Elbow

Just to update. My sonic stage is now working. I received a reply from Sony which did the trick. here is the reply from Sony, perhaps it can help anyone else who may find themselves in the same predicament ..... ""Thank you for your recent enquiry. Regrettably we are unable to support the Sonic Stage software in environments where either the PC is custom built or the Operating System has not been factory installed. This is not intended to reflect on your capabilities or your set-up in any way, or indeed to pass judgement. It is however necessary to specify this restriction in order for Sony to provide meaningful troubleshooting and recreation of fault conditions at our support division. Therefore all we can suggest further is that you try the following; ** If you are running Service Pack 2 please follow the instructions in Section 1, else go to Section 2. ** Section 1 * Click on the [start] button and select [Run...]. In the dialog box type explorer and click on [Ok]. * Click on the [Tools] menu and select [Folder Options]. Click on the [View] tab. * In the [Advanced settings:] section select the option to [show hidden files and folders]. Click on [Apply] [Ok]. * Go to the folder [C:\Windows\Inf]. * Right click on either [MDAC.INF] or [MSACINST.INF], whichever file is present, and then click on [install]. * If you are prompted for your Microsoft Windows CD, insert the Windows CD into your CD drive, click on the [browse] button and go to [C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\I386] folder on your hard disk and click on [Open]. Click on the [Ok] button. * If at any time you are prompted for the Windows XP CD, click on the [browse] button and go to either the [C:\I386] or the [C:\Windows\I386] folder on your hard disk and click on [Open]. Click on the [Ok] button. * Restart your computer. * Re-try starting Sonic Stage. Section 2 * Click on the [start] button and select [Run...]. In the dialog box type explorer and click on [Ok]. * Click on the [Tools] menu and select [Folder Options]. Click on the [View] tab. * In the [Advanced settings:] section select the option to [show hidden files and folders]. Click on [Apply] [Ok]. * Go to the folder [C:\Windows\Inf]. * Right click on either [MDAC.INF] or [MSACINST.INF], whichever file is present, and then click on [install]. * If you are prompted for your Microsoft Windows CD, insert the Windows CD into your CD drive, click on the [browse] button and go to either the [C:\I386] or the [C:\Windows\I386] folder on your hard disk and click on [Open]. Click on the [Ok] button. * If you are not prompted for your Windows CD, click on the [browse] button and go to either the [C:\I386] or the [C:\Windows\I386] folder on your hard disk and click on [Open]. Click on the [Ok] button. * Restart your computer. * Re-try starting Sonic Stage. We apologise for any disappointment this reply may cause."" Thanks for your help Ishiyoshi kind regards Elbow

Thanks Ishiyoshi I hope so...... Elbow

I have downloaded and installed both the version from here and the official Sony version, but neither will work. Thank you for your help. It is really appreciated.

Thank you for the advice. I have downloaded and run the MDAC repair tool, but still no joy!

Hi my first post, sorry it is a plea for help! I have read the forum here over the last few days and searched for a solution but to no avail. I cannot get SonicStage to work. I initially loaded the disk that came with my HI MD Palyer (MZ-NH600). When selecting SonicStage, the error message - "Cannot locate the files required to open the database file. exit SonicStage" comes up and when clicking on ok, it closes. I have never seen the inside of SonicStage, just cant get there. I have followed the instructions on the sticky about removing all traces of SS, going into regedit, etc. Then downloaded SS 3.1 and installed this. Still the same message. I have Windows XP SP2, Athlon XP2000, 120gb HDD, 1gb Ram, MSI KT Ultra MB. Completely hacked off. Spent hours since getting the player trying to get the software to work. I am now beginning to wish I had never bought the thing. If someone could help, I, and the rest of my familly (fed up of me moaning about this) would be very grateful. Thanks all. Kind regards Elbow