i am trying to upgrade the software on this new empeg i got and i am having issues. my computer has no serial port so i went out and bought a serial to usb cable and emplode isn't seeing the unit. also, when i run the player upgrade, it asks which serial port im working on and i an not sure what to put.

the empeg is a mk2a 60gig everything original. hijack v308 and running version 2.0 final.

am i screwed and have to find a desktop with a serial port or is there a way around it?

Before you panic, see if hyperterminal shows anything.

However, you're going to need to know the correct serial port number before you can even do that. To find out the correct serial port number, go into the Device Manager and look under "Ports (COM & LPT)". If nothing shows up under there, then your adapter thingy isn't even working at all and you need to rewind a bit and find out why THAT isn't working.

this may be a stupid question, but how do i get to the device manager? (i'm running xp)

In another thread, someone gave yet another way to invoke the Device Manager that's now my favorite: Start/Run, or create a shortcut to, devmgmt.msc .

And intuitive.

wow i guess im out of the loop, and i thought i knew how to use a computer!

well, i found what eash usb port is called and when i went to install the player software it reconized that there was something there but it could not connect to the player. i tried unplugging and plugging the cable back in on both ends (sometimes it works for emplode) and i still got nothing.

next, i went into hyperterminal to see what the player was doing and i can't get hyperterminal to see anything in the player or what it was doing with the serial to usb connection.

so my first thought was the serial to usb cable was my problem. but, my computer can see the serial-usb connection and tells me that i have connected it when i do so, but it dosen't see the player at the serial connection. not sure what the problem is.

also, i was reading the hyperterminal page (the one TFabris linked for me) a little closer and read that there is such a thing as a 25 pin serial connection. well, i looked at the back of my dell inspiron 9300 and saw a connection with a 3x8 grid and a solo pin to the right of the 3x8 grid.

is this a serial plugin that i am trying to ignore?

No, a 3x8 pin grid is not a 25-pin serial port. In fact, only the oldest of computers would even have a 25 pin serial port. Your Dell definitely does not have one.

If Hyperterminal can't see the player, then there's something wrong with the serial connection at the low level. Either it's a problem with the USB-to-serial adapter, you're picking the wrong serial port number, or (more likely) you've got the wrong kind of serial cable connecting your PC to the empeg, or the serial cable is faulty. Remember that the serial cable must be a null-modem cable (with the RX and TX wires crossed).

There have been reports that some USB-to-serial adapters don't work for player upgrades or kernel flashes. But even if that were the case with yours, you would at LEAST see text in hyperterminal when you cycle the power on the player.

The fact that you're not seeing anything in hyperterminal means there's something else wrong. You need to get the serial port and serial cable working.

Or... Just give up and find a friend with a serial port.

The Dell Inspiron 9300 does NOT have built-in serial ports (I know, I have two of those computers right here, right now).

So a USB-serial dongle is the best solution. Not all of them will work with the windows tools, but most should. The latest download.c from the Hijack link (above) works will all USB serial dongles, but only with Unix/Linux.

Cheers

i didn't think it was a serial port but i just wanted to make sure.

i think i am going to give up on the usb to serial cable and try and return it. i'm sure someone i know has a serial port.

thanks for all your help!

I am having the same problem. I verified that my serial port is working by downloading a new bin file to my FTA satellite box and it works perfectly. I guess that would say there is something wrong with my empegs serial port. Are the any other ways to recover other than the serial port?