a solution for SonicStage recognize your Net-MD on a W7 64bit Home Edition ! computer

[PhilippeC]

Hello lucky owners of a Windows 7 64bit computer,

Introduction

This topic is based on 1kyle's topic http://forums.sonyin...__1#entry171375 . As you can read by yourself, yesterday I was yelling because I succeeded to make Avrin's SonicStage Ultimate Edition able to recognize my Net-MD unit on my Windows 7 64bit laptop. As you know, SonicStage once setup on W7 64bit can only recognize Hi-MD units, not Net-MD ones. So like you, I was wondering how to solve this problem.

1kyle's problem was to find how to "burn to MD just as you did under XP" : how to use Simple Burner with Net-MD units (MDLP modes) on a W7 64bit computer. Finally, his topic make it "works a treat - and no need for SS either".

Sadly SS availability to work on his system was not studied. It is what I did for me... and you. You will need that VMWare software but an important thing is that you don't need Install Alcohol 52% Free edition or Nero to create a virtual image. 1kyle's full procedure is not needed so that why I decide to make a separate topic, just to focus on VMWare and SS. As sfbp told me on a PM that this is a little bit confusing to continue to add posts on 1kyle's topic just because all 1kyle's instructions are NOT within reach of everyone. I hope that this topic will be within reach of everyone, at least with an intermediate level in Windows XP knowledge.

Tools

1) Your Windows 7 64bit computer, even Home Edition

2) Your old Windows XP Setup CD. XP drivers of your machine are not needed before this procedure as W7 64bit will still run on your machine.

3) At least 10 Gb (or more) free on your computer

4) VMWare player (free) http://www.vmware.com/

5) Avrin's SonicStage Ultimate Edition , here : http://forums.sonyin...timate-edition/

Instructions

Execute VMWare player on your computer. You will be asked to create a New Virtual Machine,then you will need your XP Setup CD in your CD-drive and install XP on a Virtual Drive. Choose enough place for this Virtual Drive. Restart your Virtual Machine (w7 64bit still running...), adjust screen resolution, install any software you want from your XP Virtual Machine. Note you will need to update XP and any security softwares...

Test it ! You will see that your devices are recognize one by one but perhaps not all of them. The most important are CD-drive, USB, Mouse, Audio (test your analogue-S/PDIF audio jack output).

An important test : as you will notice that you will need to plug out / plug in your USB devices if your plug in them before under W7 64bit. You can even bring files and programs store on your W7 64bit hard drives if you don't forget to do that, For example,the famous Avrin's SSUE...

Make sure your Net-MD unit is recognize by XP : menu Virtual Machine / Removable Devices / Sony Net-MD Walkman/ Connect (Disconnect to host) [Edit : this choice is the good one]

Then install and execute Sonic Stage...

Miracle, your Net-MD is recognize and you can do - I suppose - all you do on your old XP computer. Hi-MD units also I suppose (ha ha).

Let me know if something is not clear enough.

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[PhilippeC]

First tests :

about recognition of MD units on the Virtual XP Machine.

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With my MZ-N510 Net-MD unit, SS on XP Virtual Machine recognize the unit and the MD

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With my MZ-NH900 Hi-MD unit, I have notice a strange thing...

SS on XP Virtual Machine recognize the Hi-MD unit BUT not my Hi-MD disc , OK for a Net-MD disc. And SS on W7 64bit (on my computer) recognize the Hi-MD unit but as a Net-One ! Then I close VMWare program to test again SS on W7 64bit, the unit was not recognize but I think it is due to a bad load driver or something. I restart completely W7 and get... any recognition in SS for my NH900.

I remember this thing also happen sometimes with SS on a classic XP machine so I think that you first need your unit to be recognized by Windows (VM XP or W7 64bit) ! So, I decide to test also my MZ=RH1.

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I restart completely W7 64 and directly plug in my MZ-RH1 Hi-MD unit, SS on W7 64bit recognize the unit as a Hi-MD machine and also recognize my Hi-MD disc. No problemo.

I execute then VMWare (reload XP virtual state) and - good surprise after having reconnect the unit to XP VM - my MZ-RH1 is recognized correctly as a Hi-MD unit and the Hi-MD disc is also recognized. A Net-MD disc is also recognized in the good format.

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[Edit- new text]

All the story about the first bug make me think that the fact that the unit is recognized in its right format (right mode) is not guaranted. Just try again if not, Restart W7 64 or VM XP. Don't forget to connect manually your unit on VM XP. This bug is perhaps temporary (Net-MD instead of Hi-MD).