Craft Edge

I just wanted to share with those out there who may have been having the same trouble as me with connecting my cricut to SCAL and Design Studio. After working on it all day, we are finally able to cut with SCAL. I have found that Design Studio is not compatable with Windows Vista with a 64 bit. It has to be a 32 bit. That was my first problem. I then took my cricut and hooked it up to an older computer ( one with Windows XP). I had to upgrade my Design Studio; When you upgrade your firmware, ONLY upgrade to 2.1 if you have a cricut expressions. You can find this at www.cricut.com. Once on their page, click on the Design Studio Find out more. On the left side of the screen, select download design studio updates. On the next screen, at the bottom right (in purple) click on support downloads. On this screen, select Pre Version of CDS. This will download the Design Studio that contains firmware version 2.1 This is the one that you need in order to get your cricut to cut using SCAL. I hope that this has been helpful and saves someone else 8 hours of time and aggrevation.

Thank you so much for this info. I saved it to a file and will keep it there for future use if needed. I hardly use DS because I only have the carts that came with it and I haven't had time to play with them because I'm always using SCAL .

Hi
Do you still have the cartridges update doing this? Can you cut? Sorry for all the questions.
TFS
Parcha

I haven't really played with it alot yet. I have cut using SCAL, but not DS. I worked nights this week end; maybe I can play with it some this week when the kids are in school.

trishd wrote:On this screen, select Pre Version of CDS. This will download the Design Studio that contains firmware version 2.1

If I haven't missed anything on the cricut site, it appears the pre versions are no longer there.
I haven't updated either program or firmware on my lil bug, but.........

I am just waiting for any news as well, just reading, reading, and reading.

I have 4 new cricut carts sitting on a shelf.......will any of these work without the update?
home accents, stone script, storybook, graphically speaking

......and just recently purchased the download of SCAL..........hmmmmmmmm, I've been away so I haven't used either one, and may just have to wait longer.

Wow! Who knew?????

I, too, just updated my DS and could not cut with SCAL. If I am understanding correctly, when I go back to the previous version of DS, I will no longer be able to view the new cartridges in my DS library. Is this correct? So I need to decide if I want to use SCAL or be able to view the new cartridges in DS.

cnowlin wrote:I, too, just updated my DS and could not cut with SCAL. If I am understanding correctly, when I go back to the previous version of DS, I will no longer be able to view the new cartridges in my DS library. Is this correct? So I need to decide if I want to use SCAL or be able to view the new cartridges in DS.

Yes, unfortunately, we have been thrown back into the "dark ages." I think it is sad that in this day and time, we have to make such decisions. We are a spoiled generation of techies. We want everything to work with everything else. That should be included in our technology bill of rights. PC should not put us in this position. You know, there was another company that tried to create a monopoly and its was not successful...hopefully PC will not find itself in the same position.

cnowlin wrote:I, too, just updated my DS and could not cut with SCAL. If I am understanding correctly, when I go back to the previous version of DS, I will no longer be able to view the new cartridges in my DS library. Is this correct? So I need to decide if I want to use SCAL or be able to view the new cartridges in DS.

NO! You do NOT have to decide between using DS or SCAL! You can store both firmware versions on your compter, each in a separate folder. When you want to use DS, you install the firmware for the later version of DS and carts from its folder. When you want to use SCAL, you install the firmware for SCAL from its folder. You just go back and forth. It's an inconvenience, but it's not hard, and it IS TEMPORARY. You do not have to choose to only use one software or the other. You do not have to buy multiple bugs.

I suggest that everyone please reread Todd's original post in the sticky post: http://forums.surecutsalot.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1970. This is a TEMPORARY problem. As soon as Todd and crew figure out how to get over the firmware hurtle, you will be able to install the latest DS or CraftEdge will have some other solution for us. As Beanie as said, Provo is putting some blocks on the firmware so the solution may not be as easy as originally hoped. But there WILL be a solution, and for now, the temporary fix should not stop anybody from enjoying SCAL AND DS on the same computer.

I had some communication with Todd about the firmware problem. He said that he gave us the temporary fix I mentioned above. He's confident they will come up with a solution, but it will take time. He doesn't understand why people think they have to choose between programs or are considering multiple machines. I think if there were some clear instructions on how to switch the firmware, people would be more comfortable doing it. I'll see if I can put something together that might help.

cnowlin, I'm not singling you out. I'm really writing to everyone who has similar thoughts. I don't want people thinking they have to choose and I don't want them buying a second Cricut or stop using SCAL or DS just because of firmware versions.

Thanks for clearing the air! and the confusion Just one little question - Someone mentioned this changing firmware repeatedly might possibly be hard on our cricuts. I don't really see why that would be, but do you have an opinion on that?

I don't see how swapping out firmware would be hard on machines. Todd would not have suggested it if it were so, I'm sure. I'll see if I can find some harder information about that and will post what I find.