Chromecast woes

Forums › Home Theatre (incl HTPC) › Chromecast woes

Rickles

1984 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 170

Trusted

# 138287 28-Dec-2013 17:14

Anyone else experiencing problems after the recent "update"?

I turned on Chromecast this morning and it immediately starting updating ... when finished it just sat there with the white light flashing. After 10 minutes I restarted the TV and the device, got the 'starting chrome' screen with the whirly circle, then blank screen!!

Tried factory reset using button, same result .... device shows up on router as a connected device.

Tried using laptop to access Set-up and it first said something about an 'unauthenticated device', then 'cannot access page'.

A quick Google search shows heaps of people in the USA suffering same problem.

Not good!

R.

1 | 2

1984 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 170

Trusted

# 958551 29-Dec-2013 10:55

One person supports this post

UPDATE: Lots of similar complaints all over the web dating from when the update went out in the USA.

Tried a couple of the solutions suggested but to no avail ... the unit will now not even connect to wifi network, hence continuous flashing white light.

Thanks Google, bricked my Chromecast?

Not sure what/if device can be returned etc.

R.

old3eyes

8035 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 845

Subscriber

# 958587 29-Dec-2013 12:53

Mine updated OK last week. I saw two updates. Must be one of the lucky ones then. Let us all know if you sort it..

Regards,

Old3eyes

Rickles

1984 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 170

Trusted

# 958615 29-Dec-2013 15:12

Thanks for that ... nothing so far works at restoring the unit.

R.

mattwnz

14886 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2019

# 958616 29-Dec-2013 15:16

Do they have a support line you can phone, or email address you can contact for support, as I presume it is under warranty? If this had happened to an apple device, it would make the mainstream news.

sonyxperiageek

2589 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 311

Trusted

# 958620 29-Dec-2013 15:36

One person supports this post

mattwnz: Do they have a support line you can phone, or email address you can contact for support, as I presume it is under warranty? If this had happened to an apple device, it would make the mainstream news.

It's Google - they never have a support line... unless it is setting up for Google AdWords.

Besides, Chromecast is still not officially available in NZ at the moment AFAIK.

Sony

NZ TechBlog | A bit about me | Follow me on Twitter | My Geekzone blog

Rickles

1984 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 170

Trusted

# 958621 29-Dec-2013 15:39

One person supports this post

Exactly, how on earth does one contact Google?

Rickles

1984 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 170

Trusted

# 958622 29-Dec-2013 15:42

I'm guesing that this is what the hype and upgrade is all about .... never mind that it certainly didn't get "more useful" !

http://www.geek.com/android/your-chromecast-is-about-to-get-a-lot-more-useful-1579119/

R.

jeffnz

2866 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 685

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

# 958643 29-Dec-2013 16:35

not sure if it will help but have you tried a factory reset

Galaxy S8

Garmin Vivoactive 3

Rickles

1984 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 170

Trusted

# 958656 29-Dec-2013 16:46

Not sure if it is a "factory" re-set but have done a hard reset by pushing the devices' button for 30 seconds, and it goes through a reboot process.

R.

jeffnz

2866 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 685

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

# 958661 29-Dec-2013 17:00

oops sorry didn't read your first post properly. Most of the stuff I found was about netflix not connecting after update this month but most seem to have that fixed by
a. connect the chromecast to the power source (tv usb port) BUT NOT connect it to the hdmi port
b. wait until the led on the device is steady and white.
c. plug in the chromecast to the hdmi port

obviously if you LED is flashingf all the time thats not going to work either.

Galaxy S8

Garmin Vivoactive 3

jeffnz

2866 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 685

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

# 958672 29-Dec-2013 17:13

found this, most likely you have tried it though and isn't related to update although if it was update you would asume a reset would fix it.

"I had a similar problem and it took me a while to work out what was wrong.

Basically if the chromecast wasn't plugged in, it would stay on with a blinking white light. However plug it in and after 15 seconds it performed a factory reset, followed by coloured dots and black screen with solid red light on device. Unplug, reset and back to blinking light. Plug back in and it resets, black screen, red light. Repeat until ready to throw through a window!

I finally sussed it when I tried to reset it whilst the device was plugged in and found that the button wouldn't depress. Unplug it and it fine, plug it back in and no movement in button again.

What's happening is that the circuit board is moving a fraction of an inch as it is plugged in within the casing- enough for it to depress the internal switch against the outer button. Solution is easy - plug it in then pull on it a little to move the casing outwards, but leaving the HDMI plug in place.

Working fine ever since. At some point I'll probably open the case and fix it properly.

source

Galaxy S8

Garmin Vivoactive 3

Rickles

1984 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 170

Trusted

# 958687 29-Dec-2013 17:22

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for your input, and yes I've read all that stuff too. Yeah, tried the power on then HDMI route but the light keeps flashing.

I did read somewhere that what I get on screen could be from some sort of HD opy protection off the TV broadcast, but the suggestion to turn of the TV also didn't fix problem ... here it is -

•If you saw your Chromecast's loading screen ("Chromecast" with a spinning Chrome logo) but the home screen is black, you could be experiencing an HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) with your TV. This issue is easily fixed by rebooting your TV. Turn your TV off, unplug it, turn everything back on and try again.

Might try turning TV off from the wall overnight and try again .. nayone know something about HDCP?

jeffnz

2866 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 685

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

# 958691 29-Dec-2013 17:29

sorry Rickles wasn't much help, hope it gets itself sorted, could well be hardware issue but the HDCP is worthwhile following up on.

Galaxy S8

Garmin Vivoactive 3

Rickles

1984 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 170

Trusted

# 958718 29-Dec-2013 18:02

UPDATE 2:

Thought I'd try another avenue, so unplugged everything, plugged in power supply and pushed reset ... got to the usual flashing white light .... no HDMI connected yet.

Fired up laptop and noticed that it was broadcasting as an available network in the wifi list, so went to that and it connected. Went to Chromecast setup page and through the set up routine ... ignored the "Do you see this on your TV screen" bit, and up came the ID number for the device, along with screen to log onto home network. Did all that and the light now staying white solid !!!

With some caution and antiicipation reconnected HDMI cable, white light stays solid, and lo and behold I now get the usual Ready To Cast splash screen with wallpapers.

Whoooo heeeee. So far so good because I've seen the splash screens for the firmware update and it's not it, nor tried an off/on again cycle.

Something for tomnorrow morning, and after a large gin and tonic I think.

Thanks for help and support guys!

R.

Rickles

1984 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 170

Trusted

# 958726 29-Dec-2013 18:15

Mea culpa .... tested a couple of YouTube castings and it's definitely the new splash screen.

1 | 2