2012 Prius v stuck in software update mode

Discussion in 'Prius v Audio and Electronics' started by deepsun, Sep 21, 2015.

  1. deepsun

    deepsun New Member

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    I borrowed one of the Entune update USB drives from a friend who also owns a Prius. I followed the instructions they had, since the update worked for them on their 2013, but now mine is stuck in software update mode. Has anyone experienced this? I read a couple of other threads where people had success taking theirs to a dealer, but thought I'd ask here first. Not sure what my mileage would be with taking it in, since it's just at 36K and they might want to charge me. Thanks a lot!
     
  2. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Was the car powered up READY before initiating and all the while during the update sequence? After what dialogue did it hang?
     
  3. deepsun

    deepsun New Member

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    Yes, I waited until it was completely powered up and the "READY" indicator was on.

    I inserted the stick, the "Do you want to update?" dialog popped up (1.8.2 > 3.2.0), and I chose to update. It never made it further than that. I've tried disconnecting the 12V battery, but nothing.
     
  4. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    I fear that there were intermediate upgrades between 1.x and 3.x that you may have overlooked. That said, if so, however, the upgrade should have exited.
     
  5. deepsun

    deepsun New Member

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    It would seem that way! I can't see why it would even give me the option of attempting the upgrade had it needed any iteration between what it's on and 3.2.0. At any rate, I spoke to Toyota (Entune helpline) over the phone and their only suggestion was that the update had frozen and I needed to re-download, put it on the USB stick again and make another attempt. Not sure this will work...
     
  6. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

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    Did you try rebooting the head unit? Hold down the power/volume button till it reboots.
     
  7. deepsun

    deepsun New Member

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    I didn't have to! But it's good to know how to reboot it now. I loaded the file onto a different, freshly formatted thumb drive and voila-it worked flawlessly. My guess is that it's requirement for a "valid software stick" after it froze the first time meant that my trying to use the same thumb drive would never have worked. I'm sure it read the different thumb drive as valid and just immediate loaded the update. Go figure.

    Thanks everyone!
     
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  8. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    You're right, that would be an obvious validity check. I would review online instructions and see what if any intermediate version you may have to d/l and upgrade in order to take it incrementally to 3.2 (current is 5.1, btw).
     
  9. deepsun

    deepsun New Member

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    A format and install of a fresh thumb drive satisfied its need! Are you on 5.1? And, if so, is it worth the trouble? Thanks for all your help!
     
  10. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    Glad it worked out for you.

    I really haven't noticed any difference between 3.2 and 5.1, which installed without a hitch.

    There is new content, and the search tool is no longer Bing, but we don't use much except the live traffic feed via a smartphone and bluetooth network sharing. .
     
  11. Jonathan Barker

    Jonathan Barker New Member

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    Has anyone else resolved this? I've reformatted my USB drive and tried to install again on my 13 Prius V, but it still hangs on package 3 of 8.
     
  12. Flyin Lion

    Flyin Lion Junior Member

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    Having same problem here... also, was getting usb power consumption too high before this... does ANYONE have a solution? It's now stuck in update mode... Please help!
     
  13. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    The people in this thread that said it worked dod not just reformat their usb drive. The used a different usb drive.


    Did you try the advice in post 6 in this thread?
     
  14. gromittoo

    gromittoo Active Member

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    My guess is that part of the upgrade process involves the head unit modifying files on the flash drive. I am assuming that this "modification" of the USB drive prevents it from being used again for another upgrade. Toyota seems to do dumb stuff to prevent you from doing things you should be able to do yourself, so you have to take it to the dealer. They are shooting themselves in the foot, because the dealer can't figure it out either.

    My suggestion is to always use a fresh (or freshly formatted as FAT32)) USB stick, then extract the file from the downloaded .zip file, for each unit you are upgrading. It can't hurt to use a fresh stick each time.

    I myself purchased an upgraded unit on ebay, that has the same "System not installed" issue. Maybe I got it so cheap because of a failed upgrade. At least I have HD radio now.
     
  15. Flyin Lion

    Flyin Lion Junior Member

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  16. Air_Boss

    Air_Boss Senior Member

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    I've used the same Toyota Entune-branded red 8Gb USB stick to load the update Toyota provided in 2014, as well as two that followed that one, downloaded from the Toyota site.
     
  17. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    I've gotten the entune update for free at a dealer while I was in for other service. Not the overpriced map data update but the firmware (or maybe the navigation application software)update. My complaint was, if I was driving and had to make two turns in quick succession, the verbal warning would not come until I was past the second turn even though it would show on the map display. It was a safety issue.
     
  18. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    Please note the 8 GB USB stick. The reason (I think) may be using too large a USB drive. The car can handle up to 16 GB, but beyond that may be a problem. (I have one map update I purchased and it is on a 16 GB USB stick. It is an official one). If you write to any storage it may insert blocks of data in different places, maybe even above 16 GB, which would be inaccessible to the system. Then of course it would freeze when it can't access that portion. Can also try a defragment software to try to consolidate the blocks, but easier (maybe), just to find a small USB drive...
     
  19. Flyin Lion

    Flyin Lion Junior Member

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    I just fixed mine. I had called Toyota and they told me the usual stuff. Make sure it's a 2.0 usb memory stick. Atleast 2gb and no larger than 8gb. Here's exactly how I did it:
    I used an 8gb SanDisk Cruzer. I formatted it fat32 (default settings on my Windows 10.) Not quick format, uncheck that box.
    Freshly downloaded and extracted the file.
    Copied it to the usb drive.
    Then I checked for fragmentation (0% fragmented)
    Then I checked the disk for errors.
    When it was done, I then ejected the usb drive.
    I went to my car, plugged the usb drive in first.
    Then pressed brake pedal, and pushed start.
    After the Toyota logo appeared it said installing package 8 of 8.
    After that is said remove the usb drive to complete the update and viola!

    Just know, that was the FOURTH usb drive I tried! So, don't give up! The original drive that got me into this mess was a 32gb Sandisk but it also had a male micro usb on the opposite side of the regular usb (it's for my phone to load movies and what not...

    I had started to think my radio was bricked... well the Nav, apps and Bluetooth part....
    I'm definitely happy now, but I think Toyota has some serious issues to iron out... it would really suck if I had bricked it due to a simple update!
     
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  20. Flyin Lion

    Flyin Lion Junior Member

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    Ya, I finally got it working again... I posted a step by step below in post #19

    Thanks for everyone's input and Toyota you should fix this problem!
     
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