diff --git a/UpdatePTUDevCtrl/update.cpp b/UpdatePTUDevCtrl/update.cpp
index 837e467..4f9c27d 100644
--- a/UpdatePTUDevCtrl/update.cpp
+++ b/UpdatePTUDevCtrl/update.cpp
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ QPluginLoader Update::pluginLoader;
 
 hwinf *Update::loadDCPlugin(QDir const &plugInDir, QString const &fname) {
     hwinf *hw = nullptr;
+#if 0
     if (plugInDir.exists()) {
         QString pluginLibName(fname);
         pluginLibName = plugInDir.absoluteFilePath(pluginLibName);
@@ -74,6 +75,7 @@ hwinf *Update::loadDCPlugin(QDir const &plugInDir, QString const &fname) {
         qCritical() << "plugins directory" << plugInDir.absolutePath()
                     << "does not exist";
     }
+#endif
     return hw;
 }
 
@@ -117,6 +119,7 @@ Update::Update(Worker *worker,
     , m_dryRun(dryRun)
     , m_sys_areDCdataValid(false) {
 
+#if 0
     if (!m_hw) {
         qCritical() << "(" << __func__ << ":" << __LINE__ << ") m_hw == nullptr -> ca-slave plugin not loaded";
     } else {
@@ -134,6 +137,7 @@ Update::Update(Worker *worker,
         qCritical() << "(" << __func__ << ":" << __LINE__ << ") m_sys_areDCDataValid ..."
                     << m_sys_areDCdataValid;
     }
+#endif
 }
 
 Update::~Update() {
@@ -606,6 +610,8 @@ QString Update::getFileVersion(QString const& jsonFileName) {
 }
 
 bool Update::checkDownloadedJsonVersions(QStringList const& jsonFileNames) {
+// note: 2026-02-09: this method is not used!
+#if 0
 
     for (QStringList::size_type i=0; i < jsonFileNames.size(); ++i) {
 
@@ -679,14 +685,14 @@ bool Update::checkDownloadedJsonVersions(QStringList const& jsonFileNames) {
             qCritical() << "CANNOT FIND JSON-NR FOR" << fName;
         }
     }
-
+#endif
     return false;
 }
 
 QMap<QString, QString>
 Update::getInstalledJsonVersions(QStringList const& jsonFileNames) {
     QMap<QString, QString> map;
-
+#if 0
     if (!m_hw) {
         qCritical() << "(" << __func__ << ":" << __LINE__ << "):"
                     << "ERROR!!! m_hw == nullptr";
@@ -786,6 +792,7 @@ Update::getInstalledJsonVersions(QStringList const& jsonFileNames) {
         }
     }
 
+#endif
     return map;
 }
 
diff --git a/UpdatePTUDevCtrl/worker.cpp b/UpdatePTUDevCtrl/worker.cpp
index 4cddd9d..c57f5f0 100644
--- a/UpdatePTUDevCtrl/worker.cpp
+++ b/UpdatePTUDevCtrl/worker.cpp
@@ -541,9 +541,10 @@ void Worker::privateUpdate() {
     //                  UPDATE THE PSA USING THE CHANGED FILES
     //
     ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-    if ((continueUpdate = downloadFilesToPSAHardware()) == false) {
-        return;
-    }
+    // for 281/Szeged: skip uploading files to DeviceController
+    //if ((continueUpdate = downloadFilesToPSAHardware()) == false) {
+    //    return;
+    //}
     lst = QStringList(QString("DONE"));
     ISMAS(lst) << (GUI(lst) << (CONSOLE(lst) << UPDATE_STEP::DOWNLOAD_FILES_TO_PSA_HARDWARE_SUCCESS));