Mindboards

Hello all

I just received my EV3 ecucation kit (my first mindstorm ever!) and am having a couple problems, hope someone can help me.

The brick doesn't turn on. First thing I did is insert the battery and plugged in, so it would charge while I sorted the rest of the pieces. Both lights in the battery turn on, so it seems to be charging, but when I push the middle button, only a brief red led lights for a moment, nothing more, no display, no sound. What could be wrong?

The software. I was sent a link to a LEGO website with an activation code. I signed up, activated the software with the code, selected the sw, but in the last "download" button, I get a "file not found" error!. I tried the rest of the files (different langauages, a V1.03E.bin file, and a pdf , all of them return the same error. Any idea?

It's been a huge dissapointment for my daughter (and me) as we've been waiting for months for the EV3 release.

Thanks in advance.

The battery problem you describe seems to be caused by the battery not being charged enough. The instructions for the rechargeable battery say that it needs to be charged for an hour before the brick will turn on even if the battery is plugged in. I would recommend that you charge the battery all the way to a full charge before using it for the first time.

If you keep having the download issues, I would call Lego Education support.

Turning on the EV3 requires more than a quick press of the button. Try pressing the center, dark bluish gray, square button, for a second or two.

Thanks for your answers,

The battery is now full, the red LED in the battery has turned off. Still doesn't boot. I've measured the battery voltage and it's ok.
Doesn't matter how long I press the button, only a short (about 1/4 of a second) pulse of the red LED follows.

This brick seems DOA or somebody at the factory forgot to flash the firmware.

I 've read about this brick being able to load firmware form the microSD card, are those files available?


*edit: as crazy as it sounds, downloads are only working from Windows!. from my MacBookPro, neither Safari nor Firefox can download it. I launched a VM with windows 7 and it works!

Try here: http://service.lego.com/en-us/contactus, they will be able to help you get your brick flashed again. It involves a complicated Vulcan reset grip (and a ritual sacrifice of a small mammal)

= Xander

An article has just been published on NXT Step: http://thenxtstep.blogspot.nl/2013/08/h ... mware.html

= Xander

I have been able to boot it, using AA cells. I didn't even thought about using cells my hamster will live to see another day...

Somebody at eurobricks is reporting the same issue, I hope it's not a bigger problem for ev3.

I got a shipment of five EV3s last week; one of the five had exactly the same symptoms. It was easy to swap and diagnose as a bad battery

Lego Education support here in USA confirmed that others are having bad batteries and promised to send a replacement battery when they are available.