NXT Software problems
I've received 3 emails since Dec 25 from readers expressing concern about their NXT-G CDs. All 3 indicated that they received errors during the install. 2 of the errors that were described were identical and one was different. One thought is that the CDs are bad, but I'm putting this out here for our readers to provide some possible help...
Error #1: "The installation hangs on install, and if I install the components seperately, the software complains of "Unable to open resource files"
Error #2: "The CD autorun works fine and I select the directory, accept the licensing agreement, etc. etc. and all looks fine, but it stalls on the progress screen (it's the screen with two progress bars and the one on top says "Overall Progress"). It just stalls out. Nothing happens. I can click cancel and it will cancel the operation, so I know the software hasn't frozen on me. I tried restarting the computer, tried two different computers, tried copying the contents of the CD to my HDD and installing, but always the same thing happens. "
Error #1: "The installation hangs on install, and if I install the components seperately, the software complains of "Unable to open resource files"
Error #2: "The CD autorun works fine and I select the directory, accept the licensing agreement, etc. etc. and all looks fine, but it stalls on the progress screen (it's the screen with two progress bars and the one on top says "Overall Progress"). It just stalls out. Nothing happens. I can click cancel and it will cancel the operation, so I know the software hasn't frozen on me. I tried restarting the computer, tried two different computers, tried copying the contents of the CD to my HDD and installing, but always the same thing happens. "
Comments
And my Homemade sort of works computer.
The LEGO software installed OK on both. and worked! .. BLUETOOTH WAS A DIFFERENT MATTER!
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OK, I hope this helps everyone with that nasty klicking and useless nxt block.
Santa brought ours on Christmas and everything was fine until good old Dad tried to update the firmware to v1.04. The block came with 1.01 installed and performed an update to v1.03 when we hooked it up to the computer.
We are an Apple family and have 3 computers all of the powerPC generation. Our son uses his to do his nxt programming. He has a 14" iBook G4. I have a first generation 12" Powerbook G4 (867 MHz). I'm telling you this because others on the blog have tried using other computers to solve their clicking dead nxt blocks.
Anyway, here is what I did to solve the problem. I did what everyone else on this blog reported worked and had no luck. What worked however is this—start with disconnecting your nxt block from all of the sensor wires and motor wires. Pull the battery out and count to 10 or more. Replace the battery. Do a hard reset—use a heavy wire paperclip to push the button inside the Technic hole in the upper left corner of the nxt block, it's just below the USB outlet. Remember hold the button down for at least 10 seconds. Your going to get the clicking sound again but that's OK. You want that. As others have reported, this means that the block is ready to be updated.
What I did from here is start from scratch. I turned off the BT connection on my computer. I reloded the Lego software to the computer. Then I went on line to the Lego Mindstorms update site http://mindstorms.lego.com/support/updates/ there I found an update: MINDSTORMS NXT Driver v1.02 "This software updates the LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT driver and addresses an issue that prevents the firmware from being downloaded to the NXT on some occasions."
I followed these instructions provided by Lego: "When you have installed the new driver and want to download new firmware to the NXT, please initialize the NXT brick before you start downloading the firmware. If your NXT is clicking when you insert batteries, push the hardware reset button for five seconds before you insert the USB cable. This will ensure that the brick initializes correctly for the firmware download. The hardware reset button is located within the LEGO Technic hole below the USB connector on the NXT brick. If your NXT brick is not clicking when you insert batteries just go through the normal firmware download process as described within the manual when the new driver is installed."
I then launched the nxt software and performed the upgrade: go to Tools > Update NXT Firmware. Your User Guide explains all this on pages 74 and 75. I only upgraded to v1.03 which comes with the CD Install Disk. It worked fine when I we first installed so it should work fine now. And if you read the firmware upgrade for v1.04 it says:
Updating to LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT Firmware V1.04 will improve the following:
- Multiple datafile control within user programs
- Communication with 3rd party external devices
- Bluetooth communication within user programs
NOTE: Only update your firmware if you have experienced issues related to the above
So unless you are experiencing these issues I'd leave well enough alone. "Son, do as I say not as I do."
There must be a USB driver issue and the driver is missing in v1.03. You have to download and load this driver update and the USB connection works.
Take your time and don't throw your nxt across the room and you'll be OK. (I didn't pitch it across the room only because my son was with me, keep your kid next to you at all times, they're presence will likely prevent you from making rash and destructive mistakes)
Good luck! Oh, I am still waiting to hear from Lego on this issue.
John
The only solution is to disconnect the power-source for at least an hour. Aleratively it works to disconnect the power source and short-circuit + and - to drain the device from any lingering change. Works every time.
Does anyone know what state the brick is in when it is completely dead and not clicking?
What solved the problem on the first laptop was to not try to install from the native Administrator account, but rather to create a new account with administrator privileges, log in to that, and then install. Again, it's Windows, who knows why.
Good luck!