firmware 2.1 installation solution

[wreed06]

This message from Todd has floated around these boards and elsewhere on the internet. I'm sorry, I don't know who to give credits to. Here's the message:

The only way to use the current Design Studio and SCAL is to keep
switching the firmware on your Cricut between the old 1.1/2.1 and the
newer 1.3/2.3.
You can install both the old and new Design Studio on your computer at
the same time (just install them into different folders)
and then do the firmware update from whatever version you need at the
time. It is not the most convenient solution, but is the current
workaround for now.

Here's what this tells me: Get a demo copy of the an earlier version of Design Studio and the latest version of Design Studio. Install the earlier version of Design Studio in a folder of your choice. Install the newest version of Design Studio in a folder of your choice. In Windows XP, the default folder is Program Files, but I believe you can change that as desired. The way to change the firmware then, is to start up the DS software version you want and update the firmware. There are menu options to do that in the DS software. You do NOT have to buy the software, you can use a demo version of each. But that is the only way to update the firmware is through an earlier version and the latest version of the DS software.

[DittoBabyGirl]

I think I'm confused on how to actually have the 2 different versions of DS. Can you advise if I did this correctly?
Ok...so I had the trial version...then purchased the CD-updated my firmware...SCAL don't work
I just went to the folder where I had the originally downloaded trial version of DS...reinstalled that to a folder on my desktop
How do you tell what version of firmware you have? Will the old trial version just automatically have the older version?
Is this all I have to do? If I want to use my DS open the one from the shortcut...if I want to use SCAL open it via the folder on my desktop?
I don't mind the temp workaround if I can just figure out how to do it
TIA!

[gatechgal]

I think I'm confused on how to actually have the 2 different versions of DS. Can you advise if I did this correctly?
Ok...so I had the trial version...then purchased the CD-updated my firmware...SCAL don't work
I just went to the folder where I had the originally downloaded trial version of DS...reinstalled that to a folder on my desktop
How do you tell what version of firmware you have? Will the old trial version just automatically have the older version?
Is this all I have to do? If I want to use my DS open the one from the shortcut...if I want to use SCAL open it via the folder on my desktop?
I don't mind the temp workaround if I can just figure out how to do it
TIA!

To tell what version of the firmware you have on your machine, watch the display on the cricut when you power it up. It will have the version number right there.

The firmware versions are tied to the versions of DS. So when you install the older trial version of DS, it will install the older firmware, and when you install the new upgrade DS it will install the newer firmware.

[DittoBabyGirl]

So do I have keep uninstalling one of the DS's depending on if I wanna use DS or SCAL?
Sorry...but I'm still confused

Example: I wanna use SCAL so I uninstall the new DS then install the old DS...the firmware on my Cricut will adjust depending on which one I have installed?

[AnointedHands]

You don't keep uninstall/install...you have to install DSS in two different folders. the default for installation is "C:\Program Files\Cricut Software\Cricut DesignStudio\Cricut DesignStudio.exe" so you would have one version installed in that directory and another version installed in another directory... maybe "C:\Program Files\Cricut Software\Cricut DesignStudio\Upgrade\Cricut DesignStudio.exe"

To do that once you have installed one version change the directory when you install the next version. Then you change firmware versions depending on the software you want to use.
You don't have to change the firmware until you change the version. For instance, if you have the older firmware because you are using SCAL, you won't have to change the firmware until you try to use the newer DSS update.

HTH

[wreed06]

Then you change firmware versions depending on the software you want to use.

And to do that, you run the DS software for the version you want and update the firmware using the DS menu options, correct? That's my understanding anyway.

[DittoBabyGirl]

Oh
Hmf
So I'd have to keep changing the firmware on my Cricut?
Nahhh...don't think so
Last thing I need is for it to freak out and break...I'd rather be out $70 than $400
I hope they come up with a perm fix soon
I will say this will be the last time I ever buy a program from a "person" rather than a company

[AnointedHands]

It's not Todd's fault. I think he is wonderful. PC put us in the postion of having to choose between the two softwares. I chose SCAL. With the SCAL/Inkscape combo, there is nothing I can't cut...and I seriously mean nothing.

If you get INK down, you would never look back, I guarantee it.

[raewyn64]

I agree with AnnointedHands - I don't regret for a minute buying SCAL from Todd and with the addition of Inkscape I can make anything. Cricut will be the one who is losing out with me as I just don't buy any more cartidges - I still use the ones I have but if I have to lose SCAL to use any new cartridges then I will stick with SCAL and not buy new ones.
I feel very sad for Todd that he has designed this great programme and now he has to urgently try and work out what the firmware changes have done and how to impliment changes into his programme to counteract this.

Raewyn

[wreed06]

Again, AnnointedHands, to change the firmware, you run whichever DS program version you want, then use the menus to update firmware, correct??

DittoBabyGirl, I'm sorry you won't give it a try. I don't understand why you think firmware is going to mess up your Cricut. The firmware is Provo's firmware, not a 3rd party firmware - it's the original. You would just be swapping which ProvoCraft Criciut firmware version you would want run. There's nothing to mess up - all of it is ProvoCraft's product.

Truely, it is not Todd's fault and he feels badly that ProvoCraft has changed their firmware. Unfortunately, ProvoCraft's firmware changes fall back onto Todd. Todd has the same amount of control over ProvoCraft's decisions that any other company has: zero. He told me that CraftEdge is working diligently to come up with a solution, but it will take time. He does not understand the fears that people have about switching the firmware. He told us how to do it, he KNOWS it works, and he has said it is a temporary fix. He told me this via email. There is nothing to fear.

I will never do without SCAL. I love all the fonts and dingbats I can cut not to mention all the SVG files and basically any graphic file that can be turned into an SVG file via Inkscape. There's no way I can ever do that through DS. I love taking SCAL and my Cricut to crops and retreats. You should look through the designs and SVG boards and see what people have done with SCAL. Do a search for Hummingbird and see the beautiful card someone made with a dingbat, and the cards others (including me) have made from the same dingbat. The hummingbird ding can't be cut from DS.

DittoBabyGirl, I hope you can see that Todd's not the bad guy and that he really is working on a solution for us. I hope you see the beauty of SCAL and come to love it as so many of us do here.