Hello! I've had my Kid controller in use for several years, and never knew about updates until my controller is no longer working correctly. The message had been with flashing lights and 1811. I went to the midnite solar website, but only found a download for 1864. I downloaded it on my Windows 10 laptop, but got the bootloader 2.5 bad firmware message, and now the thing appears to be locked up. I looked online for an 1811 download without success. What can I do to get it going again? Many thanks!
If you go to the page where you downloaded update
at the bottom you will see link for instructions.
I believe in those instructions it tells you how to fix the problem you are seeing - and all the steps to install firmware properly.
http://www.midnitesolar.com/firmwareReport.php?firmware_ID=21&firmwareProduct_ID=4&act=edit
"If the update process does not complete you might see this error:
BOOTLOADER 2.5
BAD FIRMWARE
You might also see this error on Windows 10 if you tried to update the Firmware without using the Application above.
If you see this error, power down The KID and wait 60 seconds. Then hold the SETUP button while powering up The KID. This will put The KID into update mode. The screen should read:
BOOTLOADER 2.5
FORCED UPDATE
The KID is now ready to retry the firmware update. "
Larry
Thank you! However, I did everything, repowering the unit after a minute off, pressing the setup button, and the forced update message came up. But when I plugged in my laptop that has the 1864 update on it, immediately it goes to the bad update message. I've tried it with the computer already plugged in with the forced update message, then plugged in after the message, etc., and it all does the same. I'm wondering if it requires the 1811 update installed first, but I can't find that update anywhere.
Thanks again for any help you can give me. The system's dead right now!
Sounds like you need to call into our tech support...
You can try that and leave a message and/or email them at support(((AATT)))midnitesolar.com
Who knows ? Someone might even answer you on the weekend ? Otherwise you will have to wait until Monday for a reply.
Those guys should know the answer.
Quote from: dlnelsonroca on April 03, 2021, 07:13:24 PM
Thank you! However, I did everything, repowering the unit after a minute off, pressing the setup button, and the forced update message came up. But when I plugged in my laptop that has the 1864 update on it, immediately it goes to the bad update message. I've tried it with the computer already plugged in with the forced update message, then plugged in after the message, etc., and it all does the same. I'm wondering if it requires the 1811 update installed first, but I can't find that update anywhere.
Thanks again for any help you can give me. The system's dead right now!
It has been awhile since I did update on Kid . Did you try different usb port for update ? Different usb cable maybe ? Next thing I would try is a different laptop .
Larry
Well, I tried the different cable, USB port, and laptop. The controller automatically goes to bad firmware as soon as I plug anything in. So I guess I'll try tech support next. Thanks for you suggestions and help so far...
Let us know how it turns out .
Larry
As our forum member ClassicCrazy had stated there is a very specific update process for the KID on Windows 10.
http://www.midnitesolar.com/firmware/kid/MNKID_firmware_1864/KID_Firmware_Upgrade.docx
Please make sure that you have the KID in download mode(or forced download) before your PC is plugged in.
Please make sure that the installer is running on your PC and waiting for the KID to connect.
THEN and only then connect your PC to the KID.
If at that point your KID will not update, it will need to come back to us for repair.
-Kyle
Hooray! Thank you again. The last by KyleM did it. I had the cable already inserted into the unit and then plugged in the USB. So this time I had the cable in the USB and then plugged it into the unit, and with success. Many thanks. The system is up again.
Quote from: dlnelsonroca on April 09, 2021, 09:25:47 PM
Hooray! Thank you again. The last by KyleM did it. I had the cable already inserted into the unit and then plugged in the USB. So this time I had the cable in the USB and then plugged it into the unit, and with success. Many thanks. The system is up again.
WoW ! That's great !
Yes, timing is everything some times. Shouldn't have to be that way but I am really happy you got it to go !
Thank you Kyle for your wonderful words of wisdom and help on this !
Fantastic!! Glad we could help.
-Kyle
I'm sorry to say that the problem is back, but with a twist. Now the error reads 1864 instead of 1811. After what appeared to be the first successful update, I reset the controller to its original default settings, and not long after the problem began again. I might have to send it to fixed, but I live and work in southern Mexico, making it a pain to do. How many times should I try to install the 1864 update before I give up?
Quote from: dlnelsonroca on April 19, 2021, 01:35:12 PM
I'm sorry to say that the problem is back, but with a twist. Now the error reads 1864 instead of 1811. After what appeared to be the first successful update, I reset the controller to its original default settings, and not long after the problem began again. I might have to send it to fixed, but I live and work in southern Mexico, making it a pain to do. How many times should I try to install the 1864 update before I give up?
Well, this may actually be a clue ! You updated then did VMM to reset to defaults.
This might be an extra data point to give another angle to fix it.
What happens if you update the unit yet again but do not reset to default settings but just change them ?
That sounds good. But the screen is stuck on BAD FIRMWARE, and won't open anything else.
Quote from: dlnelsonroca on April 19, 2021, 06:23:54 PM
That sounds good. But the screen is stuck on BAD FIRMWARE, and won't open anything else.
Did you try flashing the firmware again ?
Larry
A couple possible reasons to get this I think I am hearing...
Windows saw the KID as a USB DRIVE and wrote a system index file to it ???
or
You have the KID plugged into a PC ?
Try this...
turn off KID, hold SETUP BUTTON, turn on KID
FORCED UPDATE MODE...
But have USB unplugged first
I believe so. I followed all the directions to bring the unit to FORCED UPDATE, and then open the windows 10 installation program that I downloaded from the midnite website, and it says it's waiting for the update for the computer, then connecting the computer to the unit. And it almost immediately goes to BAD FIRMWARE. A few times it quit repeatedly opening the window and sounded like it was going to install. But then I look and it I get the BAD FIRMWARE message again. I've tried it multiple times now. I thought I read somewhere that it might work after multiple tries, but so far no luck. It did work before a week ago from 1811 to 1864 when I followed the instructions above, but when I reset it for the default setting it went to the 1864 BAD FIRMWARE message, and is stuck there now.
I would email kylem@midnitesolar.com he is our resident guru on the kid, if he cant fix it then it probably needs a trip to the doctors
At this point in time since you were able to update it before and are still seeing error it is time to send it on for inspection.
We can erase the drive and install new Firmware on it at a board level.
There might be some other hardware issues as well that we can not see off the scope.
http://www.midnitesolar.com/ticket/ticket_index.php (http://www.midnitesolar.com/ticket/ticket_index.php) feel free to create a Support Ticket if you can not reach us during normal hours.
-Thanks