Hi MD wont format or record

[drew williams]

Has anyone out there ever had a problem with a Hi-D not accepting a hi-D disk, to record or to format but will record on a regular minidisk? I have 5 minidisk units and none of them will format the three hi MD's that I have. I have tried to do it manually with the unit itself and I have tried to use SonicStage and Simple Burner, but neither will recognise the disk. I contacted Sony and they want proof of purchase and $61.00 to fix the problem. Without proof of purchase they want $161.00 to fix it. That is more than the whole unit cost. In fact twice the amount. I descided since it plays and records on regular minidisk just fine to not mess with sending it in. I just wondered if anyone knew how to format it to use them as regular md's or knew how to fix the problem. Any help would be helpful.

Thanks, Drew Williams

moonriverbear@cox.com

[bjsilva]

What model do you have? And which HiMD discs - the newer translucent blue or the original opaque blue?

[drew williams]

What model do you have? And which HiMD discs - the newer translucent blue or the original opaque blue?

I have only one Hi-D unit and it is a MZ-NH600D. The three disk I have; one is black with a red strip around it that came with the unit, the other two are the traslucent blue. When I put them in the machine it ask me if I want to format, I respond yes. It tells me it is writing system files and vibrates like it is doing something then it shuts off. When I turn it back on, it does the same thing. When I try to format in SonicStage or Simple Burner it doesnt even recognise the unit. I called Sony and havent gotten anything but "pass the problem" to someone else and they want more money and for me to send the unit in, more money. It isnt even a year old yet. But what puzzles me is that it works just fine with regular minidisk that arent HI-D. I cant figure it out. I am not a newbie, I have 5 MD and a home caponate and a portable Walkman Stick 1 gig flash unit. You would think as many Sony products that I have registered I wouldnt be getting the run around. So I dunno. Is there anything that I can do to trick it?

Drew Williams

[Syrius]

Have you tried formatting from the computer?

[ZosoIV]

This might sound incredibly stupid, but have you replaced the battery lately? I wouldn't be surprised if Hi-MD discs need a higher current to write than standard MD discs because of the whole DWDD layer and all.

[bobt]

Try using the discs without formatting, just set it to the type of recording you want. In years I don't think I have ever formatted a MD.

Try the suggestion of a new battery or run it off a/c as well, see if it makes a difference, but just try using the disc.

Bob

[drew williams]

Have you tried formatting from the computer?

I have tried formating/"initializing" from the unit, from SonicStage, Simple Burner, another computer, all five MD's that I have and none of the three will initialize, it simple is narrowing it down to the unit itself. Sony wants me to send it in. I have been advisef not to, if I can live with it just byrning regular MD's, and I can, just keep it. Sending it to Sony would just bea start to other possible problems. And I have heard this from other people too so it isnt just my expereience. Once most companies get really big, they dont really care about piddly ass problems. So Phil (a fantastic man, for those that dont know him)at MinidiskAcsess told me to just send the disk in and he would make it righ witj me. The man actually emailed and called me on his buck, now that it above the call of duty. He cares about his customers. Impressed me! But I do want to thank you for taking the time for writting to the forum to try to help me. I am just gonna leave it as it is. I just wondered if tis ever happened to anyone else.

Drew

This might sound incredibly stupid, but have you replaced the battery lately? I wouldn't be surprised if Hi-MD discs need a higher current to write than standard MD discs because of the whole DWDD layer and all.

Of coarse...I wish it were that simple. As everyone in MD land they eat batteries. I got a re-chargable unit that came with 8 AA and 4 AAA so I am covered there. It doesnt have a AC input and it doesnt recharge batteries (the unit). I have tried everything and as mentioned above, I give up, not even Sony has an answer except "send it in". But thanks for trying and taking the time to write in.

Drew

Try using the discs without formatting, just set it to the type of recording you want. In years I don't think I have ever formatted a MD.

Try the suggestion of a new battery or run it off a/c as well, see if it makes a difference, but just try using the disc.

Bob

I thought of that too, but it wants to be "initalized" before recording. The model I have makes you so you cant just start off recording, even Sony said it "had to be initalized" because it writes system files to the begining of the disk befor recording. But Good guestion! Thanks for writing tho'.

Drew