Hello,
2 years ago, I downloaded the Design Studio so I could do custom b-day invitations for my son. After downloading CDS and connecting my machine, it said I needed to update the firmware. So I followed all directions and my Cricut has been frozen ever since. All of the green lights stay on and it won't do anything. So, finally, I tried again. I have tried resetting the machine and update the firmware again. I get through the first update, then it says I need a second. I get through the second update, but the status doesn't change, it still says I need the second update and my machine is still frozen. Any advice?? Should I just call tech support?

Thanks!

I'm having the same problem, too. I've had the design studio for about two years, too. Now I can do whatever I want on the computer, but the cricut won't cut it. I get the same error message, and the same result when I try to update.

I would be eternally grateful if someone could please post a solution!!

I am having a very similar issue. My Cricut Original is 2 years old. I have used it successfully with cartridges many times. I just found out through a friend about Design Studio and the Craft Room. I went through the firmware update process. My Cricut cut out one item, then stopped midway through the next one. I have gone through multiple resets of the machine, both on my own and through customer support. I have uninstalled the Design Studio and Craft Room several times on my PC as well and attempted to re-install everything and re-do the firmware update.

The problem is when I try to cut a design, the machine will go through the all the design motions, but the blade housing will not go down and cut the paper with the blade. I have changed out the blade, changed out the blade housing, set all the dials to their highest settings, reset the machine again and again. But nothing changes. When the machine is turned off, the black arm that holds the blade housing has the typical "boing, boing, boing" when pressed down and released, but when the machine is turned on, the black arm loses the "boing, boing, boing" and becomes stiff in that when it is pressed down, it only comes up once - with no bounce to it at all.

To make matters worse, I got fed up with this problem and went out and bought a BRAND NEW Mini. I got it all ready and hooked up to my PC and ended up with the same problem with the firmware update. The firmware update would not complete and when I tried to use the Design Studio/Craft Room, the Mini would go through all the design motions, but would not cut. I thought I was back to square one. I took the BRAND NEW Mini back to the store and got exchange to another BRAND NEW Mini. Different problem this time - got everything hooked up, but it would not turn on at all!

The LCD screen says Version 1.34. I don't know if that matters or not.

I have called customer service again to try to get my Original working again. Customer Service said that sometimes when you update the firmware, it makes the machine freeze. Through Customer Service, we reset my Original again without hooking it up to my PC and just using a cartridge. It still doesn't work - goes through the design motions, but will not cut!!

Customer Service said there wasn't anything they could do because the machine is out of warranty. . . even though it was their firmware update that messed up my machine!

I am at my wits end with this.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Thank you in advance for your help!

You can backdate the firmware on your Personal by using the trial version of Design Studio. Link here: http://www.cricut.com/cds/Update.aspx

Click the first download button on that page to download the program. Once you have it installed and open, select the Help menu and select Update Cricut Firmware.

Make sure your Cricut is off before you start the firmware update and make sure you select the Personal as the machine to be updated.

Follow the instructions carefully and when/if you are prompted to do a second update make sure you power the Cricut off again before you put it back into update mode.