Exchange tips and tricks for the Akai MPC4000
By gorgorsan Wed Feb 24, 2010 2:54 pm
Details from the service manual: "Change the position of the Short Pin P15 on the IO PCB to PROG side.
The OS is automatically written to the Panel CPU RAM when the MPC4000 is switched on.
Switch the unit off when the “Process completed!” prompt message appeared and then replace the Short Pin to the
original position".

What does that mean??? Is this step necessary when updating or rewriting the OS?

Thanks a bunch!
User avatar
By dabmeister Wed Feb 24, 2010 5:15 pm
gorgorsan wrote:Details from the service manual: "Change the position of the Short Pin P15 on the IO PCB to PROG side.
The OS is automatically written to the Panel CPU RAM when the MPC4000 is switched on.
Switch the unit off when the “Process completed!” prompt message appeared and then replace the Short Pin to the
original position".

What does that mean??? Is this step necessary when updating or rewriting the OS?

Thanks a bunch!


Nah, the process you're looking at is a technical bulletin for techs, not the end user. To update the os, you need the bin file and the os loader.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about any of this. There's a huge potential risk at corrupting the flash memory.
By gorgorsan Thu Feb 25, 2010 12:56 am
Thanks for the response Dabmeister! My case is: I got the Flash ROM failure, ROM code invalid message first time yesterday and it won't boot. Sometimes it does boot but only after a bunch of tries.It runs on 1.71 OS already. You think rewriting the OS is all I have to do? If so, is the process the same when rewriting the same OS as updating to a newer one? Also, do I have to erase the HD before proceeding?

Thank you!

dabmeister wrote:
gorgorsan wrote:Details from the service manual: "Change the position of the Short Pin P15 on the IO PCB to PROG side.
The OS is automatically written to the Panel CPU RAM when the MPC4000 is switched on.
Switch the unit off when the “Process completed!” prompt message appeared and then replace the Short Pin to the
original position".

What does that mean??? Is this step necessary when updating or rewriting the OS?

Thanks a bunch!


Nah, the process you're looking at is a technical bulletin for techs, not the end user. To update the os, you need the bin file and the os loader.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about any of this. There's a huge potential risk at corrupting the flash memory.
User avatar
By dabmeister Thu Feb 25, 2010 1:58 am
gorgorsan wrote:Thanks for the response Dabmeister! My case is: I got the Flash ROM failure, ROM code invalid message first time yesterday and it won't boot. Sometimes it does boot but only after a bunch of tries.It runs on 1.71 OS already. You think rewriting the OS is all I have to do? If so, is the process the same when rewriting the same OS as updating to a newer one? Also, do I have to erase the HD before proceeding?

Thank you!


More than likely reloading the same os will fix it. During the update process, the old bin file is erased and the new one is installed.

I wouldn't bother the hd, it has no reference to you flashing the rom.
By gorgorsan Mon Mar 01, 2010 1:59 am
Dab, even after reloading the OS the same shit is happening. It boots up every once in a while :x I bought it new from USA, paid for shipping & customs to Europe and now the thing won't even power up properly! Can someone help me diagnose the problem? :cry:

Thanks
User avatar
By dabmeister Tue Mar 02, 2010 2:18 pm
gorgorsan wrote:Dab, even after reloading the OS the same **** is happening. It boots up every once in a while :x I bought it new from USA, paid for shipping & customs to Europe and now the thing won't even power up properly! Can someone help me diagnose the problem? :cry:

Thanks


Then move on to the next process. Try replacing the hd and see how things work from there.
User avatar
By dabmeister Tue Mar 02, 2010 5:09 pm
gorgorsan wrote:Hi, it's the quality one in there and it works just fine. Shall I replace it nevertheless?


I'm not saying that the hd is the problem, it's just a process of narrowing down things to find out what's causing your delima. Sometimes you'll be surprised at what you might come across.

If by chance you have an extra IDE hd laying around, I'd stick it in, hit it with the latest os and take it from there. Also don't rule out the memory either. See if swapping that out makes any difference.

And what's considered a "quality" hard drive anyway, if you don't mind me asking?
By gorgorsan Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:07 pm
Hi dab, sorry I just meant a good brand. If I recall it's Seagate I think. Anyway, thanks for the tip. If I use the 4000 only as a sequencer then the hd, cd drive & RAM doesn't have to be in place right? If so, I'll start naked then put one at a time and see what happens. Is that ok?
User avatar
By dabmeister Wed Mar 03, 2010 4:26 pm
gorgorsan wrote:Hi dab, sorry I just meant a good brand. If I recall it's Seagate I think. Anyway, thanks for the tip. If I use the 4000 only as a sequencer then the hd, cd drive & RAM doesn't have to be in place right? If so, I'll start naked then put one at a time and see what happens. Is that ok?


Not having the hd or any other operational component isn't an option, you'll need everything that's there in order for the unit to function properly.

Brand name at this point in the game doesn't hold any merit like it use to. I'm using a pretty quiet samsung in my joint and it boots and seeks much faster than the deskstar that was in it.

But I also try to back everything up just in case something goofy happens. Then I'll be hindsighting sh!t and being pissed at myself.

If you're going to check anything out, I'd start with the hd and the ram. Do you know what specs your ram should be?