Okay, I downloaded the file from the gmail link attached in the hot post and extracted it to the USB drive. I then selected OTA program and after it checked and notified me of the available update I selected "offline". It showed the local drive as an option and then I inserted my USB key into USB 1 and after about 5 seconds the head unit recognized that the software update was on the USB key and went directly into software update mode.
The installation/upgrade file provided here is definitely better than the zip file download provided on the Mekede site. Something wasn't quite right with the other one I had.
Thanks for the help!!