Wrong firmware installed on T30?

[Observer0011]

I recently bought an iRiver T30 1GB MP3 player. The first thing I wanted to do was upgrade the firmware. I downloaded the firmware ZIP file from iRiver, launched the setup program, and plugged in and started my T30 player. A window popped up asking if I was in the USA or Europe. I selected USA, then I finished installing the firmware, which was successful. However, I noticed when turning off the player, it has the words 'EU' at the bottom, which I assume means Europe. I have another T30 player, the 512MB version, and it says 'US.' So apparently the wrong firmware was installed.

Ordinarily I wouldn't worry about this, but I have noticed that songs play quieter on the 1GB T30, whereas on the 512MB version the music is louder and more robust, even though the volume frequency is the same. So my question is this: how do I get the 1GB player to use the correct US firmware? I've formatted the T30 several times and reinstalled the 1.71 firmware, but that doesn't change anything.

Or could there be another reason why my new T30 1GB player's sound quality is not up to par?

[ShyAnne]

Originally Posted by Observer0011

Or could there be another reason why my new T30 1GB player's sound quality is not up to par?

No other reason, you're absolutely right that it's the EU firmware causing the problem. The EU firmware has a volume limiter due to a French law that puts a cap on how loud any audio device is allowed to go. As far as I know the law only exists in France but affects all EU firmware regardless.

If you told the updater you're in the US then it should have installed the US firmware. The only two reasons it may have installed the EU firmware anyway are if:

a.) Someone is connecting from Europe and tries to install US firmware through the iriver updater. The updater can "see" where the connection is coming from and if it's Europe then it will install the EU firmware anyway, to comply with the French law.

-or-

b.) If you are connecting from the US but someone had previously installed EU firmware then there may be some limitation on the updater that does not allow users to go back to the US firmware.

Either should be fixable by installing firmware manually instead of going through the updater. If you search the T10 boards there's instructions on where to download the firmware file directly instead of going through the updater. (Don't remember the web site URL but it's got "jp" in the address, maybe someone will come by and post it if they remember the URL.) The same posts with the URL will have instructions on how to do manual firmware updates, be sure to carefully follow all instructions.

[Observer0011]

Very interesting information. Hopefully someone can provide a URL with step-by-step instructions so I can remove this European firmware off my T30. In the meantime, I will keep looking myself. No luck as of yet.

I found some websites that recommended dragging and dropping a file called T30_MTP.HEX into the T30's Data folder. Then unplug the player and the update will happen automatically. I did this several times and nothing happened.

[ShyAnne]

One more thought ... you said in the original post "I downloaded the firmware ZIP file from iRiver" Did you mean the global site at:

http://www.iriver.com/html/support/d...pSearchString=

(Hope that long link formats properly)

If you did download the updater from that link then try getting it from this one instead:

http://www.iriveramerica.com/support/mtpupdate/


The second link is the iriver America site, the updater from there is not likely to install EU firmware while the updater from the first link might. I used the updater from the iriver America site and had no problems, upon upgrading firmware it has always installed the US version. Also of note, the updater from the iriver America site never asked if I was in the US or Europe, so it does sound like you may have downloaded a different update utility.

Before using the updater from the iriver America site first delete the other updater, including any file called "test.dat". That file should be in the same folder as the old updater utility. It's important to delete that so the new updater from iriver America site doesn't inadvertently read the old test.dat file and end up reinstalling EU firmware.

By the way .... the "jp" site I referred to is here:

http://nyaochi.sakura.ne.jp/iriverupdate/

That one's for manual updates. As you'll see though, the owner of the above site suggests going that route only if you're sure you know what you're doing.

The updater from iriver America should work fine and install US firmware. If for some reason it does not then, then again suggest doing a search for complete instructions on manual updates with the appropriate frimware from the above site. Step-by-step instructions for manual firmware updates have already been posted and can be found with a board search.

[Observer0011]

Thanks for the response. I downloaded the firmware update, as I always do, from the US website: http://www.iriveramerica.com/support/mtpupdate/

I turned on the T30, browsed thru all the folders there, but didn't see any file named test.dat.

As I mentioned earlier, I found instructions on the Internet for doing a manual update, but they did not work for me. The iRiver manual has the same instructions.

iRiver appears to no longer support the T30, so I am considering a new MP3 player for the near future. It definitely will not be an iRiver brand or an iPod. An MP3 player that has an optional protective case with a belt clip. I have searched in vain for the one designed specifically for the T30.

[ShyAnne]

Originally Posted by Observer0011

I turned on the T30, browsed thru all the folders there, but didn't see any file named test.dat.

Look at the test.dat comment again:

Originally Posted by ShyAnne

Before using the updater from the iriver America site first delete the other updater, including any file called "test.dat". That file should be in the same folder as the old updater utility.

That means the test.dat file is located on your computer, not on the T30. The actual updater utility you downloaded is not stored on your T30 either, it's also on your computer. The test.dat file should be located in the same folder on your computer (in Windows Explorer) that contains the downloaded and unzipped updater utility.

Originally Posted by Observer0011

As I mentioned earlier, I found instructions on the Internet for doing a manual update, but they did not work for me.

It was mentioned twice to do a board search for manual firmware changes .. a search of this message board, not the internet. The search link for this message board is here:

http://www.misticriver.net/search.php?f=131

But buying a new player that is still sold at retail and currently supported might be the best idea for you, especially if as you say your case is broken and there are no more available. I am using a tiny leather cell phone case for my T30, purchased at a dollar store for 99 cents. It wouldn't fit very many cell phones (probably how it ended up in a dollar store) but fits the T30 perfectly and has a belt clip.

In the meantime, before you go out and buy a new player, you may try emailing or preferably calling iriver. They do still provide support for their discontinued players, including the T30. The support phone number can be found on the iriver America site or in the T30 manual.

Good luck.

[Observer0011]

I did a search of my computer's hard drive for test.dat. None found.

I have emailed iRiver about this, and they sent me the link you mentioned earlier: http://nyaochi.sakura.ne.jp/iriverupdate/ But no instructions.

I called iRiver about this too, and the lady I spoke to was clueless about removing a European firmware and installing an American one. "Is it really that important?" she asked me.

I did a board search here about a week ago, but apparently I couldn't find anything, or the instructions I found were similar to the ones I located on the Internet.

I appreciate your help, but I've given up on this subject. I'll probably give this 1GB MP3 player to one of my relatives.