Startup failing every other time

Tiko · Post by **Tiko** » Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:27 pm

I have the latest firmware... startup fails every other time like clockwork. When I reboot it works fine. And the next day when I power it up again it fails. Any ideas? I have a Kronos 2.

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:31 pm

Tiko wrote:I have the latest firmware... startup fails every other time like clockwork. When I reboot it works fine. And the next day when I power it up again it fails. Any ideas? I have a Kronos 2.

unplug all USB devices

Kletsivo · Post by **Kletsivo** » Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:02 am

Open the back of your Kronos and check for loose screws, RAM, SSD cable. I had the exact same problem recently and though I'm not 100% sure about the cause I suspect it was the SSD or the cable that connects it to the motherboard. Right now my Kronos X is back to normal but for two weeks it would do what you described. The loading bar would stop under the "S" and the SSD light wouldn't flicker as usual. I found a motherboard screw loose and the SSD cable not tightly clipped to the drive. After putting everything back in place it would still load normally only half of the times until several days later the problem disappeared completely. Hope this info helps a bit.

Aziz1008 · Post by **Aziz1008** » Tue Mar 15, 2016 5:44 am

Try to let it load to the end without usb devices attached, wait for it. I had something like this, when I plugged in a wifi pcmci card into MB of Kronos. It just stopped loading in the middle, as if trying to get the needed driver for the card. And when I unplugged that card, it kept loading by a half, even after rebooting it several times. I panicked, but on other reboot waited longer and it eventually finished loading and then was back to normal. So it may be the problem of external hardware. Try to locate incompatible usb devices.

ErnstDabest · Post by **ErnstDabest** » Tue Mar 15, 2016 9:23 am

Sound like it could be a faulty transistor that needs to get warmed up first
in order to keep the currentflow running smoothly.

Tiko · Post by **Tiko** » Fri Mar 18, 2016 10:12 am

Thanks for all the tips! Will definitely try to check all connections first. I have nothing plugged in to the USB ports. I'll report back.

Tiko · Post by **Tiko** » Fri Mar 18, 2016 10:14 am

ErnstDabest wrote:Sound like it could be a faulty transistor that needs to get warmed up first
in order to keep the currentflow running smoothly.

Could be that indeed as it always fails when booting when it's cold.

ando727 · Post by **ando727** » Fri Mar 18, 2016 3:33 pm

ErnstDabest wrote:Sound like it could be a faulty transistor that needs to get warmed up first
in order to keep the currentflow running smoothly.

My brand new Kronos 2 is doing exactly the same thing. Won't boot when cold. Have to make about 15-20 attempts to get it to start. Once it boots up, it works totally normally.

Totally bummed! I've got a gig on in a week and this was going to be the Kronos' debut party.

I'm hoping to swap it over for another one since it's only been out of the box for two days. Hope I don't have to take it to a repair centre where they can take weeks to fix it and scratch it up in the process...

MusicLive · Post by **MusicLive** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 4:11 pm

Ando727,

I would be adamant to expect a brand new replacement.
No way would I have a repair carried out on a synth of that value, just 2 days out of the box.

It seems to me that Korg still have an ongoing problem with some of these later models.
I would have thought that by now thay would have ironed out these niggling faults since the intro of the 1st Kronos series.
Having said that, I'm aware that any PCB, or electronic circuitry, can have a fault at manufacturing stage.

Let's hope you get it sorted before the gig!

Regards,
MC

ando727 · Post by **ando727** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 4:59 pm

MusicLive wrote:Ando727,

I would be adamant to expect a brand new replacement.
No way would I have a repair carried out on a synth of that value, just 2 days out of the box.

It seems to me that Korg still have an ongoing problem with some of these later models.
I would have thought that by now thay would have ironed out these niggling faults since the intro of the 1st Kronos series.
Having said that, I'm aware that any PCB, or electronic circuitry, can have a fault at manufacturing stage.

Let's hope you get it sorted before the gig!

Regards,
MC

Thanks MC. It is very surprising indeed. Fortunately the guy I've been dealing with is a really nice guy and has been very helpful. He's agreed to swap it over for me tomorrow. Having a good salesperson is invaluable in situations like this. It's the kind of treatment that will always make me go back for more purchases in the future. The only hassle is moving this colossal box with a heck of a lot of weight in it on my own, and manoeuvring it into a medium size sedan!

MusicLive · Post by **MusicLive** » Sat Mar 19, 2016 5:31 pm

Ando727,

Thats great news to know the salesman / shop will do a straight swap and as far as recommendations go he's doing a great job in upholding the trustworthiness of the business.

Many businesses operate in this manner but there are some who are hardy and will do anything to avoid replacing goods.

Good luck with the lift...I know it's heavy.

Regards,
MC

ando727 · Post by **ando727** » Sun Mar 20, 2016 3:19 pm

Successfully swapped the Kronos over today. Fingers crossed it's smooth sailing from here on. The sales guy was nice enough to update the OS for me and put some extra sounds on it. So, as long as it turns on every time, I'll be a happy camper from now on.

He also put me onto a handy Facebook group - Kronos Enthusiasts Group, which offers a lot of assistance and videos for things that might be confusing/troubling Kronos users:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/346046292093241/

MusicLive · Post by **MusicLive** » Sun Mar 20, 2016 3:40 pm

Ando727,

Very pleased to hear you have it resolved and now you can get started with operating, playing and enjoying the fantastic beast.

10 out of 10 for the dealer / salesperson for not only doing an instant swap but for updating the OS and adding a few extra sounds.

Regards,

MC

MusicLive · Post by **MusicLive** » Sun Mar 20, 2016 3:46 pm

Tiko,

Have you managed to find out what's wrong with your Kronos yet?

MC

Schmooster · Post by **Schmooster** » Sun Mar 20, 2016 4:43 pm

Tiko wrote:
ErnstDabest wrote:Sound like it could be a faulty transistor that needs to get warmed up first
in order to keep the currentflow running smoothly.
Could be that indeed as it always fails when booting when it's cold.

I thought it always failed consistently every alternate power-up? It's not a transistor, transistors are either on, off or floating - the fault would be far more random and intermittent if it was any floating silicon component fault and not change state if the component has failed - I'd be thinking software, so maybe reinstall the System software.

I'm an electronics engineer and this has all the hallmarks of a firmware problem - a 'sticky bit' maybe (as in 8 bits = a byte) on an FPGA.

If it's under warranty get in touch with your dealer - I'd try the Restore of the OS first though freshly downloaded to your USB Drive - it's a long shot, but given the symptoms you describe it's all I've got, sorry.

Oh and removing any external devices is also a good idea as already stated - start with the basic board itself.

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