Jump to content

SonicStage 4.3 crashing when I connect my NH700

Rate this topic


Sammyboy

Recommended Posts

For some reason Sonicstage has started crashing when I connect my MZ-NH700 to my laptop. It works fine with standard net-MDs like my N710 and N520, transfers music fine etc.

It doesn't seem to make a difference if I connect the NH700 before loading SS or after, I've tried formatting the disc inside the player into Hi-MD mode (it was originally formatted in a standard MD player), different discs etc.

The first time it did it it actually started writing to the NH700, then SS would just quit, no error message nothing - it would just bugger off! Then I would get the windows 'an error has occured and this program must be shut down' message. Restarting hasn't made a difference.

The NH-700 connects fine to my desktop PC and SS there, though I think that has a slightly different SS version installed (Sightly earlier, Verson 4).

Edited by Sammyboy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Unless you have Vista and thus have to use 4.3, that version seems buggier than 4.2 (for XP). There are links in this post for web and offline installers for 4.2 thanks to Avrin. Back up the library (with Backup Tool under Programs/SonicStage) before making the change.

http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=18645

Edited by A440
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thought I'd found the problem when I realised I still hadn't uninstalled the version of OpenMG secure something or other that came with v4.3 - uninstalled that, tried reinstalling everything including SS v4.2 and it is STILL bombing out! What does it have against Hi-MD?!?!?! The laptop's about to go out the f****** window, which wouldn't be a good idea as it's actually my wife's....

I suspect this stupid programme is the main reason MD didn't take off as expected, having to deal exclusively though this proprietray rubbish if folk wanted to get stuff onto their MiniDisc players via their PC.

Before I rant so much my head explodes, could there be other factors causing these problems? I've noticed sometimes when I plug my RH700 in some other USB devices like my cordless mouse stop working for a few seconds and the 'disconnect' sound is made before the 'reconnect' sound chirps up in Windows and it all starts working. I am wondering if there is some sort of config problem with this laptop.

Does anyone have the SS v4 installer at all, as that seems to be the version working on my desktop PC. It would then rule out any PC-based problems, or confirm there's a problem somewhere!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From what you say, I'm wondering if you have a problem USB port. You should connect SonicStage directly to a port, not a USB hub. Hubs have given some people problems through the years. If it's a hub, try a direct connection.

Those connect/disconnect noises are suspicious. Just for the heck of it, take a look in Settings/Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager and see if there are any exclamation points in the list. Probably not, but worth a check.

Anyway, there's a full 4.0 installer here:

http://forums.minidisc.org/downloads/details.php?file=21

Before running the installer, make sure you have your library backed up (with the tool, not just a copy) and then get any stray junk out of your Registry.

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

And you are exactly right: SonicStage was what killed MD--especially because there wasn't a decent, stable version until around 3.2, which is rather late in the development of a program. By the time a reliable SonicStage arrived, many of the computer-savvy people who would have been competent with the program had already been turned off by prior bad experience. With drag-and-drop instead of SonicStage, minidisc might have ruled the world.

But 3.4 and 4.2, especially, are very reliable versions of SonicStage, so it may be something in your laptop too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A440, you're a genius! :D

The USB cable was plugged into a small USB hub at the back of the lappy, stuck it directly into a USB port and it's now happily transferring Complete Clapton to my NH700! And (so far) no nasty error messages, erratic behaviour or odd sounds eminating from the laptop :)

It's a crying shame that a piece of software could be the reason behind an excellent piece of technology losing a format war, leading to overhyped little white boxes with clickwheels and inferior sound quality beating it!

Edited by Sammyboy
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...