Roon Update 880 (Dec16-21) makes Roon unusable for me

William_Macdonald · December 16, 2021, 4:55pm

Roon Core Machine

Mac Mini (mid 2011) 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5, Memory 8GB 1333 DDRS, Graphics Card AMD Radeon HD6630M 256MB. The OS is MacOs High Sierra (I believe this is the most up to date os this will run)

Networking Gear & Setup Details

All on ethernet (except Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 tablet used ONLY as Roon Remote - on Wifi).
Tp Link AC1750 Router (with dedicated Teradac Linear Power supply)
SmartRG Modem (with (separate) dedicated Teradac Linear Power Supply)
Cisco CATALYST Series 2960 Switches
To Sonore UltraRendu
To Exemplar Audio BDP105D (tubed) used as a USB DAC

Connected Audio Devices

To Sonore UltraRendu
To Exemplar Audio BDP105D (tubed) used as a USB DAC

Number of Tracks in Library

Used at present only in a Hi-Res Streaming application with Tidal (connected to Roon)

Description of Issue

I hate to say it, but really all I can say is: Wow. (I didn’t even want to update. But, could not access anything - forced update today). Yesterday, everything was just fine.

Today, my entire streaming platform is down. So, no tunes, lol. I’ve already spent a few hours trying - in vain - to get Roon up. Rebooted, numerous times, etc. (I’m admittedly no MAC - or PC for that matter wizard. Nor, am I, unfortunately, interested in becoming one. I am a music lover and audiophile who just wants to listen to music - easily and without hassle. Sorry, Roon, lol).

I’m running the Roon Core on a (dedicated and optimized - with all superfluous items turned off) Mac Mini (mid 2011) 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5, Memory 8GB 1333 DDRS, Graphics Card AMD Radeon HD6630M 256MB. The OS is MacOs High Sierra (I believe this is the most up to date os this will run).

Frustratingly, here’s all that I can accomplish:
Over and over again, The update (shown in Settings → About) on the Core shows “downloading” progress bar until about 3/4 of the way through the bar, then before reachin g the end of the bar, it reverts to “installing” and then - in a few seconds - “There was an error checking for an update” message appears.

Furthermore, on my Samsung Galaxy S2 (running the latest update (Android) software and used SOLELY as a remote for Roon, it doesn’t appear to “Open” the Roon update in Google Play. Not really sure, if it needs an update or already has it, but when I tap the touchscreen on OPen nothing will happen (in Google Play.

On the “Software Update needed” screen (which Roon forces me to be on when I opened Roon today) it says a few things:

"Software update needed
Roon is trying to connect, but it looks like one or more devices on your network need a software update.

(Icon of Mac Mini) Mac Mini
1.8 (build 790) stable

(Icon of Tablet) This Tablet
1.8 (build 880) stable

===================

Thank you to all you great and knowledgeable people here on this forum community. I’m sorry that my computer technical ability, basically leaves me unable to contribute helpful advice to others, in any meaningful way. (With that said - and maybe I’m just too old school - it does strike me as a shame that Roon seems to have largely offloaded support to it’s customers. Maybe I’m wrong on this. Anyway, that’s a touchy topic best left alone, I fear. Would just like some tunes today while I ride Zwift, lol)

(Lol, if this keeps up might have to go back to near state of the art vinyl and “silver disc” spinning.

Best regards to all,
Bill

beka · December 16, 2021, 7:26pm

Hey @William_Macdonald,

Thank you for this post. I cannot move to the troubleshooting part of my post before thanking you for being so kind in pointing out issues with Roon as a product, Roon’s support and the problems you’re facing, quite literally overnight. We need to hear it and also want to. All in all, I’m grateful

As far as your phone goes, could you please:

uninstall the Roon Remote app
restart the phone
download the Roon Remote app in the Google Play Store (it will download the latest version)

Does that help when trying to update your Mac?

William_Macdonald · December 16, 2021, 10:35pm

Hi Rebeka,
Thank you for the recommendation. I followed it to a tee. Unfortunately, it did absolutely nothing to address my inability to access Roon - or to update my dedicated Mac Mini running Roon Core.

Best,
Bill

beka · December 17, 2021, 5:18pm

Hey @William_Macdonald,

Do you, by any chance, have any other device (PC, laptop, phone, tablet) you could use as a remote to try to update your Mac Mini?

Allan_Hall · December 17, 2021, 6:01pm

I’m having the same exact issue as @William_Macdonald !!!

beka · December 17, 2021, 6:21pm

Hey @Allan_Hall,

Thanks for letting us know. What steps have you tried already?

William_Macdonald · December 17, 2021, 6:46pm

Yes, I have all of those.

Which one will work? Or work best?

And, is that really the solution or is Roon releasing a bug-fix (soon)?

And, finally, does this mean that my purpose-bought Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 (dedicated to use only as a Roon Remote) will no longer work for this purpose? Or wil; work only sometimes or with glitches? (NOTE: It worked flawlessly before this “update”).

Thank you.

Best regards,
Bill

William_Macdonald · December 17, 2021, 7:01pm

Ok, Rebeka.
Latest update: I went ahead and put the Roon Remote app on my iPhone (which, by the way, I do not want to use as a long term solution for a Roon Remote - way too small - IMO). But, clearly would be fine as a temporary measure if it was the solution to getting my Roon platform up and running.

Unfortunately, using the iPhone as a Roon Remote did nothing towards allowing my Mac Mini Roon Core to update and hence make my streaming platform live again. For the record, the update process on the Mac went precisely the same way as described in my initial post above. That is:
“Over and over again, The update (shown in Settings → About) on the Core shows “downloading” progress bar until about 3/4 of the way through the bar, then before reachin g the end of the bar, it reverts to “installing” and then - in a few seconds - “There was an error checking for an update” message appears.”

I’m happy to temporarily use some other device to get back up and running … if it has a reasonable chance of success. Please advise which other device (if any) will work with a relatively high degree of certainty. I probably have somewhat ready access to most devices. Examples an Android phone, a couple of desktop PC’s running Windows 10, a Chromebook, a smaller, older Galaxy Tab A.

Please advise. Thank you.

Best regards,
Bill

William_Macdonald · December 17, 2021, 7:03pm

Sorry to hear that, Allan. Thanks very much for weighing in though!
Cheers,
Bill

William_Macdonald · December 17, 2021, 7:26pm

Hey Allan,

Also, I’m curious what are you running your Roon Core on? (Are you also, using a Mac Mini? If so, what year and OS?) What are you running for a Roon Remote?
Thanks, Allan!
Best,
Bill

beka · December 17, 2021, 7:48pm

Hey @William_Macdonald,

Thanks so much for using all this time and making efforts to see this through.

If the download keeps failing, no matter what you do, would you please:

uninstall Roon on your Mac Mini
restart the Mac Mini
download the latest build directly from our website
install Roon

William_Macdonald · December 17, 2021, 8:29pm

Am I going to loose all of my Favorites, Playlists Artist, etc., etc.?

beka · December 17, 2021, 8:47pm

Reinstalling the Roon software does not interfere with your database. Provided it is not corrupted, Roon will read it and you’ll pick up exactly where you left off.

Graeme_Finlayson · December 17, 2021, 8:57pm

For the first time ever, I’m having issues with a new build. Having to regularly stop and restart the core (Synology RS3617xs/RX1217/DSM 6.2.4-25556 Update 2). My network consists of enterprise grade router (Unifi UDM-Pro), enterprise switches (Dell X1052P, Dell PowerConnect 5548P), OM3 fibre backhaul, a boatload of Cat6 and enterprise wireless APs (BTW, Roon is wired/fibre only, wireless is only for phones/tablets). Another user described me as the Lionel Messi of home networking. Until 880, my Roon experience was flawless. Now it’s barely “Meh…”

This feels like a very “beta” build and I can’t believe it’s been released into the wild without more in-depth testing to iron out the somewhat obvious flakiness.

On the upside, at least my DB seems to be OK (said whilst firmly gripping a big, thick, slab-like ligneous object).

Edward_Hsu1 · December 17, 2021, 9:00pm

Roon Core 1.8 build 880 on Win 10

On 2 systems in UK and Germany, fresh installs and the remote on iPad and Win PC can find no audio zones just as others have reported

William_Macdonald · December 17, 2021, 9:05pm

Well that is one piece of (potentially - at least) welcome news. Although, this “corrupt data” issue referred to all over the Help forum, is a whole other issue - as I’m sure you recognize - which poses all kinds of underlying questions, that I won’t bother to get into here.

So, I reiterate my earlier question: Is Roon going to issue a bug-fix for this update that will solve this problem along with the litany of other issues, Please answer this question. Thank you, in advance.

(BTW, Rebeka, thank you for your help. I can see you are a very nice, friendly and courteous person as well as a diligent employee! Moreover, a well-trained (apparently, in the art of mediation) staff member). And thank you, once again for trying to help. However, I must say, Roon (as a Corporate entity) should be ashamed of itself for force-feeding an update that causes anywhere near this amount of time-wasting aggravation (among other things) to it’s customer base. This thing should never have come out of Beta!

There are a whole host of (what Roon should recognize) as VALUABLE customers who have (less than) no interest in becoming quasi ‘systems analysts’ (or beta testers) for “upgrades / updates” that are not bullet-proof upon release - especially for their hobby interests. If this was in the realm of my business interests I would simply have a IT tech deal with it and not care as much. Unfortunately, this is not an option here and will (undoubtedly) take up a bunch of my time in a completely non-enjoyable task - and that’s on the off-chance that things happen to go relatively smoothly with your advised uninstall and reinstall.

I feel like you actually empathize, Rebeka. I do not get the same feeling about Roon corporate!

eric_johnstone · December 17, 2021, 9:12pm

Fully in agreement

Well said!

and as you say

Is Roon going to issue a bug-fix for this update that will solve this problem along with the litany of other issues, Please answer this question. Thank you, in advance.

**

William_Macdonald · December 17, 2021, 9:14pm

Thank you, Graeme for responding to my humble total NOOB like post / cry for help! With that said, I’m truly sorry that this “build” has adversely impacted even the likes of a pro like you.

Thanks, again.

William_Macdonald · December 17, 2021, 9:16pm

Thanks, so much for your valued input, Edward!

William_Macdonald · December 17, 2021, 9:18pm

Thanks for the support, Eric! I hope you are not too hampered here - but, alas I fear that is unlikely. Fingers crossed!