PM4 bricked... I'm afraid

[usesnusloosetooth]

Dear C2 community,
I was toying around with an older PM4 (serial 31001....) I managed to update it once to the newest firmware. However, after the update, when connected to a D-model rower, I was getting 0 on cal/meters/wats BUT getting a HR read even though the plug was correctly placed. Thus I decided to reset the PM4 once more. I did it with the Utility but this time through full firmware restore. After just 2-3% the update failed. Utility gave an error message and the PM4 screen stuck too. Thus I pressed the menu button of the PM4 to turn off the screen. AND ever since nothing has worked in waking the screen up again.

I've tried the 2 button method, 3 button method, reset button in different durations, i took the batteries out for days and left them in again for the night. I've left it attached with USB to a laptop with a battery pack on but nothing... I truly has turned into a brick... I'm afraid.

I did read somewhere, but cant find it again, that there might still be a reset of sorts, more or less taking something out from the hardware... I cant remember precisely but maybe? Have any of you been able to wake up a brick of a PM4 and if so under which conditions and spells?

Thanks!

[Tsnor]

I've had firmware updates fail on PM5 (long out of warrantee). After a note exchange with C2 support we did a reset. The firmware update resumed and all was good. Definitely try it, and do email concept2 if it fails. They will help. Good Luck.

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Hard Factory Reset
Method 1
Hold down the Units and Display buttons and use a paperclip to depress and release the "Reset" button in the back of the monitor. Continue holding the buttons down for at least 7 seconds or until the display flashes "Setting Factory Defaults" shows briefly. Then, release the buttons.

Method 2
Remove the battery and USB cable if attached. Hold down the Units and Display buttons. Re-install the battery. Continue holding the buttons down for at least 7 seconds or until the display flashes "Setting Factory Defaults" shows briefly. Then, release the buttons.

https://www.concept2.com/service/monito ... %20buttons.

[Carl Watts]

Try the hard factory default reset above.

What firmware version did the monitor have to start with ?

Whats coming up on the screen ?

There is also a diagnostics mode where you hold down the menu button while putting the batteries in it

If its the 1st gen PM4 made prior to 2008 I would probably toss it and get a 3rd gen PM5 now.

[usesnusloosetooth]

Thanks for the suggestions. However, neither worked. The monitor and the screen is still completely blank. Utility doesn't recognise it. Lights don't flash when I insert the battery etc.. It seems to be, as I said, completely bricked and dead. Which I still hope to be more of a software than hardware issue since this happened after a failed update.

If I remember correctly, the firmware before the blanking was v29.

Thanks again though!

[Carl Watts]

It was a 1st gen PM4

Not sure what you did to it to be honest I have updated hundreds of them by now and not bricked a single one. The real danger is if you pull the USB cable before it's finished.

The PM4 is easy it's the early PM3 that's bad you need to update it twice if it's on really old firmware and it's much easier to brick it.

[usesnusloosetooth]

I for sure did not detach the monitor before the process was stopped by an error.. But can be then, that the failed full restoration somehow left the whole device empty enough not to even be recognized by the utility? I mean, the battery is there and has power, the monitor didn't go through any physical changes.. all that changed was the restoration that failed at an early stage.