B2 freezing up

[Steve Ellis]

Howdo 

My B2 recently has frozen on 3 occasions due to power cuts and my wife dusting around Sd card area. So on each occasion I've not not been able to control a power off.  

When switched off and on at the plug it has frozen again on reboot on each occasion, despite me removing and reinstalling the Sd card whilst it was powered off. All a little scary given that it holds c24000 tracks. 

When it has frozen in the past (usually when playing its music to a bluetooth speaker ), an uncontrolled power off, a wait of 30 seconds, then switch on has rebooted it and with a scan disc everythings fine. But now with it freezing again on reboot I am switching off for say half an hour for a longer rest before switching on again. It then seems to reboot ok. 

Is this action sufficient, or should I put it through some other maintenance scan? Or gosh forbid there is a problem with it.

I am overdue a back up to Hdd and I always delete all files from the hdd before exporting music to it as recommended to prevent file duplication. If the B2 freezes again during this process and there is a concern regarding my B2, I'd be worried about both sources being wiped clean!  

Cheers 

Steve

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Steve,

It sounds like the B2's SD card has become somewhat corrupted and this is probably the cause of the freezes now.  To fix this, you have the following options. A point to note is that your music collection is not stored on the SD card, it is stored on a separate internal hard disk drive, so all being well, it should have survived the power cut events.

1.  Order a replacement SD card from Brennan which you can swap over.

2.  An alternative to step 1 is to re-flash the SD card yourself.  It's fairly quick to do and would probably be the quickest way to get back up and running.

       Go to the weblink below and scroll down to 'New SD Card' on the left hand side of the page.  We can also provide additional guidance on this if you wish to do this.

Below is a link to the webpage which shows how to do this.

      https://www.brennan.co.uk/itemcontent.php/content/Techy

3.  Then when the new/ re-flashed SD card is back in the B2, run 'Settings' --> Web Upgrade' to get your B2 right up to date.

4.  Run 'Scan Disk' and check that the stats look OK.  If you want to, post the stats here and I can give them a check also.

Next,  regarding your USB HDD backup unit, I would leave the existing 'Export' backup on the USB device (if there is sufficient space on the disk for two full Exports).  You can preserve the current Export by doing the following.

1.  Plug the USB backup device into your PC/Mac.

2.  Using 'Explorer' (Windows) or 'Finder' (Mac), open up the USB backup device folder.

3.  You will see a folder called 'b2Export'

4.  Rename 'b2Export' to 'b2Export-19022021' (or something that you prefer)

5.  Remove the USB backup device from the PC/Mac

6.  Plug the USB backup device into the B2.

7.  Start up 'Export' on the B2 and let it run to completion.

8.  The 'Export' will create a new 'b2Export' file.

If you can get a full good Export, then your music collection is secure.

Regards,

Peter.

[Steve Ellis]

Hi Peter

Thank for your prompt reply.

In response to your suggestions I purchased new SD card from Brennan shop.

Today I found some peace to carry out swapping of card and update of backup to HDD.

I should mention that I have had no more problems with the B2 freezing since my last post possibly as I haven't used Bluetooth out.

I carried out controlled power off then swapped the card and switched on. It appeared to complete reboot but said No Network. I then tried to find WiFi but the screen changed to just show B2 0G should be B2 2000G.

At this point I got cold feet and made uncontrolled power off.

Retried old SD card , it rebooted ok but few seconds later it made whirring noise similar to an ejecting CD then red light turned to red and green flashing lights and the B2 froze. 

I have since tried both cards again with the same outcome as the above paragraph other than with the new SD card it says again No Network.

The music stats for artists, albums and tracks appears to be correct with either card.

Can you make any suggestions to get it up and running again.

I apologise for non technical terms used! 

Steve

[fred.w....@gmail.com]

Hi Steve,

I am assuming that your B2 is connected to your router via WiFi  -  I think we need to go with the new SD Card and address the "No Network" issue.

1) Please power off your house router (at the wall socket) then wait 30 seconds before powering it on again - this is to ensure your router has not become scrambled (it happens).

2) Power the B2 off and insert the New SD card. Then please remove both the WiFi USB and Bluetooth USB dongles from the back of the unit. Then re-insert the WiFi dongle in USB port A.

3) Now power the unit on and wait for the boot to complete - does it now find your house network ?

4) If not then from the front of the B2 using the screen and the round knob, go to (Main Menu > Settings > Maintenance > Reset WiFi (when you click/push on this it Resets WiFi to factory settings)

5) Now o through the procedure for connecting to your WiFi as described here

https://www.brennan.co.uk/itemcontent.php/content/InstructionsHowToSetupWiFi

Hopefully this will get you connected back up again. If it does, the next thing to do is 

6) (Main Menu > Settings > Web Upgrade)

7) when this finishes, press and hold the "Play/Stop" button until "Saving" appears on the Front display.

8) once the clock reappears on the display, power your B2 off then on again.

9) Once rebooted (hopefully with you network now working as it should) please do a (Main Menu > Settings > Scan Disk)

10) When this finishes, press and hold the "Play/Stop" button until "Saving" appears on the Front display

Finally I do think you need to address making a new backup of your music.

Fred

[Steve Ellis]

Hi Fred

Thank you for very prompt reply.

I shall now await a further period of relative household peace before tackling this as you suggest.

I would just mention that whilst I was composing my last message the B2 was powered off. So after a pause of 20 mins it rebooted successfully and works again albeit containing the old SD card!

Steve

[PMB]

Hi Stevee...,

Let us know how it goes trying to reconnect the WiFi.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[Steve Ellis]

Howdo Fred W & Paul

Thank you for your responses.

I should first of all mention that since my last post the B2 with the old SD card has been working satisfactorily by playing music ; responding to the UI and received uploaded new music. 

I didn't get very far with the new SD card without the B2 freezing again and decided to first of all get a new back up of my music using the old SD card. The process lasted a couple of hours before freezing again. I decided to give the B2 a rest until the following day and it then continued the process until completion without interruption. I am happy having looked at the file on the portable HDD on my PC that it is an up to date accurate copy. As previously suggested the file for the previous backup I renamed and kept on the HDD.

I am at least pleased to mention that boot ups using either cards show accurate music stats ie numbers of Artists, Albums and Tracks although on one occasion I nearly keeled over when it briefly quoted Artist 1, Albums 1 Tracks 12!  

The new SD card continues to show 'No Network' and whilst following Fred's process for finding WIFI the B2 always freezes at instruction 4. after pressing 'Reset Wifi' when it is showing 'Rebooting'. This is preceded by intermittent whirring sounds similar to an ejecting CD and flashing red or red and green lights.

It does occur to me that the number of uncontrolled power offs I am having to do can't be helping with either a corrupted SD card or faulty computer board.

I have replaced the old SD card into the B2 and rebooted successfully. Halfway through playing the first track the B2 froze! It will now get a rest until I try again tomorrow.

Although the B2 appears to be retaining its music files I am guessing it isn't just an SD issue. Nothing appeared untoward until we had a couple of quick succession power cuts a month ago.

Regards,

Steve E 

[fred.w....@gmail.com]

Hi Steve,

I am pleased that you now have a good backup of your music. 

I still believe that your original SD Card has some corruptions, such that the code loaded from it when you boot the B2 will fail at some points. 

I ALSO believe that your new SD Card is corrupt - even more severely!

You say "It does occur to me that the number of uncontrolled power offs I am having to do can't be helping with either a corrupted SD card or faulty computer board." - Can you please elaborate? Do you live in a country/location where you suffer regular power cuts or voltage spikes?

I believe some B2 users install UPS devices to protect things in these circumstances.

As your "new" SD Card is obviously not working, would you be up to trying to "flash" it. You would need a PC or a Mac to do this and a SD Card reader slot in your PC/Mac or a USB reader to do this.

If you think you would like to try this then get back to us with the type of home computer you would be using and we could guide you through it. 

Or possibly as the new SD Card has not worked at all  - Brennan may wish to replace it.

Fred

[PMB]

Hi Steve,

Many owners have reported that flashing the SD Card is fairly easy and in most cases fixes any issues they were having, so worth considering. You'll need an SD Card slot on your computer and a micro SD Card adapter OR a USB-SD Card adapter.

Let us know if you would like more info on re-flashing the SD Card.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[Steve Ellis]

Howdo Fred & Paul

Just to update, I've not retried the new SD card since last post. B2 has been switched off over night and usually plays music without problem after booting up but today froze after a couple of tracks but has played music continuously for about 4/5 hours since reboot. So I think it's the old SD card that is worth 'flashing'.

I do appear to have the reader slot on my PC laptop which is standard Acer Aspire 500GB. I've tried the new card foil upwards in the slot but nothing appeared to happen. Where do I look to see if the laptop has recognised it?

I refer to the number of uncontrolled power offs in my last post given the number of times B2 has frozen. We don't get a lot of power cuts here altho we recently had one local power cut then possibly a dislodge of the SD card when my wife was dusting and then had an RCD trip on the consumer unit due to a faulty bathroom mirror.

So, yes I am up for 'flashing' and suggest I use the old card and if that doesn't work then perhaps Paul will authorise a new one!

Go gently!

Regards Steve E

[fred.w....@gmail.com]

OK, so you have a slot on your PC which will accept your SD Card out of your B2. We can proceed.

1) lets get the stuff you need

First you need to download a program called "Etcher" from there https://www.balena.io/etcher/?ref=etcher_footer

(I am assuming you can do that OK) Then install it on your PC.

Second you need the file from the Brennan web site that contains your SD Card software, that is here https://drive.google.com/open?id=1iZPdSlQ7YPgX5iWN4YXRNM6-NKLPQYiA

(This file should be called "B2BNov2019.zip" when it arrives on your PC - dot not do anything toit but make a note of where it is on your PC).

2) Dealing with the SD Card on your PC.

On your PC open "File Explorer" you should see something like this

Close "File Explorer" and Insert your SD card into your PC and open "File Explorer" again and you should see a new drive that was not there before (there may be more than one that appear)

Thus

So before I had "C , D and K" and now I have added "H and J" Not that "H" is labeled "USB Drive".     On your system these letters may be different but there will be a new one labeled "USB Drive" . Make a note of the letter assigned to it.

Exit "File Explorer".

3) Flashing your SD Card

Now open Etcher 

and where it says "Select Image" , go to where the file  called "B2BNov2019.zip"  is located and click on it. 

Etcher will then move on to the "Select target" - indeed it will select a target for you and if this is NOT the "USB Drive" that was identified above then click on the button and select the correct name. BE VERY CAREFULL that the name here IS the correct one.

Then Etcher will have moved on to "Flash". CHECK that the previous two buttons are correctly populated and if they are press on "Flash" and then wait till stops and says finished.

4) Cleaning up.

Exit Etcher and then open "File Explorer" again and highlight the USB Drive, RIGHT click and from the menu that appears select "Eject".

You can now remove your SD Card from your PC and insert it into your Brennan B2.

5) Once it has booted and is showing an IP number, the FIRST thing you should do is a "Web Upgrade".

Hopefully that is it - happy "twiddling"

Fred.

[Steve Ellis]

Howdo Fred & Paul,

I'm afraid to tell you that despite all your hard work and an hour of unhappy 'twiddling' I cannot get my laptop to recognize either SD card. I've tried both, either side up and neither show in File Explorer! So until I can get my hands on another PC/laptop with the reader I'm stuck.

Unless Paul will send me another new SD card for the one I recently bought which you think is faulty.

.

It does appear at least that I've successfully downloaded 'Etcher' and a zip file of 'B2BNov2019'. Will this need to be extracted?

Steve E

[fred.w....@gmail.com]

Hi Steve E,

NO NO , 'B2BNov2019'. MUST NOT be extracted, Etcher will know what to do with it.

Regarding not recognised SD Card,

May I suggest you get one of these (to plug into a USB socket on your PC

(one shown (from Amazon) is just for example not a recommendation - almost any would be OK).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Integral-micro-reader-USB-3-1/dp/B07PW35QGF/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=1H4EBR4JAOA0G&dchild=1&keywords=usb+card+reader+sd+and+micro+sd&qid=1615992839&sprefix=USB+card%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExUU9NV0I2OUlLU045JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDIxOTUwMzkwOTVGUDFUNkNVMSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDUxOTYzMVpNSERaT1o0RzRDSiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Fred

[Peter Lowham]

Hi Steve,

No, you don't extract the file from the zip file.  'balenaEtcher' will do all of that.  When you re-flash the SD card with this file, remember to run 'Web Upgrade' once you have the card installed in the B2.

Regarding the SD cards; are these the full size cards that plug into the side of the B2?  These are inserted with the gold contacts facing upwards.

When you say that you tried them either side up, I'm not sure what that would do as the slot is deigned only to allow insertion in the corrct orientation.

Regards,

Peter.

[PMB]

Hi Steve,

Email with your address and tell us if the SD Card is a full size or a micro one and I'll get another one sent.

thebrennanb2   @   gmail   .   com

Leave out the spaces.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[Steve Ellis]

Howdo Fred

I have obtained the memory stick converter thing for the SD card and plugged in the new SD card from Brennan that had been showing 'No Network' when slotted in the B2.

The difference showing in file explorer is usb drives D and F. I assume D refers to the USB stick and F to the SD card.

When I open Etcher I get the 3 boxes. But under the + sign I get 3 choices: Flash from file (highlighted in blue); Flash from URL and Clone drive. Not Select Image as you suggest.

Do I have to click on one of these (presumably Flash from file) (once or twice?) before clicking on the B2BNov2019 zip file (once or twice?) .

I presume it will then show 'USB F' and I click on that to confirm.

I apologise for seeking more clarification but as has been shown previously things don't always seem to go as expected.

Whilst I was 'twiddling' I did see a box come up saying 'Disc Corrupted' which I assume refers to the SD disc!!

So I'd rather be more sure of what I'm doing before trying out on the old SD card.

Not yet received the new replacement SD card from Brennan (which if it works could have saved a lot of hassle). 

Regards

' Steve

[Steve Ellis]

Sorry Fred,

Can you also interpret ' then fire up Etcher and point it at the image file you downloaded'
 I assume the latter refers to the B2BNov2019 file.

Sorry to be quite so trepidatious!

Steve

[fred.w....@gmail.com]

Of cause I am happy to Steve,

1) got to here https://www.brennan.co.uk/itemcontent.php/content/Techy

and download this file (red circle)

2) slot your new SD Card into your new USB reader and plug this into a USB port on your PC.

3) Open file explorer and see what the new USB/CD Card is called. Once you have seen this close File explorer.

4) Install ETCHER on your PC (I think you have done this).

5) Once you have installed Etcher you should have this icon on your desktop 

Click on it and this window should open

Click on the "Select image" and you should see this

click on the B2BNov2019 file and then on "Open". (yes the date looks a bit mad but that is the correct file).

6) Etcher will then move on to "Select target"

click on select target

and from the option choose from what you discovered in step 3 above

7) if it is happy, Etcher will move on to the "Flash!" button. Press it and wait.

8) once Etcher has finished Close it.

9)Remove your USB SD Card reader from your PC's USB drive and then Remove the SD Car.

10 ) Install the SD Card in your B2.

11) Power up and when finished go

12) "Settings > Web Upgrade" from the front screen and round knob.

Once the B2 reboots you should be there - press "info" on your remote twice in succession to see the version of Software on the front screen.

OK?

Fred

[Steve Ellis]

Hiya Fred & Paul

The continuing saga!

First of all thank you for your time and efforts to sort out my B2.

I followed Fred's updated instructions from yesterday and tried flashing both the new card from Brennan and the old card that came with the B2.

As previously mentioned, when Etcher was opened I did not get 'Select Image' and chose 'Flash from file' of the 3 options.

For both cards the process appeared to finish ok to 'Flash Complete'.

The new card did not get very far on booting up before the B2 froze.

The old card did successfully boot up, needed 'Find Wifi' which was successful as was Web Upgrade showing March 22nd and correct stats for music files. However on 4 occasions the B2 has stopped during 'Play' during the first track, and although the screen still moved it did make ugly noises and wouldn't play again.

Not sure where we go from here unless Paul can send new SD card he knows is ok.

Steve

[fred.w....@gmail.com]

Hi Steve,

You Etcher difference puzzle me!

However I think we can see from what you have achieved that the NEW SD Card sent by Brennan was duff! I think if you ask Paul he will send you another.

ALSO

We wanted you to get a new card because we were concerned that your old one was going bad. I still think that this is a possibility. We do need to have a NEW, GOOD SD Card in your machine before we can eliminate the SD Card as

being the cause of your problems.

Fred

[PMB]

Hi Steve,

If you haven't already done so please email us on -   thebrennanb2   @   gmail   .   com   - requesting a replacement SD Card. We will need an address for delivery and know if it is the standard SD Card or the micro one.

Paul

Brennan Support.

[Steve Ellis]

Howdo Paul and Fred

Thanks Paul for the new SD disk.

Tried it in the B2 and got no further. Similar to the previous new SD disk the screen showed No Network. After Retrying WiFi it froze showing Reboot. This happened on 2 occasions flashing red and green.

Replaced my original SD disc it showed WiFi connexion and correct stats but froze on 4 occasions playing the first track. I have learnt that if I give the B2 time switched off, say 30 mins,  it works ok. 

I don't usually switch off the B2 overnight or when not in use unless holidaying and would now be discouraged from doing so if it froze each time I switched it back on.

So. I don't know where we go from here. At least we've probably eliminated corrupted SD disc from the equation. 

Regards

Steve

[fred.w....@gmail.com]

Hi Steve,

Sigh!

I think we have maybe corralled your issues into the "faulty hardware" corner now!  -  If Paul agrees with this diagnosis, I suggest he points you at the approved servicer provider for your B2 for where you live.

Sorry,

Fred