Connecting a USB Hard Disk

[sigerico]

I’ve tried to connect a USB external Hard Disk with 40 Gb to my CVP, via USB to DEVICE.

Before doing it, I connected the Hard Disk to my PC, with Windows XP home edition, to load all the files I had in the PC. I had to open “Computer Manager”, then “Disk Management”, and then select the new hard disk to create a primary partition and assign a driver letter to it, and finally format the new partition. Although the users manual of the HD said that I had to select File System Type to Fat32, I only could select NTFS in the PC (I don’t Know if It’s the same).

It worked perfectly and I could load all my files (Midi, styles, etc) to the USB HD.

But when I connected the HD to my CVP 307, it said that the USB disk has no format, so I have to go to Function – Utilities – Media, and format it. But when I try to do it, the CVP is unable to format the Hard Disk.

Has anybody had the same problem?

I have read something about in this forum, in the thread http://www.cvpug.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1005 , but it doesn’t solve the problem.

Thanks

[pbir]

USB hard disks usually require a USB 2.0 interface (which is faster than USB 1.x). The 307 has a USB 1.0 interface.

Your PC probably has USB 2.0 ports.

The other possibility, if your Hard Disk works with 1.0 is the partition layout (Primary, secondary, active, etc.). The 307 might be more stringent on this than Windows XP.

Please let me know if this makes sense.

Paul.

[dancaputi]

Originally posted by sigerico
... the users manual of the HD said that I had to select File System Type to Fat32, I only could select NTFS in the PC (I don’t Know if It’s the same).
Fat32 and NTFS are two very different things. You definately do NOT want to format as NTFS (the CVP will not be able to access it). Contact the HD vendor tech support and ask them what's wrong. I'm sure it's just something stupid on their part.

- Dan C.

[sigerico]

Thanks Paul and Dan for your answers. I understand now that the hard disk has to be formatted as Fat or Fat 32.
I’ll try to find out why nor my PC nor the CVP are able to format the HD as Fat.
Perhaps is a problem of the HD. I’ll post the solution when I find it.

[jcwright]

A few things.

Although I'm not using a 40gig hard drive, I've discovered the following using my 1 gig USB thumb drive.

Format your memory in FAT32. NTSF is not visible to Window/Dos based operating systems.

The current operating system appears to only be able to see one sub directory in depth.

I tried to group all my classic, jazz, pop, etc sequence disks in their own sub directories, but could not find them and had to return each disk in its own sub directory to the root directory.

I believe I read somewhere that the system can only read up to about 700mb.

Good Luck

[Midi Magic]

Hi

Just to add to that, I put all my Pianosoft disks, still in their Eseq (.fil) format onto a Smart Card. But the CVP could not see them. No matter if they were in directories, sub-directories or even in the root, the cvp would NOT see them.

The solution was to convert them all to Midi files. Once they were in midi format the cvp could see and play them.

Alas I only have a cvp 209 this end.

[ononkaikai]

From my very vague technical knowledge:

It is sometimes advisable to format usb harddisk using FAT or FAT32 format since old operating systems like win95, win98 do not recognise NTFS format.

That is what I have done to my 40G usb harddisk: I connect it to an old computer running win98 (you require a driver for such connection, usually provided by the usb case manufacturer) and let win98 to format the harddisk with FAT32.

Also, there is a technical limitation with FAT32 on the size of harddisk (not sure on this, 60G? 80G?), but my 40G FAT32 formatted harddisk works fine with win98 and winXP pro.

However, when I connect it to my CVP, it says "file format error".

Hope it helps.

[jcwright]

Just a thought. I have a huge collection of Eseq, DOC and MIDI sequences filed on my thumb drive. I have more than a can comfortably edit and have time to play or study. I still have half of my 1 GIG drive left. Currently 4 GIG USB thumb drives are available. What possible way will one ever put even a scratch in the memory of a 40 GIG hd! This is like taking a hammer to kill a fly. Your life will fall into place as soon as you start using a USB memory stick.

Good luck

[snakebuzz2003]

have to agree

[Midi Magic]

Hi John

Tell me, will the cvp play the Eseq files directly from the thumb drive. Is a thumb drive the same as a memory stick?

[ericho]

Hi

I just bought a 40gig hd (usb, 2,5" buspowered) for 99$
How much is a 4 gig usb stick cost now????
If used for the cvp alone a 40g disk is serious overkill, but if used for other thing to,.... Its a good choice.

Midi:

The eseq (.fil) will only be recognized by the cvp if the cvp finds the correct bootsector on a 3.5" disk
So No. the cvp will not recognize the pianosoft stuff from any memory divice that comes over the usb channel including the internal card reader.

Kind regards

Eric

[Midi Magic]

Hi Ericho

That's what I thought. I was just asking, as jcwright has Eseq files on his thumb drive.

I know when I tried to use Eseq files from a Smart Card the cvp would not even see them.

>The eseq (.fil) will only be recognized by the cvp if the cvp finds the correct bootsector on a 3.5" disk

This is NOT the case as there is NO boot sector on an Original Pianosoft disk. If you copy Eseq files across to a "normal" (one with a boot sector) floppy then they work fine.

Yamaha told me it was "because we do not expect to find eseq files anywhere else other then on a floppy. HOW did YOU manage to get them on a Smart card?" Needless to say I declined to answer.

Anyway, it's no big deal as I used Yamplayer to bulk convert the Smart card eseq files to Midi.

[ericho]

:rolleyes:

OK then
I was under the impression that pianosoft disks had some oldfashion copy protection on them.
and that the cvp would only play the files if the original disk was pressent in the diskdrive?

Kind regards

Eric

[jcwright]

Hi Guys,

Yes I do have Eseq, DOC and MIDI files on my thumb drive. Yes you are correct. Only a Clavinova will see the MIDI files and the old ripped DOC files; although visible, the files show only as a song number.

If I plug my drive into a Mark IV disklavier piano the eseq files will show, but not the DOC files.

I have these ripped files on my computer. If I format the correct low or high density disk on an eseq machine and the copy the ripped files to it, they are read correctly. The only problem with Clavinova is that DOC formating is no longer done on the newer models.

I use Geibler's Yamaha Disk Manager to do some stuff but it is slow going.

[dancaputi]

John,

The CVP has no problem reading ESEQ's copied to a standard HD floppy formatted on the PC or any pre-formatted diskette.

The Geibler tools are "old hat". You should be using my Root-A-Ripper and YAMplayer programs.

- Dan C.

[musicgod2002]

Hello

With regards to the 40 GB disk, create a new blank partition, but don't format the drive. Just create a partition.
Connect it to your CPV and it should format from their.

Cheers,

Chris.