When a hard disk (i.e. hard drive) recorder stores new files, it squeezes them into any bits of space it can find. As a result, the data winds up scattered all over the hard drive. When the data from one song file, for example, is stored in many locations within the hard drive memory, the hard drive is said to be fragmented. When the recorder plays back a file from a fragmented hard drive, it has to grab a little piece from here, another piece from there and so on. This is much harder than playing one continuous chunk of data from a single hard drive location. This can slow things down unacceptably and lead to errors during playback, recording and/or any other function in the recorder.
Fragmentation is a naturally occurring process for a hard drive used with any computer or recording device. Hard drives that record audio are especially prone to fragmentation due to the start-and-stop nature of recording.
We recommend backing up all of your data and then initializing the hard drive to clear out this normal fragmentation. To avoid receiving errors and/or problems, initialize the hard drive every 3 months if the unit is being used constantly or every 6 months if the unit is being used only occasionally. The following steps will guide you through the Song Backup, Drive Initialize and Song Recover procedures:
Song Backup:
- Connect the BR-1200CD and a computer with a standard A/B USB cable.
- Press the UTILITY button.
- Use the CURSOR buttons to select "USB" and then press ENTER.
- Use the CURSOR buttons to select "BACKUP" and then press ENTER. The BR-1200CD begins to communicate with your computer. When a connection with the computer has been established, the message changes to “Copy Song/Data Files to computer.”
- Windows—a window appears on your computer with the files and folders from the BR-1200CD's hard drive. If this window does not appear, click on the Windows (or Start) icon on the bottom-left of your computer screen and then select "My Computer" (or "Computer). The BR-1200CD (or "Removable Disk") icon will be in Devices with Removable Storage.
- Mac OS X—double-click on the "BR-1200CD" (or "Removable Disk") icon that is added to your computer's desktop.
- Select all of the files and folders in the BR-1200CD's hard drive and copy them to your computer. This can be your Desktop or a backup folder that you have created.
Caution: Do not change the names or locations of any files or folders. Doing so will cause the backup to be non-recoverable. - As soon as the file transfer is complete, press EXIT on the BR-1200CD—"Disconnect USB OK?" appears on the BR-1200CD.
- Press ENTER. The backup is complete.
Drive Initialize:
Caution: Initializing erases all contents on the hard drive.
- Press UTILITY.
- CURSOR to "HDD," and press ENTER.
- CURSOR to "Initialize," and press ENTER.
- Use the TIME/VALUE dial to change the FORMAT MODE to "Surface Scan."
- Cursor to "GO," and press ENTER.
- The message "Are you sure?" will be displayed, press ENTER. The hard drive will begin to initialize.
Song Recover:
- Connect the BR-1200CD and a computer with a standard A/B USB cable.
- Press the UTILITY button.
- Use the CURSOR buttons to select "USB" and then press ENTER.
- Use the CURSOR buttons to select "RECOVER" and then press ENTER. When connection with the computer has been established, “Copy Song/Data Files to computer” appears in the BR-1200CD's display.
- On your computer, select all of the contents of the backup files and folders that will be loaded (recovered) into the BR-1200CD. These are the files that you previously backed up in the "Song Backup" portion of this article.
- Drag all of the backup contents into the “BR-1200CD” (or “Removable Disk (*:)”) icon on the computer.
NOTE: You may encounter messages verifying that it is all right to overwrite certain files—you should select “YES” in every instance. WARNING: This will erase all of the contents in the BR-1200CD's hard drive and replace them with your backup files and folders. - When the file transfer process is complete, press EXIT on the BR-1200CD.
- When "Disconnect USB OK?" appears in the BR-1200CD's display, press ENTER.