Problem with 3.1

[rongoldby]

I have had 3.1 since February. Recently I bought a Loox 720 handheld and installed ActiveSync. There were problems with my Pinnacle Video editing so I reformatted C and reinstalled everything, including the laborious update of SS2.1 to 3.1 over a dial-up connection!

Naturally I lost all my library rights - not tragic since they are all from CD's and it just means re-loading.

However, I now get SS 3.1 persistently falling over - it will just stop responding while transferring from Library to Hi-MD (MZ NH700). Ctrl-Alt-Del and end stops SS but then I have great problems in rebooting the PC. Start - Close Down- restart results in a message "End Program" Device Driver Service - End Now? Ending results in a Not responding message and another End Now. Closing down then takes about 5 minutes to get to XP is shutting down and then stalls needing a power off.

I am running XP Home SP2 and all updates. I am using Outlook 2002 for email, AVG with latest update and ZoneAlarm. I do not have any viruses, trojans etc. P4 2.8Ghz, 120 + 160 HD's, well partitioned, 512Mb memory, on board sound, Abit IS7 board

Any ideas?

[atrain]

please attempt the full uninstall then reinstall as per these instructions

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=8071

then install sonicstage 3.2 from www.connect.com

[rongoldby]

please attempt the full uninstall then reinstall as per these instructions

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=8071

then install sonicstage 3.2 from www.connect.com

←

I have spent all day following these instructions to the letter! 3.2 (APPARENTLY ! ) successfully installed and library restored (yes I backed up this time)

BUT

I have the same persistent hanging problem. I have managed to transfer a few more tracks across to my MZ NH700 (in small batches) but after about 6 tracks or two batches the software hangs when I click on the transfer arrow. Shutting down Sonic Stage gives me the message that it is waiting for a response from me - as evidenced by the hourglass over the transfer arrow. If I crash out through Task Manager .then the only way to shut down the PC is a hard reset - ie power off or reset button. Closing XP in the normal way invokes the same message about Device Driver Service not responding. XP goes to its logging off screen after about 5 minutes, to shutting down after another long period and then hangs there - I gave up after half an hour and hard reset. Similarly, if I try to restart SS after shutting it down with Task Manager the Icon responds with a very brief hourglass and nothing happens. I have replicated the problem three times now!

I am at my wits' end !

[atrain]

what other stuff is running in task manager when you run SS? do you have a windows skin?

[Syrius]

Also, make sure you got no audio codec packs. FFDShow and KazaaLite codec pack are baaaaaaaad for your system.

[rongoldby]

Also, make sure you got no audio codec packs. FFDShow and KazaaLite codec pack are baaaaaaaad for your system.

←

Absolutely NOTHING in applications! Task manager shows Sonic stage alone and then SS plus End App? Sonic Stage after I have End Tasked. I'm not sure what you mean by a windows skin. I am using XP SP 2 as-is with no theme and just a simple bmp for wallpaper. That is no different from pre ActiveSync (3.8) days when SS worked - incidentally WITHOUT SP2 and without the MS update/fix referred to for those who do not have SP2.

There is a whole raft of processes (as usual) with System Idle using 99% CPU!

Syrius - I have no codec packs installed AFIK. I di try to do a full install of SS3.1 form the forum download but that told me "Failed to install WMP9 codecs". It then connected to Microsoft by itself and downloaded the codec pack. After running the download I rebooted and got the same failure message. Then I turned to SS3.2 download.

I am considering putting SS in a separate boot disc from Activesync.

PS After freezing if I disconnect USB connection I get the usual audible signal and PC-MD disappears from MD display. If I reconnnect then PC-MD flashes and there is no audible signal. This seems to indicate driver problem.

Tonight, to reply fully, I ran SS. I transferred three groups of tracks to my MD. I hit stop - OK to Eject Disc - changed disc and SS froze before it showed what was on the new disc in the Hi-MD window.

Edited August 5, 2005 by rongoldby

[rongoldby]

OH DEAR - IS IT ME?

This evening I caught myself DRAGGING tracks from My Library to the HI-MD window in SS.

The software appeared to freeze, but was it doing what I had asked but without showing me what was happening as it does when using the arrow between the windows?

I feel a bit of a fool but have not yet established that I really am one!

Any thoughts from the gurus?

Ron

Added Later - NO I am not a fool! - At least I don't think I am !!

I have just successfully dragged a file across from My Library onto Hi-MD after needing to reboot following a "not responding" when using the transfer arrow. The transfer showed the + mouse icon and showed the track coming into Hi-MD just as it does when using the orange arrow to transfer.

Back to the drawing board

Ron

Edited August 6, 2005 by rongoldby

[atrain]

one of the worst aspect of sonicstage is the lack of a progress bar explaiing what is happening - has it frozen or is it converting? who knows?

[rongoldby]

PROBLEM SOLVED

And I think that I know what went wrong with the installations. My Hi-MD player was connected before installation of SS was finished!

So XP looked for a suitable driver, found a generic USB device driver and loaded it. Then the Sony software does not replace the generic driver with a fully functional one.

I have reinstalled again and this time made sure that the player was not connected until after I had completed the SS installation.

NO MORE PROBLEMS

I have posted a resume of the problem as a separate topic.