Invalid OS on power up

[AlesisDave]

I get invalid OS on power up.

Rec/play held down did not solve problem

I have never used a CF or updated anything.

Could it be lithium battery ?

Worked fine just minutes earlier and then I went to re power it up only to get the error message. I only used sounds in the previous session (didn't write anything to memory if you will)

I am an EE who used to design this stuff years ago back in the vco/vcf/vca days

Any help would be appreciated

[Jesse]

The litium battery is only used to retain the Time & Date in the clock

If Rec/Play held down on power update did not solve the problem, you should get a CF card up to 4 GB
and reinstall OS 1.24 to see if that corrects your problem if that does not correct your problem
you may want to open up your Fusion check the power outpu from the power supply with a Volt meter
and check all your connections

[AlesisDave]

Jesse:

Thanks for the quick reply.

I kinda thought the battery served a pretty limited purpose.

I am going to start with opening it up and checking connections and voltages.

I did already go thru one power supply (which you so graciously helped me find the source for a new one years back).

Interesting that the error message asks if I want to load thru the midi port ?

Dumb question...where do I find the firmware and is it easy enough to load onto a CF card?

Dave

[Jesse]

First you should be able to format the CF card on your computer, but is must be a FAT 16 format and then copy the os 1.24 file from your computer to the CF card in yourcomputer ... hope this helps ... Take Care ... Jesse

You can get the 1.24 os file on my Media file web site viewtopic.php?t=6984

[AlesisDave]

Jesse:

Getting a newCF card nexfrom Amazon. Amazon.

Although I am a superb hardware designer (I used to design synths), my windows chops are lacking.

-buy card
-format it as you suggested
-move file from pc to cf card
-insert into Fusion

...then what...just turn fusion on, or hold down keys, or what...

...does that file then automatically copy to the fusion or do I leave the cf dard in and always boot from cf moving forward.

Sorry to be a pain..

Dave

[Jesse]

Alesis Fusion OS Upgrade.pdf

Alesis Fusion OS Upgrade

(217.87 KiB) Downloaded 66 times

by Jesse M. Smith

Extract the bin file from the archived file

Fusion_Image_v124.bin file which is 62.5 MB

Place your CF card in your computers CF drive and format as shown in the picture below
Note: I was formating a 4 GB CF card in the picture below

Alesis Fusion CF Card Format in Windows 10

[parametric]

...then what...just turn fusion on, or hold down keys, or what...

...does that file then automatically copy to the fusion or do I leave the cf dard in and always boot from cf moving forward.

Sorry to be a pain..

Dave

IIRC - just copy the OS1.24 file (.bin) to the root of the CF Card

Insert the CF card in the Fusion

Power-on the Fusion, and is should see the .bin file and will ask if you want to install it . . .

Follow the prompts - and that should be it . . . .

parametric

[AlesisDave]

Parametric/Jesse:

Thanks for the help on this. I will give this a try in a week when the cf card and reader show up.

As I may have mentioned, I have designed several synthesizers and effect boxes over the years (including a very early Digital Delay)....so although I am not a windows expert I would be sure glad to help any folks if they have questions concerning old traditional equipment.

Thanks again and will advise as soon as I get the stuff and can dig into it

Dave

[Jesse]

Thanks for the offer Dave, I am sure someone will take you up on your offer ... Take Care Jesse

[parametric]

Thanks too <AlesisDave> . . . . .

Though I'm in the UK - it seems to me that we are running out of people who can deal with these vintage

Boards, or even want to . . . . ?

My 8HD has a missing channel on both Audio Out and H/P Out . . . . . Nothing obvious (to me) so THIS crowd:

https://synthservice.com/ are having a look for me . . . . One can but hope . . . .

This guy: https://www.ksr80.com/ repairs analogue boards . . . . .

Chris

[AlesisDave]

Jesse:

I followed the link you sent me to the OS files...I see two (7 total entries on that screen) that look a little different than the screen shot you sent me...(I added the screen shot atachment for you to view(.

Do I use entry 2 or entry 7 ,

Dave

[Jokeyman123]

This .pdf description might help you-it explains which file to install, and that you can install this directly from the hard drive of the Fusion once you copy it to the root of the Fusion's hard drive. This is the same pdf listed at the top of jesse's mediafire files. The only 2 OS 1.24 versions that exist are 1) the binary file (.bin) that is the small file-only 2.8MB-this is only the basic operating system. The larger 64MB file has the identical 1.24v operating system for the Fusion but also installs all the factory program and mixes that were originally created-before any updates, but adds many new programs and banks that did not exist in 1.20. 121. etc. Read this .pdf I've attached-and Jesse's-which describes doing thttps://alesismusic.com/posting.php?mode=reply&t=8014#his from the CF card. if you follow the other pdf I have attached you don't have to use the Cf card at all, and you will also now have a copy of the .bin file on the Fusion's hard drive. I have also attached a pdf of the instructions for the CF card install, this is the pdf listed at the top of Jesse's mediafire list. It's good to know how to do both-if your hard drive fails, you have the .bin file saved in the CF card. If your CF card gets corrupted, or the Fusion CF card slot gets damaged or fails (it happens) you will still be able to re-install the 1.24v operating system from the hard drive.

The Fusion definitely uses the "Windows" world for its file and folder structure. I am attaching another pdf here (again courtesy of Jesse's archived files that I also have kept, this is a detailed description Jesse created-thanks Jesse!) which shows clearly how the file and folder structure was designed for the Fusion-and pretty much follows the Microsoft Windows paradigm for loading, saving, cutting, pasting and editing the small bank.txt files you will find if you start poking around inside the Fusion's program, sample or other folders where all fusion's sounds, songs, multis-pretty much everything is stored on the hard drive-which can also be exactly duplicated and backed up on the CF card. don't alter anything in these folders unless you really know this structure-otherwise the Fusionn will 1) not see your program at all 2) or will pop up a message showing it did not find the matching sample for a particular sound (if it is a sample-based sound, not all Fusion's sounds are) or 3) worst of all-the Fusion will throw out odd error messages that make no sense to anyone except the original creators of the code for the Fusion!!! some of these messages seem to show that the Fusion is terribly malfunctioning, when in reality-if programs or songs are not matched up correctly in the proper folders-the Fusion will throw out a cryptic message that does not describe what actually went wrong. Jesse has error code sheets showing what many of these codes mean, as far as anyone has been able to figure out, including me.

[Jesse]

Jesse:

I followed the link you sent me to the OS files...I see two (7 total entries on that screen) that look a little different than the screen shot you sent me...(I added the screen shot atachment for you to view(.

Do I use entry 2 or entry 7 ,
Use number 7 this will install all files to the Fusion firmware

Number 2 is only used to place the OS on the hard drive so you can boot up off of the hard drive and does not include any of the other files used in the Fusion ROM memory

[Jesse]

Dave, how's it going with your Fusion repair?

Jesse

[AlesisDave]

Sorry for the super slow response....I actually put it aside for several months and then it magically powered up..nd worked for several months (occasional use of course).

But.....

Sure enough I am getting the error message again...my guess is that it is not a problem per sae with the operating system but quicker a power on sequence issue or a loose connection (I have long distance moved this thing several times).

Think about it...if the memory got corrupted the first time it would have been game over so I believe the boot stuff is all in there but just won't "start up".

Frustrating for me as I designed several synthesizers in the 80's and 90's but I am not an OS guy (those synths I designed were all Z80/6502 with Curtis chips)