jUST GOT THIS BY EMAIL.

September 14, 2007

Dear Valued Customer

Re: Free Firmware Update for Pioneer AVIC-Z1 & AVIC-Z2 to Address Lock-up/Freezing Issue

We would like to inform you of the availability of a free firmware update for the AVIC-Z1 and AVIC-Z2 to address a potential lock-up/freezing issue. Pioneer has become aware that a small percentage of AVIC-Z1 and AVIC-Z2 systems, especially in very hot temperatures, lock-up or freeze when powered on, such that the systems do not proceed further than the initial boot up screen.

If you are not experiencing any lock-up or freezing issues currently, there is no need to take action at this time because the one-time fix to resolve the issue will be available if an AVIC-Z1 or AVIC-Z2 later experiences the issue and because your system may never experience the issue. Importantly, this potential service issue does not pose any health or safety risk, and there is no risk of property damage.

To address this potential service issue, Pioneer is offering a free firmware update. If you would like to receive the free update, you may do so in one of the three ways listed below. Before obtaining the firmware update, you need to know whether you have an AVIC-Z1 or AVIC-Z2.

1. Download the free update to your computer from http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/avicz1update/ and burn the update onto a computer disc for insertion into your AVIC-Z1 or AVIC-Z2; OR

2. Order a computer disc containing the free update by calling Pioneer Customer Service toll free at 800-421-1404; OR

3. Call Pioneer Customer Service toll free at 800-421-1404 to arrange for your AVIC-Z1 or AVIC-Z2 to be mailed to Pioneer for installation by Pioneer of the free update.

There are separate firmware updates for the AVIC-Z1 and AVIC-Z2. Please only use the firmware update that corresponds to your model, as the firmware update for the AVIC-Z1 will not work for the AVIC-Z2 and the firmware update for the AVIC-Z2 will not work for the AVIC-Z1.

If you have any questions, please contact Pioneer Customer Service toll free at 800-421-1404

Pioneer service representatives are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Eastern Time).

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this potential product issue may cause you, and we thank you for your cooperation and continued support of Pioneer.

Sincerely,

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

I currently have a Z1 and have this problem, but was planning on updating to the Z2 by getting the new 60GB hard drive, and loading the Z2 image on it.

Now here's my question, if I do this update on my Z1, will I still be able to switch out the hard drive to the new 60GB and load the Z2 image on it?

Will I need to redo this update once I'm done upgrading to the Z2?

I'm asking this cause they are saying that this is a firmware update, and firmware is usually stored on a seperate chip rather than on the hard drive.

Can somebody please tell me if it's safe to apply this update and then upgrade to the Z2?

Well I think its good. I had my original drive in when I installed this update. I just got my 40 gig tashiba yesterday and I loaded the z2 image on it and it was fine, the bypass did work. I was playing with my sky backgrounds and found out that the picture has to match both sides or it will look fake. Any way I think the update relocks the drive becasue the image I used was from a unlocked drive I all ready set up. Now its locked and I got to do it all over. So yes the bypass will still work, but if Im not mistaken I think it relocks the drive even if its unlocked. When I put it in it did do a quick update that I thought was weird. Im not a pro at this stuff though... Oh yeah I never had a chance to put the update on the 40 gig yet.

I just did this and now my Z2 is f*cked up.

I popped the disk in and my Z2 went to a black screen with progress bars and started copying files, finished, and now it just keeps rebooting.

It starts booting and right after the "starting pioneer car navigation" I get "Starting program update" and then "Program update failed - rebooting" and it's an endless loop. I took the cd out and it does the same thing.

Sh*t. Now I've got no tunes. Guess I'll go grab a 12 pack and try and figure out how to image this spare drive I have next to me...

I think my hard drive was failing anyways, It would not boot up after work today and it was 55 out... probrably 70 in the car.

If I put a new drive in my unit it's obviously not going to work because there's nothing on it, but can I download the CNDV-700HD disk (if I can find it), pop that in and reload the drive?

I'm not so sure drinking while trying to fix that is the best idea..ha

If I put a new drive in my unit it's obviously not going to work because there's nothing on it, but can I download the CNDV-700HD disk (if I can find it), pop that in and reload the drive?

I just did this and now my Z2 is f*cked up.

 

I popped the disk in and my Z2 went to a black screen with progress bars and started copying files, finished, and now it just keeps rebooting.

 

It starts booting and right after the "starting pioneer car navigation" I get "Starting program update" and then "Program update failed - rebooting" and it's an endless loop. I took the cd out and it does the same thing.

 

Sh*t. Now I've got no tunes. Guess I'll go grab a 12 pack and try and figure out how to image this spare drive I have next to me...

 

I think my hard drive was failing anyways, It would not boot up after work today and it was 55 out... probrably 70 in the car.

 

If I put a new drive in my unit it's obviously not going to work because there's nothing on it, but can I download the CNDV-700HD disk (if I can find it), pop that in and reload the drive?

I had the same problem.

I posted this on Sunday in this Forum. I guess I should have started a new topic

http://www.avic411.com/forum/viewtopic. ... &start=435

Also I have confirmed this update will not re lock the hard drive like I mentioned before. It will load 92 updates then reboot and every thing is still fine even with my replacement tashiba.