WTF is Drive Busy...

[Vanncad]

... and what is the easiest way to solve it?

I have a buddy with an MBR that called me tonight to see if I could help him out.
He is getting a "Drive Busy" error.

He told me his SD card is empty.
I know he is using a PSA 120 adapter (becasue I lent him mine a couple weeks ago  ).

I was going to tell him to format the card - is that a good start?
I searched the site, but most problems seem to be related to low batteries or full cards.

Thanks for the help!

[64Guitars]

"Drive Busy" means that the BR is trying to write data to the memory card at a faster rate than the card can accept it, which almost certainly indicates a problem with the card. If you'd been recording for a while with lots of punch-ins and whatnot, the data can become fragmented making writes take longer. But since you said that the card is empty, that wouldn't seem to be the problem in this case. I would suggest formatting the card in the BR (Initialize). Then try recording again. If the "Drive Busy" errors still occur, then he probably needs to buy a new card. They're pretty cheap nowadays, so it's good to a have a few onhand anyway. It can be difficult to find 1GB cards at a reasonable price but the Micro BR will also work with some 2GB cards (though it can only access half of the card's capacity). I'd suggest sticking to the specific cards on Roland's list, if possible.

http://www.roland.com/support/article/index.cfm?q=faq&p=M%2DBR&id=38407354

Or buy from a local shop with a good returns policy so he can take it back if the Micro BR doesn't like it and try a different one.

Be sure to Initialize the new card in the BR before using it.

[Vanncad]

Right on.

Thanks for the help 64.

I'm gonna see if I can get him straightened out.
Might get another member here. 

[Greeny]

I get 'Drive Busy' errors when I'm recording as the battery runs out. I find it pretty easy to fix: I just go back and re-record further than the point at which it appears, and make sure the recording carries on past that point.

I've never had to scrap a whole song because of it, that's for sure.

If it's on all the time, it's probably a card issue.

Shame I can have a look and a tinker!

[Redler]

Damn!

A week ago I faced Drive busy/ Card read error on SanDisk 2 Gb card 0n my MBR. There wasn't much free space on it, so I thought that it was the reason. Finally the card was totally stuck. By removing the card I could save the mp3 folder (song sketches, mostly ) onto my computer. I put new SanDisk 2GB card onto MBR (initialized it at first) and after first bounce Drive busy error occurred, again.Btw, I purchased 5 cards lately, because it may be hard to find them in the future.

Then, I found one Transcend 2 GB card. These cards have worked fine before, such as SanDisk cards. I recorded a few tracks, mastered them. Everything is ok. Then, I tried to continue and Drive Busy occurred, again. For next I faced Card Read error!! When these problems occured I tried optimize the song, but now it is totally stuck! I even tested it on new 1.5 V non rechargeable batteries. Any suggestions?

I'm worried is my MBR dying?

Kari

[Oldrottenhead]

check the connection points on your mbr. uno where the metal part of the card connects to the mbr card reader. i had a problem with a tiny bit of paper wedged, stopping the card making contact with the card reader.

[IanR]

Damn!

A week ago I faced Drive busy/ Card read error on SanDisk 2 Gb card 0n my MBR. There wasn't much free space on it, so I thought that it was the reason. Finally the card was totally stuck. By removing the card I could save the mp3 folder (song sketches, mostly ) onto my computer. I put new SanDisk 2GB card onto MBR (initialized it at first) and after first bounce Drive busy error occurred, again.Btw, I purchased 5 cards lately, because it may be hard to find them in the future.

Then, I found one Transcend 2 GB card. These cards have worked fine before, such as SanDisk cards. I recorded a few tracks, mastered them. Everything is ok. Then, I tried to continue and Drive Busy occurred, again. For next I faced Card Read error!! When these problems occured I tried optimize the song, but now it is totally stuck! I even tested it on new 1.5 V non rechargeable batteries. Any suggestions?

I'm worried is my MBR dying?

Kari

This was one of the reasons I upgraded to the BR800.  I was really tired of drive busy messages every time I recorded a song.  I used to regularly optimise between takes and transfer songs off the MBR using the Song Librarian so that I'd have an empty card and I initialised the card for a new song AND STILL I would get the drive busy message after  half an hour of recording.

Maybe I could have looked for a new card?  It might have been cheaper than a new recorder?  Even so, I think I'm happier with the new recorder.

Ian

[Redler]

Today, I put the original Boss memory card (128MB) and it everything worked well; recording, bouncing and mastering. Then I found an old MaxFlash 60XSD 1 GB card and tested it properly. I think I've ordered it from Germany /Thomann a few years, ago. Problem is solved, so far, I hope so...

Kari