In that 30 secs after you first hold the power button down, a 'boot block' is occuring and it's in pre-boot mode. That's all the time you have to start the flash with Updater.exe. It seems that your problem is not getting into preboot but flashing the Cure3 firmware in time. Have the fw loaded to Updater.exe, leave it's GUI open and visible on your desktop, select the radio button next to 'USB Device' and then put into preboot and immediately connect the oregon to a usb lead already connect to a rear port of PC. Watch for the unit's detail to appear in the window next to 'USB Device' and then press OK immediately. Hold the power button until the flash finishes. Post in Cure 3 thread for additional help if needed: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. Read that thread and these first: [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] and [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] [same basic principles apply for flashing as nuvi devices].