How to Restore Buildbotics controller Software?

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ghamian
Posts: 17
Joined: Fri May 14, 2021 12:54 pm

How to Restore Buildbotics controller Software?

Post by ghamian » Fri Oct 15, 2021 9:09 am

The controller is not starting up correctly and I'd like to "erase and restore" the controller. How do I go about doing that?

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Doug
Posts: 343
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2018 4:56 pm

Re: How to Restore Buildbotics controller Software?

Post by Doug » Fri Oct 15, 2021 4:51 pm

This is not easy to do in the field. Can you be more specific about the problems you are having?

ghamian
Posts: 17
Joined: Fri May 14, 2021 12:54 pm

Re: How to Restore Buildbotics controller Software?

Post by ghamian » Fri Oct 15, 2021 5:41 pm

The browser is not loading when the display is connected directly to the controller. The screen is black. a Keyboard is plugged in and the visual kbd is loading. I am able to click on the virtual KBD with the mouse pointer the virtual kbd opens. Just no browser.

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Doug
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Re: How to Restore Buildbotics controller Software?

Post by Doug » Fri Oct 15, 2021 7:08 pm

Does the user interface work better if you access the controller from a another computer on the same LAN?

ghamian
Posts: 17
Joined: Fri May 14, 2021 12:54 pm

Re: How to Restore Buildbotics controller Software?

Post by ghamian » Sat Oct 16, 2021 8:05 am

The user interface loads fine remotely. Have not tried to run a job though.

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Doug
Posts: 343
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2018 4:56 pm

Re: How to Restore Buildbotics controller Software?

Post by Doug » Sun Oct 17, 2021 1:42 pm

We have new version of software V1.1 coming out very soon. It makes some improvements on the virtual keyboard. Alternatively, I can provide you with a link to 0.4.16 software. This will allow you to go back to the older interface.

Would this be helpful?

Doug

ghamian
Posts: 17
Joined: Fri May 14, 2021 12:54 pm

Re: How to Restore Buildbotics controller Software?

Post by ghamian » Sun Oct 17, 2021 2:14 pm

Hi Doug, The issue is not the kbd. The interface is not loading. It started by stoping to respond here and there where the controller would stop responding and now the interface (browser) is not loading at all.

missionarymike
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2021 6:46 pm

Re: How to Restore Buildbotics controller Software?

Post by missionarymike » Mon Nov 15, 2021 5:38 pm

Did you ever get a resolution to this?

I am also experiencing a gray screen after updating. The remote GUI works fine, but the local screen is gray, with the little button top center for enabling/disabling the virtual keyboard.

ghamian
Posts: 17
Joined: Fri May 14, 2021 12:54 pm

Re: How to Restore Buildbotics controller Software?

Post by ghamian » Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:40 am

With Doug's help I was able to get the controller up and running again. It required reimagine the xSD card in the controller.

Here is what I did, not sure if I did everything right but in there end it all worked:

1. Shut off the controller and unplugged the power
2.Removed the the 2 top screws in the front and the 2 top screws in the back. You only need to remove the top cover (with the label printed on it). The top resisted being removed because of the heat paste that was in contact with the top cover and the heat sink. Removed gently.
3. Removed the xSD card which is in the top logic board (RasPi board)
4.I needed an xSD card reader and connected to my Mac (PC works the same)
5.Used balenaEtcher to re-image the s/w on the xSD card. The version re-imaged was 2018-05-15
6.inserted the xSD card back into the controller and booted up
7. Once BB sw is loaded I connected the controller online and updated to the latest SW.

8. Once all is working I shutdown the controller, wiped the heatsink with a dry cloth to remove the old grease and applied new heat grease and put top back on.

Hope this helps.

missionarymike
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2021 6:46 pm

Re: How to Restore Buildbotics controller Software?

Post by missionarymike » Tue Nov 16, 2021 8:55 am

Thank you for your detailed response.

Do you by chance have a link to the imager and the image file you used?

Mike

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