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Hello - new to this forum - glad to have joined.
The SATA hard drive in my McIntoch MS750 from 2007 has failed.
Does anyone know of I can source a new replacement hard drive? Is there anyone doing hard drive replacement in the MS750?
Thanks kindly,
Michael
Welcome to the forum, Michael, thank you for joining.
Are you sure that you want to put money in a 12 year old digital device? Technology has changed a lot in those 12 years. There are great music servers available today with newer technology and more capabilities.Quote:
Originally Posted by Michaelinmech
If he can get a replacement drive for $50-150 and reload his music, he can be back in business. We'd have to find out how to format it for the server (if there's a built-in routine or needs to be proper before replacement).
Have you tried contacting McIntosh. That might be the first place to start
Working MS750 is still worth around $1300-1500. Seems worth fixing to me, as replacement 1TB HDD drive is $50, and SSD is $120.
Personally, I would get the SSD and get rid of the fan in the process (SSD does not get warm like HDD, so the fan is not necessary - unless there is a CPU with a radiator somwhere).
Not sure if the drive needs loading some software or special formating. You can always ask McIntosh for the disk image and just upload it, saving on shipping. HDD replacement is 10 min job for anyone who knows how to hold a screwdriver.
I agree Adam. I would assume there is a CPU of some sort in there so the fan is probably still needed. A fan is never installed to keep a hard drive cool :)...
That is the reason I said to contact McIntosh first, to check into format, software, etc., that may be required on the Hard Drive.
Thanks for all the prompt posts in reply !!
To answer some questions, suggestions and points raised:
I have been in touch with McIntosh Audio. The MS750 was actually an Esoteric Music Server with McIntosh touches and re branding. As such McIntosh has no repair parts or service available on the unit.
I do have a copy of the software that would need to be loaded back into the MS750 after a new hard drive is installed.
What I am told is, the issue is the SATA Hard Drive in the MS750. I am told they are obsolete, no longer in production and no one has a new replacement available for purchase? It is my main stumbling block at this point.
Thoughts . . . .Remedies?
Thanks kindly, Michael
Michael.......I believe you may be mistaken about the hard drive being a SATA drive. I replaced the 750GB hard drive in my MS750 many years ago when I still had it. It was a Seagate IDE hard drive. You can still order the Seagate DB35 IDE hard drive (PATA/IDE ST3750840ACE) at Weaknees.com. https://www.weaknees.com/tivo-dvr-hard-drive.phpQuote:
Originally Posted by Michaelinmech
Indeed, this looks like an old IDE drive:
Attachment 24930
SATA is the current standard.
Here you can get a brand new one:
https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-ST375...11&s=pc&sr=1-2
[QUOTE=Elberoth;263301]Indeed, this looks like an old IDE drive:
SATA is the current standard.
Here you can get a brand new one:
Thank You - as soon as the unit is back in my possession I am going to take a look !
Michael
Hi Dan - Thanks kindly for the information and your own experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by jdandy
The unit is in transit back to me from the Service Department of the dealer where I had purchased it. They had advised that they could not repair because of the SATA hard drive. As soon as it's back I will open the cover to see what hard drive is in my MS750?
Did you replace your hard drive yourself or have it serviced? Can you share more details about the replacement process?
Thanks kindly, Michael
Michael.......The ribbon cable is a dead give-away the hard drive is IDE, not SATA.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7915/...a24bb6af_o.jpg
Yes, I replaced the hard drive myself, then reloaded the operating system on the new hard drive, followed with reloading all of my CD's. Replacing the hard drive is straight forward. Unplug the power cable and the ribbon cable, remove a couple of support screws and the hard drive comes right out. Reverse the process when installing the new hard drive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdandy
Thanks again - I am hopeful when I receive mine back it will also have the IDE Hard Drive.
I'll stay in touch - I'll also let you know what the Dealer has sent me in terms of software that will need to be reloaded - both to compare what you used versus what I am sent - and your software re installation process.
Kindly, Michael
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elberoth
Thank you Adam !
Yup Dan, the ribbon is a dead give away. Does he have to get the OS file from McIntosh, or is it in firmware and will automatically load on the new drive? I assume it is specifically for the machine and not a standard computer OS.
Randy.......The OS for the MS750 is not firmware based software, it must be loaded onto the hard drive from the MS750's internal transport. There are plenty of "golden discs" out there floating around in member's hands of the McIntosh MS750 proprietary operating system software. Someone should be able to burn a copy for Michael if he needs it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Randy Myers
Thanks Dan, I hope this helps Michael. I assumed there would have to be some method of loading the operating system on to the MS750 hard drive.
A lesson learned: if the service depart could not tell you correctly what kind of drive your unit had, you may want to look elsewhere next time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Michaelinmech
Pretty much what I was thinking. If they did not understand that difference tells me they probably never have looked inside a MS750 before, or honestly probably not inside a computer before :).... Looking at the photos Dan provided it is obvious that this is a computer in McIntosh wrapping :)....Quote:
Originally Posted by nicoff
This is computer 101 from about ten years ago :D...Quote:
Originally Posted by Elberoth
They make IDE to SATA adapters too, so you dont have to be stuck using an old IDE drive. This also means you could (and probably should) get an SSD as they are way more reliable, much faster, consume much less power, and run much cooler.
ARG! I tried to give you links to the adapter as well as a 1TB SSD (for $85) but I dont have enough posts to include links apparently. The drawbacks of just joining a couple days back..... Well, I guess keep my name handy and send me a PM or something and I can give you the info you would need.
Welcome to the forum, thank you for joining.
I owned an MS 350 and really liked the functionality. Keeping an MS 750 alive is truly a labor of love. Having an Escient Fireball or two as parts donor machines won’t hurt either. I understand the power supplies need to be rebuilt at some point and there is a place in Texas that does it for reasonable money. Good luck!
Michael - how do you know it is the hard drive only and not something else that perhaps caused the hard drive to fail? Per my power supply comment above I would definitely measure all the voltages to make sure they are in spec.
Tom
MS750 parts:
CD Transport: Part # CD-R/RW Model CRX230EE Sony
Hard Drive: Seagate DB35 DVR Hard drive model ST3750840ACE
Escient MX111 Power supply is the exact one used in the MS300/750.
Power supply rebuild
Ft Worth Audio
4224 W. Vickery Blvd
Ft. Worth, TX 76107
817-810-9786
ftworthaudio.com
I am in need of this "golden disc" or at least the iso image of it? Anyone know how I could get one? I have the ms300 with a dead drive. I bought the exact same model hard drive, but I find I need this iso to load software on it. Thank you for your help.Quote:
Originally Posted by jdandy
Welcome to the forum, thank you for joining.