How to Reset Toner Settings on Konica Minolta C364 4th-Generation Color Copiers

If you work with older Konica Minolta color copiers, you may have noticed that the service-mode behavior of the bizhub C364 is different from newer models such as the C368.

One of the most common points of confusion involves the Engine FW DipSW menu. On the C364, the menu is not permanently visible in Service Mode. It becomes available only after a specific Software Switch setting is enabled.

This article explains how the Engine FW DipSW menu works on the Konica Minolta C364, why Software Switch No. 59 needs to be enabled again after a complete power cycle, and how this differs from the C368.

Service note: The procedures discussed below involve Service Mode and engine firmware settings. They should be performed by a qualified technician familiar with Konica Minolta service procedures.

Key Takeaways

• The Konica Minolta C364 belongs to the 4th-generation platform and has a different engine firmware architecture from the C368.
• The Engine FW DipSW menu is normally hidden and becomes available when Software Switch No. 59 is set to 01.
• On the C364, setting 59-01 functions as an access condition for the Engine FW DipSW menu rather than a permanent setting.
• Once the required engine DipSW settings have been stored, they can remain in the engine board’s NVM even though Software Switch 59 returns to 00 after a complete reboot.
• For toner-related settings, the relevant DipSW values should be verified against the applicable service documentation and machine configuration before making changes.
• The C368 uses a different generation of engine firmware, so its DipSW behavior should not be assumed to be identical to the C364.

Understanding the C364 Engine FW DipSW Menu

The first thing to understand is that Engine FW DipSW is not a permanently displayed Service Mode menu on the C364.

According to the service documentation, the menu becomes available when Software Switch No. 59 is set to 01 in HEX Assignment under:

Service Mode → System 2 → Software Switch Setting

When Switch No. 59 is set back to 00, the Engine FW DipSW menu is hidden or unavailable.

This explains why the menu can appear during one service session and then disappear after the machine has been restarted. The setting associated with Switch 59 is being used to make the Engine FW DipSW function accessible; it is not simply a permanent menu-visibility setting.

Why Does the C364 Engine FW DipSW List Stop at 28?

Another common question is why the C364 shows Engine FW DipSW settings only through Switch No. 28, while newer machines may have a different or longer list.

The reason is the difference in the underlying engine firmware architecture.

The bizhub C224, C284, and C364 are part of the same platform family, and their service documentation includes a defined Engine FW DipSW section. The service documentation identifies these models separately from later generations such as the C368.

Therefore, the number of available Engine FW DipSW entries should not be compared directly between different generations.

A shorter DipSW list on the C364 does not, by itself, indicate a malfunction or incomplete Service Mode configuration.

Toner-Related DipSW Settings

For technicians working with compatible toner cartridges or rental machines, two settings are particularly relevant in the configuration described in this service case:

• DipSW 1 — disables toner cartridge chip recognition.
• DipSW 6 — forces the toner level to show as full.

These settings are useful in specific service and rental-machine configurations where the original cartridge chip or toner-counting behavior needs to be bypassed.

However, technicians should verify the applicable switch definitions for the exact machine, firmware version, and service documentation before changing any Engine FW DipSW value.

Why Are DipSW 1 and 6 Different From Software Switch 59?

This distinction is the key to understanding the C364.

Software Switch 59 controls access to the Engine FW DipSW menu.

The actual Engine FW DipSW settings, such as the toner-related settings described above, are stored on the engine side.

In practical terms:

Software Switch 59 opens the door to the Engine FW DipSW menu. DipSW 1 and 6 are settings inside that menu.

This is why the two types of settings should not be treated as the same thing.

Why Does 59-01 Need to Be Entered Again After Power-Off?

This is probably the most confusing part of the C364 procedure.

After a complete power cycle, Software Switch No. 59 returns to 00. As a result, the Engine FW DipSW menu is no longer available until 59-01 is entered again.

This does not necessarily mean that the previously configured Engine FW DipSW values have been erased.

The C364 uses separate storage areas for controller-side and engine-side settings. In the configuration described here, Software Switch 59 acts as the access condition on the controller side, while the relevant Engine FW DipSW values are retained by the engine-side system.

In other words:

59-01 = temporary access to the menu

DipSW 1 / DipSW 6 = actual engine settings

That distinction explains why you may need to enter 59-01 again after startup without having to reconfigure the toner-related DipSW settings themselves.

A Simple Way to Think About It

Think of Software Switch 59 as a key.

The key opens the door to the Engine FW DipSW menu. When the machine is completely powered down, the key is no longer active.

The settings inside the menu, however, can remain stored in the engine system.

So after restarting the machine:

1. Enter Service Mode.
2. Set Software Switch No. 59 to 01.
3. Open the Engine FW DipSW menu.
4. Check the existing settings.
5. There is normally no need to rewrite DipSW 1 and DipSW 6 simply because the machine was restarted, provided those settings were successfully stored.

Practical Verification

A useful way to verify this behavior is to configure the required Engine FW DipSW settings and then perform a complete power cycle.

After restarting:

• The toner-related setting can remain effective.
• Software Switch 59 may have returned to 00.
• The Engine FW DipSW menu may therefore be hidden again.

If the toner level remains at the expected setting while the Engine FW DipSW menu is unavailable, this indicates that menu access and stored engine settings are separate functions.

Always verify the result on the actual machine rather than assuming that a hidden menu means the previous settings have been lost.

Important Considerations for Rental Machines

This configuration can be useful when maintaining rental machines, but there are several points worth considering.

1. Avoid Unnecessary Changes to Engine Settings

Do not repeatedly change and rewrite Engine FW DipSW values unless there is a specific service reason to do so.

Frequent changes to non-volatile settings can increase the risk of configuration or NVM-related problems. If an NVM-related error such as C164 occurs, the machine should be diagnosed according to the applicable service documentation rather than simply repeating the DipSW procedure.

2. Check the Toner Cartridge Before Switching Back to OEM Cartridges

If toner-chip recognition has been disabled, the machine’s behavior toward an original cartridge can be different.

Before returning a rental machine to original Konica Minolta cartridges, check the relevant toner-recognition setting and restore it to the appropriate configuration if necessary.

Otherwise, toner recognition may not work as expected.

3. Firmware Version Can Affect Service Behavior

Different firmware versions can behave differently, particularly on older machines.

If a C364 does not retain a setting as expected, check the machine’s firmware version and the applicable service documentation before assuming that the procedure itself is incorrect.

Updating firmware may address certain service or NVM-related issues, but it should not be expected to turn Software Switch 59 into a permanently enabled setting if that is not supported by the platform design.

Can 59-01 Be Permanently Enabled on the C364?

For the C364 configuration discussed in this article, Software Switch 59 should not be treated as a permanently enabled setting.

The available service documentation describes the Engine FW DipSW menu as being displayed when Switch No. 59 is set to 01; it does not describe a normal procedure for permanently locking that access condition in the ON state.

Therefore, after a complete power cycle, technicians should expect to re-enable the access condition when they need to enter the Engine FW DipSW menu.

This is a platform behavior rather than an indication that the machine has failed to save the toner-related settings.

A Practical Shortcut for Rental Machine Maintenance

For technicians who regularly service multiple rental machines, repeatedly entering the same Software Switch value can be inconvenient.

One practical approach is to keep the relevant service procedure or service-mode shortcut available on a dedicated service USB drive, where supported by the applicable service workflow.

This can reduce repetitive manual entry during routine maintenance.

However, the exact USB workflow depends on the machine, firmware, and service tools being used. It should not be assumed that a shortcut designed for one model or firmware version will work on another.

C364 vs. C368: What Is Different?

The C364 and C368 should not be treated as identical machines simply because both are Konica Minolta color copiers.

The C364 belongs to an earlier generation of engine and controller architecture, while the C368 uses a later platform with different firmware behavior.

This difference is especially important when working with the Engine FW DipSW menu.

The main takeaway is simple: do not copy a C368 service procedure directly to a C364.

Even when two machines appear to use similar Service Mode terminology, the underlying firmware and storage behavior can be different.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Engine FW DipSW menu disappear on my C364?

The Engine FW DipSW menu is associated with Software Switch No. 59. When Switch 59 is not set to 01, the menu is not available in the normal way described by the service documentation.

Do I need to reset DipSW 1 and DipSW 6 every time the C364 is restarted?

Not necessarily. If the Engine FW DipSW settings have been successfully stored, restarting the machine does not automatically mean those settings have been erased. The need to enter 59-01 again is primarily related to accessing the Engine FW DipSW menu.

Why does my C364 show fewer Engine DipSW settings than a C368?

The two machines use different generations of engine firmware. The available DipSW definitions are determined by the machine’s platform and firmware.

Can I permanently keep Software Switch 59 at 01?

The service documentation describes 59-01 as the condition that makes the Engine FW DipSW menu available. It does not provide a standard procedure for permanently keeping this access condition enabled on the C364.

Is this procedure suitable for every Konica Minolta C364?

The C364 family can have different firmware versions and configurations. Service-mode operations should therefore be checked against the correct service documentation for the specific machine before changing any firmware switch.

Final Thoughts

The most important point when working with the Konica Minolta C364 is to separate menu access from the settings stored inside that menu.

Software Switch 59 is used to make the Engine FW DipSW menu available. Once the required engine settings have been configured and stored, the fact that the menu becomes unavailable after a complete power cycle does not automatically mean that those settings have been lost.

This is also why C364 and C368 service procedures should be treated separately. The two machines belong to different platform generations, and their Engine FW DipSW behavior is not identical.

For technicians maintaining older Konica Minolta machines, understanding this distinction can save time and prevent unnecessary changes to already-correct engine settings.