Another dead Neuros I, but more severe ...

[Mafeu]

Hi Neuros community,

Seems there are a lot of failing Neuros Is lately, so here is my case:

Since a long while (is it allready more than 3 years?) I'm a happy owner of a Neuros I with both the Battery- and the 20G-Hard-Drive-Backpack.

I never used the battery-pack, the DSP unit is fixed into the HD-backpack since the first day.

A while ago I switched on the Neuros and there was just a repeated metallic clicking sound. After a while I got a "Unable to mount harddisk. Going to diagnostic mode." message. Trying to format the harddisk just got me an Ax860 Error.

So I thought that the harddisk is gone, unscrewed the backback following cool4u2view's instructions (at http://www.cool4u2view.com/Neuros_files/Page721.html, for those of you who don't know), found an IBM Travelstar with 4200rpm (IC25N020ATCS04-0 DEC-02), bought a Hitachi Travelstar 80G 4200rpm (HTS421280H9AT00 MAR-06), put that one in and ...

Well, just heard one click and got the "Mount" error again. This time there's just a long wait when I try to format the HD and the Neuros returns to the format menu.

In my desperation I even got out the battery-pack for the first time. The DSP-unit works fine with that one. I used to run firmware by Kyle Rose (you can find it at firmware.sorune.com), wich is a modification of the GarBage branch (http://neuros-firmware.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/view/Main/GarBageChangelog). Well, ok, uncommon? I returned to the official firmware version 2.28 but that didn't change anything.

Does anybody have a clue what I can try next? Might formating the disk at a PC help (I'd need to get an adaptor for this)?

BTW, shiping the Neuros in isn't really an option for me, since I live in Germany. ... and, yes, I gave it a slap ...

[I Was Teenage Hand Model]

That error code is related to the HD.  If the HD is clicking, it sounds like the needle is getting stuck to the disk.  This would most likely have to be replaced.

You can contact us at support@neurostechnology.com and find out about repair options.

[jackm(at)iastate.edu]

I have got the same problem. I have tried to install the harddrive in neuros to portable harddrive, and the drive was found unreadable (nothing spins inside). I have also tried to put a good 40GB harddrive into the neuros, but "Unable to mount harddisk" appeared on screen. Will the replacement of HD with only 20 gb help? Anything other than send it in. I do not want to buy a new MP3 player, and I hate to use the popular ipod. [xx(]

jackm2211

[Mafeu]

That's about what I need to know.

I did some further tries:

1) I checked out the hard disks at a PC (needed to get an adapter plug first). The original Neuros 20GB HDD seems to be really dead, the new 80GB Travelstar works just normal in a PC but, as said, does not work in the Neuros. It's a 4200 rpm drive, so power consuption shouldn't be the probelm - or is it?

2) concerning the DSP unit, it works fine in the battery backback. So I think it is healthy.

Could it be that the board in the HDD backpack is damaged?

You see, it's hard to figure out without having some spare parts. There was an auction on Ebay recently with 12 broken Neuros I. That would have been great to get, but, again, it was an auction in the US.

So I really need an advice from someone accustomed to fixing Neuros hardware problems. Someone over at Neuros Audio should know about my problems and what I could try next.

Once again, sending in the Neuros isn't really an option. I could probably buy a new one just taking the two-way-postage into account.

Cheers,
  Martin

[jackm(at)iastate.edu]

Hey Mafeu,

   Try this topic http://www.neurosaudio.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7179. It really works for mine. My neuros is back to life again! [:I]


jackm2211