Hi-MD "FORMAT ERROR DISC"

[JonnyPaisley]

Years ago I made a couple of live recordings (on a Hi-MD disc) on an MZ-RH10.  Later, while deleting some dead-air tracks on the recorder, some kind of glitch occurred and a "FORMATE ERROR DISC" message showed up.  From then on, I was no longer able to access any of the audio files on the disc.  From SonicStage I could see that the audio files where there and intact, but I'm assuming the Sony encryption somehow messed up access to them.

Does anyone have any idea if these audio files can somehow be transferred from the disc?  Thanks. 

[PhilippeC]

Transfer / upload from the disc with SonicStage to your computer is not working ? Could work with another Hi-MD unit as it is an Hi-MD live recording. Also useful to test your disc first as you say your RH1 is messed up. Just find in your area another Sony Insider member with a Hi-MD portable unit to help you ans send your discs.

 

[sfbp]

Sadly, it's overwhelmingly likely there is a one-bit error which would be enough to invalidate the entire disk. If I'm right it would make sense to hook the disk up as a mass storage device with standard drivers and take a record of anything that's there. However you must write protect the disk, which absolutely guarantees that it will not be READable by any Sony HiMD device :)

You have two options (if Philippe's suggestion of another unit isn't correct):

1. Study the code in the QHiMDtransfer project and try to make it somehow ignore all errors.

2. Contact Sony who (at least historically) have offered the service of disk recovery for a mere $50

It seems likely that they may have ceased doing so, however if the recording is very valuable it's certainly worth a try.