SalsaNChips
New member
I bought one of the first VF16 units back in ‘98/’99, the first week they hit the stores (lot’s of zeros in my serial). Worked great for many years until this week.
I had the unit off A/C power in storage for about 10 months (inside, room temp), finally got it out after moving and powered it up. Started booting, display shows operating version 3.12 (I updated it to that version in 2003 or so). Finds the 1GB jazz drive OK, then goes to the “Initial…” state and stays stuck there. Never goes into recording mode, that is, the only light on is the “Stop” button. Can’t get into Setup. Listening, I don’t hear the HDD spinning. Did some research on the VF16.com and homerecording.com forums, found out about the stuck bearing issue on older HDDs that have been in storage for a while. So, removed the original (4GB, I think) HDD, rapped it a few times, reinstalled, no change, still stuck on “Initial…” after power up, version number, 1GB jazz drive, etc..
Okay, so the original HDD died. I have most of my stuff backed up on 1GB jazz disks (I think). Searched on eBay and found a Maxtor 540-K 40GB which is on the approved media list. It arrived yesterday, so I set the jumper to CS and installed, powered up. Saw Version 3.12, Initial…, then “No Drive!”. Pulled the Maxtor again and tried the “Master” jumper setting. Powered up, see Version 3.12, Initial…, then “FOUND MAXTOR 4K040H2” (yeah!), then “Initial…”, see the “Accessing” light come on, sounds like the drive is spinning, still on “Initial…”, then – nothing. Stays on “Initial…”. Left it that way overnight thinking it might be doing some kind of diagnostic on the new drive, but 9 hours later, still in the same state.
At this point, I could really use some advice from Fostex or somebody familiar with the VF16 in this forum. I don’t think the EPROM is fried or I wouldn’t see the version number and see it access the 1GB jazz. Likewise for the motherboard. I’ll even send it in to Fostex if necessary, just want it working again. I’m putting together a new studio and this unit is the centerpiece of it, I can’t really proceed until I have this thing working.
Thanks for any assistance!
Chris
I had the unit off A/C power in storage for about 10 months (inside, room temp), finally got it out after moving and powered it up. Started booting, display shows operating version 3.12 (I updated it to that version in 2003 or so). Finds the 1GB jazz drive OK, then goes to the “Initial…” state and stays stuck there. Never goes into recording mode, that is, the only light on is the “Stop” button. Can’t get into Setup. Listening, I don’t hear the HDD spinning. Did some research on the VF16.com and homerecording.com forums, found out about the stuck bearing issue on older HDDs that have been in storage for a while. So, removed the original (4GB, I think) HDD, rapped it a few times, reinstalled, no change, still stuck on “Initial…” after power up, version number, 1GB jazz drive, etc..
Okay, so the original HDD died. I have most of my stuff backed up on 1GB jazz disks (I think). Searched on eBay and found a Maxtor 540-K 40GB which is on the approved media list. It arrived yesterday, so I set the jumper to CS and installed, powered up. Saw Version 3.12, Initial…, then “No Drive!”. Pulled the Maxtor again and tried the “Master” jumper setting. Powered up, see Version 3.12, Initial…, then “FOUND MAXTOR 4K040H2” (yeah!), then “Initial…”, see the “Accessing” light come on, sounds like the drive is spinning, still on “Initial…”, then – nothing. Stays on “Initial…”. Left it that way overnight thinking it might be doing some kind of diagnostic on the new drive, but 9 hours later, still in the same state.
At this point, I could really use some advice from Fostex or somebody familiar with the VF16 in this forum. I don’t think the EPROM is fried or I wouldn’t see the version number and see it access the 1GB jazz. Likewise for the motherboard. I’ll even send it in to Fostex if necessary, just want it working again. I’m putting together a new studio and this unit is the centerpiece of it, I can’t really proceed until I have this thing working.
Thanks for any assistance!
Chris
