Stern Family Guy won't boot after update

[swamprat96]

This has the newer stern SAM system- update via USB. Never worked on one before. Apparently the owner downloaded the update and loaded it via USB. Goes through step 1 and step 2 then says press selct to reboot. After select says rebooting.... and just stays there

[johnwartjr]

Make sure he has the right file on the USB drive. Did he unzip it?

[swamprat96]

yep - unzipped it and properly disconnected the usb stick. The file is the right one. Maybe I could get someone with one to make a backup and email it to me?

[MartyJ]

Does it matter how the USB drive is formatted (ie NTFS or FAT32?)

[ajlaird]

Does it matter how the USB drive is formatted (ie NTFS or FAT32?)

Good question; in fact a lot of USB drives were formatted FAT16 when the storage sizes were smaller (2GB and under).

I would say this could be an issue - will read up and see.

[ajlaird]

My reading would indicate that the USB drive would need to be formatted in a FAT format; whether that is FAT16 or FAT32 I couldn't tell from my brief research.

[swamprat96]

Mmmm. I think by default XP formats external devices in Fat32 but I'll check this out

[MartyJ]

Mmmm. I think by default XP formats external devices in Fat32 but I'll check this out

I'm just shooting from the hip but I thought maybe the CPU was recognizing a USB stick in there and couldn't read the MFT.

I hope its not the CPU board..

[swamprat96]

I think because it's going through each step its recognising the code.

[ajlaird]

Mmmm. I think by default XP formats external devices in Fat32 but I'll check this out

You get a choice of FAT or FAT32 in XP; I imagine either should be fine, but if you want to test it out then go for FAT to see if it makes a difference.

[Pinball Fixers]

What was the size of the USB sitck?

Stern recommends only using 256Mb or below USB stick.

I updated a Pirates a few years back using a 512Mb stick, and the machine had no sound at all after that, then once I used a 256Mb stick, it updated and worked fine.

[ajlaird]

What was the size of the USB sitck?

Stern recommends only using 256Mb or below USB stick.

I updated a Pirates a few years back using a 512Mb stick, and the machine had no sound at all after that, then once I used a 256Mb stick, it updated and worked fine.

This would suggest their code for reading the USB stick is quite limited, which may well be the case.

Finding a 256MB stick could be a problem these days, though.

[swamprat96]

good suggestions A 256 mb stick will be tough but I can get one

[Pinball Fixers]

What was the size of the USB sitck?

Stern recommends only using 256Mb or below USB stick.

I updated a Pirates a few years back using a 512Mb stick, and the machine had no sound at all after that, then once I used a 256Mb stick, it updated and worked fine.

This would suggest their code for reading the USB stick is quite limited, which may well be the case.

Finding a 256MB stick could be a problem these days, though.

Their code IS limited... and the Stern website says that you need to use an "approved" 128Mb+ USB stick (a flyer I have here states to not use one above 265Mb).

At the time I bought mine, they were already hard to come by. Might be best to try eBay, or the WTB section here to see if someone has an old one they no longer need.

[pinball god]

Obsolesence is a major bummer IMO. Think about it a 256mb stick has just x10 in price all of a sudden. I hope this won't be the case.