NEX VG10-Firmware Update Warning! (Max OS X 10.6)

S

SteveNunez

Active member
Hey guys, I just registered my VG10 and was prompted to the Firmware Update released today from Ver.1 to Ver.2

I followed the instructions for Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and proceeded to update the firmware. During the update (Sony runs a small installer program that has an interface that shows the update being applied) the Mac Mini (new 2010 version) suffered a Kernel Panic and drew a grey screen and froze still!
The Mac was able to restart but the VG10 was dead- nothing I could do would cause the VG10 to operate (removed battery and restarted, removed SD card etc....camera was dead!)
I tried installing the update with a new 2010 Macbook Air and the same exact kernel panic occurred!!

Luckily I have an Asus Netbook which runs Windows XP and I downloaded the Firmware software for that OS and ran it again and the Sony VG10 was able to communicate with the software (via USB cable) and it was able to restore and update the camera to Ver 2.

This was quite a scare and I'd like to warn others of my experience.

If this should happen to anyone here, you may be able to revive the camera using a Windows PC....be
warned!
(I followed the instructions to the letter and have updated a few cameras in the past with FW updates- so this isn't new for me.)
__________________
Steve Nunez-New York City
www.stevenunez.com
 
Warning: according to Sony, here's their requirements for the Firmware Update:

This update process requires the following items for proper updating:
A computer with:
CPU: Intel® processor
Available Hard Disk Space: 200 MB or more
Installed Memory (RAM): 256 MB or more
A USB port.
Macintosh® OS X version 10.5 or 10.6.
Note: The 64-bit kernel is not supported.

~ The problem seems to be almost all modern Mac's are 64 bit and will kernel panic as I've experienced (and others)...........to check if your Mac is 32 bit or 64 bit simply go to the little "Apple" icon on the top left of your screen and click "About this Mac" if your system says Core 2 Duo it's a 64 bit machine and will likely "kernel panic" if you try to perform the update...........you'll need a Mac running the older CoreDuo Intel processor not the newer Core2Duo........ this will likely cause allot of problems for Mac users trying to perform the update- but Sony did specify on the site "Macintosh® OS X version 10.5 or 10.6.
Note: The 64-bit kernel is not supported."

...so beware 64 bit Mac users~
 
It has been brought to my attention that all Mac's boot into 32 bit mode and while the newer 64 bit Mac's do have 64 bit capability, they use this ability transparently and the FW update should have still worked. (Only the 64 bit Mac servers boot into 64 bit mode)......it is possible my download was flawed in some way as well as a few others whom experienced the instant shutdown attempting to apply the FW update.

The warning is still valid but the culprit seems to be not Intel Core2Duo Mac's but something else.......I'll post additional information as I hear it, but in the meantime I've learned a few people have been able to implement the update in 10.5 versions- but I'm still not aware of anyone able to do it with the 10.6 version.......I've also been informed as to problems updating the Alpha Mount adapter.......we'll keep this thread going with info as it becomes available.

--
Steve Nunez~New York City
www.stevenunez.com
 
Steve, did you just update on a PC after all? I just tried on my MBP and it bricked my camera, my vg10 is completely unresponsive. The guys on the Vimeo VG10 user group say that you can just finish it up on a PC.
 
Yes- in my circumstance, I was able to connect the VG10 to a Windows netbook running XP and started the process again and it revived the camera- hopefully you'll get the same result- good luck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top