Problems writing to Red Mags from PC ~ Help?

[Curt Pair]

I have a HUGE problem… I’m a PC user… I have the HARDEST TIME updating firmware and moving looks or presets to the Epic camera from the computer.

I’ve called into some of the tech guys (usually they're AWESOME!) and all I get is “It works fine on my Mac… I don’t know what to tell you…”

Here’s my process:
· Insert Red Mag into Epic.
· Power on
· Format Red Mag.
· Power off
· Remove Red Mag
· Insert Red Mag into Red Mag reader
· Red Mag appears at the Windows Explorer level.
· Copy Upgrade or Force Upgrade folder from PC to Red Mag by one of the following methods:

• dragging/dropping
• Control C / Control V
• right click Copy/Paste… (I try all of them eventually…)

· Since the Red Mag shows up in my PC (via eSATA) as a “system drive” when I try to do the “remove” function… it is NOT an option! Therefore, I’ve tried the following: (Media always stays intact… with no issues!)

o Unplug the eSATA cable from the Red Mag Reader​

o Turn off Red Mag Reader​

o Simply remove Red Mag from Reader​

· Then I insert the Red Mag into the Epic
· Power on.
· Camera goes through boot cycle… not updating firmware…
· Repeat
· Repeat
· Repeat…
· After about 30-60 tries and about 2-5 hours… it EVENTUALLY “takes” one of the attempts and updates the camera!
· Same goes for “looks” or presets.

What am I doing wrong? What is the OFFICIAL process as determined by Red for PC users?

I’d love to solve this! I’ve been trying to upgrade to 4.0 for hours now… I’ve lost count on how many attempts… but this is typical.

I'd appreciate any PC users out there explaining your process! Thanks!

 

[Curt Pair]

I should also mention... I round robin with all four of my 256GB Red Mags too... sometimes #1 works, another #2 works, etc. I just can't figure this out. It is a HUGE time vacuum to upgrade firmware or copy presets/looks.

 

[Mark Pavy]

I'm no expert, but I don't seem to have the problems you're describing as I use the USB on the Red Mag Reader and have no probs using the "remove" function in the normal manner. Just thinking it may have something to do with how you're disconnecting. Worth a shot.

 

[Mark Britton]

Perhaps try something other than eSata. Try using USB to transfer the force upgrade folder to the REDMag see if that works for you...perhaps there's something not quite happy with your eSata port, or perhaps you have an eSata cable that is not quite all there.

What you are experiencing is far from 'normal'. Definately worth trying a USB or firewire port, see if things work the first time using one of those sets of cables/ports to make the file transfer.

 

[Michael Mayda]

I have had problems with esata and redmag reader on my older dell 690. However, I just copied forced upgrade for 4.0.3 using USB to redmag and the Epic upgrade worked fine. ESATA works fine on my Mac tower. Moving all my work to PC's in next few months, hope to resolve this little issue...

 

[Curt Pair]

Thanks Mark, Mark, and Michael for your input. I didn't think of some of those ideas! I have tried about 2 dozen eSATA cables over the last year! I have them coming out of the woodwork! I will try the USB and see if that makes a difference... not tonight, but soon!

Thanks and happy holidays to you all!

 

[Curt Pair]

Perhaps try something other than eSata. Try using USB to transfer the force upgrade folder to the REDMag see if that works for you...perhaps there's something not quite happy with your eSata port, or perhaps you have an eSata cable that is not quite all there.

What you are experiencing is far from 'normal'. Definately worth trying a USB or firewire port, see if things work the first time using one of those sets of cables/ports to make the file transfer.

I just finished trying USB like you and Mark suggested... I'll be darned... it worked like a champ! And the FIRST TIME too! It showed up as a "removable" drive that allowed me to "eject/remove" it safely from the computer! That works. I guess I will continue eSATA for footage transfer and USB for Firmware, looks and presets!

Thanks guys! I guess this is what this forum is all about!

 

[Zhang Ming]

USB is easier, but ESATA should work fine also, you can use the hardware manager ->storage manager to unload a hard disk(right click the "my computer", find the manage or what, I use chinese version windows so actually I do not know exactly those english names, but something like I listed above). I do not have a esata redmag to try, but if you has a esata disk to unplug without power off, that is the procedure.