Hi folks,
I'd like your input on a couple of issues I'm trying to resolve with my SX-1.
First issue is with booting up. It doesn't always happen; probably half the time it does (every second bootup on average). What happens is, the machine hangs at "Mounting completed". According to what I've read, this indicates a problem with loading the last active project, and the workaround is to reboot into Safe Mode (which bypasses loading of last active project). This works every time, booting into Safe Mode, which does make it seem as if it's a problem with the project. However, it doesn't matter which project was the last active, and therefore attempts to load on the next boot. It even happens with the "Default Project".
To try and rule out the hard disk as the issue, I've reinstalled the SX-1 software (v1.52). No change. I next figured I'd low-level format the disk and then reinstall again. To my amazement, the "low level format" took less than five seconds. I've been working in IT professionally for over 20 years and have done LLFs before (although not since I was new to the biz and working a repair bench) and they are a lengthy, time-consuming process. What gives with the built-in low-level format option in the SX-1? And a related question: is there any reason not to boot the machine from a Western Digital diagnostic disc and do a "real" low-level format?
Basically I want to rule out everything I can before I feel compelled to open the machine up and start reseating cards, memory, etc. Note that I have run the Diagnostics from the SX-1 software disc and everything checks out fine. How reliable are these diagnostics, anyone know?
The second issue I experience, which is much less frequent, but somehow more disturbing, has to do with playback. On several occasions the machine has locked up midway through playback. It's happened while playing back multiple tracks (i.e. while mixing) and while playing back finished mixdowns. What happens is, the audio just stops. Nothing changes on the displays, and the green playback button remains lit. If I press Stop, the yellow Stop LED flashes. If I click anything on the display, I get no response -- hung hard. At this point I have no choice but to reboot.
I know this is a long post -- if you've made it this far, thanks for reading. I picked this machine up cheap in supposedly good working order, and I am very impressed with the results I've gotten so far, but these issues are bothersome. I'm particularly worried that the thing will hang not during playback, but during tracking at some point, which would be much worse. I welcome any input, ideas, etc.
Thanks,
Peter
EDIT: Deeper reading of the reference manual has clarified that low-level format only applies to SCSI drives, which mine is not. So I'm at least clear now on why the format was so quick: it wasn't low-level.
I'd like your input on a couple of issues I'm trying to resolve with my SX-1.
First issue is with booting up. It doesn't always happen; probably half the time it does (every second bootup on average). What happens is, the machine hangs at "Mounting completed". According to what I've read, this indicates a problem with loading the last active project, and the workaround is to reboot into Safe Mode (which bypasses loading of last active project). This works every time, booting into Safe Mode, which does make it seem as if it's a problem with the project. However, it doesn't matter which project was the last active, and therefore attempts to load on the next boot. It even happens with the "Default Project".
To try and rule out the hard disk as the issue, I've reinstalled the SX-1 software (v1.52). No change. I next figured I'd low-level format the disk and then reinstall again. To my amazement, the "low level format" took less than five seconds. I've been working in IT professionally for over 20 years and have done LLFs before (although not since I was new to the biz and working a repair bench) and they are a lengthy, time-consuming process. What gives with the built-in low-level format option in the SX-1? And a related question: is there any reason not to boot the machine from a Western Digital diagnostic disc and do a "real" low-level format?
Basically I want to rule out everything I can before I feel compelled to open the machine up and start reseating cards, memory, etc. Note that I have run the Diagnostics from the SX-1 software disc and everything checks out fine. How reliable are these diagnostics, anyone know?
The second issue I experience, which is much less frequent, but somehow more disturbing, has to do with playback. On several occasions the machine has locked up midway through playback. It's happened while playing back multiple tracks (i.e. while mixing) and while playing back finished mixdowns. What happens is, the audio just stops. Nothing changes on the displays, and the green playback button remains lit. If I press Stop, the yellow Stop LED flashes. If I click anything on the display, I get no response -- hung hard. At this point I have no choice but to reboot.
I know this is a long post -- if you've made it this far, thanks for reading. I picked this machine up cheap in supposedly good working order, and I am very impressed with the results I've gotten so far, but these issues are bothersome. I'm particularly worried that the thing will hang not during playback, but during tracking at some point, which would be much worse. I welcome any input, ideas, etc.
Thanks,
Peter
EDIT: Deeper reading of the reference manual has clarified that low-level format only applies to SCSI drives, which mine is not. So I'm at least clear now on why the format was so quick: it wasn't low-level.
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