I believe that my used (but in new condition) Columbus has been software hacked to allow Video In Motion - which currently works.

I upgraded the firmware successfully to the newest full release of 381x (3814) but did not see that there is a 380x series which expressly removes VIM.

However, when I tried to instal it (I had activated the 'downgrade' option in the secret / hidden menu) it told me that the version being installed was older than the one that was currently installed, then locked up with a warning about requiring an SWL disc. Fortunately, the disc I used to upgrade the firmware initially recovered the unit from it's brick status and all seems fine. Although it did try come up in German this time around...

My question is really: How can I remove VIM from a Columbus that appears to have it software enabled?

If a downgrade is the only way, does anyone have any ideas why my downgrade attempt didn't work?

I used the same batch / brand of disc's for the lower firmware version as the successful upgrade version, burnt on the same computer using the same software (although at 4x rather than 2x as this was the slowest allowed when I burnt the lower firmware version). I activated the 'downgrade' feature, but does this work with any level of firmware or just with certain ones?

Any help with either solution would be much appreciated.

Does anyone have any ideas how VIM can be stopped?

Is there a 'hacked' (preferably not beta) version that will do the job?

VIM is removed by any factory-load software like 2680.

Also here is a VIM remove disc, which sets speed limit to 10km/h (default is 6km/h, so no big difference).

Edited 19 October, 201114 yr by josi

Thanks Josi, and many, many thanks.

I was going to send you a PM tonight asking for help as I gather you are a bit of a guru on Columbus issues! But you beat me to it...

I'll burn the disc and give it a go to see what happens.

Thanks Josi, it worked for me.

I get a black screen with a polite message (while the DVD still plays sound) when I go above approx. 10km/h. Just as it should be although I had hoped that removing the VIM would have enabled GALA (an increase in volume as speed increases) but it doesn't seem to have done so.

Anyone got any ideas on this?

Why do you think that GALA is not working? Have you looked at the SDV setup - I can't recall exactly but it is present either under Setup->Sound or under hidden Testmode->Sound menus.

I have found the 'Speed Dependent Volume Control' (SDVC) setting by pressing the 'Tone' button. I cannot find either of the menus that you have suggested.

I have played with the 'SDVC' using both ends of the scale and there is no difference in the performance that I can detect. With the old Stream MP3, the GALA would start to increase volume around 50mph and appear to go up every 10mph.

No change on the Columbus - even having removed VIM using your ISO image.

Incidentally, I can no longer access the hidden menu by holding the 'Setup' button for 15+ seconds! I was there prior to the update to remove VIM and that is the only change I have made, so I cannot check to see if the Testmode > Sounds setting is there or not (but I cannot recall seeing it at all as I have been looking for the past couple of weeks to see why SDVC is not working.

There is another Sound menu under Testmode, you have to active the hidden menu with VCDS or another firmware upgrade.

I have had the hidden menu activated using VCDS - I have a cable myself and made sure that it was set up when I coded in the Columbus unit.

I don't recall seeing any 'Testmode' menu although searching this forum has shown me where they are located.

Do you think that running the same firmware update (381x) will reactivate the hidden menu and also keep the VIM off?

Hidden menu is disabled every time after loading official (unmodified) firmware.

Look at file WA\EURSKHDD.WSH and search for string "SetRegDataHex(0x21,"XX",0x0,0x1,0x1)" - if XX is 00, then menu will be disabled, if 01 - enabled.

Thank you for your time and generosity josi.

Checked that, and the firmware I installed (3814) has '01' in the appropriate place so should be enabled.

Which it was until I deactivated VIM using your ISO image. Would this have acted as a fix to make my installed firmware (still says 3814) 'official' and therefore block the hidden menu?

Can I just run the 3814 SWL disc again and reactivate the menu without changing VIM?

Yes, it is possible that this VIM disable disc disabled menu too.

I think it will be faster and safer to activate menu with VCDS, not running another firmware update again.

Thanks Josi. I'll look at VCDS again tomorrow to ensure that I have it activated and look to find out how to access hidden menu (as I suspect that it is different to modified software).

Have now got the hidden menu back (I hadn't enabled it correctly in VCDS, but have now) and have been playing with the settings you mentioned Josi.

Pressed 'Tone' to access 'Setup Tone' menu and then 'Speed dependent volume control' option. Have set this to highest setting (towards '+' or the right hand side).

Then went to the hidden 'Testmode' menu > 'Sound' > 'Setup' to get to the 'Sound test menu' where 'SDV setup' is located. Initially these were set to Entry point: 70km/h and Stepwidth: 140, so I changed these to lower settings to see if they had any effect (Entry point: 45km/h & Stepwidth: 132).

When I exit from this menu and go back to it, the values have reverted to the default ones (70 & 140). I can't seem to get them to stay at anything other than these settings.

Also, there still does not appear to be any difference in the GALA effect even though the 'Sound test mode' menu shows GALA to be set at 7db.

Any ideas anyone?