TECHNICAL DOCUMENT Version 0718A

Upgrading to
PathPilot® v2.x

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1.1 PRODUCT INFORMATION

Product: This kit includes one PathPilot® v2.0 Upgrade (PN 38249).

1.2 PURPOSE
This document gives instructions on installing the PathPilot® v2.0
Upgrade.

1.3 WHAT'S NEW IN PATHPILOT® V2.X

PathPilot® v2.x includes a new core operating system. While the
PathPilot® v2.x operating system has the same features and
functionality as PathPilot® v1.9.13, it has a number of
improvements, including:
l Wi-Fi networking. For information, see "Enabling Internet
Connection (Optional)" (page 8).
l Dropbox stability. For information, see "Connect to Dropbox
(Optional)" (page 8).
When you upgrade PathPilot® from v1.x to v2.x, your ability to
complete jobs using your machine should not be affected. If you
have problems, we can help. Email [email protected] to
contact Tormach Technical Support for guidance on how to
proceed.
For a complete list of improvements included in PathPilot® v2.x,
see tormach.com/pp-updates.

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5. Depending on the version of PathPilot® installed, do one of

2.1 PATHPILOT® V2.X UPGRADE PROCEDURE the following:
l If you have the latest version of PathPilot® v1.9.x: Go to
NOTICE! Because PathPilot® v2.x is a major upgrade, it "Create Backup Files" (below).
overwrites the internal drive of the PathPilot® controller. You
l If you do not have the latest version of PathPilot® v1.9.x:
must complete the upgrade procedures in the order
Go to Step 6.
specified. If you do not follow the order listed, you risk losing
6. From tormach.com/pp-updates, download the most recent
all G-code files, settings, and tool and offset information.
PathPilot® update file.

Complete the upgrade procedure in the following order: 7. Transfer the PathPilot® update file to a USB drive.
1. "Update to PathPilot® v1.9.x" (below) 8. On the PathPilot® controller, insert the USB drive.
2. "Create Backup Files" (below) 9. Make sure the PathPilot® controller is powered on.
3. "Install PathPilot® v2.x" (on the next page) 10. Push in the red Emergency Stop button.
11. From the PathPilot® interface, on the Status tab, click
2.1.1 Update to PathPilot® v1.9.x
Update.
Before upgrading to PathPilot® v2.x, you must make sure the
PathPilot® controller is updated to the latest version of PathPilot®
v1.9.x. The latest version of PathPilot® v1.9.x has settings that
improve the backup process, so you must update to this version
before backing up your files.
To update to PathPilot® v1.9.x:
1. From the PathPilot® interface, locate the machine
configuration and software version, as shown in the
following example.

Figure 2-2: Update button on the Status tab.

12. Select the PathPilot® update file on the USB drive, and then
click Update.
13. Follow the instructions on the screen to restart the
PathPilot® controller.
14. When restarted, the PathPilot® v1.9.x interface displays.
15. Go to "Create Backup Files" (below).

2.1.2 Create Backup Files

Figure 2-1: Machine configuration and software version in 1. On the PathPilot® controller, insert a blank, formatted USB
PathPilot®. drive.
2. Make note of the current machine configuration, which you NOTE: To prevent errors when backing up and
need to re-enter after upgrading. restoring files, only use a blank, formatted USB
3. Make note of the current software version. drive. Do not use the PathPilot® v2.0 Upgrade.

4. From tormach.com/pp-updates, identify the latest version of 2. From the PathPilot® interface, on the Main tab, in the MDI
PathPilot® v1.9.x available. Line DRO field, type ADMIN SETTINGS BACKUP.

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3. Press ENTER on the keyboard. l ReleaseNotes

PathPilot® generates a backup .zip file, and the Admin l subroutines
Settings Backup dialog box displays.
l USB
8. Click Copy to USB.
The files are copied and display in the USB File window.
9. From the PathPilot® controller, eject the USB drive.
10. From the PathPilot® interface, click Exit.
11. Verify that all files are properly saved. On a device other
than the PathPilot® controller, insert the USB drive, and
review the list of files on the USB drive.
12. (Optional) As an extra precaution, copy all the files onto the
device.
13. Go to "Install PathPilot® v2.x" (below).

2.1.3 Install PathPilot® v2.x

1. On the PathPilot® controller, make sure that there are no
Figure 2-3: Admin Settings Backup dialog box. USB drives inserted.
4. From the Admin Settings Backup dialog box, specify where 2. Insert the PathPilot® v2.0 Upgrade.
on the PathPilot® controller to save the backup .zip file.
3. Verify that the red Emergency Stop button is pushed in. If it
5. Click Save. is not, you must push it in.
The backup .zip file is saved on the PathPilot® controller.
4. Power off, then power on, the PathPilot® controller.
6. You must manually transfer the backup .zip file — along
with other files you want to back up (like G-code programs)
— from the PathPilot® controller to a USB drive. From the
PathPilot® interface, on the File tab, in the Controller File
window, select the backup .zip file and any other files you
want to back up.

Figure 2-4: Controller File window on the File tab.

NOTE: Files must have unique names. If they do
not, PathPilot® prompts you to overwrite or rename
files, or cancel the file transfer.
7. To prevent errors, make sure you do not include the
following folders:
l logfiles
l media

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5. When the PathPilot® controller powers on, repeatedly press 7. From the Startup Options screen, select R-Drive Image GUI 
F10, F11, and F12 on the keyboard in rapid succession until (Graphic Mode).
the BIOS boot menu displays. NOTE: On the Startup Options screen, R-Drive
NOTE: Do not press F10, F11, and F12 at the same Image GUI (Graphic Mode) is automatically
time. Depending on when you purchased the selected if no action is taken in five seconds.
PathPilot® controller, the exact key required to 8. Press ENTER on the keyboard.
access the BIOS boot menu varies. The R-Drive Image License Agreement dialog box displays.
A BIOS boot menu displays, similar to the following image. NOTE: If the R-Drive Image License Agreement
dialog box displays and you did not press ENTER on
the keyboard, this indicates that R-Drive Image
GUI (Graphic Mode) was automatically selected
from the Startup Options screen.
9. From the R-Drive Image License Agreement dialog box, click
Yes.

Figure 2-5: BIOS boot menu.

If the BIOS boot menu does not display, you must try
pressing a different key to access it. Repeat Steps 4 through
5.
6. From the BIOS boot menu, select the USB device option and
press ENTER on the keyboard.
For example, select General UDisk 5.00.
NOTE: Do not select the option prefaced with DVD, Figure 2-7: R-Drive Image License Agreement dialog box.
UEFI, or WDC. For example, do not select An R-Drive Image overwrite caution displays.
UEFI: General UDisk 5.00. Depending on when you
purchased the PathPilot® v2.0 Upgrade, the device
name varies.
The Startup Options screen displays.
Figure 2-8: R-Drive Image overwrite caution.

Figure 2-6: Startup Options screen.

If the Startup Options screen does not display, you must try
selecting a different device to access it. Repeat Steps 4
through 6.

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10. Click OK.

The the R-Drive Image System Recovery window displays.

Figure 2-9: R-Drive Image System Recovery window.

11. From the R-Drive Image System Recovery window, click

Start.
The PathPilot® installation starts and continues for about 10
minutes. When done, an installation confirmation displays.

Figure 2-10: Installation confirmation.

12. Click OK.

13. From the PathPilot® controller, eject the PathPilot® v2.0
Upgrade.
14. Power off, then power on, the PathPilot® controller.
15. You must configure the PathPilot® controller. Go to
"Configuring the PathPilot® v2.x Controller" (page 7).

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3. Press ENTER on the keyboard.

3.1 CONFIGURING THE PATHPILOT® V2.X CONTROLLER The Admin Settings Restore dialog box displays.
To configure the PathPilot® controller, complete the following
steps in the order listed:
1. "Select Your Machine in the PathPilot® Interface" (below)
2. "Restore Backup Files" (below)
3. "Enabling Internet Connection (Optional)" (on the next page)
4. "Connect to Dropbox (Optional)" (on the next page)
5. "Enable Automatic Updates (Optional)" (page 10)

3.1.1 Select Your Machine in the PathPilot® Interface

1. From the Tormach Machine Controller Configuration screen,
select the machine that you are using with the PathPilot®
operating system.

Figure 3-2: Admin Settings Restore dialog box.

4. From the Admin Settings Restore dialog box, navigate to the

backup .zip file on the USB drive, and then click Open.
The PathPilot® operating system restores the backup, then
restarts.
5. If you backed up any other files onto the USB drive, you must
manually transfer the files to the PathPilot® controller. From
the PathPilot® interface, on the File tab, in the USB File
window, select the files you want to transfer.

Figure 3-1: Tormach Machine Controller Configuration

screen.
The PathPilot® interface displays.
2. Go to the next section, "Restore Backup Files" (below).

3.1.2 Restore Backup Files

1. On the PathPilot® controller, insert the USB drive onto which
you had copied your backup .zip file and other files. Figure 3-3: USB File window on the File tab.
NOTE: To navigate backward, click Back. To
2. From the PathPilot® interface, on the Main tab, in the MDI
navigate to the top level, click USB.
Line DRO field, type ADMIN SETTINGS RESTORE.
6. From the Controller File window, select the folder into
which you want to copy the files.
7. Click Copy From USB.
The files display in the Controller File window.
NOTE: Files must have unique names. If they do
not, PathPilot® prompts you to overwrite or rename
files, or cancel the file transfer.

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8. If desired, you can enable an Internet connection in the 2. From the Network Configuration dialog box, in the Networks
PathPilot® controller, which allows you to use Dropbox with list, select the network you want to use, and then click
PathPilot®, and receive automatic PathPilot® updates. Go to Connect.
the next section, "Enabling Internet Connection (Optional)" NOTE: Wi-Fi connection signal strengths are
(below). indicated on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being the
If you do not want to use these features, you have strongest.PathPilot® continually refreshes the
completed installing and configuring PathPilot® v2.x. signal levels to help you find the best placement
for your Wi-Fi network adapter. Ethernet
3.1.3 Enabling Internet Connection (Optional)
connections are indicated by a prefix in the format
If desired, you can enable an Internet connection on your
eth[NUMBER]. For example, eth1.
PathPilot® controller to receive automatic PathPilot® updates, and
The PathPilot® operating system connects to the Internet
save time while completing common tasks, like transferring files
using the network you specified. It continues to detect and
with Dropbox instead of a USB drive.
connect to the Wi-Fi network, even after power cycles.
To enable an Internet connection:
3. Once connected, you can use the Dropbox and automatic
1. From the PathPilot® interface, on the Status tab, click the
updates features. Depending on what you want, see the
Internet button.
following procedures:
l "Connect to Dropbox (Optional)" (below)
l "Enable Automatic Updates (Optional)" (page 10)

3.1.4 Connect to Dropbox (Optional)

NOTE: Dropbox requires an Internet connection. If you

haven't yet enabled it, see "Enabling Internet Connection
(Optional)" (above).

If desired, you can connect your PathPilot® controller to a Dropbox

account to easily synchronize your G-code files, which eliminates
Figure 3-4: Internet button on the Settings tab. the need to transfer them with a USB drive.
The Network Configuration dialog box displays.
NOTE: Dropbox stops synchronizing once the PathPilot®
controller’s internal drive has less than 500 MB of free
space. To avoid this, we recommend that you organize
your Dropbox account on a separate computer before you
connect Dropbox to the PathPilot® controller. Also, make
sure to only store files in the top-level that you want
synchronized to your PathPilot® controller.

To connect to Dropbox:
1. From the PathPilot® interface, on the Main tab, in the
Figure 3-5: Network Configuration dialog box. MDI Line DRO field, type ADMIN DROPBOX.

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2. Press ENTER on the keyboard. 6. Because Dropbox stops synchronizing once the PathPilot®
The Dropbox Configuration application displays. controller’s internal drive has less than 500 MB of free
space, we recommend that you exclude large or unrelated
folders from synchronization. Click Exclude Folder....

Figure 3-6: Dropbox Configuration application.

3. Click Install.
Figure 3-8: Exclude Folder button.
The Dropbox Installation dialog box displays.
The Add Folder to Excluded Set dialog box displays.
4. Click OK.
7. From the Add Folder to Excluded Set dialog box, type the
name of the folder to exclude.

Figure 3-7: Dropbox Installation dialog box.

The Dropbox installation starts and continues for about a
Figure 3-9: Add Folder to Excluded Set dialog box.
minute. When done, a web browser displays.
NOTE: You can only exclude folders, not individual
5. From the web browser, sign in or create a Dropbox account.
files.
The PathPilot® controller connects to the Dropbox account,
8. Click OK.
creates a local Dropbox folder that is visible in File tab, and
syncronizes the folder. 9. Click Close.
The PathPilot® controller is now connected to Dropbox.

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3.1.5 Enable Automatic Updates (Optional)

NOTE: Automatic updates require an Internet connection.

If you haven't yet enabled it, see "Enabling Internet
Connection (Optional)" (page 8).

If desired, you can enable automatic updates for PathPilot®.

To enable automatic updates:
1. From the PathPilot® interface, on the Status tab, click
Update.
The Software Update dialog box displays.

Figure 3-10: Software Update dialog box.

2. From the Software Update dialog box, select the Check

online daily for updates; confirmation required for download
and installation checkbox.
3. Click Close.
When future updates are available, the Status tab displays a
notification.

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4.1 TROUBLESHOOTING

4.1.1 Reverting from PathPilot® v2.x to v1.x

If you need to restore to a previous version of the PathPilot®
operating system, use the PathPilot® Restore DVD (PN 35246)
included with your PathPilot® controller. If you do not have the
PathPilot® Restore DVD, we can help. Email
[email protected] to contact Tormach Technical Support for
guidance on how to proceed.

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©Tormach® 2018 tormach.com
Specifications subject to change without notice. TD10530: Upgrading to PathPilot v2.x (0718A)