lincoln

Yes, I'm afraid so. All it takes is two wires to be broken for the record head not to work any more. As with any electro mechanical system the mechanical part is always likely to go first. Each time you swap a disk and open the unit you are breaking the player, go figure! Nothing lasts forever but I wish I could still record music on my MD one and a half years after purchase

I have just started getting the BLANKDISK error too and have read all the posts on the subject. I have now opened my MZ-N1 to find that the ribbon cable to the write head is broken (in 2 places nonetheless!). I have determinied that this breakage is unavoidable and due to a sheering stress placed on the ribbon cable in it's thinnest segment when the player is opened and closed to replace disks. This happens because the cable is connected to two moving parts that move a different distance. Since the cable turns by 90 degrees at the base of the write head the movement of the ribbon cable is transformed from a simple backward/forward direction to a lateral movement that places a sheer stress on the cable. My guess is that all MZ-N1s will eventually show the same failure. It all depends on how many times you change your disks. It a basic mechanical stress fault. If somebody can suggest a good way of reparing the ribbon cable please shout!