Help - SonicStage can't "see" my Hi-MD!

[Hungerdunger]

After a couple of trouble-free years I've suddenly got problems with SonicStage (3.3)

Normally when I click on the Transfer button at the top of the screen I get a drop down list - "Hi-MD, Create an MP3 CD, Create an ATRAC CD, Create an Audio CD", and within about 15 seconds I can see the track listing on the MD.

For the last few days nothing appears there. I can hear my Hard Drive working away, but nothing happens on screen. On a couple of occasions I've left it alone for over 15 minutes and when I've comne back the Hi-MD is shown, but on other occasions it is still blank.

The only major things I have changed on my PC recently are that I have started using Broadband to access the internet, and as part of that I uninstalled my old 56k modem, and I then re-installed it when I realised I needed it to send faxes from my screen.

The Hi-MD is recognised by Explorer as a drive, so I presume there's no problem with the connection, and that is backed up by the fact that some times it does eventually load. When it does load, things still aren't right. I can't get SS to play any of the tracks on the Hi-MD, although if I try to transfer a track from the computer it will normally work.

Has anyone experienced this odd behaviour, and if so do you have any solutions?

[tekdroid]

Has anyone experienced this odd behaviour, and if so do you have any solutions?

You're not alone.

Did you by chance install with the SonicStage 3.3 offline installer available here? I had problems with the 3.2 SonicStage offline installer in that it would never detect the Hi-MD device in SonicStage, but Sony's web installer and another method I tried (also a derivative of the web installation routine, but with a twist) would work just fine. It would show up in windows explorer just fine, though...so it was connected & working fine.

I repeated, cleaned system of all files, repeated, cleaned system of all files, etc...just to see what was causing it and nailed it down to the offline installer.

For more info, see this recent post:

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?s=&sh...indpost&p=84388

I've also searched on these forums and found a few other people with the same "not detected" problems in SonicStage. Perhaps the offline installer is your problem like it was with me.

[atrain]

if you've got the hardware space & the time run the sonicstage back up tool & then do the full reinstall.

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?act=SR&f=62

[Hungerdunger]

You're not alone.

Did you by chance install with the SonicStage 3.3 offline installer available here? I had problems with the 3.2 SonicStage offline installer in that it would never detect the Hi-MD device in SonicStage, but Sony's web installer and another method I tried (also a derivative of the web installation routine, but with a twist) would work just fine. It would show up in windows explorer just fine, though...so it was connected & working fine.

I repeated, cleaned system of all files, repeated, cleaned system of all files, etc...just to see what was causing it and nailed it down to the offline installer.

For more info, see this recent post:

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?s=&sh...indpost&p=84388

I've also searched on these forums and found a few other people with the same "not detected" problems in SonicStage. Perhaps the offline installer is your problem like it was with me.

No, I used the on-line installer.

I've also followed atrain's suggestion and done a full uninstall and reinstall, but there doesn't seem to be any improvement.

I'm off to bed now, but will have another try in the morning. Thanks for your advice anyway

[Hungerdunger]

No, I used the on-line installer.

I've also followed atrain's suggestion and done a full uninstall and reinstall, but there doesn't seem to be any improvement.

I'm off to bed now, but will have another try in the morning. Thanks for your advice anyway

Update: Tried SonicStage again tonight. It took about 15 minutes to recognise the Hi-MD. It would allow me to transfer an MP3 file from my library to the disc with no conversion, but when I tried to convert it to 64kbps I got a message "An error has occurred while transferring. Transfers are not allowed."

I'm not particularly technically minded, but I noticed while waiting for SS to recognise the disc that Windows Task Manager was reporting high figures for omgjbox.exe. It spent some time around 66,000k then gradually increased, peaking at over 200,000k and then fell back a bit. I also noticed that there were a load of Page Faults being reported, amounting to 515,000 in the 25 minutes or so that I had the program running. I don't know whether these figures are relevant - perhaps someone can enlighten me.

[danielbb90]

Try re-installing the PersonalAudio driver

http://forums.minidisc.org/downloads/details.php?file=5

[Hungerdunger]

Try re-installing the PersonalAudio driver

http://forums.minidisc.org/downloads/details.php?file=5

I tried this, but got the message:

"The correct driver has been installed. You do not need to install this driver again."

Do I need to do something else first?

Incidentally I have now installed SS on a very elderly (200Mhz) laptop. Getting it to convert mp3s to ATRAC is a bit like watching paint dry, only worse, but at least it gets the job done until I can work out what's wrong with my desktop machine. I presume I will eventually have to reformat my hard drive, but I'd prefer not to if I can find a solution.

[danielbb90]

Try uninstalling then re-instaling SonicStage first!

http://download.sony.com/ss33/SonicStageInstaller.exe

If not you could always record in real-time...

Edited January 20, 2006 by danielbb90

[Hungerdunger]

Try uninstalling then re-instaling SonicStage first!

See Post #4 - I have done with no improvement.

[tekdroid]

When uninstalling, did you follow steps 1 to 4 under How to properly reinstall NetMD/Hi-MD here?

You should never get a message telling you that something is installed already if you properly followed the instructions there. It pretty much kills the install and starts with a clean slate.

As stated here, it's important to get rid of ALL of the listings in Add/Remove Programs as well as doing the nitty gritty registry and directory deleting work listed in those 4 steps.

[Hungerdunger]

When uninstalling, did you follow steps 1 to 4 under How to properly reinstall NetMD/Hi-MD here?

You should never get a message telling you that something is installed already if you properly followed the instructions there. It pretty much kills the install and starts with a clean slate.

As stated here, it's important to get rid of ALL of the listings in Add/Remove Programs as well as doing the nitty gritty registry and directory deleting work listed in those 4 steps.

I did follow the directions, but just to be sure I've just done the uninstall/reinstall again, and things are still the same.

So basically, SS takes about 15 minutes to offer me the options to transfer to MD/CD; it won't convert an MP3 to any ATRAC bitrate file; it won't play files either in the library or on hi-MD; and it seems to slow my whole system down after a while. I've also noticed that my AV - ZoneAlarm - crashes if I leave SS open; this never normally happens.

[tekdroid]

My gut instict tells me one of your background apps (such as antivirus or firewall) might be to blame. Another possibility is general Windows infection / instability.

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del and see what's eating up your cpu in your Processes tab by clicking on the CPU column once or twice (until the cpu-eating things are at the top). Start SonicStage and observe.

If you haven't already done so, disable (preferably uninstall) antivirus temporarily, as a test. You can also try temporarily (or permanently) replacing ZoneAlarm for Sygate Personal Firewall (after exporting your settings in ZoneAlarm, should you want to re-install it).

Another thing to try is a spyware/ malware scan of your system with Spybot Search & Destroy and/or Ad-Aware.

In any case, the key is to isolate the background process that's causing these problems.

PS. codec packs and non-standard skins (I think) have been known to conflict with SonicStage, too.

Edited January 22, 2006 by tekdroid

[Hungerdunger]

My gut instict tells me one of your background apps (such as antivirus or firewall) might be to blame. Another possibility is general Windows infection / instability.

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del and see what's eating up your cpu in your Processes tab by clicking on the CPU column once or twice (until the cpu-eating things are at the top). Start SonicStage and observe.

If you haven't already done so, disable (preferably uninstall) antivirus temporarily, as a test. You can also try temporarily (or permanently) replacing ZoneAlarm for Sygate Personal Firewall (after exporting your settings in ZoneAlarm, should you want to re-install it).

Another thing to try is a spyware/ malware scan of your system with Spybot Search & Destroy and/or Ad-Aware.

In any case, the key is to isolate the background process that's causing these problems.

PS. codec packs and non-standard skins (I think) have been known to conflict with SonicStage, too.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Task Manager shows Omgjbox.exe at around 88 - 92 in the CPU column. Also, although I'm not certain if this is a fault, Omgjbox.exe continues running at the same figures after I close SonicStage, and to stop it I have to do it manually in Task Manager.

[abessonov]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Task Manager shows Omgjbox.exe at around 88 - 92 in the CPU column. Also, although I'm not certain if this is a fault, Omgjbox.exe continues running at the same figures after I close SonicStage, and to stop it I have to do it manually in Task Manager.

Hi Hungerdunger.

Have you solved the problem? I've the same trouble and don't find a solution...

[broox]

Lads,similar issues... got a RH910 (US Version - i live in Australia.)

with any other HIMD / Flash or HDD walkman SS works fine, as soon as i plug the RH910 in it makes the right sounds "dong dong" (u get the idea) but is not recognised by windows at all... so i go into device manager right click on the usb thing with the yellow (!) mark,, scan hardware changes... nothing... then i reinstall driver, and get this message........

"The correct driver has been installed. You do not need to install this driver again."

----

...

any help would be awesome!

cheers