LaCie Cinema 1TB won't run after updating firmware

[kidclam]

I stumbled upon this forum when searching for answers to my predicament.
So I just want to say "hello" to all members here. This is my first post, unfortunately
it is one which is asking for your help rather than helping others, so apologies in advance.

I switched from a WDTV to this new LaCie Cinema HD mainly for its internal 1TB drive.
LaCie drives have given me the most headache but I needed a main drive which my wife and I can
put all our data into it and no need to copy back and forth of new files and also to alleviate space for our other drives.

After formatting as instructed in the manual, I copied all my content into this drive.
I managed to play the movie files OK for 2 days, and also tested streaming from my MacBookPro's external hard disk through ethernet network connection. It all seemed to work.

However after watching a film today, I switched to another file and it just kept spinning on the reading icon then it went back to the directory. I tested other files and it was still the same. So I then went back to the film I just watched and tested that.
Same problem. I restarted the drive a few times with the same problem occurring again.
I plugged it back into my MacbookPro and tested the files seem to be OK.

Plugging it back into the TV again, I started to panic and restarted the drive a few times to no avail.
I then check on LaCie website (one of the worst websites in my opinion to find what you need)
and downloaded the latest firmware which was released in March this year.

LaCinema recognized immediately the update firmware which was in the 1TB drive.
I activated it, and it seemed to have installed it, restarted too.
Then the logo appeared and its been on this screen for the last 20 minutes.
I cannot switch it off either.

I have about 700GB of data in the drive and noticed that it took awhile to load up on my Macbook Pro
so I am not sure if this is the same case for updating firmware (I assume the loading onto my laptop
is due to the USB2.0 being so slow in transfer).

Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong and why the update didn't work?
Frustrated and beaten again by LaCie...

[aedipuss]

welcome to the forum. but, it looks like the lacie was dying before the update and the new firmware just finished it off. i'd return it as defective.

[kidclam]

hmm, if that is the case, then LaCie products are not reliable.

This is the support reply from Hong Kong.

I am stunned and disappointed that their reply makes as much sense to me if it was typed in Chinese.

Thanks for choosing LaCie product. You can’t create new folder on your LaCinema & need copy into related folder too. Did you follow the procedure on “How to update my LaCinema.pdf” to update firmware? You said “I cannot switch the machine off either or press remote nothing happens.” Means what image on your TV now after power on your LaCinema? For your information, the last version on firmware is 3.18 on LaCinema. I’m waiting for your reply. LaCie Technical Support Team.

[jman98]

I really should NOT have to say this. Why isn't this obvious to you?

If you really said "I cannot switch the machine off either or press remote nothing happens." in email, well, you deserve the answer you got. I read your posts and you can write intelligent English. If you can't be bothered to write a sensible message, don't come here bitching when non-native speakers of English have problems reading your email. Really, is it so hard to say "I cannot switch the machine off. When I press the remote control, nothing happens" instead of the run-on stuff they say you told them.

I think aedipuss is right. My suggestion to you is that you write proper English and avoid slang if you want to ask for a replacement in email, although perhaps you can go to wherever you bought it and exchange it. I understand why you wanted this, but the hard disk is just another thing that can go wrong. The nice thing about the WDTV is that with no moving parts, I just dump stuff on a USB flash drive and watch it when I need to. Less to worry about breaking in the future. Even if you get a new good model of the LaCle, you're eventually going to have to replace the hard drive as it will eventually wear out.

[jman98]

I really should NOT have to say this. Why isn't this obvious to you?

If you really said "I cannot switch the machine off either or press remote nothing happens." in email, well, you deserve the answer you got. I read your posts and you can write intelligent English. If you can't be bothered to write a sensible message, don't come here bitching when non-native speakers of English have problems reading your email. Really, is it so hard to say "I cannot switch the machine off. When I press the remote control, nothing happens" instead of the run-on stuff they say you told them.

I think aedipuss is right. My suggestion to you is that you write proper English and avoid slang if you want to ask for a replacement in email, although perhaps you can go to wherever you bought it and exchange it. I understand why you wanted this, but the hard disk is just another thing that can go wrong. The nice thing about the WDTV is that with no moving parts, I just dump stuff on a USB flash drive and watch it when I need to. Less to worry about breaking in the future. Even if you get a new good model of the LaCle, you're eventually going to have to replace the hard drive as it will eventually wear out.

[kidclam]

To put it in perspective, here is my original message, Please note that I typed this at 3am in the morning, after trying to fix this drive for 4 hours. I was pissed and the La Cie site failed to have any troubleshooting to help me out in this situation.

- - - -
After copying 700GB of media, the movies played well for 1 day. Then my movies could not read after finishing a movie which was on day two. I tried restarting a few times but the same errors have occurred.

I then updated the firmware from 3.14 to 3.18(?), after installing and restarting, the LaCie logo just appeared and nothing has happened for hours, Just a frozen screen with LaCie logo. I cannot switch the machine off either or press remote nothing happens. Can you please help? Have I lost all my media files?
Also is there a contact telephone for HK support please?

[MossDeb]

I don't know about the part of stopping playing movies, but as for the firmware update, it seems you made the same mistake I did, so here's the solution (BTW, I also upgraded from 3.14 to 3.18):

- Disconnect the LaCinema from the TV and from the power source. (don't worry, you won't harm the drive);
- Connect the LaCinema to your computer via USB;
- Delete the firmware files from the root folder -- this was mine and apparently your mistake -- the firmware files must be in a second drive connected to the LaCinema;
- Grab a pen drive or other USB external drive and copy the firmware files to its root folder;
- Disconnect LaCinema from computer and before connecting it to the TV, connect the other drive (the one with the firmware files) to the LaCinema USB port (I used the one in the front);
- Finally connect the LaCinema to the TV and power supply. The firmware should update correctly -- mine did, and its working perfectly;

Hope this helps!!

[kidclam]

I am glad you had a solution but I could not get the drive to load up on my computer. Even when I went to Disk Utility to see if I can partition the drive etc. I am amazed that LaCie did not warn about this, or have their machine recognize firmware update only on external USB plugs. Sigh...

I have returned the machine back to the shop.

Thanks anyway

[elimon]

Hello:

I've got the same problem as you. I've tried what you said Mossban, but it doesn't work, it seems as it doesn't recognize the internal hard disk inside the lacinema. I've put a film in the usb (in the one in the front) and I can see it. What can it be??? I'm desperate, could you help me? Mine it's not in guarantee. Thanks a lot for your help. I hope I can have it to work.

[Bjs]

Cannot be seen when connected to computer ?

Better success is by removing the drive from its enclosure and mount it in the pc ... if the system can see the drive now carry out the instructions as previously mention by others above ... When complete, put the drive back into the enclosure and try the device again.

1: If the drive cannot be seen make sure you have made appropriate jumper changes (m/s/cs)

2: If drive cannot be seen and adjustments have been checked and confirmed then drive may be defective (replace)

3: If successful with pc and unit fails to function then there's a chance the LaCie Cinema media control board is defective ... try firmware upgrade ... if fail (replace).

[elimon]

Thank you for your reply, buy I think I haven't explained myself.

My problem is that I've tried to update the software of my Cinema Classic 1TB and after that it doesn't work on my tv. I haven't got any problem to connect and see it on the computer, but when I try to see any film I've got in the cinema classic on TV it doesn't work.

I've tried putting an usb on the front connector of my Lacie Cinema Classic , and see a film that is on the usb, and I can see it (it works from the usb) , but those films that are inside the lacinema Classic I can't see them on tv; I haven't got neither any problem to see them on my computer.

Could you help me? Thanks again for answering so soon.

[elimon]

Hello again:

I've fixed it, so I'm very happy, . How? I've made another partition in the lacinema classic and move all my stuff from one partition to the new one. I could see any film in that new partition, but non in the old one. So to finish with it I merged both partitions and I've got it as it was before starting with this problem.

Thanks for your help again.

[crtalan]

I have buy a lacie lacinema classic hd. After upgrading the software version, 3.14 to
3.22, the device began to fail to recognise somme Mpeg-4 files, (before it was reading
every type of file- and the samme files). Also the sound of some films was missing. I want to reenter the previous
software version, which has not caused me problems. Could you please send me the solution
to reverse the update to version 3.14. Grateful

[benamantel1]

Hey everyone, I have the same problem as Elimon.
So, how do I make another partition? and then how do I merge them- explanations for pc-dummies will be most appriciated.. Cheers!