[Solved] SkyRC MC3000 Firmware Update Issue

[Yourrid]

Hey guys,

I just received a new SkyRC MC3000 charger and have been enjoying using it, well until now. I saw that my firmware was old compared to the one listed on SkyRC’s website, so I figured I would update it. I downloaded both the monitor software and the firmware packages, followed the instructions, and as the charger was updating, this error popped up. “start vector err1”

The update pauses and doesn’t do anything. I clicked OK and it still didn’t do anything. My charger now has a completely blank screen and I’m freaked out that it may be one very expensive brick :cry:

Anyone have any idea on this? I saw a thread on CPF talking about this, but the member never got back to the thread on how to resolve it.

Any help would be very appreciated.

————————————UPDATE————————————

I was looking through CPF and found a thread where one of their members, TJH, came up with a guide to solve a firmware flash issue.
Here are the steps:

@TJH

Dummies guide to reflash a charger after a failed flash:

Step 0: Also, if you are using windows 10 make sure that you are up to date. You must be on build 1511. (Thanks to MarioJP)
Step 1: Get a better USB Cable
Step 2: Remove all and any USB devices/cables from your PC.
Step 3: Ensure no ports are in USB3 mode. Turn that off in your BIOS if you have to. Don’t ask me how to do this.
Step 4: Remove all cables from the charger
Step 5: Holding the Enter Key on the charger, plug in the Power. IT WILL POWER UP TO A BLANK SCREEN. THIS IS EXPECTED.
Step 6: Plug in the known-good USB cable into the charger, then into your PC.
Step 7: Run the UpgradeFirmware_MC3000_V11.exe program. Ensure it says “My Device was Found” then probably it’ll say “Some data was send”. It should also show “Boot Version: 1.x” where x is probably 1.
Step 8: Click the update button again.

If Step 7 is failing (can’t see your charger) then either:

1. You have managed to damange the built-in boot code of the charger. Almost impossible.
2. You have a bad PC/USB Cable/Windows install. Try another one. Borrow a friends PC.

The boot code that runs when you press Enter is hard coded. So it should always be possible to unbrick the charger by pressing enter when power is plugged in. The blank screen you get is expected, the charger is booting a very small “Boot Loader” and nothing else. This boot loader has nothing to do with the version of firmware your charger is/was running. It’s burnt onto the EEPROM of the charger.

Hope this helps.

LINK TO THE POST ON CPF
Huge thank you to TJH for making this guide. I was really worried my charger just became a very expensive brick. Hopefully this will help someone else later on.

[Slayer1]

[tjh]

Glad I could help

[dts71]

Thanks for the instruction - it saved my day.

[ChibiM]

BTW, there is a new firmware update for the SkyRC MC3000

[maukka]

Thank ChibiM! Looks like the update is to support the new phone app. No information on other changes.

[ChibiM]

Ah, I only noticed a new update.. without looking into the details ;)

[outkastsk8er20]

If the above doesn’t work try the following.

1. With MC3000 USB/Power cables unplugged, press and hold the “Enter” key on charger, then plug in the power cord.
2. Plug in USB Cable
3. Open MC3000_Firmware_Update__V1.21.exe
4. It should say “My device was found” followed by “Some data was send” (If you don’t get this message it already means your USB cable isn’t going to work, so try differen’t cables until you see your device was found.
5. Click Update
6. If the update stops and you get any vector error codes, you must try multiple different USB ports until the update works. Contrary to popular belief, you can use USB 2.0, 3.0, and even 3.2 Gen2 10g USB ports. Mine just so happened to work with a 3.2 Gen2 10g USB port.
7. If all else doesn’t work, try a different computer because it should update eventually.