PHTDTA Disk Now a Local Disk requiring formatting

[sbartnikowski]

Apologies if this has been addressed before.  Appears somewhat similar to the SemiDead PhatBox 20GB which had a problem with PHTSYS.  I can't get PhatNoise Media Manager nor PhatHack Media Manager to recognize my 40gb DMS.  Moreover, I can no longer explore the files on my PHTDTA disk; the system asks me to format the drive -- but I would like to recover my music therein.

DMS Doctor:
Did not detect DMS
Filesystem is not FAT32
\Data Mount found
Could not find system file E:\<DOCTYPE...
Profile and Playlists Found.

Acquired PhatHack DMS tools.  In DMS Tools Mode, "Repair DMS" is grayed out.  Only E: (PHTSYS) destination device shows.

What do I need to do to get my PhatBox working again?

Thanks.

[sbartnikowski]

Ok, I don't see any responses to my problem.   In the meantime, I used "TestDisk" to "fix" my partition.  Not sure what that did.  The PHTDTA disk still shows a local RAW disk.  I may have dropped into the "broke my partition" post.

I also did not read the documentation and failed to run the DMS Hack Wizard.   Ok, so I tried to run the DMS Hack Wizard.  Passed the warning that the backup could not be completed.   Then in step 5, got "An error occurred whilst attempting to read the DMS.   Failed to locate or successfully read from DMS cartridge in drive \." Then in the wizard window "Failed to copy the file C:\Program Files\Phat Hack DMS Tools\DMS_Utils\Hack Files\PhatHack.mp3 to \PhatHack.mp3 Failed to modifiy Profiles.INI to initiate hack procedure".

Tried the DMS Hack Tools (Elevated Rights), but got an I/O exception instead.

Do I need to Create New DMS?   Is there any hope of recovering my music from the DMS?

Thanks for your help.

[VorTechS]

Sorry, I've been away a while.  It sounds to me like you have a fundamental issue with the disc integrity, so it might well be failing on you.

So long as you haven't touched the partitions (dropped them and re-created them yourself) you can use the DMS Tools in DMS Tools Mode to repair the disc.
You just need to select the correct firmware for your box and then use one of the Repair options (or even use the Create New DMS option).

If you want to recover any data off the disc first, then you'll need to use some specialised tools to get the data off the disk first.

[sbartnikowski]

Thanks for your reply. Now it is my turn to be away - for about 3 weeks. When I return, I will finish copying off my music and follow your recommendations and report back.  I noticed a lot of preload data.  Do I need to save these also?  I have no interest in these samples.

[VorTechS]

No.  Anything required by the PhatBox will be re-installed by the 'firmware' update process within the DMS tools.  (Firmware in this instance really means 'system')

[sbartnikowski]

Ok, I executed the elevated rights version of PhatHack Tools (I am on VISTA, and the base version was not successful).  I selected GM(v1.0) as the DMS firmware.  I specified Non-hacked firmware, reflash box with firmware and install AAC plugin - in the hopes of continuing to use PhatNoise Media Manager.  I clicked on Create New DMS, and said "No" to the Quick Format question, in expectation of serious damage.  Voila! After a few minutes, my DMS was ready. 

I ran PhatNoise Media Manager, added a music playlist, and tried to save and eject.  I got a message saying eject could not complete due to other activity (Norton - which I don't have; explorer, my computer, notepad).  I X'ed the program.  The music playlist was saved and works in my vehicle.  So, the incomplete eject is only an annoyance at this point.

Should I have not selected the Non-hacked firmware and used PhatHack Media Manager?  If so, can I merely update the firmware without these options?  Should this address my incomplete Eject issue?

Thanks much.  I now have a working DMS. 

[VorTechS]

The ejection message just means something (probably Windows explorer) had either the disk, or one of the files locked/open.
It's generally just an annoyance as you say, and nothing to worry about.

Now, you can just carry on as normal!