Reformatting
If for some reason the hoop’s drive becomes corrupted and unreadable, it may need to be
reformatted. You can format it like you would any USB drive (in FAT16 format) but the
hoop is also capable of reformatting itself. We recommend using the hoop's own format
function to make sure it's formatted correctly
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.
WiFi-capable hoops can reformat themselves and download all of the patterns at the
same time. See the WiFi link menu section for more information.
To reformat using the remote: Power up the hoop and within the first 10 seconds after
startup, hold down the button on the large remote for several seconds until the hoop
begins to blink red. Press the green button to confirm the format, or any other button
to cancel.
Formatting will erase all files on the hoop! The process will take several
seconds to complete and then the hoop will restart.
Disassembly
Should you need to disassemble the hoop for repairs, begin by identifying the two 3/4” set
screws that hold in the guts. On current hoops, these are #4-40 screws with a 0.050”
socket head. Older hoops use #2-56 screws with 0.035” heads. In either case, a suitable
hex key is provided in your hoop's accessory pack – it's the small black L-shaped tool.
Gen 2 and Gen 3 hoops can have the head assembly, with the connector and controller
board, removed separately. Just remove the set screw nearest the USB port and gently
wiggle the connector free. You may need to press down on the tubing to make room for
the USB connector to slide out. A flat flex cable connects the controller board to the LED
strip and may be secured with tape. You can remove the tape and unplug the cable from
the controller.
For a Gen 1 hoop, or to access the LED strip on a Gen 2 or 3 hoop, you'll need to remove the
guts entirely. Remove both the head and tail screws and gently pull out the guts by the
head.
To put everything back in, loop a length of balloon ribbon or string through the slot in the
tail piece below the battery spring and use it to fish the guts back into the tubing. Align
the USB port first before re-installing the pins or screws.
Current hoops have a tail piece with three positions for the screw. By removing the screw
and repositioning the tail piece, you can adjust the battery spring position.
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When formatting manually, we recommend setting the allocation unit size to 512 bytes. Pattern files are usually small and a larger allocation
unit setting will waste space. In Windows, “format /a:512” will set the allocation unit size properly.
