Joe B.

Expert ★★★★★ 27,853 satisfied customers

Specialities: Canon imageRUNNER/ADV, HDD & SSD upgrades, Firmware, Network Scanning, Print Servers

Fix Canon imageRUNNER E602-0002 — HDD not initialized / no startup file after firmware or HDD replacement

Technician

Hey! We’ll walk through that Canon imageRUNNER “E602-0002” HDD not initialized fault together.
This subcode usually means after a firmware update, HDD/SSD replacement, or power event, the device can’t find valid system startup files on the internal drive.
To target the fix, tell me (in chat on the site, not here): which imageRUNNER / imageRUNNER ADVANCE / DX model you have, whether you just swapped to a new HDD/SSD, ran system firmware, or migrated from another machine, and if any data (Mailbox, address book, secure print, scanned docs) must be preserved. Then we choose the safest recovery path.

Customer

It’s an imageRUNNER ADVANCE DX. We updated the firmware and replaced the HDD with an SSD. Now on power-up it immediately shows E602-0002 and won’t boot. We’d like to keep settings if possible, but print/scan being down is killing us.

Technician

Got it. On many Canon imageRUNNER / iR ADV / DX models, E602-0002 means:
• the HDD/SSD is detected electrically, but no valid system software / boot files are on it, or
• the drive was never initialized with Canon’s format routine after replacement, or
• the firmware upgrade expected a specific partition layout and now sees it as corrupt.
With a brand-new SSD this is common: it must be formatted and registered using the correct Canon tools or Service Mode, then loaded with system software. If we do this wrong, we can wipe boxes and logs, so I’ll outline a safe, support-friendly sequence next.

Customer

The technician just dropped in a standard SSD and ran the update from USB. No special Canon format. Is that why “HDD not initialized” keeps coming back with E602-0002?

Technician

Exactly. For E602-0002 HDD not initialized, the device expects a properly prepared drive:
1) Correct type: ideally a Canon-approved HDD/SSD kit or drive that matches specs.
2) Canon initialization: formatted via Service Mode HDD initialization or Canon SST / service USB, which creates the system, image, and log partitions the firmware recognizes.
3) Valid system firmware written to that drive.
If steps 2–3 didn’t happen, the controller can’t find its boot data and triggers E602-0002 every startup. We’ll:
• confirm the SSD is seen at all,
• run the correct HDD/SSD init,
• reload system software cleanly,
• then bring back your address book and settings where possible.

Customer

How do I check if the HDD or SSD is actually detected? The panel only shows the error. We don’t want to guess and make it worse.

Technician

Step 1 — Confirm HDD/SSD hardware & connections
• Power off from the main switch and unplug the device.
• Reseat the HDD/SSD connector and harness on the controller board; check for bent pins or loose caddies.
• If it’s a removable HDD kit, confirm the drive is fully locked in the carriage.
• Use a known-good SATA cable/slot if applicable.
• If you recently cloned from another device, note: many Canon imageRUNNER models don’t support raw cloning; they require fresh initialization. A bad clone can also lead to E602-0002 or similar HDD error codes.
If the drive isn’t recognized even after reseating, we treat it as a failed or incompatible disk and use a supported replacement.

Customer

Let’s say the SSD is fine and properly connected. What’s the correct way to initialize it so the “HDD not initialized” state clears?

Technician

Step 2 — Run Canon HDD initialization (safe, vendor-compliant)
On supported models you (or your technician) will:
• Enter the device’s Service Mode (technician menu).
• Use the built-in HDD initialize / format function to create the Canon-specific partitions required for system, spool, and box areas.
• On some series, use Canon’s official Service Support Tool (SST) or a service firmware USB to format and register the HDD/SSD.
This process wipes the disk, so if the old drive is still readable and you need boxes/address book, we first grab a settings + address book backup. In live chat we guide step-by-step so you don’t hit the wrong item or lose compliance data.

Customer

After initialization, do we just restart, or do we also need to reload the system firmware to clear E602-0002?

Technician

Step 3 — Load correct system software on the initialized HDD
For an E602-0002 “no startup file” case, initialization alone is not enough:
• Use the official Canon system software package for your exact model/series and region.
• Apply via the supported method (USB, network, or SST) so the boot files and system modules are written to the HDD/SSD.
• Ensure the firmware version you install matches or exceeds the one expected by the controller board; mismatched builds can re-trigger E602 HDD errors.
• Once completed, power-cycle from the main switch. If done correctly, the device should boot without E602-0002 and rebuild its HDD management tables.

Customer

What if we still see E602-0002 after format + firmware? Could this be a main controller issue? We also see other E602 variants sometimes.

Technician

Good question. If a correctly-initialized genuine drive with fresh system software still throws E602-0002 or related HDD error subcodes:
• Check for other E602 subcodes (0001, 0003, 0100-series, 0200-series etc.) in logs — these can indicate bad sectors, spool area corruption, or SEND/image area faults.
• Inspect the HDD harness and power rails; an unstable 5V/12V line can corrupt writes during firmware updates.
• In rare cases, a failing Main Controller PCB or using a non-approved SSD causes repeated HDD I/O errors even after replacement.
At that point we isolate: swap in a test HDD known-good, re-run init + load; if errors follow the original drive, it’s storage. If errors follow the device, the controller or cabling is suspect — something we can help you document for warranty or service partner.

Customer

How do we protect data and mailboxes? We don’t want to break compliance or lose scanned archives while fixing E602-0002.

Technician

Great you’re thinking about that.
• If the original HDD still spins and isn’t fully dead, we first attempt a backup of settings/address book from Service Mode or the remote UI before any destructive init on a new drive.
• For encrypted drives or secure HDD options, we follow Canon’s official procedure so that secure erase and key handling stay compliant.
• When E602-0002 appears because the new disk is blank, we usually fix it without touching your old disk until you approve.
If you’d like, an expert in live chat can map out a “zero surprise” plan: preserve what’s possible, explain what’s lost when using a clean HDD init, and prepare documentation for your IT/security team.

Customer

Understood. If we follow these steps, should the copier boot normally and E602-0002 stay gone?

Technician

Summary: For Canon imageRUNNER “E602-0002” — HDD not initialized after firmware:
• verify a supported/genuine HDD or SSD and all harnesses,
• run the correct Canon HDD initialization (Service Mode/SST),
• load the proper system software for your exact model,
• retest; if the code persists, check for deeper HDD or Main Controller PCB faults.
Done correctly, the device boots cleanly and E602-0002 does not return. Want one-to-one help with your model and firmware files? Open the chat and an expert will guide you through it live.

Quick answer: the accepted fix

Accepted fix when a Canon imageRUNNER shows E602-0002 HDD not initialized after a firmware update or drive swap: confirm a supported HDD/SSD, run Canon’s official HDD initialize/format so system partitions are created, then reinstall the correct system software. If E602-0002 persists, test with a known-good genuine drive and inspect the Main Controller PCB and cabling.

FAQ

Step-by-step summary for Canon E602-0002

1. Power off, reseat or replace the HDD/SSD, and verify proper connections.
2. Use a supported/genuine drive where possible to avoid compatibility-related HDD errors.
3. Enter Service Mode or use Canon SST to run the official HDD initialize/format routine.
4. Install the correct system software / firmware for your exact imageRUNNER model.
5. Reboot from the main power switch and confirm the device starts with no E602-0002.
6. If errors persist, test with a known-good drive and inspect harnesses and the Main Controller PCB.

Note for mixed and managed environments

1. Document the E602-0002 incident for your IT/change management records, especially after firmware rollouts.
2. Standardize on approved HDD/SSD kits and firmware versions across all imageRUNNER / ADV / DX devices.
3. Use remote monitoring or logs to catch early HDD warnings before a full “HDD not initialized” lockout occurs.

Sources

• PrintCopy.info — Canon E602-0002 HDD error description
• Canon — Removable HDD kit & E602 guidance
• Manualslib — Example Canon E602 HDD error notes

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