HP 39gs bricked? (pressing Reset + and - won't do anything)

[Kevin Ouellet]

Heya, so last week I wanted to try NewRPL on my HP 39gs and liked it, but the key layout was weird so eventually I decided to revert back to the official calculator firmware from the firmware update menu. Unfortunately, at the start of the transfer the calculator froze and none of the key combos and reset button responded, so after about 20 minutes I had to remove a battery and the calculator has not been turning ON ever since (new batteries, with ON+F3, ON+F1+F6, Reset [+] [-] won't do anything)

So I was wondering if there was any alternative besides the aforementioned key combos especially if the Reset + - combo doesn't work or if the calc is toast?

[BruceH]

Have you tried powering over USB, with or without batteries?

[rprosperi]

With all respect and no offense meant, etc. it's possible that the strange contortions one must use to hold down +/- and then press reset, etc. wasn't recognized. It's well worth trying this several more times, even with blank LCD, as it can sometimes take and proceed even after many misses.

Good luck!

[AndiGer]

Have you tried in a different order?
Educalc suggests to press F1 and F6 first, then ON
https://www.educalc.net/page/1120482/

Another thing I wonder: is it + and - and ON or the key +/- and ON?

I guess you have tried the combination described in the manual if calculator doesn‘t turn on: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/71270/...276#manual

Good luck

[Kevin Ouellet]

(05-27-2022 09:34 PM)BruceH Wrote:  Have you tried powering over USB, with or without batteries?

Both were attempted

(05-27-2022 10:28 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  With all respect and no offense meant, etc. it's possible that the strange contortions one must use to hold down +/- and then press reset, etc. wasn't recognized. It's well worth trying this several more times, even with blank LCD, as it can sometimes take and proceed even after many misses.

Good luck!

Could it be that I pressed the reset too hard a previous time and busted it? I've tried with an easier to insert pin that fits even more perfectly, and I pressed + and - in multiple orders or simultaneously before, during or after hitting reset, and nothing happened.

(05-28-2022 06:06 AM)AndiGer Wrote:  Have you tried in a different order?
Educalc suggests to press F1 and F6 first, then ON
https://www.educalc.net/page/1120482/

Another thing I wonder: is it + and - and ON or the key +/- and ON?

I guess you have tried the combination described in the manual if calculator doesn‘t turn on: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/71270/...276#manual

Good luck

Yes, I tried multiple orders as well as simultaneous keypresses and tried all combos found in the manual.

[BruceH]

(05-28-2022 01:48 PM)Kevin Ouellet Wrote:  Could it be that I pressed the reset too hard a previous time and busted it? I've tried with an easier to insert pin that fits even more perfectly, and I pressed + and - in multiple orders or simultaneously before, during or after hitting reset, and nothing happened.

That's always a possibility of course.

I have a 39gs flashed with newRPL. I can fully reset it by:

• remove all the batteries, including the coin cell
• power over USB connected to a PC
• rest the calc on its edge on the desktop, press and hold + and - together
• then insert a paperclip into the back pressing hard enough as if to trigger a micro-switch (except that there is no micro-switch 'click' response on mine)
• remove the paperclip
• then release the + & - keys simultaneously
  

and the "1) UPDATE CODE 2) SELFTEST" boot screen should be displayed. Pressing 2 for self test then does a very quick test and drops into newRPL and it's all set to use (remembering to put the batteries back!)

Lastly: do check your batteries carefully. I got my 39gs out of the drawer where it had been for a while and one of the batteries had completely died while the other 3 were showing 1.3v each. The calc was not a happy bunny with batteries in this state!

[Kevin Ouellet]

Thanks for trying to help by the way, everyone! Unfortunately after trying the USB powering thing it didn't do anything. However, Windows 10 started to detect the device, which didn't happen when it was still working. Meanwhile, XP no longer detects it. Windows 10 says the device is not functioning properly upon connecting, though.

[Kevin Ouellet]

This is what USB Device Viewer is saying, by the way:

Quote:[Port1] FailedEnumeration : Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)


Is Port User Connectable: yes
Is Port Debug Capable: no
Companion Port Number: 0
Companion Hub Symbolic Link Name:
Protocols Supported:
USB 1.1: yes
USB 2.0: yes
USB 3.0: no

---===>Device Information<===---

ConnectionStatus: FailedEnumeration
Current Config Value: 0x00 -> Device Bus Speed: Low
Device Address: 0x00
Open Pipes: 0
*!*ERROR: No open pipes!

===>Device Descriptor<===
*!*ERROR: bLength of 0 incorrect, should be 18
bLength: 0x00
bDescriptorType: 0x00
bcdUSB: 0x0000
bDeviceClass: 0x00
*!*ERROR: Device enumeration failure

[Kevin Ouellet]

Linux Mint detects the calculator as "Alcor Micro Corp. Flash Card Reader/Writer" when connected to USB.