreement, click “I accept this license agreement” and then click “Continue” to proceed. Otherwise, click on “I do not accept this license agreement” to cancel the upgrade and exit the Loader program.
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HARMAN KARDON® AVR 255/AVR 355 SOFTWARE UPGRADE INSTRUCTIONS
When the screen changes, you will be prompted to enter the location where the files for this upgrade are located. Click “Browse” to open a file-finder window, and then navigate to the correct folder. Click on that folder and then click
“Open”. Note that the file names will automatically appear in the “Current Selections” window. Click “Continue” to proceed.
•Following the instructions on the next screen, connect the serial cable to both the AVR and your computer (or the USB-to-serial-port adapter, if used). Next, use the pulldown tab to select the serial port used for the connection between your computer and the AVR. If there is only one serial port, the most common setting is “COM 1,” but if there are multiple ports or if you are using a USB- to-serial-port adapter, you may have to select a different COM port. When a COM port has been selected, click “Continue” to proceed. You may have to return to this screen and choose a different port if the one originally selected does not connect properly.
•The final step before the system upgrade begins is to place your AVR in Download mode and reset it. Using the tip of a pen or an unbent paper clip, press in on the Operate/Download button behind
the small hole to the right of the RS-232 connector on the rear panel of the AVR. The button does not protrude from the back panel; if you are in doubt as to whether the button is in the correct position, try pressing it two or three times until you get the feel for whether it is “in” or “out.” After placing the AVR in Download mode, press the Reset button on the left side of the RS-232 connector. The Reset button is deeply recessed. Press it by “feel” using the pen or paper clip. When both of these steps have been completed, click “Continue” to proceed.
•When the next screen appears, click “Upgrade” to start the process.
Important Note:
Once the upgrade starts, do not interrupt it by turning your AVR off or exiting the upgrade program on your computer. Doing so may cause the upgrade to fail and possibly damage your receiver.
•Once you click “Upgrade,” it will take 10 to 15 seconds for your computer to establish a communications link with the AVR. After that, the first part of the new DSP firmware will begin to load, as indicated by the movement of the progress bar.
°If the upgrade does not begin within 30 seconds, or if an error message appears inside the loader’s dialog box, the problem is either an incorrect COM-port selection or the position of the Operate/Download button. First, check to make sure that it is in the Download position, press the Reset button and then click “Upgrade” again. If the error message appears again, click “Back” until you are at the “Connect Serial Cable and Select Port” screen. Select a different COM port and then click “Continue,” making certain that you reset the AVR when prompted.
•A message inside the loader window will let you know when the first section of the DSP firmware has successfully been loaded into your AVR. As directed, click “Continue” to proceed to the next step.
•If your AVR is not already in Standby mode with amber-colored lighting around the Standby/On and Main Power buttons, press the Standby/On button. Click “Continue” when you are ready to proceed.
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