Firestore FS-100 - Where to get old firmware updates?

B

Brent Bederka

Member
Does anyone know where I can get old firmware updates for the Firestore FS-100 these days? I know it's a dinosaur now, but I came across one that has never been used. I tried to update it with the Version 4 Firmware Update that I downloaded several years ago for another FS-100, but it won't accept it. Apparently, it needs to be updated to version 3.0 or earlier first. And Vitec no longer supports these drives on their website.

With so many of these drives now available on eBay, I imagine this will be a common inquiry. I am well aware of the issues with these drives, but I have been fairly lucky with them. Now that they are selling for $100 and they can hold hours of continuous video recording, they are a very inexpensive alternative to swapping P2 cards. Thanks!
 
Brent, where are you finding them for 100 bucks? I have been looking and they go for a lot more than that on ebay. I think one of those with a SSD drive would be a nice setup. I just checked Vitec for the avalible downloads. FS100 is not supported. Actually, none of the old FS recorders are supported. It would be nice if they could be collected and placed on the server.
Bill Wojo
 
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I have contacted Vitec via email. We will see what they have to say about providing these old firmware updates. I agree that the updates should be preserved and provided on their server. If anyone still has these old updates, please let us know. Bill, if you keep an eye on eBay and Craigslist, these drives fluctuate greatly in price because most people do not have much need for them any longer. The preference seems to be P2 cards.
 
I have a 100GB one that works perfectly if anybody wants it email me Glen-at-KPSR.com. I'm not giving it away but I will take a fair price. I have the Bebob cage for HVX, AC power and right angle FW400 cable too. PMs are useless, email me.
 
Vitec is giving me problems folks. They emailed me the Version 4 update, which I can not install on the drive without installing Version 3 first. The drive will not allow you to skip an update here. When I wrote back to the technician this was his response:

My back office person is telling me that that version of the FS-100 used to require people to send it in because it was a major upgrade (not just a simple upload). Unfortunately we no longer offer that type of support for the FS-4 line of products (FS-4, FS-100, DR-HD100, FS-C).
Click to expand...

I wrote back to him that this was completely incorrect and that I was almost certain that Version 3 Firmware Update was a simple software download. This is ridiculous. When these drives were originally sold, their fail rate was enormous. Their company took our money and never offered free repair service for the faulty drives. They never rectified it with their consumers, and were never sued for their faulty product. Now that they can't provide simple updates for their discontinued line of products, speaks volumes about this company Vitec and their products.

I am waiting for their email response. I sincerely hope that they will quickly correct this issue and honor this very simple request for support. I will keep you posted.
 
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Questions about the Firestore FS-100

Questions about the Firestore FS-100

Sorry to but into this discussion but I was wondering if there any affordable products to replace the Firestore DTE's
Also I have been looking at the ones for sale on Ebay. What were the problems with the FS100's and should I stay away from buying them
Thanks,
Mike

Brent Bederka said:
Does anyone know where I can get old firmware updates for the Firestore FS-100 these days? I know it's a dinosaur now, but I came across one that has never been used. I tried to update it with the Version 4 Firmware Update that I downloaded several years ago for another FS-100, but it won't accept it. Apparently, it needs to be updated to version 3.0 or earlier first. And Vitec no longer supports these drives on their website.

With so many of these drives now available on eBay, I imagine this will be a common inquiry. I am well aware of the issues with these drives, but I have been fairly lucky with them. Now that they are selling for $100 and they can hold hours of continuous video recording, they are a very inexpensive alternative to swapping P2 cards. Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
Firestore FS-100 - Where to get old firmware updates?

Brent Bederka said:
Does anyone know where I can get old firmware updates for the Firestore FS-100 these days? I know it's a dinosaur now, but I came across one that has never been used. I tried to update it with the Version 4 Firmware Update that I downloaded several years ago for another FS-100, but it won't accept it. Apparently, it needs to be updated to version 3.0 or earlier first. And Vitec no longer supports these drives on their website.
Click to expand...

Hi Brent, I have a copy of v3. Paid $300 for it back in the day - maybe that's why Vitec were not forthcoming. I'll be happy to email it to you - it's only about 4Mb in size.

Do you still have v4? I somehow missed that update. I still occasionally use my Firestore and it'll be good to update it.
 
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Hi There guys,

I know this is almost a year old, but I also could really use the 3.0 firmware, and the 4 also, but the 3 is fine. Did you guys ever get this resolved? I have a couple of these that are "stuck" with blank screens, and would love to flash the firmware.

Thanks,
Bob
 
Sorry for the long delay in an update on this post. My issues with my Firestore FS-100 were never resolved. Vitec was absolutely no help. Apparently, according to Vitec, FS-100 users were required to send their Firestores into the company for the hardware update in which I think they "flashed" the harddrives. So even if you have the 3.0 firmware and the 4.0 upgrade, it still will not allow you to install it on the Firestore. I would like to know if anyone on here had the original Firestore FS-100 with 2.0 and what they did to get it to 4.0. I still have a Firestore that's sitting around that I would like to use, and shoot in Quicktime format. If anyone would like to share the 3.0 software with me, or if you would like me to email the 4.0 software to you, please look me up on Facebook and message me. I rarely check this post on DVXuser. Thanks fellow filmmakers!
 
Hi Brent
I have V 3.0.0 and need the firmware update to V4.0.1. Do you still have the update Vitec sent you? I have 3 FS-100, 2 are V4 but one is V3. Thanks in advance.
 
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