Thank you for using a PENTAX K100D digital camera. PENTAX wishes to announce the release of Firmware Update Software Version 1.02 for K100D.

UPS just delivered my new K100D. I saw the 1.02 firmware on pentax website and mine had 1.00 so decided to update it. Following the instructions in readme file accompanying the 1.02 image file, I used the AC adapter (with batteries removed), holding menu button and turned on camera, with 1.02 file at root of SD card. The LCD said loading.

And I selected Yes and hit OK. The marching ant finished phase 1 in about 20 seconds and went on to phase 2.

All seems well to this point but behold, the LCD became blank! I didn't know what to do but remembered the instructions say 'do not turn off power under any circumstances until you see completed displayed on screen'. Da Ca A Pass Oh MEO 2.

So I let the camera sit that way for hours but eventually had to turn the switch off and on. Now I have a camera with toasted firmware. It boots up, focuses, meters and snaps pictures but does not save to card, nor displays the picture on LCD. The menu, info, Fn buttons no longer function. LCD display no longer shows anything whatever button I hit.

If I hold the menu and turn it on, it no longer shows f/w version. I tried 'blind operation', i.e. With f/w card in, holding menu and turn it on, hit 'up' 4 way rocker once and OK once, hoping it would load f/w again but it didn't. Before sending it to Colorado service center, I am wondering, is there anything I can try? I have only played with it for an hour or so and haven't taken a single serious picture with this new outfit yet! I think too many manufacturers do a poor job on informing the consumer on what a firmware update really is.

Then again, most consumers already have the thought that, 'oh, it's just a simple software upgrade.' And despite suggestions in prior threads, there's just some limits to what can be done about that. I don't pretend to know a lot about photography, but I have been doing embedded systems development for over 15 years. Don't taunt super-happy-fun-ball.