Model 802F-PCI generators are being shipped with version 7.07610000 firmware and Model 802G-PCI generators are being shipped with version 7.07510000 firmware. This firmware revision makes significant improvements in how data is communicated over the PCI bus. Because of these changes, versions of qdmgen32.dll prior to revision level 3.530 are not compatible with the new firmware. Version 3.530 of qdmgen32.dll is required for proper operation with versions 7.07510000 and 7.07610000 firmware. Further, version 3.530 of qdmgen32.dll is not compatible with 802F-PCI and 802G-PCI generators having older firmware. These changes in the firmware and DLL only affect the PCI card model generators. Either version of the DLL can be used with Quantum Data's Bench Top and ISA Card Video Generators.

Because of these changes, it is not possible to operate a mix of Quantum Data PCI Card Generators with old and new firmware on the same PCI bus. All of the older PCI Card generators will need to be updated to the new firmware. The older version qdmgen32.dll can then be replaced with version 3.530 of qdmgen32.dll. If you are reading this file from the Quantum Data CD-ROM software distribution disc, the firmware files and new DLL are in the same directory as this text file. The PCI card firmware is updated with the card plugged into the host computer. The host computer must be running an MS-Windows 95/98/NT/2K operating system in order to perform the update.

Instructions for Updating a Quantum Data Model 802F-PCI or 802G-PCI to the latest firmware.

(Instructions are based on using the files located on Revision D of the Quantum Data software distribution CD-ROM.)

1. Install the card(s) that need(s) to be updated in the host computer and power up the computer.

2. Install VGM 3.0 Beta 6.2. The installation routine for this version will place the DLL compatible with the older PCI firmware in the same directory as the the VGM application. This DLL will be named qdmgen32_old.dll. The installation routine will place the DLL compatible with the newer PCI firmware in the Windows System directory. This DLL will be named qdmgen32.dll.

3. In order to have VGM 3.0 use the DLL for the older PCI firmware, you must rename the qdmgen32_old.dll in the VGM program directory to qdmgen32.dll. On startup, the VGM software will first look for qdmgen32.dll in the same subdirectory as the VGM software. If it is not found, it will next look in the Windows System sub-directory.

4. Start the VGM 3.0 application needed for updating by double-clicking on the vgm3_b5.exe in your installation directory, and verify that the start up screen show the DLL version is 3.520 and then connect to all 802F-PCI and 802G-PCI generators having older firmware.

5. Select "Tools->Archiver->Update Firmware from the menu on the VGM Window.

6. "Browse" to the correct <firmware.bin> file (in the 7.07510000 sub-directory for the 802G-PCI or 7.07610000 sub-directory for the 802F-PCI).

7. Select an 802 PCI generator to update and click on the "Flash" button.

8. Repeat steps #4 and #5 to update all older 802 PCI generators to the latest firmware.

9. Close the VGM 3.0 application after updating all PCI generators in the host computer.

10. Rename the qdmgen32.dll in the VGM program directory back to qdmgen32_old.dll. The VGM application will then ignore this DLL file when looking for qdmgen32.dll and use the DLL in the Windows System directory

11. Start the VGM 3.0 application and confirm the DLL version is 3.530.

12. Verify that you can connect to the updated Model 802 PCI generator(s).


note: VGM 3.00 Beta 6.2 DOES NOT support dll versions 3.520 and earlier.