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Gear / Technical Help => Recording Gear => Topic started by: gsc3c on November 02, 2004, 04:28:03 PM

Title: JB3... Broken?
Post by: gsc3c on November 02, 2004, 04:28:03 PM
So, my supercheap used JB3 that i bought seems to be broken (now that i got a power supply for it, to turn it on).  I plug it in, it sits there on the EAX screen for about thirty seconds, and goes into Rescue mode.  "Clean Up" happens instantaneously.  Been "Format"ing for 3 hours, and no progress.  Is the hard drive fried, and i need to install a new one?  Any other suggestions?
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: Brian Skalinder on November 02, 2004, 05:34:36 PM
Have you tried reloading the OS?  From the FAQ:

Quote
[330] Do I need to do any regular maintenance?

It's probably a good idea to do a Format All regularly to ensure you don't run into problems like excessive fragmentation.  Instructions:

1. Remove the battery or press the reset button.
2. Either while reinserting the battery or after reset ensure that the stop button is held down.
3. As soon as the 'Creative' logo appears on the screen during the boot sequence, release the stop button. Immediately press and release the play button. The unit should boot to a diagnostics mode with several recovery options.

Those are:

      [a.] Clean Up (Performs a scan disk on the HDD)
      [b.] Format All (*WARNING* ALL contents will be lost, including pre-installed content)
      [c.] Reload OS (*WARNING* THIS IS AN ADVANCED OPTION. DO NOT choose this unless you are sure of what you are doing as you could render your player unusable. You must also have a suitable firmware file on your PC for reloading via USB)
      [d.] Reboot


As best I could find, Clean Up scans the disk for errors and rebuilds the songlist index but does not perform a defrag.  The Format All does just what it sounds like: formats the drive, negating the need for an actual defrag (and good thing as there doesn't appear to be a maintenance operation to do just the defrag while maintaining your data).  Reload OS is probably overkill and you shouldn't need to do it unless you're having serious problems.
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: gsc3c on November 02, 2004, 08:49:13 PM
It's had the little "Erasing OS..." box up for 10 minutes now...
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: F.O.Bean on November 03, 2004, 06:43:07 PM
It's had the little "Erasing OS..." box up for 10 minutes now...

hmmm, erasing os, its nerver said that when ive just 'upgraded' os or for that matter had a firmware problem, which has happened a few times :P

put a paperclip in the reset hole and see what happens :)

you have to have the os on your hd alreay too, i hope you know that
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: gsc3c on November 03, 2004, 08:45:34 PM
So, turning it on brings me to Rescue Mode after 30 seconds, paper clip or not.
Then, none of the options (except "clean up") do anything, all freeze on a window (even letting it sit for 10+hours), and i have to reset it or pull the power plug out.

And my computer won't recognize it being connected in Rescue Mode.  Actually, it just did, but i can't update the firmware because it says my batteries are low (i don't even have a battery, it's plugged into the wall).

Please, anyone?  Anyone know who to contact to fix it (somehow)?  Or was all this a pure waste of money.
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: Chris K on November 03, 2004, 10:17:56 PM
are you using a creative power adapter made for the jb3?
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: gsc3c on November 03, 2004, 10:19:50 PM
Yes I am using a Creative Adaptor.

WELL I FIXED IT!!! (we'll see how long this lasts).

Fix?  Glad you asked.  Bang it real hard when it boots.  Apparently the heads got stuck.  The fix was posted in some forum somewhere (i'll dig up the link later).  Then i had to reinstall the OS via the Rescue menu, and an old firmware (the screen was backward for awhile hahah).

Phew.  Wow.
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: hexyjones on November 03, 2004, 10:29:36 PM
Nice...my broken JB3 should arrive tomorrow...I hope I'm as lucky.

I paid 31 bucks for a broken unit....
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: hexyjones on November 04, 2004, 01:38:46 PM
Nice...my broken JB3 should arrive tomorrow...I hope I'm as lucky.

I paid 31 bucks for a broken unit....

My broken unit is here.....FIXED!!! We're a two JB3 family!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: thoman8r on November 04, 2004, 03:05:54 PM
Nice...my broken JB3 should arrive tomorrow...I hope I'm as lucky.

I paid 31 bucks for a broken unit....

My broken unit is here.....FIXED!!! We're a two JB3 family!!!!!!!!

just curious - what was wrong with it?
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: hexyjones on November 04, 2004, 04:29:59 PM
Nice...my broken JB3 should arrive tomorrow...I hope I'm as lucky.

I paid 31 bucks for a broken unit....

My broken unit is here.....FIXED!!! We're a two JB3 family!!!!!!!!

just curious - what was wrong with it?

well...to be honest...I dont know.

When I got it...all it would do is turn on and freeze at the EAX screen.

Step 1. - I went into rescue mode and did a reformat, then reboot. Same...freezes at EAX.

Step 2. - I decided to connect it to my PC and try the rescue mode again. The device is not recognized by the computer. I did a Clean Up...that seemed to do nothing. I did Clean Up again (cuz my XYZ was talking...) and *poof* the device was recogized...I may have done a reformat - just for fun - after that...

Step 3. I just recorded 2 hours and 40 minutes of silence...no problems...

So...I should be good to go...I have a battery and will give it a test too...

This unit may end up being better than my current JB3...My first one is a refurb...and the battery wont charge...and it seems a bit more touchy about heat...so if the battery will charge...I'm back in the stealth scene...
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: thoman8r on November 04, 2004, 04:46:48 PM
Nice...my broken JB3 should arrive tomorrow...I hope I'm as lucky.

I paid 31 bucks for a broken unit....

My broken unit is here.....FIXED!!! We're a two JB3 family!!!!!!!!

just curious - what was wrong with it?

well...to be honest...I dont know.

When I got it...all it would do is turn on and freeze at the EAX screen.

Step 1. - I went into rescue mode and did a reformat, then reboot. Same...freezes at EAX.

Step 2. - I decided to connect it to my PC and try the rescue mode again. The device is not recognized by the computer. I did a Clean Up...that seemed to do nothing. I did Clean Up again (cuz my XYZ was talking...) and *poof* the device was recogized...I may have done a reformat - just for fun - after that...

Step 3. I just recorded 2 hours and 40 minutes of silence...no problems...

So...I should be good to go...I have a battery and will give it a test too...

This unit may end up being better than my current JB3...My first one is a refurb...and the battery wont charge...and it seems a bit more touchy about heat...so if the battery will charge...I'm back in the stealth scene...

nice +T for the good find.
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: Chris K on November 04, 2004, 05:07:59 PM
speaking of find...where is your source of messed up jb3's...any more to be had?   :P
 
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: The Kilted Taper on November 04, 2004, 05:19:18 PM
eBay
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: hexyjones on November 04, 2004, 05:54:08 PM
speaking of find...where is your source of messed up jb3's...any more to be had?   :P
 

You just have to scan ebay...there out there...this one was not listed in the nomad category and was in a lot of 4 random mp3 players...The JB3, a Lyra, a Rio S10, and another cheap ass thing...

3 of the 4 are now working fine....the Lyra and the RIO had the same problem...smashed volume switch...you have to use a toothpick on the Rio...and the Lrya - I have fixed at a nice volume...so they are still flawed...but useful...

The JB3 - 20gig...seems just fine...no problems.
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: The Kilted Taper on November 05, 2004, 10:38:32 AM
This unit may end up being better than my current JB3...My first one is a refurb...and the battery wont charge...and it seems a bit more touchy about heat...so if the battery will charge...I'm back in the stealth scene...

2  of my 3 are refurbs. The first one will charge one battery, but not the other. And last night I plugged in the newest refurb to chearge the battery for the first time and this morning it still wasn't charged. Anyone else having charging issues?
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: nuclear_ned on November 05, 2004, 11:15:54 AM
Mine is already fucked up.. Its giving me Firmware problem.. and it did it right in the middle of the second set of mule last night.. wtf  >:(
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: Brian Skalinder on November 05, 2004, 11:18:41 AM
This unit may end up being better than my current JB3...My first one is a refurb...and the battery wont charge...and it seems a bit more touchy about heat...so if the battery will charge...I'm back in the stealth scene...

2  of my 3 are refurbs. The first one will charge one battery, but not the other. And last night I plugged in the newest refurb to chearge the battery for the first time and this morning it still wasn't charged. Anyone else having charging issues?

Have you tried cleaningthe contacts both in the unit and on the batt proper?
Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: The Kilted Taper on November 05, 2004, 11:32:47 AM
Yeah, I did that. I just got off the phone with creative and they want me try another battery in the unit. If the second battery works they want me to just send the battery back. If it doesn't then the whole unit needs to go back...

Title: Re: JB3... Broken?
Post by: The Kilted Taper on November 09, 2004, 11:21:28 AM
Well, apparently that was a big ol' lie. I did the test. The unit works fine with other batteries in it. It charges other batteries just fine. The suspect battery will not charge in any of the 3 units. So I call tech support back. They want me to call customer service. I do. They want the whole unit back, even with what tech support told me and the tests I did to get to the root of the problem. 30mins on the phone with them gets me no where. (of course 10-15 of those minutes were on hold). I don't want to send back the unit that works great (I used it for the Galactic shows this weekend). I just want to exchange the defective battery. Talk to a "supervisor" that sounds 12 and like he's shaking in his boots. Want to talk to his supervisor, what's his name? They aren't allowed to give out that information. Horrible customer service. It's a matter of principle now.  >:(