Asiair restoration

Spaceknight17

Hi everybody, I tried to restore my Asiair pro and by mistake formated my sd card. All information gone!
I tried everything, contacted zwo asi support, tried what they told me, watched videos on youtube and tried it multiple times. But nothing succeded.
Has anybody an idea?
Is it maybe possible, that I send someone my sd card, who can put the necessary information on it?
Desperatly waiting for support.
Ralf from the north of germany

w7ay

Spaceknight17 Is it maybe possible, that I send someone my sd card, who can put the necessary information on it?

Why not do it yourself?

The easiest is if you have saved a disk image of the SD card when you first received the ASIAIR (the recommend approach when you first unbox the ASIAIR).

If you did not do that, go download a disk image of the original firmware by following the instructions here:

https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/manuals/How_to_Restore_ASIAIR_OS.pdf

Be sure to click on the ASIAIR PRO link and not the ASIAIR link.

Beware that it is a huge file (unlike Raspbian NOOBS, INDIGO Sky, etc), ZWO did not bother (or does not know how to) compress it and let it expand the first time it is used. Even empty space of the 32 GB image is left uncompressed.

If the program (e.g., Apple Pi Baker) fails, you may have formatted the microSD card (ZWO calls it by the very old name, TF Card) into something unrecognizable. The simplest thing to do is to go buy this particular Samsung microSD card that ZWO uses from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/SAMSUNG-32GB-MicroSDHC-Adapter-Model/dp/B0749KG1JK

Do not buy any other brands' 32 GB card, since ZWO assumes a slightly oversized image that fits the Samgung, but is known not to fit in some other microSD brands' "32 GB" card.

However, the better thing you can do is to buy anybody's 64 GB microSD card (which is often cheaper than buying the 32 GB Samsung; even a 64 GB Samsing card nowadays is cheaper than that 32 GB Samsung card :-). The way ZWO had created the image, it will not make use of the entire 64 GB on the physical card, but should work as a slightly oversized "32 GB" card.

Desperatly waiting for support.

Don't hold your breath. Once you have used more ZWO products, you will learn that ZWO is not known to offer timely support nor repairs. They will sell you something and take your money at an augenblick, as you Germans say, though. A different company would already have DHL'ed a working microSD card to you.

Chen

Byrdsfan1948

Spaceknight17 Hello I am not a computer wiz like Chen but every once in a while I actually am able to resolve a problem like this.

Based on my experience this is how I managed this issue.

As Chen mentioned it would have been best to have saved a copy of the OS when you first got your Pro. Based on your comments I assume you did not. That being the case I would suggest you try the following:

First, get EXACTLY the Samsung 32GB MicroSDHC card from Amazon Chen shows in his link. You should have no problem getting that.

Second use the Restore link he also listed.

In my case I use a windows system so I used the Windows link shown there.

Third!!!! WATCH And FOLLOW EXACTLY the instructions in this excellent You Tube video on this subject.

https://youtu.be/9VPXvymIPZM..

This is exactly how even an computer zero like myself was able to do exactly what you need to do to resolve your issue.

BTW since you are already dead in the water there is no harm in actually first wipe clean your card, as this young man also shows in this outstanding video. Then download the program to the now clean card. I would try that first because in that way perhaps you can actually immediately solve your issue using your existing card.

Good Luck. Al

Spaceknight17

Hi and thanx, but this is what I already did and it doesn' t succeed.

w7ay

Spaceknight17 this is what I already did and it doesn' t succeed.

If you use macOS, please post back which step failed for you and I can try to replicate the problem. ApplePiBaker has some settings that are kinda critical.

If the microSD card is not even recognized, the format is bad. sdcard.org (microSD's web site) has programs for various OS. The problem could be that after reformatting and checking and excluding bad sectors, the result may be a card that is slightly too small to hold the payload from ZWO, and you will need to go the 64 GB route. But I think you said that you have already tried it and it still doesn't work?

Anyway, the programing ("flashing") of the microSD card is independent from ASIAIR firmware, and others (including myself) has been able to flash a raw card from Amazon. You should be able to do that also (especially if you use macOS, where ApplePi Baker makes the process pretty seamless).

Chen

Spaceknight17

w7ay
Hi Chen, I tried it again the way you told me, but it didn''t work. The Eriting is the problem! Differen't cards show differen't errors. For example error 5.
What about sending you some of my cards and you do it?

Spaceknight17

Writing is the problem.

w7ay

Spaceknight17 Writing is the problem.

Have you asked the dealer who you bought the ASIAIR from to do that for you? Or email ZWO support to get a programmed card. support@zwoptical.com

Chen

Spaceknight17

Hi, I bought it used.
Zwo is not doing that. I already asked for that.

w7ay

Spaceknight17 I bought it used.

Go to one of my web pages, like this one

http://www.w7ay.net/site/Applications/MountSim/

There is usually an email address at the title. Send me an email with your name and street address. I'll drop a working card in the mail when I get the chance to.

It could take a while for US Postal system to get it to Deutsche Post. It has been a long time I mailed anything to Europe.

Since you bought it used, your unit may have other problems. I have learned a long time ago (been in this hobby for 60 years now) that telescope hobbyists seldom part with a good sample of something (good OTA, good camera, good mount, etc), and the ones that are sold often have some problems (OTA tilt, camera with insurmountable icing problem, bad guiding, etc) that don't become obvious until later.

Chen