Problems flashing Formuler F1 FTA box

Turbulent Bill

Hi, my current SW on the Formuler F1 (OpenATV 6.1) looks like it's now obsolete, problems updating channels etc. I'm trying to give OpenVIX a go instead (better English language support etc.), but I'm having problems flashing the image. Scenario is as follows:

1. Power on the box with the image-holding USB key inserted.
2. Front panel of the box lists the image details.
3. Press the power button on the box, display then changes to "FLASHING". Some activity on the USB key status light, which then stops.
4. It stays in the "FLASHING" state indefinitely.
5. Powering down the box, removing the key and then restarting the box restores OpenATV. i.e., the existing image wasn't overwritten.

Tried different USB keys, different images, different formatting options etc., all the same story. Any ideas?

greasepalm

Make sure usb is formatted to fat32 and no bigger than 8gb and no other usb devices inserted.

Image from OpenVix downloaded on pc and extracted to usb.

Sandisk , Kingston , Integral , and Cruzer have worked.

Some boxes do have issues reflashing from usb and double check image name is for correct box.

https://www.world-of-satellite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=55102&d=1507789521

Turbulent Bill

Finally got this resolved by updating the box using Willobuild to OpenVIX 6.4. Flashing over USB just didn't work, seems to be an issue with the Formuler F1 judging by other posts. By contrast, updating using OpenATV's OpenWebIf terminal and the Willobuild installation guide was straightforward. Box is running great, and hopefully I can ignore software updates for another few years!

Thanks for the suggestions, this forum is very helpful for combo box issues.

boardtc

@Turbulent Bill I am having issues flashing My F1 to WilloBuild. It crashes and I can't find space on the USB. I have reformatted my USB pen drive via the OpenVIX install post-crash. I should hardly format the USB on my Windows machine? Have you had any issues like this?

Gerry Wicklow

To flash a box the USB needs to be formatted to FAT32

https://www.openvix.co.uk/openvix-builds/Guides%20and%20Tutorials/Flashing%20Guides/Formuler%20USB%20Flashing%20Guides/How%20to%20flash%20a%20Formuler%20F1.pdf

boardtc

Thanks, I am not flashing that way but via the WilloBuild script. Ok, not sure if the openvix environment formats to fat32, where I had done it before. So due to your comment, I formatted my USB pen drive via Windows but the Willobuild script still gives:

--2023-07-24 22:46:21--  https://www.openvix.co.uk/openvix-builds/formuler1/openvix-6.4.002.release-formuler1_usb.zip

Resolving www.openvix.co.uk... 176.31.181.161

Connecting to www.openvix.co.uk|176.31.181.161|:443... connected.

HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK

Length: 121746534 (116M) [application/zip]

Saving to: ‘latestvix.zip’

latestvix.zip    99%[==================> ] 115.93M  340KB/s  in 56s

Cannot write to ‘latestvix.zip’ (Function not implemented).

WilloBuild script: http://willobuild.net/files/info/willobuild.pdf

Turbulent Bill

My USB stick was FAT32 formatted in Windows using Rufus. Installed in the rear port of the F1. The only other thing I did was make sure it was correctly mounted, think it needs to be mounted as /media/hdd. The Willobuild or Grogbuild installation guides describes how to do this.

Gerry Wicklow

FAT32 is used for flashing so the low level bootloader can read the USB.

However, you need the permanent HDD to be formatted to EXT4 so the box can record files bigger than the 4GB FAT32 file size limit. One hour of HD recording can exceed 4GB.

boardtc

Seemingly once it's formatted to Fat32 I then need to initialise it in the box. My only goal now is to get the box up and running with WilloBuild.

@Turbulent Bill though the WilloBiuild crashes I still have OpenVix installed. I will see if I can find if it shows if the USB is mounted on media/hdd before I try and run the script again.