NETMD MZ-N1 says blankdisc! Nooooo

[dan_f83]

Hi - had my minidisc for about a year and a half, no more than 2 years, it's worked fine up until now, apart from that 9% transfer problem on one of my pcs.

Finally got round to making up a new minidisc using OpenMG Jukebox, and once it had finished transferring all the tracks I tried to play it, but nothing happened, I took out the minidisc and put it back in - it said blankdisc. Tried transferring again, same thing. I then tried it on another PC - same thing. Then tried plugging a mic straight in and recording - same thing again.

I've read on another forum that this just happens, and you cannot record any new minidiscs, but can get it repaired for 100 pounds.

Does anyone know if that is true? Do they all do that? It was f*king expensive to buy in the first place, and then just gives up within less than 2 years, I'm really pissed off, cause I'd just decided that I might sell it and buy an mp3 player, but now I'm going to get nothing back for it.

If it is going to cost 100 to fix it - buying this minidisc is about the biggest waste of money I've ever spent.

Hope someone's got some good news.

Thanks for your time.

[Christopher]

Well, have you tried recording in a different way other than from the computer?

[kidjk]

From scanning other Internet posts, it seems that this is one of those "known issues" that basically adds up to "you're screwed, open your wallet." It seems many people have had this problem with Sony recorders, and it appears to be a manufacturers' defect that crops up with some players after a bit of wear (not that Sony will be admitting that anytime soon).

Mine is an N707 which I've had for about 15 months. The first time it happened it was just music that I'd uploaded via NetMD. This time it was a crucial interview I'd recorded with some essential quotes for a story I was working on. I'm still stressing and hoping I can somehow recover the data, but I'm not hopeful. Thanks Sony.

Unfortunately, I probably voided my extended warranty by hacking my player so I could control playback speed. None of the other posts I've seen on the subject were from hackers, so that's not the problem. It would make more sense that it happened from dropping it, but I haven't done that in months, and the problem just started a few days ago.

If anyone has actually had theirs repaired and can tell us what the problem is, I'm sure we'd appreciate knowing.

the kid

[coolcut]

well sorry to say it but it looks like your optical block is shot. Same thing happened to me and was gonna cost me $200 CND. lucky i tracked down the original owner and got my hands on the warranty :wacky:

[melody]

i was wondering what was going on. how annoying. im pretty damn glad i got the extended warranty...

[gauss]

I think your N1's inner line has cut off by a kind of abnormal power because the line is so short designedly.If you are well in manual electronical work,you can repair it youself

[MDX-400]

Mine is an N707 which I've had for about 15 months. The first time it happened it was just music that I'd uploaded via NetMD. This time it was a crucial interview I'd recorded with some essential quotes for a story I was working on. I'm still stressing and hoping I can somehow recover the data, but I'm not hopeful. Thanks Sony.

Unfortunately, I probably voided my extended warranty by hacking my player so I could control playback speed.

Well if you've been using it heavily for those 15 months it likely is an optical pickup problem (though not necessarily the problem it is a likely possibility). I mean N707s aren't known to fail so quickly (N1s due to a design flaw in the pickup are, however--8-16 months often sees N1s out of commission.)

As for the price of the pickup, as usual, an MD's pickup is usually worth more than your unit and if it isn't under warranty you're often better off picking up a new unit.

As for your extended warranty being void, you've got to be kidding! It isn't void at all. First of all if you return it under the warranty, they probably won't even notice it has been "hacked", trust me, they won't. Second of all you can easily undo the hack and put it back to normal before you bring it in, just to be sure.

Where did you buy your extended warranty from? If your N707 has stopped working and you're still in the [extended] warranty period, simply un-hack it and bring it it with the paperwork.

[kidjk]

Thanks very much for the reply... I was unduly worried about the warranty thing, clearly -- just seemed like a good excuse for them to void it. The extended warranty is a 5-year dealer's through A&B Sound in Canada. They've already told me it should be covered, I just haven't brought it in yet because I'm about to move.

I assume the steps to reverse the hack are simply to switch the values back to what they were? I'm pretty sure the instructions typically give both the start and end value, so that shouldn't be a problem.

thanks again,

Jeremy

[MDX-400]

Thanks very much for the reply... I was unduly worried about the warranty thing, clearly -- just seemed like a good excuse for them to void it. The extended warranty is a 5-year dealer's through A&B Sound in Canada. They've already told me it should be covered, I just haven't brought it in yet because I'm about to move.

I assume the steps to reverse the hack are simply to switch the values back to what they were? I'm pretty sure the instructions typically give both the start and end value, so that shouldn't be a problem.

thanks again,

Jeremy

5-yr extended! Wow that's a long time indeed! Is that 5 year plus the 1 year from Sony or 5 year total?

Anyway yeah to "unhack" it just return the values to what they were. Ideally you should have written down the initial values as there is a chance they *may* have been different than the ones in the hack writer/author's post but usually they are the same... I have a Canadian N707 as well and it had the same initial values shown as the ones on the hack I've seen/done for this model. So you should be fine to go back to the "start" values listed with the hack.

Still I doubt they would notice. My friend had his N707 in for warranty and he forgot to unhack it--they never noticed. To be on the safe side though, you may as well.

Also how severely affected is your N707? The only reason I ask is because if it is still useable/useful to you (if it isn't completely dead) or if you have another unit you can use; you might want to hold off on the repair for about a month. If you don't have any other MD devices though, you may be more content just to bring it in as it will probably take a month to get fixed anyway, lol.

The only reason I suggested waiting is that in about a months time Hi-MD models should start appearing... With a lot of extended warranties companies sometimes decide to replace the unit instead of repairing it (particularly if the repair cost is high). So you *might* have some small chance of actually cashing in on getting a brand new Hi-MD unit as a replacement for your N707. Not saying it is going to happen, nor should you get your hopes up, but it is a possibility

[kidjk]

Yeah, I have what's called the "platinum protection plan" -- it's good for six years total, including the one-year Sony warranty. I think it cost about fifty bucks extra, but I have lost the original bill of sale. (Thankfully A&B keeps records and said it wouldn't be a problem.)

I just unhacked it and everything's fine. The unit's not trashed, it still plays fine, it just skips big chunks or doesn't even start when I'm recording. I bought it mostly to tape interviews, but don't anticipate doing any for awhile, so will hold off until moving back to Edmonton where I bought the unit.

The new ones sound pretty sweet, so that would be a serious added bonus!

Jeremy

[gauss]

http://www.pconline.com.cn/digital/audio/j...301/273607.html

http://www.pconline.com.cn/digital/audio/j...301/273606.html

[lincoln]

I have just started getting the BLANKDISK error too and have read all the posts on the subject. I have now opened my MZ-N1 to find that the ribbon cable to the write head is broken (in 2 places nonetheless!).

I have determinied that this breakage is unavoidable and due to a sheering stress placed on the ribbon cable in it's thinnest segment when the player is opened and closed to replace disks. This happens because the cable is connected to two moving parts that move a different distance.

Since the cable turns by 90 degrees at the base of the write head the movement of the ribbon cable is transformed from a simple backward/forward direction to a lateral movement that places a sheer stress on the cable.

My guess is that all MZ-N1s will eventually show the same failure. It all depends on how many times you change your disks. It a basic mechanical stress fault.

If somebody can suggest a good way of reparing the ribbon cable please shout!

[Kosmos]

Ohhhhhhh, please tell me you are all joking.

I have an n505, and this only started happening to me the other day. I've had the thing for less than 6 months - but didn't buy it brand new (refurbished to new condition).

I had 75 songs on one MD and I got sick of a couple, so I plugged the thing into my 'puter to delete and replace with others... and when I unplugged it and tried to play the new songs it told me the disc was blank. But OpenMG (piece of junk) showed me the tracks on the MD as I was recording them, so I assumed that it wasn't registering that there was a disc in there. I replaced the battery but I got the same blank message.

So this means my MD is stuffed?

Mate, my parents are going to kill me - I had a hard enough time convincing them that it was AUD$160 well spent. If that's the truth, Sony have lost a hell of a lot of business. I was about to convince a friend to buy a unit - not any more!

[lincoln]

Yes, I'm afraid so. All it takes is two wires to be broken for the record head not to work any more. As with any electro mechanical system the mechanical part is always likely to go first.

Each time you swap a disk and open the unit you are breaking the player, go figure! Nothing lasts forever but I wish I could still record music on my MD one and a half years after purchase

[jman]

I've got the same problem with 2 mz-n1 units. $480 worth!! I do live recording and pc. Now no recording works. I wrote to Sony to tell them to recall them and I would contact the BBB, and I told them everyone is having the same problem. Hopefully it does something. Its a great concept and awesome live recording. Does anyone know of any other company doing anything similar with md's? I would like to see some compitetion, at least in the pc<->md stuff. I am aware of the fix, and may try it, or have the Radio Sack or some freelance electronics guy do it. Sony should start putting out some quality stuff, they say it is, and it is for a while usually, then bamb. I've read about a lot of it in pcs, tvs whatever. And bad customer service. Well as long as people keep buying from them I guess. Thanks, and good luck!!

[alieninhead]

Errr that sucks. Is that a flaw with all Sony's? I have an MZNE-410, which is rather new..do you think they took the time to look at this flaw? -=

Bad business if they didn't. I'm still going to spring for a new Hi-MD, but I'll definitely think hard about getting an extended service plan...

~a.i.h.

[crazeybt1]

right on...... :smile: Warranty's the way

[rach]

Hi!

I've had my MD (MZ-N505) for two years and a half now, and the same problem has just happened to me. I'm now wondering if it is worth paying to have it repaired.

Did those who had it repaired ask if the ribbon cable is replaced by the same cable (which would mean that the problem would repeat in two years or so), or if they put another system more reliable?

Thx,

Rachel

[Musashinden]

Damn lol, i have a perfectly working (except the recording;)) MZ-N1 and i have exactly the same problem. I opened it only to see that that damn SKINNY little ribbon cable was snapped, like someone cut it with a small razor. This is awful. I could have sold it for a reasonable price (i have EVEYRTHING in GREAT condition) for a newer, Hi-MD model:(. I wonder if you could substitute a different kind of cable for the ribbon cable. Damn, is there ANYTHING we could do to perhaps solve this problem?. I bought mine about 4 years ago and i doubt i could go complaning to Sony now:(. Does the RH-10 have a ribbon cable?.

[Musashinden]

I guess not lol. Someone has GOT to know this. I mean i dont want to grab a HI-MD model if the same ribbon cable fault will occur again .

[xatax]

My N1 failed in less than 6 months, got it repaired... 80 bucks even under warranty... Mine is 3 1/2 years old... time to sell it and get some money I guess...

[Verloc]

My MZ-S1 has just failed with the same problem ( and completely fucked up a couple of valuable discs for good measure). Not sure how to open it, and check the ribbon either. Now in the process of deciding whether to move to the (still stupidly restricted Hi-MD) or go with an MP3 player with decent recording capability. I would rather stick with MD, but Sony are trying their hardest to lose customers it seems....

Edited November 26, 2005 by Verloc

[Rafiki031]

That is bad luck!. My MZ-N1 is old, 4 years!! and works like te first day

The MP3 is a bad option, if you are a musiclover the better is the HI-MD

Bye!