Analogue-sequencer

>>I realize that this is entirely pilot error here - I put the P3 into
SysEx Firmware Upgrade mode (holding FUNC and PAGE; then F3) and then
sent it the midi 1.006 file via a midi sequencer.  Bonk....<<

I see your "bonk" & I raise it to "a right old 2 (two) & 8 (eight)".

I have successfully updated my first p3 several times using a regular
windows box with 98me & midi-ox, & a usb-attached opcode midiport.

last night, however, this exact same combo gave me "bad data" at every
attempt, despite my remembering to adjust the block delay to around 120mS.
being as this was the first time I'd tried to do anything to #1003, I
thought I'd load the bootloader first to see if this improved matters.
idiot.
"bad data" again. I posit a noisy usb scenario or somesuch.
I switched drives to a w2k build, hooked up my x-station (because
there aren't any nt/2k drivers for opcode boxes...), installed midi-ox
again (I found the default block delay set at 500mS under 98, & 60mS
under 2k, for some reason) & tried again.

I'm cutting a long story short here- you don't want to know how
windows insists on the drivers being reinstalled everytime you move a
usb device from one socket to another. I know it shouldn't.

anyway, #1003 is now a doorstop.
when I switch it on, all 8 mode led's come on & that's it. no display.

colin, if I send you some money, can you post me 2 (two) chips with
the latest build (6b9) already on them?
I'm absolutely not going to dick around with the pc anywhere near any
of my instruments ever again. & if I ever meet bill gates, he's toast.

d. (glum)