Still cannot updating the MK3 S88 keyboard's firmware on Windows

gcorcella

Hi there,

I'm trying to update the firmware of the S88 MK3 to the latest version but it still doesn't work on Windows

Anyone is facing a similar issue?

WJStephens

I'm also unable. "…failed to boot into firmware update mode". I've tried and tried again and I'm stuck. Very frustrating. Can anyone help?

gcorcella

last time I updated the firmware from a Mac, but it was when the keyboard was released, long time ago

Matthew_NI

See this thread: I wonder if you are experiencing the same problem as this user?

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/170293#Comment_170293

You will see a link in the thread that includes steps to repair a broken DFU driver, which may solve your issue.

LukDub

other products in the name of so called technical progress and now you forced people to update their MK3s firmware to new version, but it doesn't want to update, nor work on old version at all. And now I have 1300$ keys, which doesn't work at all at the moment, and I have to spend many hours for looking for solutions on forums, and testing different ideas, will they resolve stupid technical issue instead focusing on music. And at the moment there is no guarantee, that it will work at all. And no, that is not a problem of DFU drivers issue. I checked everything I could, any possible solution within reach, and I have nothing but beautiful rainbow progress bar of never ending upgrade and notification mentioned by previous users. Any ideas what to do next before I will throw it away?

LukDub

Sorry, first post was corrupted. It should be:

@Matthew_NI, come on, there are to many reports from various people, that your Keyboards don't want to upgrade. That's it.

First, you forced people to buying MK3 by cancelling support for MK1, then you forgot about 3rd party plugins which worked on NKS1 (legacy) system, or discontinued support for other products in the name of so called technical progress and now you forced people to update their MK3s firmware to new version, but it doesn't want to update, nor work on old version at all.

And now I have 1300$ keys, which doesn't work at all at the moment, and I have to spend many hours for looking for solutions on forums, and testing different ideas, will they resolve stupid technical issue instead focusing on music. And at the moment there is no guarantee, that it will work at all.

And no, that is not a problem of DFU drivers issue. I checked everything I could, any possible solution within reach, and I have nothing but beautiful rainbow progress bar of never ending upgrade and notification mentioned by previous users. Any ideas what to do next before I will throw it away?

Sorry, for repeating the post.

Matthew_NI

It really sounds like you are experiencing a broken DFU driver, which some users have reported suffering.

If that is the case, following exactly these steps has solved it for other users.

Can you please confirm that you've followed exactly these steps to repair your DFU and try again?

https://support.native-instruments.com/hc/en-us/articles/16567321051805-How-Can-I-Update-the-Driver-and-Firmware-of-My-Kontrol-S88-MK3-on-Windows

LukDub

Yes, of course.

1. Ad. 12. In the Device Manager, expand Other devices.

It wasn't in Other devices, but in Universal Serial Bus devices category. I updated drivers anyway, but nothing new happened. It looked like it just refreshed the driver in the system. So I decided to update firmware once again directly after updating the DFU driver (without closing Update Application, and without disconnecting the Keyboard), and it failed again, as you can expect. But at some point DFU driver… broke. Then once again I did everything like in the link, and it worked at last.

But truly, in products like this with A class price, I shouldn't spend hours to resolving technical issues. Not everyone is programmer or computer scientist. So generally I'm not happy owner of NI stuff. I really can understand, why people are frustrated in such situations. Native Access, add new software/hardware serial, eventually install some driver, and don't worry about the rest. Everything else should be configure in the background. That how it should work.

LukDub

Oh, and I uninstalled completely and installed again (not reinstalled) Hardware Connection Service in Native Access, and connected keyboard via USB HUB, not directly to PC. I'm not sure does it have any impact to this issue, but worth to mention.

gcorcella

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/170813#Comment_170813

It still doesn't work. It's getting very frustrating

Jeremy_NI

@gcorcella I see you're already in contact with my colleagues. Hopefully we'll find a solution there.

Jeremy_NI

@WJStephens @LukDub I've contacted you by email regarding this issue, please check your inbox.

DunedinDragon

I might mention one thing that I don't think was in the instructions that were sent out by @Michael_NI originally. Once you run the updater software, if it fails it doesn't really clear out all the leftover stuff in it's configuration and memory so it's really not starting "fresh" the next time you run it. In order to get it to work properly I had to start with a fresh copy (not run previously) and that is what produced the registry entrees referenced in the instructions.

Jeremy_NI

@DunedinDragon

In order to get it to work properly I had to start with a fresh copy (not run previously) and that is what produced the registry entrees referenced in the instructions.

That's an interesting point but I'm not sure to fully grasp it, my apologies. I have the feeling it could really help other users, could you let us know, step by step what worked for you?

DunedinDragon

@Jeremy_NI

That's an interesting point but I'm not sure to fully grasp it, my apologies. I have the feeling it could really help other users, could you let us know, step by step what worked for you..

From the beginning:

I downloaded the installer as directed by message on the keyboard. I then un-zipped the installation executable and copied it to a separate directory so I would always have a fresh, unused install program.

I ran the copied program and it hung with just the lights flashing back and forth and making no progress, so I killed the running program and that's when I made my original post about the problem.

As I worked through different ideas that were being posted I was always using the copied install file, NOT the original downloaded one, but it always produced the same hang up and I would have to kill the process.

At some point during one of these tries, it still hung up and I killed it. But when I ran it again it showed that I was running the most current firmware version and it couldn't continue. But I know it hadn't been successful because when I rebooted my keyboard it came up with the notice that I needed to download the installation program to update my firmware.

It was about that time that I noticed the @Michael_NI post with the reference to the process that ultimately fixed the problem. However as I went through the process of updating the DFU driver I ran into one of the problems someone else had mentioned. I had no DFU reference in Other devices as was noted in the instructions

Because I couldn't run the copy of the updater I'd been using because it thought I already had the current firmware installed, I made a fresh copy of the installer from the original and ran that. While that was running and hung up I checked in the Device Manager and saw I had the appropriate DFU entry. So I killed the process and was able to complete the procedure of updating the DFU driver successfully. Once that was done I re-ran the installer and everything worked out. I think that's pretty much the whole process as I can remember..but again, I've slept since then and I am almost 72 years old, so who knows if I might have missed something. But feel free to ask if you have more questions.

JLA Music '24

Hey, guys. Feel like I'm going in circles here…don't know if anyone else has felt like that. Still getting the "failed to boot" message.

1. Running Windows 11 and connected directly to the computer. Also tried using a USB hub, but it doesn't seem to make a difference.
2. When the MK3 is on and recognized by Device Manager, I go to USB Serial Bus devices - Kontrol S61 MK3 DFU - Right Click on Update Driver. When I go to "Let Me Pick…" - Next, it tells me "Windows has successfully updated your drivers. And there doesn't seem to be a way around this.

I've tried uninstalling the driver everything else I can think of and read. I've followed all the firmware troubleshooting steps and just still can't seem to get it updated.

Any suggestions?