I think that will help.

No. I recently updated a Pirate's running about the same version (factory) using at least a 1gb stick (can't recall which one I used) and it went fine. Just make sure the drive is formatted FAT32 and the file is unzipped. Also, when you insert the USB drive, the game should audibly let you know it recognizes the drive within a few seconds. Just because a USB drive's power LED lights up doesn't mean that the game recognizes the drive. Listen for the PC-like boop-boop sound.

Check your socketed boot EPROM. I would bet 1 leg is sticking out of the socket. Seen it several times and just helped a guy with exact issue on a STLE.
Visually inspect it, and even if you dont' see 1 out, use a flatblade screwdriver and carefully pull it out and put it back in making sure all the legs are seated correctly.

When #8 is set to on the machine boots from that EPROM. If the EPROM is missing or a leg is out, the GI lights come on an that's it. No display or any activity - just as you're seeing. Could be a bad EPROM, too if not a leg issue.

Mine worked fine, but I did ensure I had the newer boot ROM. I am pretty sure the manual discusses it to some degree since POTC had both versions and only the newer accepted the updates via USB.

I've updated several POTCs with old ass code in them and never once had any issues. With #8 on, he still should boot from the EPROM and get something on the display even without a USB in there.

I have a real early POTC, and no problems updating with USB. I use a Lexar memory stick, which was recommended at that time. And use it for all SAM system updates since then. No problems.

LTG : )

Just to be clear, there are two versions of code - I think you have to have the right boot flash eprom
http://www.sternpinball.com/GAME_bootFLASH.html

Then you can update the game code to 6.0. One other thing is that I THINK the older SAM games need smaller USB sticks; i.e. the original SAM games can't read the newer sticks.

I've seen it before. Often caused by old bootflash code. The earliest versions seemed to have problems with thumb drives bigger than 128 or 256 MB, IIRC

JWjr: but with #8 on, shouldn't he still get the boot eprom screen on the display regardless of the USB being in or out of the board?

I don't have a single SAM game in my home or shop right now, so I can't be 100% sure.. it's been too long!

For what it's worth, I recently added a POTC to my collection with old software. It took three tries before I had complete, clean, open and unzipped files on my memory stick. When I finally got the download correct the update procedure ran just as described on the Stern site.

Did you try updating with a stock file from stern in addition to the one you modified?

wow. that suxx. all mine are 2.0
perhaps someone has one lying around they could send you on loan?!
try several different ones and make sure it's formatted with fat32 file system. you might get lucky and find one that works.
good luck!

Yep. This is probably your issue. In general, my steps are:

1) insert USB stick
2) flip switch 8
3) hit reset

If the stick is not recognized, use another. I remember having a hard time finding a stick that worked with pirates.

See if the game recognizes the drive for an audit dump. If yes, try inserting the USB drive first *with the game powered off*, then do your update. Or try a audit dump first to see if it recognizes the drive and completes the dump.

Glad you got it to work!

Thanks for reporting your experience with this issue, Troy. I believe that was my RGP post a few years ago where I was having trouble updating mine. I got an updated bootflash ROM from JWJ, but never did try to update it after that (game went into storage). Iirc, my game recognized the USB stick but did not see a file to upload. Incidentally, I am having the sam issue with a different USB stick and my METLE where i was able to update to v1.2 just fine, but get it does not see the file when trying to update to v1.22 with the SAME USB stick! Maddening.

Todd

Just wanted to add that the stick needs to be formatted using the FAT32 file system. All my sticks are NTFS and I was totally stumped until I stumbled upon a some obscure forum mentioning FAT32. After I reformatted it and copied the update file (.bin) it worked as it should. Strange that nobody has mentioned this before and that it's not mentioned in any of the Stern documents/videos either. Also, it seems as if many of Stern's service bulletins "disappeared" when they moved to the new site. Why I mention this is beacause the one that describes the USB update process is now missing. Had hopes for some help there.

Yes, try re-formatting to FAT32 even if you've cleared all files off the drive and it was already formatted previously to FAT32. Once I re-formatted it, it worked fine for METLE v1.22. Will try the POTC when it comes out of storage.

Todd

I wonder why you'd assume that an NTFS stick would work? That's like assuming that an ext4 stick would work... The amount t of work needed for the board to support the extra filesystem on the embedded device would be ridiculous - especially since all sticks come pre-formatted as fat32.

Even if the system runs a minimal Linux, why compile in the extra filesystem's on the off-chance that someone plugs in something weird? Couple that with the fact that NTFS partially runs in userspace in Linux (at least) and you're taking away memory from the main game code.

Interesting.

I know this is an older thread but this may help someone. Just this week (June 5, 2014) I tried downloading the Eng/Spanish Pirates V6 code from their website and it gave me Eng/French instead.

I tried installing that with a brand new USB stick and I got the same blank screen the OP got(it erased the previous 1.13 version but did not install 6) I then downloaded Eng/Italian on to the same USB and that one installed fine.

So, like he said, try a different version.

Cheers,
Art.

What is your actual contribution to this thread with that comment?

Nothing really, just speculating about why oddly formatted sticks wouldnt work. Sorry for the noise.

sorry to restart an old thread. but ive updated an old code on POTC. and that seemed to install fine. but now i have the display going out mid games. game works fine though, just no display. it comes back when i power off/power on. theres not a separate display driver or whatever is there ?
connections are all fine at the back.