I have the same situation. I started updating and the screen went out. Did you manage to do anything?

 

OK, so I don't know the infotainment system very well, but usually, you can 'factory reset' a device if it gets its knickers in a twist. Hope that helps a bit.

Best of luck with it.

 

According to the manual:

4.10.7 Reset to the factory settings
Note: Resetting to the factory settings will erase all the settings you defined previously.
In the system settings, tap Reset to factory settings.
Tap to confirm that you want to reset the device to the factory settings. Wait for a short time for the factory settings to be restored.

 

According to the manual:

4.10.7 Reset to the factory settings
Note: Resetting to the factory settings will erase all the settings you defined previously.
In the system settings, tap Reset to factory settings.
Tap to confirm that you want to reset the device to the factory settings. Wait for a short time for the factory settings to be restored.

That won't work if its bricked from an incorrect .bin file upload. The " factory reset" only works if its actually booted and loads the default settings (software) whereas the bin file is firmware.

 

Just so it's clear - updating the system with the wrong .bin file is not something that "happens accidentally", the update process checks the file before uploading it, so the person doing the update has to "force" the wrong .bin file to load.

The manufacturer does their best to make the updates "idiot proof", but, some folks feel they know better so they do what they can to bypass the "safe guards" that the manufacturers implement, you take a chance when you do it, sometimes you win, sometimes you loose.

 

You're right that re-flashing firmware is a bit of a minefield. You have to really pedantic and follow the manufacturer's instructions exactly to the letter.

I differ slightly on the idiot proof comment though. I don't know how many systems I've flashed over the years, but it's many.

As a retired software developer, I expect the manufacturer to include the model/version number in the new firmware, then the firmware on the device will compare it to the system itself, possibly warning you you're trying to flash the wrong firmware or the firmware version on the system is newer than the one you;'re trying to flash.

Unfortunately, some manufactures just 'bung it in' and if it crashes, tough luck. For a system that allows end users to do firmware updates, I consider this sloppy and would expect something a bit more thorough.

But as I say, there will often be a method of getting it off it's knees. The units are probably manufactured as being completely blank or bricked, then the firmware will be loaded and it all works. The question is, can we find out that process and get the right firmware in?

Just my two-pennorth 😁

 

I can tell you with a fair degree of certainty that the Suzuki infotainment systems, at least those supplied in my corner of the world, DO check the new firmware against the existing firmware.

Like you I've updated a lot of firmware on a lot of different devices over the years, and that includes doing it with a UV eraser an a PROM burner, I've even de-soldered PROMs and swapped them. I've flashed firmware onto devices that it was intended for, to see whether or not I could add features, some you win, some you loose, and my take on it is, an adventure of this nature should start with the question - what it my "backup plan" if this goes south - not wait until it's bricked to figure it out.

 

OK I stand corrected, sounds like you've got lots of infotainment experience and the same kind of background as me. I remember UVEPROMS very well. Memory used to be £25.00 per MB, now I have 1TB of flash on my phone 😂

I'm also old enough to remember valves, or 'bottles' as we used to call them. My god I'm a coffin dodger 😂

 

I'd say valves were "before my time", I've seen them, I've worked with them, but I would have been in my teens, you've probably got a few years on me.

 

OK I'm old 😂 I was working with valves in my early 20s, but were old hat then and being replaced by transistors. Some time after I got into microprocessors and started software development from there.

These days if I want to do something, I use a PIC chip, which you can do pretty much anything with.

Valve equipment was crap. Unplated metal pins, say 10 per valve, unplated sockets, say 10 valves in a system, so 100 sh*t connections. No wonder people ended up banging TVs if there was a problem. It probably fixed it for a while! Ok banging on.... 😂