[Dead] 9301 ColorQube... Boot Loop green splash screen / Altboot wont load?

[CanadianEH]

Good morning all!

Thank goodness for a forum like this one. I could really use a hand.

I just picked up 2 Xerox Colorqube 9301 machines from my local utility company who was moving offices and doing an upgrade to newer machines. Both machines had been in full working condition. The Catch is they removed the HDD as a matter of company policy and security (as they do with any device with a HDD) . So I believed it would be an easy job to put in a new HDD and get them going. Although I am not super familiar with XEROX machines.

- I currently only have one unit delivered to my office, and I have been trying to get it to run. I installed a new 2.5" 320gb HDD ( it was what I had on hand and access to)

- I made an altboot USB drive using the System Software Version 061.180.221.14709 from Xerox website. This coincides with the last version which was known to be on the machine from a year old configuration report printout.

But when you start the machine it makes sounds and goes through what seems like a normal start up routine. But the main LCD screen seems to hang on the Green xerox splash screen saying " Please wait while the machine powers up" Then will go black, and repeat this over and over. The USB stick led does light up for a short period of time during the bootup, but then shuts off and this repeats the same as the green splash screen.

Few things I am unsure about:
- Do I need to replace the HDD with one that is the exact same 160GB as the previous drive?
- Does it need to be any kind of special drive? SSD vs Mechanical?
- Perhaps the USB drive isnt reading correctly? I have tried 3 different USB sticks all formatted in FAT32, with all different spellings of ALTBOOT, Altboot and altboot with the same result for each try.
- There is a small single digit LCD on the back of the machine that reads out a few numbers.. do they correspond to error codes?

I am not quite sure where to go from here. Any help would certainly be appreciated.

Cheers and Thank you!

[Flash]

Re: 9301 ColorQube... Boot Loop green splash screen / Altboot wont load?

I am not sure but your hard drive may be too big. Check the LCD display on the back. If it is showing a "u" it is a problem with the hard drive.

[CanadianEH]

Re: 9301 ColorQube... Boot Loop green splash screen / Altboot wont load?

Thanks for the reply Flash!

It does come up with a U then a few other digits.. But I am quiet certain that this isnt the issue. ( see Machine#2)

Machine#2 was also delivered today. I used the same 320gig HDD and same USB stick and was able to altboot just fine with the 061 firmware and have that machine up and running. Some light banding issues with the Jet test pages though, that haven't cleared up with the fast or full line fix. if anyone has any hints?


Machine#1:
- could it be that the other machine was updated to the newer 071 CK firmware? and that is why the USB isnt reading?
- The only thing I have in regards to the firmware version is a printed configuration report page form 1 year ago.
- Still wont boot the USB drive I used to boo the other machine. That would likely eliminate USB compatibility and HDD..

Anyone have other ideas?

[adriansto]

Re: 9301 ColorQube... Boot Loop green splash screen / Altboot wont load?

Move hdd from working machine to the other one and watch what happen.

[CanadianEH]

Re: 9301 ColorQube... Boot Loop green splash screen / Altboot wont load?

Move hdd from working machine to the other one and watch what happen.

Hey Thanks Adriansto

Hmmm I will try that.. see what happens..

Out of curiosity, Isnt the serial coded into the firmware when you load it onto the HDD. so the others HDD may not work in this one?


Let ya know...

Thanks!

[adriansto]

Re: 9301 ColorQube... Boot Loop green splash screen / Altboot wont load?

No, the machine serial number is not write on hdd

[CanadianEH]

Re: 9301 ColorQube... Boot Loop green splash screen / Altboot wont load?

No, the machine serial number is not write on hdd

Swapped out the HDD from machine #2 ( which boots up fine) and put it in Machine #1.

No change in boot. Still hanging and cycleing through black and green screen.

The code that pops up on the back of the machine is 82059. The seemingly flash and different speeds, not sure if that means anything. a Quick 8 , Quick 2 , Long 0 , quick 5 , quick 9. Not sure why the zero hold for so long, and the other numbers are so quick, almost a flash. This code is the same when trying to boot with either the USB or the HDD.

I am guessing something is obviously holding the machine from booting from HDD or USB.

Any opinions?

[adriansto]

Re: 9301 ColorQube... Boot Loop green splash screen / Altboot wont load?

Swap the hdd cable from one machine to other.
If that dont works place a call for xerox service.
If you still want to fix yourself you'll need at least service manual for this machine.

[CanadianEH]

Re: 9301 ColorQube... Boot Loop green splash screen / Altboot wont load?

Swap the hdd cable from one machine to other.
If that dont works place a call for xerox service.
If you still want to fix yourself you'll need at least service manual for this machine.

We do not have an account or service contract with xerox. These are our first Xerox machines. So it would be up to me to try fix it.

I can pick up a service manual as I will likely need it down the road anyways.

Is it possible that the machine had been upgraded to the 071 CK firmware , making my 061 firmware USB altboot and the swapped 061 firmware HDD usless?

Thanks

[prismtech]

Re: 9301 ColorQube... Boot Loop green splash screen / Altboot wont load?

I work in the GTA and service these machines exclusively.

I also have full spares ava.

Contact me if you are looking for ColorQube service.

[Phil B.]

Re: 9301 ColorQube... Boot Loop green splash screen / Altboot wont load?

Swapped out the HDD from machine #2 ( which boots up fine) and put it in Machine #1.

No change in boot. Still hanging and cycleing through black and green screen.

The code that pops up on the back of the machine is 82059. The seemingly flash and different speeds, not sure if that means anything. a Quick 8 , Quick 2 , Long 0 , quick 5 , quick 9. Not sure why the zero hold for so long, and the other numbers are so quick, almost a flash. This code is the same when trying to boot with either the USB or the HDD.

I am guessing something is obviously holding the machine from booting from HDD or USB.

Any opinions?

does it have the small sd card in the slot?

[CanadianEH]

Re: 9301 ColorQube... Boot Loop green splash screen / Altboot wont load?

does it have the small sd card in the slot?

Yup it does..

sorry for the very late reply. We put that machine on the back burner and had it in storage until i just wheeled it out today.

Tried putting in the working machines HDD again with no luck. still hangs on green start screen.

[CanadianEH]

Re: 9301 ColorQube... Boot Loop green splash screen / Altboot wont load?

Also, If we are unable to get this machine to work at all, is it possible to use it for parts for our working machine?

ie, print heads, rollers, ink etc?

[chubblies]

Re: 9301 ColorQube... Boot Loop green splash screen / Altboot wont load?

It could be anything tbh...CQ's are fussy about what usb you use to altboot and i have seen this myself. Cheap corporate freebie usb's dont work well so I would try a decent one 1st.
It might be the SBC that has failed if it still does not take the altboot.
Try IMC diag mode and see if it boots (open front cover, pull out waste tray and open top left door and then power on, machine should prompt you one by one to insert waste tray, close door and close side door, do that in the order and only when it prompts you). That will then should boot up without initialising the print heads, warming up etc.
Also on the SBC there is are 2x holes, one has a red LED and a green LED. The red one should flash a sequence to you when booting so that you can diagnose further. It will flutter light, then flash a count, pause, flash count, pause, flash count, flutter. Report back what code it generatesCQ.JPG

[CanadianEH]

Re: 9301 ColorQube... Boot Loop green splash screen / Altboot wont load?

SO I tried to the remove waste tray, open door and left top door. and nothing happens. it turns on goes to the green screen saying please wait. it never gives an option to please replace tray, close door etc. And during that procedure the red light flutters then blinks 3 times , pause , 2 times, pause 1 time. then flutters again.

Just to note I did this with the working HDD in place from the other machine / rather than an alt boot USB. ( I had tried 3 different USB sticks for altboot, none of which worked.)