Canon firmware/driver updates - A matter of concern?

[PeterBJ]

In this thread: http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7415 , topic Epson Firmware update - A heads-up [Warning!]

The Hat wrote in post #7:
...I have also noticed that Canon used similar practices
on upgrades and installation of new printer drivers which directly affect all other printers that happen to be installed previously on the same computer....

This could be bad news for Canon owners, but I certainly hope it is not. This raises a lot of questions, like:

Does anybody know what the ill effects are ? Are the updates firmware or "just" driver updates? Can they be cancelled by a driver roll-back ? Does the installation of a new Canon printer affect drivers for previously installed Canon printers? Could a firmware upgrade mean an end to the use of resetters? Could a firmware update come with a driver update, and you voluntarily installed it because you didn't read the "fine print"? etc.

I hope somebody has more info about this subject, if so please post.

Peter.

 

[The Hat]

PeterBJ
You can relax on the effects of updates with the Canon printers
because the only ones I have noticed are with profiles and margins.

There were no notable differences regarding the use a resetter,
I am only using OEM chips and not compatibles ones so I comment on them.

They are only suppose to be update the driver for one printer model but in fact it effects all printer drivers on that computer,
my margins were 3 mm left, right and grip but then changed to 5mm on all my printers.

Later on I did notice however that it did affect the firmware on all my printers
even on computers using the old driver that was not up dated including Mac..

 

[PeterBJ]

Thank you very much for information. I'll now relax again

Glad to hear, it is a only a change of settings, I think we both know where to look for changes, after an extensive detective work

I wonder if the 3mm margin setting had caused problems and so was changed to 5mm?

 

[The Hat]

Thank you very much for information. I'll now relax again

Glad to hear, it is a only a change of settings, I think we both know where to look for changes, after an extensive detective work

I wonder if the 3mm margin setting had caused problems and so was changed to 5mm?

It certainly did cause problems for me anyway I had all my artwork set for 3 mm and had to change the whole feckin lot.
I was able to print a solid on a sheet 216 mm wide and then trim it to 210mm,

now I have to use 225 mm wide to achieve the same thing and on a different printer too.
Even self adhesive labels are a bitch to print solid because they all have preset margins.

 

[PeterBJ]

So the change was in the driver it self? You could still use custom margin settings, but only within new more restrictive limits?

This may not be a problem for the average home user, but I see this could be a PITA for the professional user. Drivers could not be rolled back ?

 

[stratman]

PeterBJThey are only suppose to be update the driver for one printer model but in fact it effects all printer drivers on that computer,
my margins were 3 mm left, right and grip but then changed to 5mm on all my printers.

Later on I did notice however that it did affect the firmware on all my printers
even on computers using the old driver that was not up dated including Mac..

This sounds like a library file, such as a DLL, or some other universal file utilized by any compatible device was changed.

It certainly did cause problems for me anyway I had all my artwork set for 3 mm and had to change the whole feckin lot.
I was able to print a solid on a sheet 216 mm wide and then trim it to 210mm,

now I have to use 225 mm wide to achieve the same thing and on a different printer too.
Even self adhesive labels are a bitch to print solid because they all have preset margins.

You were unable to reset margins to 3 mm? Either a really bad programming oversight or change made to prevent problems.

I don't know if an uninstall of the new driver and then reinstall of the older driver will fix you problem, but I would recommend in the future using an application such as Total Uninstall which monitors the installation of a program and keeps a record of all changes made during that initial installation and even afterwards. You can then uninstall all the files that sometimes are not fully removed by that programs own uninstaller. The usual uninstallers most people use do not monitor the installation process and instead rely on a pre-written script that can miss file and registry changes.

 

[The Hat]

File uninstalls dont work stratman because the firmware in the printer has been altered.
New computers old computers and or old drivers have no effect on any of my printers.

Its just like the panorama issue on Canon printers third party software have no effect at all..

 

[stratman]

The Hat wrote:

Later on I did notice however that it did affect the firmware on all my printers
even on computers using the old driver that was not up dated including Mac.

It is difficult to respond specifically without knowing the exact set up of printers and computers.

1) How did a single, non-universal, model-specific, operating system-specific driver update cause the firmware in all your printers to be updated?

2) When did the firmware get updated on all the printers? Were all the printers turned on and shared on your LAN when you updated the driver? Were printers updated the next time you turned them on and tried to use them from the computer that has the updated driver?

3) Why would a driver update for printer model "A" update the firmware for printer model "Z"?

4) Do your printers or the software for the printers on your computers query the internet on their own for updates and then install them?

Uninstall routines do not always remove/restore every file and/or registry change. This still could be a file or registry entry causing this alteration universally. I'm not saying you are wrong. I'm asking how.

Just curious... why did you update the driver in the first place? I try not to update printer drivers, video drivers, motherboard drivers, network drivers, etc unless it resolves a specific problem I am experiencing or adds a function I require.

 

[The Hat]

stratman
OK I will try and explain my situation the way I see it.

How did a single, non-universal, model-specific, operating system-specific driver update cause the firmware in all your printers to be updated?

If I could answer that question I would but I dont know which one done it. :

Were printers updated the next time you turned them on and tried to use them from the computer that has the updated driver?

Well yes is the answer, I used one printer and it had the new updates in it, then I tried another one immediately
and it too had the same updates and so did the other 5 printers.

I print this same job on regularly basics on my printer so I know it wasnt there two day earlier.

Why would a driver update for printer model "A" update the firmware for printer model "Z"?

Now that is the $64000 question I would liked answered too.

) Do your printers or the software for the printers on your computers query the internet on their own for updates and then install them?

Again the answer is definitely no, none on my computers have direct access to the internet and everything must be done manually.

Just curious... why did you update the driver in the first place? I try not to update printer drivers,

I cant recall the exact printer that caused this to happen but I think it was the iP4700.
The driver supplied with the printer was too old and I vaguely remember downloading a newer version from the Canon website
and this could have being the one with the Trojan in it, I just dont know for sure.

Managing seven different Canon printers on several Computers is not difficult but something like this can slip under the radar
even when youre on the ball and watching out so it doesnt happen.

I am now working with two additional new operating systems both 64 bit and
downloaded my drivers from Microsoft not from Canon; too late you might say..

 

[stratman]

The Hat:

Can you describe your computers and printers and how they are set up? Do you have a LAN where several printers and computers are shared, or is it one computer and several printers? Or do you have a combination of some printers and computers shared on a LAN and some not?

Even if your printers are shared on a LAN, how would the firmware of printer "A" that is turned off when you update the firmware of printer "B" get updated as well? It can't. The changes (files and registry) are therefore on the local computer that is shared between both printers. Once the firmware is updated on printer "B" then no matter what computer accesses that printer "B" it will use the updated firmware. But updated drivers on a computer should not flash the firmware on a printer "Z" that is newly connected to that computer.

If all your printers are turned on and shared on your LAN then it is possible that a universal driver containing a universal firmware update could recognize and flash all the printers that that update is written for. I have never heard of this scenario before. I also am unaware that Canon uses universal drivers that cross different printer models as well as different operating systems. It would be shoddy coding if an update for your 4700 also updated your 9500 MkII since these two printers have markedly different parameters. That wouldn't make sense.

If this is a firmware issue it may be possible to flash back to an older version as well as return to an older driver version. You would need to uninstall, reboot and then install the old drivers and firmware.

Are you sure the firmware, not driver, has been changed on all the printers? How are you determining this?