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Using First-gen Cameos with Windows 10 Computers
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Using First-gen Cameos with Windows 10 Computers

When I started dabbling with craftcutters about 2011, I was aware of a plethora of products that competed with the Cricuts at that time. Unlike the Cricuts, none of them could do much without a computer attached. But they could all cut original files or files downloaded from the internet in vector graphic formats, like AutoCad's .dxf files.

Proucts like Silhouette's Cameo got a boost when ProvoCraft took drastic steps to keep their Cricuts from cutting patterns that didn't come on cartridges.

Silhouette's Cameos are basically desktop plotters/signcutters, relying almost entirely on the software for operations.

Fortunately, Silhouette's "Studio" software has been improving for over a decade, and it still works with the original Cameos, as long as you can get those machines talking to your computer. And that may require a firmware upgrade by way of a blank SD memory card, the kind many digital cameras use.

As a bonus, this update also lets your first-gen Cameo work with Sure-Cuts-A-Lot5, in case you're more used to that software.

Updating Firmware on First-Gen Cameos

Last year, when I first acquired a first-gen Cameo, it worked great on a computer that started out on Windows 7 but was upgraded to Windows 10. But when I attached it to a computer that started out on Windows 10, my PC couldn't find it.

I contacted Silhouette, and received the following advice.

The current version of the software does support all Cameo machines. However, there is a possibility if you run a Windows 10 operating system that the Cameo 1 machine will need a special firmware update to be able to successfully connect with Windows updated USB port drivers. I will provide these steps below if needed:

The following steps will update your Cameo 1 firmware. Once updated, this new firmware should resolve the connection issue noted above.

NOTE: These steps require a blank SD card and a compatible SD card reader. A basic SD card with 2GB capacity or less, is required. If you do not have these, you will need to obtain them in order to proceed with this firmware update process.

  1. Please click here (https://www.silhcdn.com/m/s/cc300.zip) to download and save the zip file to your computer

  2. Unzip the "cc300" folder by right-clicking and selecting "extract all"

  3. Select a destination on your computer you wish the file to extract to (defaults to the current location of the zipped file)

  4. Save the extracted "cc300.mhx" file onto a blank SD card (the "cc300.mhx" file may be in an unzipped "cc300" folder that was created when you extracted the previous folder)

    IMPORTANT: There cannot be any other files or folders on the SD card

  5. Ensure the Cameo 1 machine is unplugged from power and the computer

  6. Place the SD card into the Cameo 1 machine's SD reader slot

  7. Press and hold down the left and right arrow keys at the same time

  8. While holding down these buttons, plug the power cord into the Cameo 1 machine (the machine will turn on)

  9. Once "Boot Ver1.00" is displayed on the LCD, release the buttons.

  10. The update sequence will start automatically. Please wait a few minutes until the LCD displays, "Write Finish."

  11. Unplug the AC adapter

  12. Remove the SD card

  13. Connect the Cameo 1 to the computer and AC adapter

  14. Power on the machine

If this process is not successful in resolving the connection issues with your machine, or if you are unable to continue with any of the steps listed above, please retry the steps from the beginning.

You may alternatively contact our support team (https://www.silhouetteamerica.com/contact) for further assistance.

For additional help and tutorials, please visit:

For faster support during business hours (M - F, 9a - 4p MT) please visit http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/contact and select "Chat."

Conclusion

I tried this on a Cameo (1) that wouldn't work with a Windows 10 computer and it worked like a charm the first time. Obviously, you can contact Silhouette if this doesn't work for you.

Return to Cameo Corner.To return to the "Cameo Corner" page, click here.

For more general questions about our articles, please feel free to contact us directly.

This also enabled me to use Sure-Cuts-A-Lot 5 (SCAL5) with my old Cameo as well.

To be honest, I bought the first-gen Cameo mostly for testing, but it's handy to be able to use SCAL5 to drive both it and my legacy Cricuts, so I don't have to keep changing the way I work with those machines.

Watch this page: more articles are in the works.

As always, we want to hear your suggestions, criticisms, additions, etc. Enjoy your hobbies, and especially any time you can spend with your family in the coming months!

Paul

Note: HobbyCutters.comTM, Family Garden TrainsTM, Garden Train StoreTM, Big Christmas TrainsTM, BIG Indoor TrainsTM, and BIG Train StoreTM are trademarks of Breakthrough Communications (www.btcomm.com). All information, data, text, and illustrations on this web site are Copyright (c) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 by Paul D. Race. Reuse or republication without prior written permission is specifically forbidden.
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