Sonicstage 3.1 - Missing Library !?!?!? - Pls Help

[KeanosMagicHat]

Hi,

First time poster on this site having just found it on Google.

I have a REAL problem with SonicStage v3.1 and I am hoping someone can help me.

I have tried contacting Sony customer "support" but they claimed I was the only person ever to report this problem and said that they could not help me.

I was one of the first to buy an NW-HD1 last year (in the UK) and it came with SonicStage v2.1

Despite my computer being less than 3 years old (A ThinkPad T30) it was one of the last models with USB 1 so converting my 227 albums from the CD's took a LONG time.

When I sent my NW-HD1 to Sony for the MP3 upgrade (use ATRAC 3+ myself but wanted the latest firmware) I received a SonicStage v2.3 CD back and installed that with no problems.

Then came the nightmare.

I downloaded SonicStage v3.1 from the official link below about 10 days ago

http://www.sonydigital-link.com/DNA/SonicStage/SS31.asp?l=en

Everything seemed to go fine but when I launched it, to my horror, my media library was empty.

I checked that the ATRAC files were still there and they were so I tried to import one manually. It looked ok with the track info etc imported but when I tried to play the track I got the message, "Cannot play back this track. Do you want to connect to the internet and download the license for the track?".

Now obviously I paid for the "license" when I bought all of the CD's so I should not need to do this. When I selected "No" a message repiled saying, "There is invalid rights management information in the OpenMG content".

I reported this to Sony, who have been no help whatsoever I'm afraid, so I tried the above again, clicking "Yes" to connect to the internet and the same error message appears.

I am now becoming REALLY desperate as the thought of having to start again with loading my CD's fills me with dread and it all seems so unnecessary seeing as the ATRAC files are still there.

Please, please, please could someone help me and suggest a solution? I have heard that uninstalling v3.1 and going back to a really old version (pre v2.1) SonicStage may help but I haven't tried this yet.

At the moment I'm willing to try anything to avoid installing these CD's again.

Thanks in advance for any possible solutions suggested.

[Ishiyoshi]

I downloaded SonicStage v3.1 from the official link below about 10 days ago

http://www.sonydigital-link.com/DNA/SonicStage/SS31.asp?l=en

Everything seemed to go fine but when I launched it, to my horror, my media library was empty. 

I checked that the ATRAC files were still there and they were so I tried to import one manually.  It looked ok with the track info etc imported but when I tried to play the track I got the message, "Cannot play back this track.  Do you want to connect to the internet and download the license for the track?".

Now obviously I paid for the "license" when I bought all of the CD's so I should not need to do this.  When I selected "No" a message repiled saying, "There is invalid rights management information in the OpenMG content". 

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Welcome to the Forum!

Possible solution to your problem: Go to your SonicStage 3.1 folder (for example: C:\Program Files\Sony\SonicStage) and use Ojbsir.exe (SonicStage System Information Tool) to restore music files that have been rendered unplayable for some reason.

I hope this will help. Let us know how it goes.

[KeanosMagicHat]

Welcome to the Forum!

Possible solution to your problem: Go to your SonicStage 3.1 folder (for example: C:\Program Files\Sony\SonicStage) and use Ojbsir.exe (SonicStage System Information Tool) to restore music files that have been rendered unplayable for some reason.

I hope this will help. Let us know how it goes.

←

Thank you for the prompt reply.

I tried your suggestion using the guidelines I subsequently found on previous thread as per the link below

http://www.iq.sony.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI...=ref(QB):ord(1)

I received a "Cannot connect to the Internet" message prompt so followed the link below as directed

http://129.33.22.8/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE...sponse_case.tem

Step 8 in the instructions said, "8. In the OpenMG window, double-click the Restorable folder"

Unfortunately I was unable to complete the process at this point as there is no folder named, "Restorable" in the OpenMG directory on my drive.

[Ishiyoshi]

I believe the reason why you can't locate the folder is because you did not perform a backup prior to your upgrade to SonicStage 3.1. I was hoping the SonicStage System Information Tool will help rectify your problem.

Perhaps you will need to reboot your system and try again to complete the SonicStage System Information Tool process. Otherwise, I hate to say you will need to import music all over again as you did not backup prior to the upgrade.

[Christopher]

You should also fill out your system specs according to the rules that are pinned to the top of the software disussion forum.

[KeanosMagicHat]

I believe the reason why you can't locate the folder is because you did not perform a backup prior to your upgrade to SonicStage 3.1. I was hoping the SonicStage System Information Tool will help rectify your problem.

Perhaps you will need to reboot your system and try again to complete the SonicStage System Information Tool process. Otherwise, I hate to say you will need to import music all over again as you did not backup prior to the upgrade.

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Surely there must be another way, all the ATRAC files are still there with album and track info etc?

You're right in that I did not perform a backup using the SonicStage tool prior to upgrade but when you are using an approved Sony upgrade you do not expect that you will lose your whole library as a result.

As for my machine specs I have an IBM ThinkPad T30, P4 1.8GHz, 768MB, 40GB, Win XP with all the latest updates and Broadband Internet so there shouldn't be any issues with that I reckon.

Apart from the slowness of USB 1

Does anyone have any other suggestions please?

[Ishiyoshi]

Surely there must be another way, all the ATRAC files are still there with album and track info etc?

Does anyone have any other suggestions please?

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One more option: try and reconfigure the "location to save imported files." You can find this option in the Options tree of SonicStage.

Accordingly, create a new folder and move all your ATRAC files into the new folder. I am not sure if that will help save your existence archive. Nevertheless, Good luck.

[KeanosMagicHat]

One more option: try and reconfigure the "location to save imported files." You can find this option in the Options tree of SonicStage.

Accordingly, create a new folder and move all your ATRAC files into the new folder. I am not sure if that will help save your existence archive. Nevertheless, Good luck.

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Thank you again for your suggestion but, unfortunately, no joy ......

This is soooo frustrating.

[A440]

If you do revert to an earlier version, don't go back before SonicStage 2.3, the first decent version.

But don't do that yet.

Call Sony and be persistent. You will have to go through multiple levels of incompetent people whose job is to get you to hang up. When they tell you they can't help you, then insist on "escalating" your inquiry. You will eventually be transferred to someone who is familiar with SonicStage. Demand a high-level technician.

Be as angry as you need to be, and don't be deterred. If they tell you no one ever has reported this problem, which is a complete lie, then insist that they look at www.minidisc.org where this problem is reported regularly. Do not be put off.

Tell them that you have taken many hours transferring your music into your library and you expect to be able to use it. You own the CDs; you own the licenses; you have also paid top dollar for a Sony product.

Tell them 10,000 people read your blog every day. Tell them your brother is the consumer reporter for a TV network. Tell them that if they expect you to re-transfer your 227 CDs then they can pay you for your time. Threaten to sue them under anti-hacking laws for installing malware on your computer. Tell them you intend to file a complaint with the attorney general.

Tell them that there is a "warrant of merchantibility" in your state, which means that when they sell you something it's supposed to work as they promised. Tell them you intend to invoke your rights as a consumer and will publicize your problems with this Sony product. Did SonicStage 3.1 tell you to back up your library before installing it? No? Why not?

Seriously, be determined and belligerent. And when they say "Sorry for the inconvenience," as they will about 100 times, tell them being robbed of your time and money is not an inconvenience but a crime.

And if they offer other fixes than have been suggested here, please post them and help others out of their misery.

[zerodB]

It is likely that the upgrade has reset your libray databse, including the OpenMG DRM. While the OpenMG (ATRAC3/+) files still remain on your hard disk, they will not play back in SonicStage since the DRM licences have been erased.

If this is the case, then, unfortunatley, there is no solution for you. You'll need to re-rip the tracks into your library again.

[Piggywinkle]

Further to this:

>> It is likely that the upgrade has reset your libray databse, including the OpenMG DRM. While the OpenMG (ATRAC3/+) files still remain on your hard disk, they will not play back in SonicStage since the DRM licences have been erased.

If this is the case, then, unfortunatley, there is no solution for you. You'll need to re-rip the tracks into your library again. <<

I have a similar problem although I arrived there via a different route.

For a reason I won't go into, I had to completely reinstall my OS, applications et al. To do this I used a new hard drive and carefully ensured that I moved across all my email folders, shortcut settings and all the useful things you do to customise your PC over the years. Note I said, moved and not copied. I moved my audio files (packets across) but didn't know about DRM.

I then found that I could see my music library on the PC but was not allowed to play any of it. I tried to copy backwards from my NW-HD1 but that also was not allowed. After a couple of weeks playing around I relunctantly decided that I would have to live without my music collection on my PC (not too bad, as I still had it all intact on the HD1).

This morning I just tried to copy a new CD across to the HD1 and went through the normal process with my "new and empty" Sonicstage. Imported the CD, accessed CDDB all fine, could play the tracks on my PC too as expected. However, when I tried to transfer to the HD-1 it refused, saying that I must initialise the HD1 before I could copy on any tracks from this PC.

Looks like I'm now facing the hateful prospect of importing about 250 CDs all over again unless someone knows how to recover the DRM info from my old hard disk drive.

Can someone tell me which files I need to recover from my old hard drive please.

Sorry to say that the old hard drive isn't bootable, so I can't run the backup tool against it. Also, sorry (ashamed) to say that I have never run the Sony backup program as I had always assumed that if my computer crashed I could simply copy back from the HD-1 !!!!

Please help ?!?!?!?

[atrain]

sorry mate, you're boned. go get a sixpack or a lid or something & sit infront of the computer for 12 hours re-ripping the library. i guess you've found the hard edge of using sony software, great hardware design, terrible software.

[1kyle]

sorry mate, you're boned. go get a sixpack or a lid or something & sit infront of the computer for 12 hours re-ripping the library. i guess you've found the hard edge of using sony software, great hardware design, terrible software.

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If you have an old 'GHOST' / Powerquest Image of your old system you could restore it -- then run the SS backup tool and recover yiur library that way.

It's amazing how many people don't backup their computers regularly with programs like Symantec GHOST or whatever --computers might be more reliable now but they can go wrong and even if they don't Humans will make mistakes --ever deleted files by accident that you need.

Otherwise I'm afraid do what the previous poster says --get a six pack (or two or even three) and re-rip the CD's ---- but AFTER THAT DO A BACKUP.

I would even suggest doing a backup after 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 so if the import process gets hosed for any reason you don't have to start again.

It's amazing that companies which make great hardware have such shitty Software depts.

I'm a photographer and use Canon professional digital cameras a lot but the Canon software is amazingly terrible (shades of SONY here).

Cheers

Happy Beer drinking while restoring

-K

[iyareu]

It is likely that the upgrade has reset your libray databse, including the OpenMG DRM. While the OpenMG (ATRAC3/+) files still remain on your hard disk, they will not play back in SonicStage since the DRM licences have been erased.

If this is the case, then, unfortunatley, there is no solution for you. You'll need to re-rip the tracks into your library again.

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Hi there,

I had a similar problem.

Do you know where these DRM license files are held as I DID backup my files (about 20GB) and it still wouldln't play them as it said I didn't have the license.

(I had changed HDD's and re-installed)

In addition when I try and re-restore I get a messafge telling me to de-authorise my PC - I can't find anything in Ss to let me do that.

Any thoughts would be gratefully received!!

Iyare.

[KeanosMagicHat]

Call Sony and be persistent. You will have to go through multiple levels of incompetent people whose job is to get you to hang up.  When they tell you they can't help you, then insist on "escalating" your inquiry. You will eventually be transferred to someone who is familiar with SonicStage. Demand a high-level technician.

Be as angry as you need to be, and don't be deterred.  If they tell you no one ever has reported this problem, which is a complete lie, then insist that they look at www.minidisc.org where this problem is reported regularly. Do not be put off.

Tell them that you have taken many hours transferring your music into your library and you expect to be able to use it. You own the CDs; you own the licenses; you have also paid top dollar for a Sony product.

.... Tell them that if they expect you to re-transfer your 227 CDs then they can pay you for your time  ....  Tell them you intend to file a complaint with the attorney general.

Tell them that there is a "warrant of merchantibility" in your state, which means that when they sell you something it's supposed to work as they promised.  Tell them you intend to invoke your rights as a consumer and will publicize your problems with this Sony product. Did SonicStage 3.1 tell you to back up your library before installing it? No? Why not?

Seriously, be determined  and belligerent. And when they say "Sorry for the inconvenience," as they will about 100 times, tell them being robbed of your time and money is not an inconvenience but a crime.

And if they offer other fixes than have been suggested here, please post them and help others out of their misery.

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Sorry for the delay in posting but I am still only 95% of the way to resolving this problem.

I had fully intended to challenge Sony on this and my resolve was stiffened by A440's comments above.

Anyway after a long and arduous process I have been offered a satisfatory solution by Sony in the form of compensation.

Unfotunately they have asked me not to outline the details of this publicly so I must respect that but you can probably guess the nature of the compensation offered (something relatively inexpensive for them to offer but worth a monetary value to me).

Anyway the message is, if this, or something similar, happens to you then keep fighting and escalate to the highest levels. If you are persistent you can get some sort of result.

Good Luck.