When you plug in your module to your PC when you have an SD card in the module, do you see two drives populate, both of which can be opened and browsed through? I see both but I can only browse through the external SD card. If I try to open the internal microSD card it acts as though there's no card in it ("Please insert media" or some such). Just want to make sure. I almost wonder if reseating the microSD card in the module would suffice, heh.
You can view the contents of both SD Cards..you cannot Edit the Contents on the Internal Card.
The SD Card is Write protected while in the Module..this prevents users from corrupting/deleting the original Data Base and as mentioned previously Alesis/InMusic is not going to give access/downloads for copyrighted material to the general public.
You may or may not be able to view the Internal card contents because of some Incompatibility with Win 11 be it permissons..security or whatever has changed for Alesis to state it's incompatible with Win 11 and I don't use Win 11 so can't test/confirm either way.
Card Failure is typically not recognized by Computer OS's..just like a HDD if it's functional it'll be recognized.
If the SD Card is corrupted or has Failed the STRIKE Modules OS will display SD Card Errors..there are various warnings depending on the issue , but basically "SD Card Not Found".."SD Card Error"
You mentioned no such messages so it was presumed you are just missing content as you posted you went directly from v1.2 to v1.5..skipping nearly 3GB of additional or updated content...out of 5GB
To Confirm..
Load a Kit..if you see LOADING across the Display the SD Card is working.
If you don't see a Kit Name and can't scroll through the Kits or Instruments in the menu then there is the possibility the SD Card has become corrupted or Failed...as mentioned previously the OS should display a warning if the SD Card has an issue or in the case of Instruments Samples "Path Not Found"
You can attempt to replace it by removing from the Module placing in a card reader and copying the contents onto a new (properly formatted) SD Card and re-install.It's not a difficult procedure for some..for other that don't have experience with electronics or mechanically inclined it can be.
You will not find instructions on backwards engineering or disassembly of products posted as there is always those without experience that end up making their situation worse and the "Blame Game" begins which is one of the reasons why I don't post any of the advanced modifications I have done to these modules or other products and there are those who scour the Forums to steal ideas and designs for profit.Years ago this Forum was filled with ideas and New Trigger designs etc etc....some of those ideas ended up profiting others
If the Card simply failed you may get lucky and the New Card will be recognized and the Updater's will finish the Updating Process.
If the contents are corrupted you will be back to square one even with a New SD Card.
If there is no content on the SD Card then it may have been erased during one of the updates..tho to date no one has ever reported a SD Card being completely erased..corrupted yes..many have been corrupted if an update is interrupted/not allowed to complete entirely.
But if the card somehow got erased and the rest of the motherboard is fine, I could (if I, as you say, find the right people/places/data) move the required data onto the card again and reinstall it. By the way, if there's any way we could communicate off of this public forum, please let me know if you'd be willing. No problem if you wouldn't but I had to ask. I don't have a Facebook but if you decline my invitation to communicate off of this board I may make one just for the Strike Pro Owners Group.
An Invitation to go outside the Forum,Circumvent Companies DRM and take the time to package,upload to a File Host and provide a download link for 5GB of Copyrighted Files (17,000+ Samples) for someone who just joined a Forum?
Obviously..I Decline.
I do not belong to any Social Media of any type.
I suggested the STRIKE Group as it is Private and it's been reported there may be those that have had the same issue..There you will possibly find instructions on the Modules disassembly and SD Card replacement and relocation,there may even be videos on youtube by now.
The STRIKE Group may have a member or a link for a copy of the Internal SD Card Data Base or they may not as to honor the rights for the Manufacturer/Developer and not want to worry about someone filing a DMCA Take Down..Facebook would not be very understanding if they receive such a notice..
This Forum is for helping trouble shoot issues and resolve them if possible and helpful for experienced DIY'ers that are capable.No one on this Forum is affiliated/employed with Alesis or InMusic and can only steer you in the right direction and if the final determination is contacting Alesis Support to have the product repaired/serviced..then that's the Final Determination , anything beyond that is done at your own expense/risk.Support will give you the nearest Authorized Service Center location
Alesis SupportYou mention that Alesis is uptight about all this, but if I'm out of warranty and gave up trying to fix this hardware bit myself, would they even take my module to fix it if I paid them or what?
Not uptight..ALL Developers implement DRM..just because you purchased the module doesn't entitle you to the ownership/rights to Intellectual property,Copyrighted Material or Lifetime Guarantee.Out of Warranty means you will have to pay for all costs involved..parts,labor and shipping..it's Not Free.These Developers have been going back and forth with Lawsuits over the past few years over Copyright infringement and Alesis/InMusic lost the last one a couple years ago with Roland and currently have multiple going on against others for a Turntable design so don't think they won't go after someone if they feel their copyrights have been infringed or Copyrighted material being distributed.
When you say, "...use the Module for MIDI Controller for Vst Software," is this kind of like plugging my module into my PC, me hitting the snare pad, and some software saying, "The snare was hit, so let's play this particular snare sound through the PC's speakers"? Basically bypassing what my module won't do and offloading that to the PC instead? Because if that's a thing that's better than not being able to use it on its own at all. I don't mind needing to use some kind of software to get it to do what the module won't let it do because I know when I use my MIDI-to-USB cable my PC recognizes pads being hit because it works in CloneHero. If this is the case, can you point me in a few directions as to how this works and what I'd need to install? That would really turn my frown upside down right about now, heh. I know practically nothing about DAWs, VSTs, and whatnot.
Take the time..do some research..watch some Youtube Videos..it's to your benefit..Drum Modules are all TMI (Trigger to MIDI Interfaces) and have the option to utilize the onboard sound or send MIDI to other hardware or Software including Drum Software/Vst.
There are also modules that are strictly TMI (No Onboard Sound Generator) like the Alesis TriggerI/O..DDrum DDTI and the most advanced current model..
eDRUMin.
Your 25+ years behind and there is not enough hours in the day/week/month to try and explain this to someone with zero experience...examples of some of the more popular developers are
BFD Drums..
Drum Forge..
Get Good Drums..
Toontrack...
XLN Audio..... and numerous others along with 100's if not 1,000's of Native Instruments Kontakt Kits example would be
Analogue Drums.
EDIT:Added Links