Bricked My Zeus?!?

[Dockhead]

Trying to update software in my various Navico devices, and ran into this most annoying problem.

Put the update software on a thumb drive, inserted into my Zeus Z8 (non-touchscreen; equivalent to Simrad NSE) AFTER startup as the instructions require. Update software runs, "The keypad software version is up to date"; "installing system packages", etc.

Then, the system tries to restart, and takes me back to the old menu:

"The following updates were found:
00: Normal system start (Ignore.UPD files)
01: ZUS-3.0-46.1.139-12583-r13-Standard-1.upd on Generic- SD/MMC"

and here I get stuck in an endless loop. If I choose 00, then after a long startup routine, I get right back to that menu. If I choose 01, then the installation is repeated, and with the same results.

I tried a hard reboot, cut power, pulled out the thumb drive -- nothing works.

Obviously I'll be right onto Navico tech support in the morning, but has anyone encountered this problem?

I precisely followed these instructions: http://www.bandg.com/Documents/softw...structions.pdf

[Dockhead]

Weird.

These messages flash by so fast I can't read them normally, but I caught them on video to decipher:

"All system packages have been installed.

Applying fixups. . .

Please do NOT remove the update media.

1 of 9 . . . OK
2 of 9 . . . OK
3 of 9 . . . OK
4 of 9 . . . OK
5 of 9 . . . OK
6 of 9 . . . OK
7 of 9 . . . OK
8 of 9 . . . OK
9 of 9 . . . OK
10 of 9 [sic!]. . . OK
11 of 9 . . . OK
12 of 9 . . . OK1 of 9 . . . OK
13 of 9 . . . OK
14 of 9 . . . OK
15 of 9 . . . OK
[etc.]
22 of 9 . . . OK

The update process has finished successfully.

You MAY remove the update media.

Continuing with normal boot."


Then back to the same endless loop.

I tried whipping out the thumb drive right after the message "You MAY remove the update media". The result is that it boots over and over and over endless without ever starting up.

Anyone have this problem?

[smac999]

I would try to re download update and put onto drive again. maybe corrupt file.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by smac999

I would try to re download update and put onto drive again. maybe corrupt file.

Good idea. I'll try that.

I also found the previous update -- I'm first going to try to go back to that software version and see if I can at least unbrick the unit that way.

[Dockhead]

Hooray! Unbricked.

Back to the old version.

And with all of my data and setting erased

But at least functioning again.

[Dockhead]

I don't know what that was, but it all worked. Downloaded the new update again, and it installed.

And it looks nice! First thing I noticed, was that it has dynamic tides and currents like the Zeus Touch This is really good.

[weavis]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I don't know what that was, but it all worked. Downloaded the new update again, and it installed.

And it looks nice! First thing I noticed, was that it has dynamic tides and currents like the Zeus Touch This is really good.

I always format the USB drive twice.
then copy the new install twice to the drive.

Its something I learned from being in the position you found yourself in, a few times.

[weavis]

Are you happy with the new software look and feel?

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by weavis

I always format the USB drive twice.
then copy the new install twice to the drive.

Its something I learned from being in the position you found yourself in, a few times.

Interesting -- when I loaded the re-downloaded update, and did it using a different thumb drive. Maybe that was the difference.

Hot tip; thanks Weavis!

[travellerw]

You should always do a proper "Eject" on the USB drive after copying the update to it. Windows doesn't really write the entire data to the drive when it says it does. Instead it gives the interface back to you and writes the data in the background when it has time. This can lead to corruption if the drive is pulled before Windows finishes writing the data.

A proper "Eject" tells Windows to write the data immediately and free the device for removal.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by travellerw

You should always do a proper "Eject" on the USB drive after copying the update to it. Windows doesn't really write the entire data to the drive when it says it does. Instead it gives the interface back to you and writes the data in the background when it has time. This can lead to corruption if the drive is pulled before Windows finishes writing the data.

A proper "Eject" tells Windows to write the data immediately and free the device for removal.

I actually do this -- old habit of an old computer user. I am not, however, quite sure that it is necessary any more, so long as you wait for write processes to end.

[Dockhead]

And Sailsteer!

A most worthwhile update, despite the torture getting there



And here is what dynamic tides and currents looks like:

[weavis]

Good Lord!
It is almost a picture of beauty.

[travellerw]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I actually do this -- old habit of an old computer user. I am not, however, quite sure that it is necessary any more, so long as you wait for write processes to end.

That is true, but its pretty hard to tell when they end. Sometimes Windows can wait minutes before looping back and completing them.

It also depends on the file system that you formated the stick with. Some file systems don't support write back cache (or buffering). In that case, then ejection is not required.

It still a good habit if you are doing any firmware updates. I do EE design and have been burned by it more times than I can count.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by weavis

Are you happy with the new software look and feel?

Well, I have always liked the Zeus. It was obviously designed by people with a deep understanding of sailing -- first chart plotter with that.

The new software is just an incremental update, bringing the old Zeus Z (analogue of Simrad NSE) non-touchscreen up to date with the Zeus Touch, more or less. The two added features - sail steer and dynamic tides and currents -- are both truly extremely useful. Sail steer is the best visualization of sailing dynamics I have ever seen -- it shows heading, AWA, TWA, wind speeds, DTW, BTW, and rudder angle (so important when your bashing upwind and worried about weather helm) in an excellent graphical way. The only thing missing, inexplicably, is VMG to waypoint or upwind -- I'll try to tweak it and add that. Sail Steer is so supremely cool that I have wished for a second Zeus at the helm just to display this.

Then dynamic tides and currents are also a totally superior way to look at tides which helps so much in understanding your passage.

The third big thing about this software update is that now I can use almost any chart system made, including NV and CMap besides Navionics. Great to see this openness.

But I've been using both of these functions for two years at the helm, where I have the Zeus Touch. It's great to have it at the nav table now too. And in general, kudos to Navico, who despite certain foibles have given us what I think is a totally superior nav system for sailing.

I use the nav table system a lot. On long passages I like to work here, if I have enough people on board for someone to be keeping watch above. It's great having all the information and even the ability to operate the pilot from down here.