Some Q & A for new gypsy users

Some info and Q & A for new users as many of you might have got the G for Christmas.


1)No gypsy does not come with manual as it is online and also on your gypsy itself. And as it dynamically keeps changing with updates it is better this way
http://www.cricut.com/gypsy/download/User_Manual.pdf

2) the power button is Not the round silver button (that's the menu button) but the black button on the side of the gypsy.

3) yes the power cable does protrude a bit out when inserted near the gypsy. DO not push too much as it is known to fall inside when you use excessive force

4)And no we cannot see if Gypsy is charging or not. But when you swicth on the gypsy and navigate to battery you will see an icon - plug symbol inside the filling battery ( :) wow what  a phrase choice but seeing the icon will make sense more)

5) Do not start linking cartridges immedeiately. Wait altleast after updating and playing with it for a while. You have to link the cartridge with the linking cable for you to cut. You can design without linking but can only cut when you link. And once a cartridge is linked it cannot be linked to any other gypsy and can be only sold with the gypsy. So wait and be sure you want to link the cratridge and not sell it ever as this is a permanent process - marriage without divorce[biggrin].So that raises the question what if I need to reformat can I link cartridge again and what happens if I loose the gypsy?


The cartridges have the serial number of the gypsy written. So as long as the serial number is the same the cartridges will relink. If you loose or something happens if you call PC - PC will reserialize the new gypsy so that it will link. That's why it is preferable you register as the number can always be recovered.



6) Out of the box the gypsy is not updated so you have to update your gypsy. First register your gypsy at

[url]https://www.cricut.com/gypsy/link/login.aspx[/url]. Use your cricut.com email address to register. Also preferably add to your cricut.com assets (I do this for all machines and cartridges). Then update your gypsy (user should have administrative privelege on your computer). Some of the common things to check

The correct Operating system (OS)

Your computer also might need to be updated for the proper OS configuration.If Mac then - MAC OS X 10.5 and above and if windows especially XP then should have service pack 3 atleast. check if your computer has them by going to control panel - add or remove programs.

For windows to see if your XP has the right updates- In control panel- Check on the show updates and you will see the .net frameworks. If you do not have them then add that as an automatic scheduled update and it will then automatically update. If you run into problems then check in msn.com and search with error code. Common procedure (Microsoft suggestion) is if the update gets corrupted for some reason and does not proceed - is to uninstall manually all the .net frameworks and then reinstall them in a particular order. Do check this thread -

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923100
http://www.vistaheads.com/forums/microsoft-public-windowsupdate/466256-solved-net-framework-3-5-error-winxp.html or any other thread like this

For vista it should be in Netframe 3.51 SP 2. So do update if your OS requires.

Once OS is proper

Always run your G sync as admin (do not double click)

If the firewall or antivirus interferes and the cricut sync has error then uninstall and reinstall with it turned off.

Also be sure to turn off the pop up blocker for this program.

Use a 2.0 USB port ie a data port. In some old computers it is usually in the back.

I would recommend any gypsy user to read post #2 in this thread (from Gypsy MB ) by Mercy. I would say a must read

http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=5553391

Also read further into the thread as many scenarios and problems have been overcome and yours may just fall under this category. Note though that gypsy sync in this thread has been replaced with cricut sync now



7)The cricut E, original and create does need to have it's firmware updated. This is preferably done using CDS if you have windows. Even a trial downloaded one will do. In fact I recommend that this be your first choice. If you do use your gypsy please connect your gypsy to ac power while doing and sometimes you may have to force the install in cricut


Forced Re-install of Cricut Firmware

1) Connect the Gypsy to your Cricut.

2) Plug the AC power into your Gypsy.

3) Power on the Gyspy.

4) Select the Cricut Application.

5) Plug the AC power into your Cricut

6) Hold down the STOP button on the Cricut and push the POWER button. Continue to hold the STOP button until the Cricut beeps one time.

7) Click Update your Cricut on the Gypsy.
a) Your Cricut will restart.
b) The Gypsy will display a screen allowing you to select the Cricut you are going to update.

8) Power off your Cricut.

9) Hold Down the STOP button on the Cricut and push the power Button. Continue to hold the STOP button until the Cricut beeps one time.

10) On The Gypsy, select the Cricut version you want to update.

a) The Cricut will restart.

11) As soon as the Cricut restarts power off the Cricut, hold down STOP, push the power button on the Cricut and do not release the STOP button until the Cricut beeps one time.

a) The Cricut will restart.



12) Follow the prompts on the Gypsy to finish the update.

" 8) After updating and playing with your gypsy and watching some gypsy videos you can start linking. But take it in bits and bites maybe about 4 to 5 at a time - not more. And here too I would advice keeping your G connected to power (also while cutting with cricut)



9) Regularly update your gypsy through cricut sync and yes cricut sync unlike CDS (design studio) can be loaded on multiple computers and you can update from any cricut sync. Whenever there is a new cartridge released updates follow which are called content updates - cartridge info(also known as font in CDS). Other updates are firmware updates which changed the way the gypsy itself behaves.

The cricut does not need to be updated each time but you can always check. Till now to my knowledge there has been a couple of times it had to be updated.



10) And yes the Imagine works some what with the gypsy. You cannot add patterns from Imagine as yet but Imagine works like a cricut with the G now. You will not see the connected symbol on Imagine but press cut on the G and you will see it in Gypsy.



11) Sometimes when you have some problems you will need to troubeshoot or reset your gypsy.

First try resetting your gypsy - always. Reset does not disturb your saved files or mess up your gypsy in any way it's like pressing ctrl alt del on your computer or just restarting your computer .There are two ways to reset

i) This is also used when your G does not switch off for some reason. for this method the G always should be on. Just unscrew the top cap of your stylus and poke the prong like thing to the back of the gypsy in the appropriate small hole.

ii) The 2nd way is when the gypsy is off press the top left zoom button, the round right menu button and the power button all at the same time till you get a multicolored varigated screen. Then proceed according to the directions. This also calibrates your screen. Calibration when you cannot reach any portion of your screen like the extreme top left or right can also be done from the settings menu on your gypsy.

But sometimes while an update has not gone well or your gypsy is acting up even after resetting it might need troubleshooting.

This might reset your files so always back up or save your files when doing this. The troubelshoot itself willa sk you to do that

This is done through the help menu in cricut sync.

See this link for more details and pictures http://www.thebugbytes.com/2010/11/cricut-sync-troubleshoot-for-gypsy.html]

There are 2 types of problems. One that the cartridge info while updating did not go well.

Then choose yes for the first question after saying yes to troubleshoot

This will NOT remove linked cartridges (almost never) . This method should be your first choice and do try doing this more than once before doing the next one. This method will rebuild your cartridge data. Eg when one cartridge is not added or clicking on cartridge brings you to welcome screen

But if there is a problem with firmware and 1st method does not help then you will have to do the 2nd one and this will reset your G to factory settings and you will have to relink all your cartridges.

Note once again this method will wipe out all linked cartridges and you will have to update all over again as G is got back to factory settings.

well if these two method does not help you you will have to call PC CS and send your g back in.



12) well that covers almost all except these two. Sometimes you will go to the welcome screen when clicking on a file or your file will not upload. Then change your file name as spaces and sometimes even underling and numbers in the same file may throw an error to load the file.

Or it may be date format error when the date is not in US. Or commonly now if you are converting from CDS to gypsy and NOT one page is set in preview mode in CDS (yes :) atleast one page in CDS needs to set with preview ON) then file does not load.

You can see this by checking the file in gypsy on cricut sync (not on gypsy but connect it While On to cricut sync and see the cricut sync window). When there is an error it will fail to load or if it loads the kilobytes wil say 0. That's your clue that something sis wrong. So appropriately take action on the file.

13) Sometimes you get doube cursors or something going on in your G. Just press the zoom button - zoom in and then get back and the screen will be refreshed.

14) yellow and green lines can be seen when lines on image coincide on the gypsy. That's normal. But sometimes you just get what we call ghosts. Zooming in and then out will take care of that.

[lol] Well that's what I could think of

Just keep playing and blog hopping and video watching and refer back to some threads here and you will start enjoying your gypsy
Oh this brings two more things to mind

15) gypsy does not have autofill or fit to size - copy and paste works for first - just copy and fill first row and then copy all that to the next lines.

and a great tip page by mercy

http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=5600870&mpage=18

So enjoy your gypsy and remeber to visit [url=http://www.tuesdaytreats.com]tuesday treats[/url]. Once you are comfortable be sure to send us an email to be a designer and design on this blog as it is a gypsy learning and showing blog