SonicStage Transfer Issues

[peterjf]

I have been using various versions of SonicStage together with three HD Walkmans (HD1, HD5H and now A3000) and one Flash Walkman (A608). I am currently using SS3.4 and my system runs Windows XP SP2 with all the latest patches.

Each one of the HD machines has gradually developed issues in the same order. At first SS works and does what it is supposed to. Problems start creeping in when SS crashes in mid-transfer. No problem yet, as I can simply start it again and re-start the transfer. The next stage of problems is when SS suddenly seems to think that there is no space on the Walkman and stops in mid-transfer. Again no real problem, as I can simply exit SS, start it again and re-start the transfer. The third stage is when SS dies in mid-transfer and simply vanishes from the PC screen, usually needing the Task Manager to kill it before I can restart it.

The real problems start appearing soon after this. On occasion, SS transfers the tracks OK. However, upon disconnection and making up the unit's database, some or all of the tracks refuse to play and show the 'CANNOT PLAY TRACK ERROR' message on screen. This means that I need to re-connect the Walkman, delete the tracks affected and re-transfer - sometimes the tracks play second time, sometimes not and this means another reconnect-delete-retransfer cycle.

The real problem is the next one to crop up. SS transfers tracks OK, the database is created upon disconnection and the transferred tracks (usually) play OK, but the tracks previously on the unit all refuse to play, again showing the 'CANNOT PLAY TRACK ERROR' message on screen. The only way I have found of getting round this is completely re-initialising the player and re-transferring all the music, which takes a couple of days (all three HD machines are usually near capacity - a GB or so free on each). (I then usually find issues with re-transferred tracks that will not play - I have to check every transferred group - and this usually adds a day or two to the re-initialise and re-transfer process.)

I have had no issues at all with the A608, which would suggest that SS has a problem with dealing with large amounts of music. The only change I have made to SS is to put in the XML files to enable the PC screen to show the Walkmans' contents by group. I have since then gone back to using the 'Albums by Artist' view with no luck.

I have seen on here that people have had similar issues with SS4.0, which is the main reason I have not bothered upgrading to it. The question I have is this: Has anyone had any similar experiences with SS4.2?

Thanks for taking the time to read this message, apologies for its length and I look forward to hearing about anyone's experiences.

Thanks in advance.

[userno2]

he real problem is the next one to crop up. SS transfers tracks OK, the database is created upon disconnection and the transferred tracks (usually) play OK, but the tracks previously on the unit all refuse to play, again showing the 'CANNOT PLAY TRACK ERROR' message on screen. The only way I have found of getting round this is completely re-initialising the player and re-transferring all the music, which takes a couple of days (all three HD machines are usually near capacity - a GB or so free on each).

I had the same problem, although I found i didn't have to re-intialise the device. It didn't happen to be on all tracks but when SS used to crash randomly I found all the tracks in the batch wouldn't play.

So you could babysit the app and transfer albums 1 by 1 and retransfer albums it crashes on.

As for 4.2 I did have the same problem until I took the steps I described in my "possible solution..." thread.

Basically I think you need to do a clean install of sonicstage after removing any traces of sony software.

Edited December 1, 2006 by userno2