Check HDD and ATA error -32 (is there a service center?)

[jhebert]

Similar to the user in this thread (http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=3146.0) I am now getting:

ATA error -32 messages when Rockbox boots
and
Check HDD messages when the iRiver firmware boots.

If I reset and boot while connected to USB, it usually boots with no problem, and the HD is fully accessible, all data intact and readable. In fact, disk utilities show it working fine without problems. This does sound like an intermittent USB connection problem as described in the other thread.   

I'm no soldering expert and don't want to foul up the player... is there anyone who can recommend a service center, or someplace near Kansas City that can do the job?

Thanks for any help,

James

[TiMiD]

I had the same problem (no "Check HDD" though) and this thread solved it for me :
http://forums.rockbox.org/index.php?topic=1227.0

[Wett]

Have exactly the same problem... And the original firmware won't load, how can I reflash a new bootloader ?

If you knew the hardware, you would have known that the USB daughterboard also connects the hard drive to the mainboard.

I have so far repaired 3 H100's with these problems by resoldering those connectors.

Should I resolder too ? 

[jhebert]

Wett,

I just got a replacement hard disk yesterday (got a good deal on a used one, guaranteed working) and tried it out. No luck - got the same error messages.

I figured two HD's can't both be bad, so I disassembled further and took the major pieces out of the casing. They were still wired together, blasted the two with some DeOxit contact cleaner, then gently squeezed the USB card and main board more snugly, and tried booting up while holding them together like that.

It worked! The player came up without a hitch.

You might try this yourself. If it works, then yes, the USB daughterboard connection to the main board is probably the issue. I plan on re-soldering it this weekend when I have time. But I'm confident that this is the solution now.

Good luck!

James

P.S. A broadcast engineer friend once told me to use DeOxit contact cleaner/preservative whenever I had to work on electronics with contact points, PCI slots, faders, you name it. I've used it for years and swear by it. You can find it online at www.caig.com. 

P.P.S. I'm not skilled at your bootloader question, so I can't help there. Hope you find what you need here (or at the www.misticriver.net forum for iriver gear).

[Wett]

Hello there

Sorry to bring this old topic back but I now seriously consider on resoldering my connections, and I'd like to receive a few advices since i don't know much about soldering methods.

What should I especially pay attention to ? For example, I should not heat the board too much, etc. Or maybe I should post this somewhere else ?..

Thanks a lot I now hope to see my player alive again

[jhebert]

It worked for me - for a while. Apparently I was not good enough at soldering!

The daughterboard is held at each of its 4 corners by a solder joint and a spacer (to keep it elevated from the mainboard). I found it very tricky to do juggle the boards, spacers, solder, and iron with only two hands!

It worked for about a month, then began to fail again. I found that a gentle pressure on the two boards pushed them together enough so that contact was restored... I ended up placing a few small pieces of foam rubber inside the case so that when it was closed, it placed light pressure on the boards. It's worked so far, inelegant as it may seem.

Open up your player and give it a look. See if you think it's something you can handle. You might even leave it connected to the battery and see if, like mine, it would work fine while being gently held together. That would confirm the problem, in any case.

In my case, I won't try soldering it again, though. I don't have the skill level it takes.

J

[Wett]

Oh I see, it could be far easier than I thought. So I'll try to held the boards together, a soon as I find a Torx 5 screwdriver -_-

Thanks a lot 

[Wett]

My player works ! Yaye
In fact I just removed every screw I found, disassembed and re-assembled it. Don't really know what I did, we'll see how long it will still.

[me3619]

To revive an old topic, I am getting the error

ATA Error: -32
Insert USB cable adn press a button

Can any one advise as to whats goin on?

The player works in everyday use with the original firmware, but al lthe posts ive read regarding this point to a hardware issue, but i cant see how that could be.

any thoughts appriciated

[westkc3]

I am experiencing this "Check HDD Connection" error now but the message shows ATA error -1.  I opened the deviece and reset the HDD but no change.  I'm ordering a new HDD (and upgrade to bat).  Just curious to know if anyone here knows the difference between the ATA error -32 & -1?