Kronos X 73 Bad motherboard

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 1:59 pm

neomad wrote:Thanks, useful information. Extremely useful ! (I'm replacing motherboard of my original Kronos 61).

Do we know if Kronos 2 still have same MB than Kronos X?
Thanks

Kronos 2 almost certainly has a different motherboard, part of the reason for the release of version two is that Intel quit the motherboard market. Or at least that's what I inferred from that.

MR.K · Post by **MR.K** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 6:00 pm

lotty1 wrote:
MR.K wrote:Well I call Korg today and they told me there's no custom bios or nothing else! just install the new one. My Kronos is on a service center and the guy confirmed it's the MB . I gonna try and let you guys my experience.
Btw. Korg sales that MB around $500 dollars
Hi the service centre in Milton Keynes put a new mb in my 73 Kronos which was an X mb. I ask them if that was faulty out of warranty could I replace it with an off the shelf one and the answer was YES

About the custom bios from Korg is only the latest Intel Bios for the 525mw not from Korg...by the way my Kronos did the same error again now they are telling me is the SSD....

but for my "luck " is now on warranty.

dfahrner · Post by **dfahrner** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 6:35 pm

MR.K wrote:
lotty1 wrote:(Dec. 31 posting) I spoke with the Korg Service here in P.R. and he told me that indeed the MB needs a Custom Bios in order to start the Kronos , so you can buy the MB on a computer shop or Ebay and call Korg Support and they will send you a file with the Bios and some instructions...

(Jan. 6 posting) About the custom bios from Korg is only the latest Intel Bios for the 525mw not from Korg...
So are you saying that there is NOT a custom BIOS from Korg for the Intel D525MW m'board, and the BIOS that your service center installed was just the latest Intel BIOS (MW0132C.BIO from the Intel Download Center)?

But again, I'm afraid we won't know for sure until somebody successfully installs an out-of-the-box motherboard, or there's official word from Korg...

df

dfahrner · Post by **dfahrner** » Wed Jan 07, 2015 6:11 pm

I got the following reply from Korg USA Customer Service, concerning the KRONOS motherboard BIOS: "The boards in the Kronos use the standard Intel BIOS." So a standard out-of-the-box Intel motherboard can serve as a spare or replacement.

df

MR.K · Post by **MR.K** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 1:17 am

dfahrner wrote:
MR.K wrote:
lotty1 wrote:(Dec. 31 posting) I spoke with the Korg Service here in P.R. and he told me that indeed the MB needs a Custom Bios in order to start the Kronos , so you can buy the MB on a computer shop or Ebay and call Korg Support and they will send you a file with the Bios and some instructions...

(Jan. 6 posting) About the custom bios from Korg is only the latest Intel Bios for the 525mw not from Korg...
So are you saying that there is NOT a custom BIOS from Korg for the Intel D525MW m'board, and the BIOS that your service center installed was just the latest Intel BIOS (MW0132C.BIO from the Intel Download Center)?

But again, I'm afraid we won't know for sure until somebody successfully installs an out-of-the-box motherboard, or there's official word from Korg...

df
Thats correct is a Bios from Intel not Korg.

MR.K · Post by **MR.K** » Fri Jan 09, 2015 1:19 am

dfahrner wrote:
MR.K wrote:
lotty1 wrote:(Dec. 31 posting) I spoke with the Korg Service here in P.R. and he told me that indeed the MB needs a Custom Bios in order to start the Kronos , so you can buy the MB on a computer shop or Ebay and call Korg Support and they will send you a file with the Bios and some instructions...

(Jan. 6 posting) About the custom bios from Korg is only the latest Intel Bios for the 525mw not from Korg...
So are you saying that there is NOT a custom BIOS from Korg for the Intel D525MW m'board, and the BIOS that your service center installed was just the latest Intel BIOS (MW0132C.BIO from the Intel Download Center)?

But again, I'm afraid we won't know for sure until somebody successfully installs an out-of-the-box motherboard, or there's official word from Korg...

df
thats correct, is a Intel Bios not from Korg. Mine was installed sucessfully

H.S.Lee · Post by **H.S.Lee** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 11:00 pm

MR.K wrote:
dfahrner wrote:
MR.K wrote: So are you saying that there is NOT a custom BIOS from Korg for the Intel D525MW m'board, and the BIOS that your service center installed was just the latest Intel BIOS (MW0132C.BIO from the Intel Download Center)?

But again, I'm afraid we won't know for sure until somebody successfully installs an out-of-the-box motherboard, or there's official word from Korg...

df
thats correct, is a Intel Bios not from Korg. Mine was installed sucessfully

But MR.K,
When you tried to replace motherboard,
You had to input some serial code for activation, right?

MR.K · Post by **MR.K** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 1:45 am

eugenepris · Post by **eugenepris** » Mon Jan 19, 2015 2:21 am

I have replaced a motherboard on the original Kronos 73 with the Intel 510 from Ebay without any issues. No bios update was required. I am 100% sure that the same would apply to Kronos X since Korg made only a couple of changes in the X series - motherboard and SSD upgrades.

Once I installed a new 120GB SSD, OS was installed from scratch, the keyboard asked for the activation key just like Windows or any other licensed software would do if it were installed for the first time. If you are simply swapping the motherboard, your SSD will likely retain its activation files. ]

The key can be generated by going to korg.com, registering your synth and following the link within your account to do so.

I have one extra 510 and one brand new 525 motherboard. My next project is the upgrade my current 510 board to 525.

MR.K · Post by **MR.K** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 12:24 am

eugenepris wrote:I have replaced a motherboard on the original Kronos 73 with the Intel 510 from Ebay without any issues. No bios update was required. I am 100% sure that the same would apply to Kronos X since Korg made only a couple of changes in the X series - motherboard and SSD upgrades.

Once I installed a new 120GB SSD, OS was installed from scratch, the keyboard asked for the activation key just like Windows or any other licensed software would do if it were installed for the first time. If you are simply swapping the motherboard, your SSD will likely retain its activation files. ]

The key can be generated by going to korg.com, registering your synth and following the link within your account to do so.

I have one extra 510 and one brand new 525 motherboard. My next project is the upgrade my current 510 board to 525.

On service they change the MB and the Kronos works for 2 days until the same boot failure, now they are saying that is the SSD. Is easy to swap the SSD? Do you have a guided instructions?

eugenepris · Post by **eugenepris** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 1:03 am

MR.K wrote: On service they change the MB and the Kronos works for 2 days until the same boot failure, now they are saying that is the SSD. Is easy to swap the SSD? Do you have a guided instructions?

depending on the age of the drive, it is possible that it may need a replacement or a firmware update. Replacing the drive and taking the entire Kronos apart is very easy even for non-technically-inclined individuals as long as one keeps track of all parts and where they came from. It is like a Lego.

If I were you, I would invest $60 into a brand new 120GB Intel, Samsung, or Kingston SSD. Once you receive it, make sure that it has the newest firmware by checking with the manufacturer's website.

Then, you just need to take the bottom cover off and the drive will be located right beneath the touchscreen, mounted by 4 screws.

I have taken a few pictures when I reworked my Kronos. I will try to post them shortly.

With the new drive in place and the cover reinstalled, you will need a USB external DVD drive to reinstall the operating system. Again, very easy process. Just plug it into the USB port on the keyboard and turn the keyboard power on. You will then follow the prompts.

I will need a day to put a more thorough guide for you and post it, but this will give a general idea and hardware that you will need to have on hand.

All questions are welcome

fpar · Post by **fpar** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 6:20 am

I'm having this "system startup failure" on my Kronos 61, tried replacing the ram and SSD but it would not even boot up from the Samsung SE-208 usb-DVD drive, so I'm suspecting I have a bad motherboard. Is it easy to swap a new motherboard ? Any step by step guide on how to change the MB would be appreciated. Thanks in advance "eugenepris"

MR.K · Post by **MR.K** » Wed Jan 21, 2015 1:48 am

eugenepris wrote:
MR.K wrote: On service they change the MB and the Kronos works for 2 days until the same boot failure, now they are saying that is the SSD. Is easy to swap the SSD? Do you have a guided instructions?
depending on the age of the drive, it is possible that it may need a replacement or a firmware update. Replacing the drive and taking the entire Kronos apart is very easy even for non-technically-inclined individuals as long as one keeps track of all parts and where they came from. It is like a Lego.

If I were you, I would invest $60 into a brand new 120GB Intel, Samsung, or Kingston SSD. Once you receive it, make sure that it has the newest firmware by checking with the manufacturer's website.

Then, you just need to take the bottom cover off and the drive will be located right beneath the touchscreen, mounted by 4 screws.

I have taken a few pictures when I reworked my Kronos. I will try to post them shortly.

With the new drive in place and the cover reinstalled, you will need a USB external DVD drive to reinstall the operating system. Again, very easy process. Just plug it into the USB port on the keyboard and turn the keyboard power on. You will then follow the prompts.

I will need a day to put a more thorough guide for you and post it, but this will give a general idea and hardware that you will need to have on hand.

All questions are welcome [/quote

Yes I know is very easy to do that but someone told me that I need some files that contains the calibration parameters of the Kronos and I stop there. Well my Kronos has a new MB which it wasn't the problem at all so the tech wont charge me nothing to change the ssd , only the cost of the Intel 120 gb that I choose to install.

eugenepris · Post by **eugenepris** » Wed Jan 21, 2015 5:18 am

I am not aware of any calibration files that have to be loaded. Everything should be contained within the OS including activation, screen calibration, and any other parameters.

I don't claim to have 100% knowledge of the internals, but I've had two successful SSD installs and OS restores from scratch with no issues that I could notice.

Can anyone please explain the easiest way to post pictures on this forum?

Thank you

eugenepris · Post by **eugenepris** » Wed Jan 21, 2015 5:24 am

fpar wrote:I'm having this "system startup failure" on my Kronos 61, tried replacing the ram and SSD but it would not even boot up from the Samsung SE-208 usb-DVD drive, so I'm suspecting I have a bad motherboard. Is it easy to swap a new motherboard ? Any step by step guide on how to change the MB would be appreciated. Thanks in advance "eugenepris"

Something else I have come across in other forums and on youtube on the startup failure issue: reseating RAM on the motherboard seems to have helped one owner with the exact same issue.

I am not sure whether you have a chance to pull the cover and reseat it, or even try another RAM stick before installing a new solid state drive. Let me know.