Zoom MRS-802 Multitrak recording studio - faulty… hard drive issue? Replace?

[Kingforaday]

My Dad bought this zoom MRS-802 Multitrak Recording Station and surprise surprise, it doesn’t work.

He’s given it to me but I’m not really sure what I’m looking for… anyone worked on one of these before?!

It powers up and says ‘check drives’ then appears to power off straight away… powers back on ‘check drives’ then powers off etc etc forever. So I’m guessing it can’t find the drive?

If I hold down the ‘clear’ button when it powers on it says ‘ROM UTY MRS802’ and will hold on the screen until more buttons are pressed (this makes me think it’s not a power issue) most buttons do nothing from this screen but pressing either ‘bounce’ or ‘mark’ buttons changes the display to ‘check intHDD’ - before reverting back to the on off ‘check drives’ loop listed above.

Anyone have one of these or ever repaired one and know what the issue is likely to be? The only thing I can think is to replace the hdd and try it again, but I thought I’d best check before wasting money if it’s beyond that.


video link: https://youtube.com/shorts/nSrkqCF6a7I?feature=share

[Mick Bailey]

There are some test routines and a re-format/re-initialize procedure. Take a look here as a starting point;
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/20....html?page=138

[Kingforaday]

Ah thank you, I didn’t find any info like this when I searched! I’ll have a read and see what can be tried

[Kingforaday]

Ah no my mistake, I did see this… unfortunately I can’t get past that first step of hold down ‘clear’ then press ‘mark’ as it just goes back into its check drives loop - there’s no other options. I’ll have another read in the morning though maybe I’m being daft and not following instructions properly

[The Dude]

Are you holding down the "clear" as you power up or trying to do it after it's already powered? You need to hold down the key while you power up the unit to get into diagnostic mode. You should then be able to get to a scandisk option, and that is what I'd try first (with the auto repair option). It could simply be that data on the drive is corrupt.

[Kingforaday]

Yeah, holding it as I power on. I’ll play around with it a bit more today to see if I can get it to do anything else

[Kingforaday]

There are some test routines and a re-format/re-initialize procedure. Take a look here as a starting point;
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/20....html?page=138

So from looking through the manual, most options are out as I can’t get it past that initial step of power on the get to the menu for the various tests.

The only thing that looks possible is the factory initialise where it says put the CD (that came with the unit) in and then power on and you should get options. Naturally I don’t have that cd. I see people sell the disc for £15 on eBay, which is insane, so I’ll see if I can find a download link somewhere

[romeonich]

I understand your pity for the money spent, but I think the cost of getting this thing to work is not worth it

[MargaretSingh]

Zoom started as an effects manufacturer, but they also specialize in producing entry-level multitrack audio workstations with a hard disk drive. The Zoom MRS802 is a great addition to their expanding range. I know this device is used as resources for middle school students. In the MRS802, songs are saved as Projects, where a Project contains not only the audio data you record but also the settings about the recorder and mixer sections, plus any rhythm and effects settings used in the Project. Replacing the hard disk will not solve the problem, so look for a good handyperson.

[Brad1]

In case you haven't found this yet, ZOOM website stuff. Official manual, and some software, plus the firmware. Not sure how to apply firmware (USB?, or download and burn to CD to boot unit to?) but if you can figure that out, may be worth a try to download?

In the Firmware, there are folders for MACOSX, and MRS-802...

In the the MRS-802, there is a Mac and a Windows folder. In each are folders and files for "Updater for CD" and "Updater for USB".

I have no idea what these are for exactly. Do they "update the CD or USB" firmware in the unit, only? Or, are these meant to put onto either a CD or USB to then, somehow, apply the firmware for the entire unit? (Boot to it, whatever?)

Maybe someone here, or at Zoom, may know?

https://zoomcorp.com/en/us/digital-m...s-802-support/

Brad1

[Hormon]

I have solved problems with my MRS 802 more than once by replacing the power supply. I don't know why, but it has worked. Now I use an old PC power supply. For some reason you are supposed to short the green wire to a black one (photo).

[DrGonz78]

I have solved problems with my MRS 802 more than once by replacing the power supply. I don't know why, but it has worked. Now I use an old PC power supply. For some reason you are supposed to short the green wire to a black one (photo).

That is to act a switch on a computer case. When you hit that power button it shorts connections to turn on.

[Hormon]

I solved my latest instance of IntHDD Error by opening the back and pressing on the cable connections to ensure good contact. At other times it has been solved with a new power supply or ultimately by using an old PC power supply.

[Peroti123]

I have a Zoom MRS-802 and I had not used it for ages. I powered it up and it gave the message that there was a hard drive error.

I tried to use the maintenance procedures on page 137 - 139 in the manual but after I got to the "ROM UTY MRS-802" utility mode, the "MARK" and "ExtFunc Select" would not work. Arrow keys were inoperative.

I read a post on another site that by changing the power supply might fix it. As mine was only 12V 1A I bought a new one that was 1500mA (advertised as a Zoom power supply). However this did not make the MRS-802 work.

I came to the conclusion that the hard drive must be faulty. I removed the hard drive to get the details off it and purchased a used identical one (Maxtor Fireball 3 with 40GB). It came with the jumper in the correct position.
I then purchased an IDE to USB converter and a 12 volt supply to test the original drive and add software to the new drive.

Page 164 of the MRS-802 describes the contents of the hard disk contents.

I found out from another post that the FAT file system was used on a MRS -1266 and assumed that the MRS-802 would be the same.

My plan was to format the new hard drive to FAT32, partition the disk in two parts and then add the software from the back up CD that came with the studio. The Disk Management on Windows 11 can be used to format and create partitions. However, when I tried to use it the "shrink disk space" option was greyed out and I could not achieve the objective of creating a partition.

I decided to go to MS-DOS and use "DISKPART". With the help of 2 YouTube videos, I succeeded in formatting the disk, creating a partition and naming them "MRS-USR" and "MRS-FAC" (NOT "MSR-USR" and "MSR-FAC" as stated in the manual). Assumed typo?
I used 10 GB for MRS-FAC and the remainder for MRS-USR. I could not format with FAT or FAT32. "Too large" was the message from DISKPART. I used exFAT instead.

I copied the SYSTEM.ZEX file and the FACDATA folder in the MSR-FAC partition and the remaining software in the MSR-USR partition.

I re-assembled the hard drive into the recorder but it does not work after a lot of effort and some expense. It just gives a flashing message "HDD ERROR".

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions please?

The Zoom manual instruction is not to attempt to manipulate files in the MSR-FAC partition. Maybe I have got the incorrect files in there. Do any members know what file should be in there?

My only advice is to tread carefully before attempting to replace the hard drive as it is really tricky.

[g1]

I succeeded in formatting the disk, creating a partition and naming them "MRS-USR" and "MRS-FAC" (NOT "MSR-USR" and "MSR-FAC" as stated in the manual). Assumed typo?

Not a typo. MSR is MicroSoft Reserved. I would go back and try exactly how the manual states it.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/wi...-partition-msr