Technology is often explained so poorly that it can overwhelm us. Such is the case with terms like "firmware" and "USB."
These are not complex and I will help you understand what they are and what they do. A very important concept to keep in mind is this: Communication is vital to computing but impossible without understanding.
Something you should keep in mind about your computer is that it communicates. In fact, without the ability to communicate, it is useless.
Internally, your computer's microprocessor communicates with the hard drive, RAM memory, CD or DVD drive and more. Externally, your computer communicates with printers, digital cameras, scanners, other computers and your Cricut. Your computer also communicates with you by displaying information on a monitor or printer. Finally, you communicate with your computer by using a keyboard, mouse or other such devices. As you can see, communication is vital.
However, for communication to occur, there must be understanding. As human beings, each of us has the same communication equipment and we communicate the same way: With our mouths, lips, vocal chords, tongue, eyes, ears, arms, etc. However, there are many languages and customs which is why we have translators, dictionaries, instructions, rules and protocols.
The same concept applies to the world of computing. Computers and equipment like your Cricut communicate with the same electronic signals but, without translators, instructions, rules and protocols there is no understanding.
"USB drivers" and "firmware" are simply instructions your computer and Cricut need to help them understand what is being communicated to them. They are essential.
In the illustration below, I show you what "USB drivers" and "firmware" do for your computer and Cricut.
I would like to recap and mention seven items to help you:
1. USB Drivers are installed on your computer. This allows your computer to understand what is connected to it. Without a USB driver, your computer "sees" something is connected but doesn't know what it is or how to talk to it.
2. You only need to install a USB driver if your computer doesn't automatically detect and communicate with your Cricut. Many new computers will detect and communicate with your Cricut or detect and automatically find and install the correct USB driver. Generally, Windows XP users need to pay closer attention to USB driver needs. Mac users do not generally need to install a USB driver.
3. Firmware is installed on your Cricut through your computer. In other words, the way you get the firmware into your Cricut is through a computer that is connected to your Cricut using a USB cable. Firmware gives your Cricut the ability to understand instructions from programs like Sure Cuts A Lot and Cricut Design Studio.
4. You only need to update your Cricut's firmware if it doesn't already meet the minimum version requirement to work with Sure Cuts A Lot software. Below, this list, I ask the question: "Do you need to update your Cricut's firmware to use SCAL 2.0?" Just click on the question to see the minimum firmware requirements and how to find out what version is currently on your Cricut.
5. The firmware you may need is made by your Cricut's manufacturer and is 100% safe for your machine. It is stored in memory on the Cricut itself and remains on your Cricut even when disconnected from a computer which means you don't have to install it again.
6. You must look and listen when updating your Cricut's firmware. Follow the instructions precisely. During the process, you need to press and hold buttons simultaneously on the machine until you hear a "beep." This action puts your Cricut into a special mode which makes it ready to accept the firmware from your computer. This is a vital step.
7. Your Cricut is like a printer. If you have ever connected a printer to your computer, your computer needed a USB driver and your printer needed a "printer driver." Firmware is nothing more than a "driver" and is specific to your Cricut machine. So, relax. You'll do just fine.
Do you need to update your Cricut's firmware to use SCAL 2.0?
Not necessarily but read carefully: You only need to update your Cricut's firmware if it doesn't meet the minimum requirements for use with SCAL 2.0. Many new Cricuts already have an acceptable firmware version. In the table below, I show you the requirements to use SCAL 2.0 with your Cricut. Notice they are the same for Windows and Mac.
To find out what firmware version is currently installed on your Cricut, just turn-on your Cricut while watching the display screen. The firmware version will be displayed while the Cricut is powering on.
Cricut Firmware Requirements for SCAL 2.0
Model Name
Model Number
Firmware Requirements
Cricut Personal Cutting System
29-0001
v 1.1 or 1.3 or higher
Cricut Create:
29-0561
v 1.51 or higher
Cricut Expression:
29-0300
v 2.1, 2.3 or higher
+
How to Update Your Cricut's Firmware.
As wonderful as your Cricut may be, you should think of it as a printer (or more precisely, a plotter). When buy a printer and connect it to your computer, you need to install a "printer driver" so that it will understand software programs. When you do this, you are actually installing software into the printer from the computer.
Your Cricut needs something very similar. It needs "firmware" which is essentially the same thing as a "printer driver" so it can understand cutting instructions from the software running on your computer.
In the high-tech industry, the company who makes the machine also provides the "driver" or "firmware." For example, you would likely download a new printer driver from Hewlett-Packard if you owned one of their printers.
ProvoCraft (the manufacturer of your Cricut) provides the "firmware" your Cricut needs. And, the way they make it available to users is through their software product called "Cricut Design Studio." Don't worry - you don't have to buy their software product. All you need to do is download their free "trial version" and use it to upgrade your Cricut's firmware.
I would like to recap and mention four important items before you get started:
A. Firmware is installed on your Cricut through your computer. In other words, the way you get the firmware into your Cricut is through a PC that is connected to it using a USB cable. If you are a Mac user, you still need to use a PC to upgrade your Cricut's firmware because there is no Mac version of "Cricut Design Studio."
B. The firmware is made by your Cricut manufacturer and is 100% safe for your machine. It is stored in memory on the Cricut itself and remains on your Cricut even when disconnected from a computer. This means you do not have to install it again.
C. You must look and listen when updating your Cricut firmware. Follow these instructions precisely. During the updating process, you need to press and hold buttons simultaneously on your Cricut machine until you hear a "beep." This action puts your Cricut into a special mode which makes it ready to accept the firmware from your computer. This is a vital step.
D. You will go back and forth from your Cricut to your computer and back to your Cricut again throughout the process.
So, let's get started:
Step #1: Turn your Cricut machine on before you connect it to your computer.
Watch the display screen closely. Your Cricut will display a version number and then say "OK". For example, it may say "v 1.0." or "2.2" etc. The version is different for each Cricut model and year it was manufactured.
Write-down the version number that was displayed for future reference. You will compare at the end of the process.
Provide your name and email address to download from the official Cricut website. Then, download and install it to your computer.
Step #4: Connect the Cricut to your computer with the USB cable.
Be sure the USB cable is plugged directly into a USB port on your computer and not through some other device.
Make sure your Cricut is still OFF.
Step #5: Start the Cricut Design Studio software you installed on your computer.
After starting the program, select the "Continue Using Trial Mode" button located the lower right area of the program.
Step #6: On your Cricut, press and hold-down the “Stop” button AND Power buttons simultaneously.
Keep both buttons held down until you hear a beep which takes about five-ten seconds. (This puts your Cricut into a special mode that makes it ready to receive the firmware from the Cricut Design Studio software.)
Step #7: Turn to your computer and select the “Help” tab in Cricut Design Studio. Then, select “Update Firmware.”
The firmware will begin to install on your Cricut machine from the computer. This process will take five to ten minutes.
Step #8: When the firmware has been installed on your Cricut machine, close the Cricut Design Studio software and turn-off your Cricut.
Watch the display screen closely. Your Cricut will display a version number and then say "OK". It will display the version number and then say “OK.” Compare this version number with the one you wrote down in step #1. The new version number should be greater than the old version number.
Step #9: Once you have confirmed that you have updated your firmware, uninstall the trial version of Cricut Design Studio on your computer. You no longer need it.
+
Troubleshooting 1: What to do if your Cricut firmware doesn't update.
On rare occasion, your Cricut machine may be a little stubborn and not update its firmware during the first attempt. It could be that you missed a step in the update process or because of a minor issue with the Cricut itself. Minor issues are typically resolved easily.
Of the thousands of Cricut users I have assisted, only a handful have had such a serious problem updating their firmware that I have had to recommend they contact Cricut technical support. Here are a couple things to keep in mind:
Your Cricut is an electronic device that has built-in software. In this way, it is similar to an Apple iPod. Since the introduction of the very first Cricut, firmware updates have been an essential method of providing performance enhancements and updates by your Cricut manufacturer. The ability for you to update your Cricut's firmware is as important to the manufacturer as it is to you whether you use your Cricut with a computer or as a stand-alone system.
This is an issue with your Cricut alone.
My Recommendation
If your Cricut does not update on the first attempt, step through the process a second time paying very close attention to the process.
This is a good check to ensure you did not miss something along the way. The most frequent issue I see is that people did not listen for a "beep" at step #6. Even if you didn't miss a step, your Cricut may update its firmware during the second attempt.
If your Cricut does not update on the second attempt, reset your Cricut machine.
Resetting your Cricut machine is completely different from updating the firmware and is very easy. In addition, the Cricut reset process is recommended by the manufacturer to resolve other minor issues you may encounter with your Cricut such as freezing. So, I encourage you to keep this in mind for the future.
According to the Cricut manufacturer: "If your machine freezes, experiences power problems, cutting issues, or anything out of the realm of normal Cricut behavior, this reset procedure is a good place to start the troubleshooting process. Nine times out of ten, this will resolve the issue."
1. Turn-on your Cricut machine without a cartridge inserted the cartridge slot.
2. Roll the Cricut's three large gray dials down to their lowest setting.
3. Using the cutting blade cylinder as a handle, pull the attached gray carriage along its track all the way to the far left side of the machine. Notice that you now have a large open area inside the Cricut.
4. Look in the newly opened area of the Cricut then look to the right. A red button is located on the right wall of the Cricut. Press and hold this button for about three to five seconds.
5. Move the gray cutting blade assembly back to the right side of the Cricut machine where it used to be. Just put your hand on the left side of the gray assembly box and pull it to the far left.
6. Roll the Cricut's three large gray dials all the way up and down three times for each dial.
7. Press the Cricut's large "Cut" button and then turn the Cricut machine off. Leave your Cricut off for about 15-20 minutes.
8. Insert a cartridge in your Cricut's cartridge slot.
9. Attempt to update your Cricut's firmware again following the same instructions as before.
I hope this has helped to take some of the mystery out of USB drivers and firmware.
Copyright 2008-2011, ScrappingTable.com LLC; All rights reserved. Opinions expressed are those of ScrappingTable.com LLC only. Brand names, logos and product claims are those of the manufacturers and not ScrappingTable.com LLC. Cricut and Gypsy are registered trademarks of Provo Craft & Novelty. The unauthorized use, distribution or website embedding of ScrappingTable.com LLC content including but not limited to web pages, artwork, videos, tutorials, instructions and narratives is expressly forbidden.
