RT3 D2A N3 boot up issue

[Stef88]

Hello Everyone,

I need some help with an annoying issue that i am having. I have recently made modifications to my car radio and display (i love my Peugeot 407 and refuse to change it even though it is old) i have replaced my old RD4 system with the small display (it has a known issue of going dim when the car heats up). I found an RT3 D2A N3 radio with display. It took a couple of days working with my Electrician to figure out the wiring and now its working perfectly. We actually spent most of the time hooking back up the JBL system. Anyway, my issue is that occasionally, especially after the car has been turned off for a while (i.e. Morning),the radio wont boot up, it will be stuck on the logo screen, and i would have to reset it by holding the Dark button. Sometimes it works after 1 reset, sometimes after 2 or 3. Sometimes the radio starts playing music but is still stuck on thr boot screen, and i cant turn it off, i still have to reset it. So every other day i need 10-30 seconds to start up the radio properly... Once up, it works perfectly fine, so basically, the issue is only during boot up. Could the issue be the hard drive? The software v seems to be 7.02.0-1

Thanks in advance!

[GiveMeABreak]

Very possibly, these units are ancient now by comparison and failing Hard Drives can cause boot issues.

[Stef88]

Thanks! if i am able to find a hard drive, do you think i can change it out? And do you by any chance know where i could grab the software?
What i noticed, it does quite a rattling sound when i start the car, and a couple of minutes after i turn off the car, as if the hard drive is spinning loudly.not sure if that is normal...

[GiveMeABreak]

1) Switch the power on
2) Hold down the MENU button until you get the extended menu
3) Select DEVICE DESCRIPTION
4) The software version will then appear

Let me know what it says or post a screen shot.

[Ross_K]

The RT3 has a 30GB 44-pin IDE disk, right?

You can get a new one from Aliexpress:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002561392520.html

The original hard disks were "rugged" versions for automotive use but you can forget about finding these in 2022.

You can fit a bigger drive, but I understand you need to create the partitions manually if you do.

After installing the new drive you may need to reload the software from CD/DVD

[Stef88]

Not sure exactly what HDD it uses, the software version is 7.02.0-1
I assume i do the partitioning on the PC then the install on the radio itself? if there are some instructions i can look up it would be appreciated

[Ross_K]

This info is found on many sites, so I don't know who found it originally or who to credit:

If you have exactly the same size HDD (30 GB) then you just put it in and the system will take care of partitioning.

If you put in bigger HDD, then you have to partition it yourself on a PC. Partition sizes and formats are as follows:

APPLI
Type - FAT (FAT16)
Size - 2.101.572.608=2004MB
Active partition
This partition holds the Application Software and the TTS (Text-To-Speech) Databases

NAV
Type - FAT32 (LBA)
Size - 12.001.810.432=11445MB or 114446MB
This partition holds the maps Database

USER_DATA
Type - FAT (FAT16)
Size - 1.200.179.200=1144MB or 1145MB
This partition holds the user data such as:
- General device configuration
- PhoneBook
- User POI's
It also stores Logging data

JBX
Type - FAT32 (LBA)
Size - any14.702.213.120=14021MB or 14026MB
This partition holds the Jukebox Files (MP3 Audio and Playlists)

[Stef88]

Great, thank you so much! I will try to look for the software, but if someone here has it please let me know thanks again for the help!

[Ross_K]

I had a thought which might save you from manually partitioning a new drive and finding the software...

Use Clonezilla to make a sector-by-sector copy of your old disk (if it's not completely destroyed) and apply it to the new disk

https://clonezilla.org/

[Paul-R]

I used MiniTool Partition Wizard to alter the partitioning of the uSD card in our SMEG+ head unit. That had a copying (cloning) option which I used to make a backup of the card before I went playing with it.

[Stef88]

Hi Everyone, I know it has been a while but I was quite busy with some work stuff and I finally took the time to look at my car again. I got a new HDD, cloned the old one. and it works great. well at least the new hdd. but i still have the same issue, the unit wont start until its worm. and I realized its the side ventilator that is really loud, not the hdd. the ventilator will start out very loud and as it gets warmer it will start becoming quiter which is ironic, and then the unit will start. do i even need that little ventilator?to be honest i dont think its even the ventilator but i am out of ideas any help is appreciated. by the way, i will retain my ISO back, so if anyone would need it for whatever reason I can send it to you