ASI Air Pro OS Backup fails to start

Pedro

Dear community,

We have followed to the letter the directions contained in the "How_to_Restore_ASIAIR_OS.pdf", downloaded the IMG file, Win32, Balenaetcher and completed the steps meticulously several times, tried different MicroSD cards, tried using Win 10 and IOS devices to complete the instructions, different card readers, 3rd party cloning software and we have NOT been able to create a WORKING MicroSD card copy.

When the newly created MicroSD card with the image/clone is inserted in the Air Pro, the "card" light flashes few times and but the "Wi-Fi" light never comes "ON". Opening the App does not show the unit WAN. We also connected the unit to the ethernet LAN but it is not visible.

When the original MicroSD card is inserted, the unit works normally.

What are we doing wrong?

PMTeam@ZWO

Pedro Read the system in AIR first, and then write it to your own card.

Pedro

We have started the AIR Pro several times and have no trouble connecting and configuring it with the App. After which we have tried again to create an image with Win32 and write the newly created image to the brand new MicroSD card... we also tried dowloading from the website directly... still no joy.

What has changed is: in Balenaetcher now reports that the image is too big for the MicroSD card (31.9Gb needed against 31.7 available) and Win32 reports errors when "verifying"; this happens with different MicroSD cards (new and used but tested for normal operation).

Also tried RUFUS and the image is copied but the AIR Pro still does not start from the newly created SD Card(s).

Pedro

We have also tried a Rasperry emulator "QEMU" and ran both images (created locally and dowloaded from the web, both have 31,166,976 KB) and both fail to start with the same message: "No file system could mount root".

PMTeam@ZWO

Pedro Confirm the size of the SD card and the image file, if the SD card is too small, it will not be able to be written.

Pedro

What is the biggest MicroSD size accepted by the ASI Air Pro?

PMTeam@ZWO

Pedro please confirm the third part card not being smaller than the original one comes with AAP.

Pedro

We have now successfully backed up the ASI Air Pro OS using a 64Gb card... the 32Gb cards we were using (3x new & different brands) are 100Mb smaller than the MicroSD supplied with the unit...!
Naturally, users/consumers do not have any ideas or control over the formatted size a memory card when these are purchased and suggest that a word of caution from ZWO on this subject would be appreciated by the community.
We spent 4 days running around in circles and using all manner of tools and APPs trying to get to the bottom of what was in the end a trivial card spec.
Thanks to all that helped, appreciated.