So I've tried 2 firmware upgrades for my RC3200. (1.1.4.2 available from the marantz US site, and 1.1.4.4 available from the Marantz Euope site)

The problem is that when I use the RC3200 Setup application to upload my configuration via the serial cable (on WinXP Pro SP2), it corrupts the layouts and bitmaps of the buttons. This happens with the default factory ncf file.

Downloading so far has been no problem, but because uploading botches the layout and bitmaps I cannot create a page for my dvd player, then go learn the codes, then create a page for my VCR.

Right now I'm stuck with making all the pages, and then once I'm happy with the layout downloading it, and then learning all the IR codes. But I can't back up my working config once I do this :(

I can't remember what the firmware was before I upgraded (it was 1.1.something as I had upgraded firmware once with no problem several years ago)

*EDIT*
I double checked my COM settings from the FAQ here.
The version of the RC3200 Setup application is 1.4.6.0 built on May 21 2002
*End Edit*

Anyway if anyone else has solved this issue, please let me know.

Thanks

Well on a good note, it looks like it might have been my PC. I tried an upload from a friends computer (same OS version and RC3200 setup version) and it worked fine.

Time to get a USB/Serial adapter and try my other computer at home

Well, 3 stores were out of Serial to USB adapters, so I tried again on my crappy PC.

I finally stumbled onto the answer - The RC3200 application was not saving the .ncf file correctly. Basically it was failing to put the bitmap files in a Bitmaps\ folder.

Steps I used to fix:
1) Rename the bad ncf file with a .zip extension
2) Unzip the contents to a folder using WinZip
NOTE: Winzip complains about a bad Bitmaps\ folder entry. I just told it to continue
3) Create the Bitmaps\ folder and put all the images into it
4) Zip up the fixed structure
5) Opened the zip file in WinZip and added this comment to the file:
Type:001
Version:001.000

This was the key part to get the RC3200 to open the file correctly.

6) Renamed the file back to a .ncf file

*phew*

I still have no idea why this once PC is so fubar'd, but at least I can upload/download now.