[Arefin Bari]

I think you are right. Firmwire needs to be downloaded to the RCX. In the main menu go to Setup, and then choose Hardware Setup... follow instruction on the screen and it will download the Firmwire. I dont think there is a way to save the programs that was ON the RCX. did you save those programs? if yes, you are good to go. If not, you have to write them again (pretty easy to do). Did you try to change the battery? Changing batteries causes the software to get deleted. But there is a trick. Take one battery out at a time and put a new one in. Dont take them all out at one time.

-Arefin.