It was a good run while it lasted... RESOLVED!

BrickPilot · Post by **BrickPilot** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:51 pm

I received my Kronos in August and am still waiting for an 'A' key (hairline crack on the lower part of the key front) and extra memory (which I requested just after 1.5 came out) to show up at my repair center, so waiting on parts isn't a viable option for me.

I ordered some memory and an external DVD/CDRW drive and it should all be arriving tomorrow. We'll see. I hope it's as simple as replacing the memory, as I've had no other trouble. I *so* don't want to setup my old rig in the interim.

Bdeon28 · Post by **Bdeon28** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:21 pm

First MM-Pro I think you are on to something, RAM can create the symptoms we are getting and that you got and is easy and cheap to replace/fix. I will try that tonight. With a PC if there is an issue with the RAM the PC will not boot and typically you would hear the beep error indicating the RAM is bad or not seated correctly and the PC will not boot beyond that point, it can't run without RAM. Actually that would explain why it will not boot to the DVD drive as well. After the POST boot the Kronos is set up to boot first from the USB drive then from the SSD hard Drive. If it can't get past the RAM it is done.

JimK - Sorry I was trying to be short and accurate and ended up being neither!!!

It was not the SSD drive that was not recognized it was the USB DVD drive. I made sure the SSD drive I used was a 3 gigabit SATA II drive which is the same as the Toshiba drive inside. I did read about the SATA III drives not working and where I was already having an issue didn't want to take a chance with something that may or may not work. The one I put in the Kronos is just larger (120GB) and faster (read write speeds are faster). I think at this point the issue is the RAM. I also bought another 2GB stick of RAM ($25) as well which is the exact same specs as the RAM the Kronos comes with. I just didn't have time this weekend to try it. I will insert that tonight and if that is the issue the USB DVD should be able to boot, see that it is a new drive, farmat the drive correctly and install the original Kronos image. At least I am hopeful that is the fix. Again I will definitely post to let everyone know. Definitely don't feel stupid giving advice we are all learning about this new machine and any input is good input. Maybe someone later today will read the post and get the information they need from the conversation.

These issues aside I think the Kronos is a great keyboard and really want it to work because when it is working it is exactly the perfect fit for me. My plan now is to get a complementing keyboard that I can use at gigs and that keyboard will be my backup plan. Once I am sure the Kronos is stable I may use one keyboard at gigs but it will take a while to be sure. I am going to wait until after NAMM before I make any decision but it will probably be synth action have decent bread and butter. Maybe something similar to the Julpiter 8 or Yamaha XS7 or maybe even a Korg M3. It don't need the sequencer features (hopefully) but well that is getting more into something for another thread I guess.

This kind of thing can happen to a PC as well RAM and HD's are cheap and easy to replace. Hopefully this will fix it. I can't stand that I have to wait 6 mores hours to get to it. Well maybe I am starting to feel a little under the weather and need to leave work early!

danatkorg · Post by **danatkorg** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 11:17 pm

BillW wrote:Last night was my last gig with the Kronos. It didn't freeze up this time, but it seems that anytime I play a combi with the CX-3, I can count on it going silent at some point during the show...it happened 3 times last night. I suspect it is due to the way the Kronos was constructed. The stress of simply playing the keyboard is causing something to happen internally with the control surface.

I'm sorry to hear that you've been having difficulties. My strong guess is that this is due to the vector joystick modulating volume. Fortunately it's easy to disable this modulation, both for Programs and for individual Combi Timbres. Are you using factory combis, and if so which ones?

Best regards,

Dan

danatkorg · Post by **danatkorg** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 11:23 pm

mm-pro wrote:When my 73 failed, the first thing that happened was the attacks of notes played, but the sustains didn't play. I tried to reboot and got the boot failure message. I then tried to boot from the DVD and that didn't work, though I knew the DVD player worked previously. I opened the instrument and swapped out the RAM. Everything went back to normal. I put the old RAM back in...boot failure. Put the new RAM back in, buttoned up the case and it has been working fine since.

Regards,

MM

Hi,

I'm glad that the machine is working well for you now. If possible, I'd like to be able to look at the original RAM, so that we can try to figure out what happened. Please send me an email at dan@korgrd.com.

Thank you for your help,

Dan

BillW · Post by **BillW** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:18 am

danatkorg wrote:
BillW wrote:Last night was my last gig with the Kronos. It didn't freeze up this time, but it seems that anytime I play a combi with the CX-3, I can count on it going silent at some point during the show...it happened 3 times last night. I suspect it is due to the way the Kronos was constructed. The stress of simply playing the keyboard is causing something to happen internally with the control surface.
I'm sorry to hear that you've been having difficulties. My strong guess is that this is due to the vector joystick modulating volume. Fortunately it's easy to disable this modulation, both for Programs and for individual Combi Timbres. Are you using factory combis, and if so which ones?

Best regards,

Dan

Hey Dan,

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, I did disabled the vector joystick months ago for all of those combis and it is still happening.

Bill

jimknopf · Post by **jimknopf** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:27 am

danatkorg wrote:
Hi,

I'm glad that the machine is working well for you now. If possible, I'd like to be able to look at the original RAM, so that we can try to figure out what happened. Please send me an email at dan@korgrd.com.

Thank you for your help,

Dan

Good to see you back on stage!
I still hope you and Rich get a chance to deal with the well known issues in a more straighforward way of public communication.

Don't misunderstand my call as wrong kind of pressure: I sincerely wish Korg the best, but I think some reaction is urgent, and I have a lot of understanding and compassion for some kind of user frustration.

danatkorg · Post by **danatkorg** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:34 am

BillW wrote:
danatkorg wrote:
BillW wrote:Last night was my last gig with the Kronos. It didn't freeze up this time, but it seems that anytime I play a combi with the CX-3, I can count on it going silent at some point during the show...it happened 3 times last night. I suspect it is due to the way the Kronos was constructed. The stress of simply playing the keyboard is causing something to happen internally with the control surface.
I'm sorry to hear that you've been having difficulties. My strong guess is that this is due to the vector joystick modulating volume. Fortunately it's easy to disable this modulation, both for Programs and for individual Combi Timbres. Are you using factory combis, and if so which ones?

Best regards,

Dan
Hey Dan,

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, I did disabled the vector joystick months ago for all of those combis and it is still happening.

Bill

Would you mind sending the edited versions to me, so that I can check them out?

- Dan

mm-pro · Post by **mm-pro** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 1:49 am

In my case the ram that failed was ram I had installed and not an issue caused in any way by Korg.

I have only mentioned my solution as it has matched the boot failure issues some others have been having.

Regards,

MM

danatkorg wrote:
mm-pro wrote:When my 73 failed, the first thing that happened was the attacks of notes played, but the sustains didn't play. I tried to reboot and got the boot failure message. I then tried to boot from the DVD and that didn't work, though I knew the DVD player worked previously. I opened the instrument and swapped out the RAM. Everything went back to normal. I put the old RAM back in...boot failure. Put the new RAM back in, buttoned up the case and it has been working fine since.

Regards,

MM
Hi,

I'm glad that the machine is working well for you now. If possible, I'd like to be able to look at the original RAM, so that we can try to figure out what happened. Please send me an email at dan@korgrd.com.

Thank you for your help,

Dan

Bdeon28 · Post by **Bdeon28** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:01 am

Still dead in the water I am afraid. Here is what I did over the past 2 hours.

1. Original Hard Drive, reseated original RAM in original slot...System Startup failure
2. Original HD, moved RAM to open slot...System Startup failure
3. New RAM original slot, original HD...System Startup failure
4. New RAM 2nd slot, origianl HD...System Startup failure
5. Original RAM in original slot, new HD...System Startup failure
6. Original RAM in 2nd slot, new HD...System Startup failure
7. New RAM original slot, new HD...System Startup failure
8. New RAM 2nd slot, new HD...System Startup failure
9. Tried original drive with both RAM, moved HD connector on motherboard to 2nd HD connector...System Startup failure
10.Tried new drive with both RAM, moved HD connector on motherboard to 2nd drive connectoron motherboard...System Startup failure
Probably a few other combinations as well.

I am starting to think it is not the hard drive or the RAM but some other piece of hardware and at this point beyond what I can get to try and fix it. What concerns me is that the tech who ordered my Hard drive wil have me bring it back when he gets it in February. He will replace it and then call Korg to tell them it is not the that. Then what? Does tech support send piece by piece until they get it. I really don't know how this is supposed to work as i never had an issue like this before. All I want is to be able to use it. But I don't think I should have to wait months to use it. At what point does a manufacturer say send it back and we will either fix it or send you another one? I fear that these service centers have no incentive to get it back to us fast while under warranty but not sure how that works either.

BillW · Post by **BillW** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:14 am

danatkorg wrote:
BillW wrote:
danatkorg wrote: I'm sorry to hear that you've been having difficulties. My strong guess is that this is due to the vector joystick modulating volume. Fortunately it's easy to disable this modulation, both for Programs and for individual Combi Timbres. Are you using factory combis, and if so which ones?

Best regards,

Dan
Hey Dan,

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, I did disabled the vector joystick months ago for all of those combis and it is still happening.

Bill
Would you mind sending the edited versions to me, so that I can check them out?

- Dan

Sure, will do. I sent a copy to Korg support several months ago, but I haven't heard anything so I'm guessing they couldn't figure it out.

BrickPilot · Post by **BrickPilot** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 3:32 am

Bdeon28 wrote:Still dead in the water I am afraid. Here is what I did over the past 2 hours.

1. Original Hard Drive, reseated original RAM in original slot...System Startup failure
2. Original HD, moved RAM to open slot...System Startup failure
3. New RAM original slot, original HD...System Startup failure
4. New RAM 2nd slot, origianl HD...System Startup failure
5. Original RAM in original slot, new HD...System Startup failure
6. Original RAM in 2nd slot, new HD...System Startup failure
7. New RAM original slot, new HD...System Startup failure
8. New RAM 2nd slot, new HD...System Startup failure
9. Tried original drive with both RAM, moved HD connector on motherboard to 2nd HD connector...System Startup failure
10.Tried new drive with both RAM, moved HD connector on motherboard to 2nd drive connectoron motherboard...System Startup failure
Probably a few other combinations as well.

I am starting to think it is not the hard drive or the RAM but some other piece of hardware and at this point beyond what I can get to try and fix it. What concerns me is that the tech who ordered my Hard drive wil have me bring it back when he gets it in February. He will replace it and then call Korg to tell them it is not the that. Then what? Does tech support send piece by piece until they get it. I really don't know how this is supposed to work as i never had an issue like this before. All I want is to be able to use it. But I don't think I should have to wait months to use it. At what point does a manufacturer say send it back and we will either fix it or send you another one? I fear that these service centers have no incentive to get it back to us fast while under warranty but not sure how that works either.

I hope, perhaps a bit selfishly, this gets resolved for you in a timely manner.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 6:59 am

Did/do you have the possibility of checking the RAM sticks in a different system? You seem to have been pretty thorough but it wouldn't be the first time two RAM sticks failed simultaneously, especially not if they were both installed in the mobo at the time of failure. It has happened to me with one old chip and one new one (which I got as a replacement). Drove me nuts till I figured it out.
Well, all the best in any case!

MRedZac · Post by **MRedZac** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 9:04 am

Bdeon28 wrote:Still dead in the water I am afraid. Here is what I did over the past 2 hours.

1. Original Hard Drive, reseated original RAM in original slot...System Startup failure
2. Original HD, moved RAM to open slot...System Startup failure
3. New RAM original slot, original HD...System Startup failure
4. New RAM 2nd slot, origianl HD...System Startup failure
5. Original RAM in original slot, new HD...System Startup failure
6. Original RAM in 2nd slot, new HD...System Startup failure
7. New RAM original slot, new HD...System Startup failure
8. New RAM 2nd slot, new HD...System Startup failure
9. Tried original drive with both RAM, moved HD connector on motherboard to 2nd HD connector...System Startup failure
10.Tried new drive with both RAM, moved HD connector on motherboard to 2nd drive connectoron motherboard...System Startup failure
Probably a few other combinations as well.

I am starting to think it is not the hard drive or the RAM but some other piece of hardware and at this point beyond what I can get to try and fix it. What concerns me is that the tech who ordered my Hard drive wil have me bring it back when he gets it in February. He will replace it and then call Korg to tell them it is not the that. Then what? Does tech support send piece by piece until they get it. I really don't know how this is supposed to work as i never had an issue like this before. All I want is to be able to use it. But I don't think I should have to wait months to use it. At what point does a manufacturer say send it back and we will either fix it or send you another one? I fear that these service centers have no incentive to get it back to us fast while under warranty but not sure how that works either.

See my post on top of 2nd page... Write a letter and if not fixed within 2 weeks, then return the Kronos to the shop and buy another one from somewhere else. Possibilities by law are there, I suppose like this almost everywhere in the western countries...

BillW · Post by **BillW** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 12:41 pm

danatkorg wrote:
BillW wrote:
danatkorg wrote: I'm sorry to hear that you've been having difficulties. My strong guess is that this is due to the vector joystick modulating volume. Fortunately it's easy to disable this modulation, both for Programs and for individual Combi Timbres. Are you using factory combis, and if so which ones?

Best regards,

Dan
Hey Dan,

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, I did disabled the vector joystick months ago for all of those combis and it is still happening.

Bill
Would you mind sending the edited versions to me, so that I can check them out?

- Dan

PM sent...thanks Dan!

Bdeon28 · Post by **Bdeon28** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 5:10 pm

BrickPilot - Thanks I will keep you posted. It is out of my hands now!

SanderXpander - Good idea I will check the RAM tonight. I think I have an old PC that uses the same RAM

MRedZac - I did read your post and wish that there was a way to do this here in the US. I bought my Kronos at Guitar Center in Boston and they are pretty strict on their 30 Day warranty. After that they make you deal with the manufacturer but at the time of purchase they do offer a special extended warranty through them that was basically 10% of the price of the keyboard or around $350 US. Typically I don't purchase extended warranties but I guess this time it would have been to my benefit.