Problem with my Max Drive

[Kolyana]

So, I've just got myself a MaxDrive. I'm in America and I'm using the NTSC version of GT4 - of course - but the MaxDrive comes from England (not sure if that makes a difference).

I loaded up the PC software without any problem, transferred a few files from the Online Racing section of this site (and even used the convertor listed in the stickied thread) ... everything worked fine.

And then I tried it on my PS2.

Essentially the program loads just fine (their software) and I can use their menus to navigate my memory card and the MxDrive itself; everything is there that should be there.

So I select a file on my memory card to back up to the MaxDrive and when I hit "copy" the menu fades, the load bubble appears (progress bar) ... and nothing happens ... EVER ... the music continues, but nothing happens. Reboot.

So I select a file on the MaxDrive to copy to my memory card ... again it 'freezes'.

So I selected a file to MOVE to my memory card ... freezes.

So I selected a file on the MaxDrive to UNPACK (it was the final option, so I figured that maybe all saves on the drive are packed by default or something odd) ... this time it blinked, nothing happened, the screen animation continued (scrolling text), the music continued, but everything was frozen ... no buttons would work.

Have I got a duff unit here or what?


Incidentally, the PC and PS2 discs both claim that they're for the US market, so that can't be the issue, right?

 

[RogsR34UK]

You can read the stuff on the MaxDrive OK then by the sound of things (I had to reformat my drive on the PC once). Do you have any other similar USB drives you can try. I have a Memorex 128 Mb Thumb Drive which seems more reliable so I use that with the MaxDrive software.

What type of PS2 do you have? I wonder if you have a slimline and an older version of the software though, having said that I got my MaxDrive before the slimline came out and it works just fine. I have the PAL version by the way.

Is there plenty of room on the memory card?

You get a tick against the save you want to copy and then Click the Copy option then?

I always use the "Uncrush" option to get a save from the MaxDrive, but it seems to copy regardless of that (the save may be unreadable if I don't use that option).

Have you actually used Windows Explorer to make sure that the saves are on the USB drive OK?

It may be worth contacting Datel (the makers) themselves as they are usually pretty helpful (if slow). Go to the Codejunkies Web site (Google ought to find it without a problem).

 

[Kolyana]

You can read the stuff on the MaxDrive OK then by the sound of things (I had to reformat my drive on the PC once). Do you have any other similar USB drives you can try. I have a Memorex 128 Mb Thumb Drive which seems more reliable so I use that with the MaxDrive software.

What type of PS2 do you have? I wonder if you have a slimline and an older version of the software though, having said that I got my MaxDrive before the slimline came out and it works just fine. I have the PAL version by the way.

Is there plenty of room on the memory card?

You get a tick against the save you want to copy and then Click the Copy option then?

I always use the "Uncrush" option to get a save from the MaxDrive, but it seems to copy regardless of that (the save may be unreadable if I don't use that option).

Have you actually used Windows Explorer to make sure that the saves are on the USB drive OK?

It may be worth contacting Datel (the makers) themselves as they are usually pretty helpful (if slow). Go to the Codejunkies Web site (Google ought to find it without a problem).

I didn't format the mx-drive at all, but I'm going to try that tonight.

I moved files onto the drive by simply dragging and dropping through windows explorer, not the MaxDrive software (on the PC).

I tried another thumbdrive, and the file transfer got half way and then refused to respond (dragging main save file from GT4 MC1 to ThumbDrive). But at least it responded instantly, the MaxDrive doesn't respond at all.

The maxDrive is 64MB and has used only about 120KB ... there abouts. It has lots of room. But it also fails moving data off or on, and the MC1 has lots of space, too.

I do tick the save I want to move, and I've tried copying, moving and uncrushing. All fail.

The saves ARE on the drive, verified through windows explorer AND the MaxDrive PS2 software ... both show them listed just fine. Go figure.

I did contact Datel and they recommended that I format the drive, so I'm going to try that tonight.

 

[cardude2004]

How long are you waiting before saying the PS2 "freezes". My bar won't move for like 5 to 10 minutes when I try to copy my GT4 gamesave to my maxdrive. I just start it and let it sit there.

 

[Kolyana]

I got bored after 5 mins with no bar appearing ... it seriously takes 10 freaking minutes just to start the transfer?

I used another memstick (regular thumbdrive from frys) and while it doesn't go all the way, the transfer starts INSTANTLY.

 

[RogsR34UK]

It does take a while to copy GT4 admittedly. With the other memory stick, how long did you wait? The gauge on the screen doesn't move for a while.

 

[Kolyana]

Well, I formatted the maxdrive as per the codejunkies recommendations and that worked. I don't remember seeing that it had to be done in the 'instructions' and it's a bit 'off' that they don't supply them preformatted, but it did the trick.

FOr those asking about transfer times ... yes, it does time some time, but almost instantly you see some progress on the progress bar ... with mine (initially) there was no progress at all for 10 minutes. Now I see something happening every few seconds.

 

[RogsR34UK]

Mine was OK initially (16 Mb) but as I said it eventually needed formatting. At least it is now working OK now.