Hi All,

 

I have been reading up on all of your great posts the last few days since I have ran into trouble with my Pioneer navi.

 

What started it all was the fact that during CD play and auto recording a message would pop up about the recording not being continuous.

It hicked. So first I suspected the cd itself...but that was ok, I played it without the recording option ( auto rec off ) and nothing happened to it during driving, even the worst pothole could not get it to skip, so the cd drive was ok.

 

I then though, " oh damn, it's going to be the HDD" So without knowing anything about the internal safety features ( HDD Lock etc ) I took it out and installed it into a USB to IDE Drive.

That did not work. I had a new HDD on the shelf...also IDE with about 120 GB ( all empty ) . I figured the drive was busted so I tried to install the 120 GB. Hardware matched so no problem...I thought.

 

Bummer.... The install went smoothly but then the dreaded " CANNOT USE HDD" message appeared and since then has never gone away.

I refitted the original drive, same message.

I downloaded and burned the test disc, inserted it, but even that did not start as immediately as i turn on the unit the dreaded message appears and nothing happens then.

 

I took out the drive and left the CD in the unit. Figured it might start up then, possibly complaining about a missing HDD...

Nope, nothing, only I found out that the radio seems to work when there is no HDD in the unit, but that's all it does.

 

Can * anyone* please suggest some steps to take to get this thing working again ?

 

I am at a loss..

 

Peter

Is there *NOBODY* here that has any similar experiences that can suggest how to solve this ?

 

 

Well don't mind....the drive is busted now...so is the new drive I bought, probably due to a faulty 3.5 to 2.5 connector.....Nice

Is there *NOBODY* here that has any similar experiences that can suggest how to solve this ?

 

 

Well don't mind....the drive is busted now...so is the new drive I bought, probably due to a faulty 3.5 to 2.5 connector.....Nice

I would have tried to offer some suggestions, but when you said the original drive also gave the error, I was at a loss. If you connect the drive incorrectly to the adapter, it will fry the drive electronics...

I would have tried to offer some suggestions, but when you said the original drive also gave the error, I was at a loss. If you connect the drive incorrectly to the adapter, it will fry the drive electronics...

 

Ah ...there *is* stil someone alive here

 

Well , what happened is that the original drive would not spin up at all.

 

the IDE Cables can only be mounted in one way as there is a notch in the IDE adapter, so there is no way to mount it wrong.

I guess the original drive was more " at it's end" then I thought it would be.

 

The odd thing though was that a new drive would also generate the same error.

Perhaps due to the fact there was no software on that yet ?

 

Anyway, there is yet another new drive on it's way.

I mean to switch off the ATA PWD lock on that before I use in on the unit. Then load up the image and then see how it goes.

 

I have 2 images here, one z3 from 2009 and one from 2010. I am not sure which one to pick and if they would be good to use on a european HD1BT/HD3BT. Shouldn't be an issue I think if only the maps match.

Ah ...there *is* stil someone alive here

 

Well , what happened is that the original drive would not spin up at all.

 

the IDE Cables can only be mounted in one way as there is a notch in the IDE adapter, so there is no way to mount it wrong.

I guess the original drive was more " at it's end" then I thought it would be.

 

The odd thing though was that a new drive would also generate the same error.

Perhaps due to the fact there was no software on that yet ?

 

Anyway, there is yet another new drive on it's way.

I mean to switch off the ATA PWD lock on that before I use in on the unit. Then load up the image and then see how it goes.

 

I have 2 images here, one z3 from 2009 and one from 2010. I am not sure which one to pick and if they would be good to use on a european HD1BT/HD3BT. Shouldn't be an issue I think if only the maps match.

 

2010 has newer firmware than 2009. I don't think the Z3 software will work correctly on your HD3 as the hardware is also a bit different. The Radio Tuner is perfect example of the differences. You have nothing to lose, so good luck.

2010 has newer firmware than 2009. I don't think the Z3 software will work correctly on your HD3 as the hardware is also a bit different. The Radio Tuner is perfect example of the differences. You have nothing to lose, so good luck.

 

And of course you will miss all the European maps....

And of course you will miss all the European maps....

 

That might be true, yet I still have an original set of discs from the 2008 or 2007 update. On these are european maps. I wonder if overwriting them once the drive is back up and running might be a possibility. I'd have to compare files once I am back up with the set.

 

If it fails, I'll end up with a working european hd3bt with USA maps. Perhaps anyone would like to buy that then ? lol