Nord Stage 2 - Not updating and not working

[bethauchocolat]

Hey,

I have a 76-key Nord Stage 2 that I bought around 4 years ago.

Recently, it's developed a problem that when not turned on for a few days, when I try and use it, it will come up with the message 'flash error' and not be functional. I would turn it on & off a few times, it'd come up with 'invalid CAB' then go to 'ready to update', then I'd have to update the software and it'd be fine ((until the next time)).

I haven't played it for a month or so now and have just gone to turn it back on and same problem occurred, however this time, the update isn't working and it's coming up with 'write error' during the update process every single time. I've gone onto the Nord Sound Library to see if I can try and restore to factory default or something, but it's saying I can't even use that because the update version the Nord is on is v0.88?! Just went through update history and the first release is v1.00 (as you'd expect) so the fact it's recognising mine as v0.88 is worrying AND means I'm very stuck as it's not possible to interact with the Nord's file system at all with this version.

Does anyone have any advice, suggestions or encountered the same problem? Tearing my hair out a bit here!!

Thanks so much,

B

[baekgaard]

It sounds like a hardware failure, maybe related to the flash memory.

I unfortunately don't think you can do anything but contact Nord support in your country.

[bethauchocolat]

Hi Beth, and sorry to have to welcome you to this forum under hair-pulling circumstances. Given the symptoms you are reporting, it seems fairly certain that there are component level issues inside your instrument which will not be cured by any software operation. You'll need to contact Sound Technology in UK for advice on where to go to have it serviced. Their information is available from the DISTRIBUTOR list on the Nord website.

Bless, Pablo

[LewTheKeysGuy]

Hey,

I have a 76-key Nord Stage 2 that I bought around 4 years ago.

Recently, it's developed a problem that when not turned on for a few days, when I try and use it, it will come up with the message 'flash error' and not be functional. I would turn it on & off a few times, it'd come up with 'invalid CAB' then go to 'ready to update', then I'd have to update the software and it'd be fine ((until the next time)).

I haven't played it for a month or so now and have just gone to turn it back on and same problem occurred, however this time, the update isn't working and it's coming up with 'write error' during the update process every single time. I've gone onto the Nord Sound Library to see if I can try and restore to factory default or something, but it's saying I can't even use that because the update version the Nord is on is v0.88?! Just went through update history and the first release is v1.00 (as you'd expect) so the fact it's recognising mine as v0.88 is worrying AND means I'm very stuck as it's not possible to interact with the Nord's file system at all with this version.

Does anyone have any advice, suggestions or encountered the same problem? Tearing my hair out a bit here!!

Thanks so much,

B

The symptoms indicate a discharged board, there's an internal battery as I remember and that would likely be PART of the problem, but for the stage to do this, sounds like a critical failure on the mainboard, Give Sound Technology a ring on 01462 480000 but they won't be open until 2nd January. Ask for one of the tech support for Nord, give the product and serial number. explain symptoms and they should be able to help. don't take any messing though.

lew

[bethauchocolat]

Thanks all, that's super helpful!

Hoping it's not going to cost an arm & a leg. *fingers crossed*

Take care

[LewTheKeysGuy]

Thanks all, that's super helpful!

Hoping it's not going to cost an arm & a leg. *fingers crossed*

Take care

As it's a stage 2, parts should still be available, the likelihood is a mainboard that's either suffered from dry solder joints or a programmer failure, if that's a case then a replacement mainboard shouldn't cost much, I'd hope not.

let me know how you get on.

lew

[Mr_-G-]

I do not think there is a battery in any of the current Nord keyboards

[LewTheKeysGuy]

I'm only thinking of some kind of internal battery of some description in order to keep settings within memory, Flash, like anything else still requires some kind of low level power to keep data safe, otherwise any form of discharge to the board, especially memory, could wipe a board., then I've not had chance to go over schematics of nord boards so I can't comment, but it's best guess scenario. the user's said it hasn't been used in a few years, as such that tells me it's been unplugged, left without any use, so any capacitive power stored in the board, both mainboard and PSU would have discharged and in doing so, could have harmed the board. this happens to a good number of machines, older rolands, some kurzweils, etc are quite known for it.

just how I am looking on it.

lew

[Mr_-G-]

No, flash memory does not require a battery.

[LewTheKeysGuy]

so for flash memory, it's protected even when there's no capacitive power to the board? if so, a good thing. if that' the case, sounds like some dry solder joints which might have caused this. as I said, without knowing the exact scematics of the board, I'm only giving a suitable best case scenario.

Cheers :_)

lew