Cowon iaudio 7 not recognized as an USB device anymore

[yoloosis]

Hi everyone,

Suddenly my cowon iaudio 7 stopped to be recognized as an USB mass storage device when plugged on a computer. When plugged, the battery charging screen is displayed.  I've tried with different cables on Ubuntu 11.10, Back Track Linux 5.2 and Windows XP, on two laptops. I can't remember the Windows error message exactly, but here is what I get on Linux :

Code: [Select]

$ dmsg
...
[13529.004213] usb 3-1: new full speed USB device number 2 using uhci_hcd
[13529.128129] usb 3-1: device descriptor read/64, error -71
[13529.356148] usb 3-1: device descriptor read/64, error -71
[13529.572141] usb 3-1: new full speed USB device number 3 using uhci_hcd
[13529.696172] usb 3-1: device descriptor read/64, error -71
[13529.920151] usb 3-1: device descriptor read/64, error -71
[13530.136172] usb 3-1: new full speed USB device number 4 using uhci_hcd
[13530.552092] usb 3-1: device not accepting address 4, error -71
[13530.664522] usb 3-1: new full speed USB device number 5 using uhci_hcd
[13531.080087] usb 3-1: device not accepting address 5, error -71
[13531.080140] hub 3-0:1.0: unable to enumerate USB device on port 1

Of course the device is not shown in lsusb.

Could some USB circuitry be damaged ?

Here are my two questions :
1) Do you have any idea what is going on ?
2) Do you have any idea how to fix it ?

Thank you everyone !

[saratoga]

I don't think anyone with an i7 has been around here in many years, so this may not be the best place to look for help.

[yoloosis]

I gave it a go as you RB guys are very knowledgeable when it comes to such low level things. Anyway, where do you think I should ask my question ?

[Ste-]

Looks more like a HAL problem ? Could be way off tho. Does it mount on a windows machine ?

Maybe try over here http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=26 or http://iaudiophile.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=63

[yoloosis]

Definitely not an HAL problem : it use to work and just stopped overnight. Doesn't on Windows XP too.

[Darko]

I have Creative Zen V Plus that has simmilar issue, it is not recognised under Windows (keeps constantly refreshing Device Manager) and very poorly charges battery but after a while reports "Overheating, shutting down" message. In Ubuntu it reports this:

Code: [Select]

[  835.512022] usb 2-1: new full speed USB device number 6 using ohci_hcd
[  835.692014] usb 2-1: device descriptor read/64, error -62
[  835.976016] usb 2-1: device descriptor read/64, error -62
[  836.256017] usb 2-1: new full speed USB device number 7 using ohci_hcd
[  836.436024] usb 2-1: device descriptor read/64, error -62
[  836.720018] usb 2-1: device descriptor read/64, error -62
[  837.000030] usb 2-1: new full speed USB device number 8 using ohci_hcd
[  837.408027] usb 2-1: device not accepting address 8, error -62
[  837.584017] usb 2-1: new full speed USB device number 9 using ohci_hcd
[  837.992014] usb 2-1: device not accepting address 9, error -62
[  837.992076] hub 2-0:1.0: unable to enumerate USB device on port 1

There are some resources on this error and success stories by disabling/switching ehci/ohci modes (didn't really have time to investigate), but my theory is that the USB controller inside player is fryed up. I opened it and soldered two wires directly from battery so I am able to charge it manually. The only way to put new music on it is via analog Line-In.

[yoloosis]

On another forum one guy sent its Iaudio back to Cowon. They answered that the mainboard and memory need to be replaced, unfortunately they don't do it anymore, so basically the player is dead…

Do you think the Iaudio7 USB controller can be replaced by myself ?

[Darko]

Well, if you replace "mainboard", I assume it already containes new memory chip on it, so it would be either mainboard or the chip. Or maybe they have mainboards with blank places for memory chips so you can put different sized NAND? If you can find memory chip then you could replace it, but not by yourself for sure. You need to find electronic assembly/re-assembly service company or even, maybe, a good mobile phone service who would do this for you. You need SMD station to unsolder old chip and put back new one in a very precise way. Manual soldering is out of the question. This is why I tend to dislike miniaturisation of electronic components lately, do-it-yourself repair is getting harder with every generation of smaller ICs. On the other hand, this adventure will probably cost the same or even more than to buy used iAudio on eBay. Cheapest option would be to find another broken iAudio that has a good mainboard and that you could replace by yourself.

[yoloosis]

Sadly, it looks like I'm going to invest in a cheaper and hopefully soon to be Rockbox friendly Sansa Clip Zip…