Thread: Extract firmware from printer.

  1. #1
    Registered Abuser Loic's Avatar
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    Extract firmware from printer.

    Hi all, I don’t really know if this is a programming question or if I am asking on the right board. But I wanted to know if any one knew if it was possible to extract the firmware from a printer (a Dymo Labelwriter 400) then copy it back to an identical printer, well one with an outdated firmware.

    Any ideas? Is this even possible?

  2. #2
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    I guess you've already searched for a firmware update utility and found nothing (like I did).

    Possible is only a "maybe", and it would still take a lot of time and equipment to make it happen even if it were possible.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
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  3. #3
    Kernel hacker
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    If you have enough resources [money/time] you can extract firmware from anything - but in this case, I suspect it's not worth the effort for a single printer.

    It is unlikely that the printer has a function that allows SOFTWARE to read out the firmware - why would you ever need that? So why would someone put the code in the driver/printer to perform such a task [I'm not saying it can't be done, but there's really no "use case" for this sort of functionality]. There is probably a way to update the printers firmware, with the right software, but to "upload from printer to host computer" has no meaning - the use-case is that you have an upgrade in the host-computer, and download into the printer. You get such updates from the producer of the printer.

    I'm sure Dymo tech-supports should be able to help you out there.

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  4. #4
    Malum in se abachler's Avatar
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    try to find teh EPROM chip on the printer circuitboard. it should have a number like 27c010 or similar, it will start with 27, maybe like MCM27c etc. Thats the firmware. Now buy an identical chip and use an eprom burner to copy it.

  5. #5
    and the hat of int overfl Salem's Avatar
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    It's more likely to be a PIC where the EEPROM, RAM and processor (and a bunch of other stuff) are all integrated on a single IC.

    Copying from a PIC which has been copy protected is going to be hard work since you don't have physical access to the internal memory.
    If you dance barefoot on the broken glass of undefined behaviour, you've got to expect the occasional cut.
    If at first you don't succeed, try writing your phone number on the exam paper.

  6. #6
    Malum in se abachler's Avatar
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    That would depend on the PIC itself. If its a modern PIC that has a security bit, then it is impossible to extract the data.

  7. #7
    Officially An Architect brewbuck's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Loic View Post
    Hi all, I don’t really know if this is a programming question or if I am asking on the right board. But I wanted to know if any one knew if it was possible to extract the firmware from a printer (a Dymo Labelwriter 400) then copy it back to an identical printer, well one with an outdated firmware.

    Any ideas? Is this even possible?
    Maybe you can physically swap the PIC.

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