.spotlight-v100 folders/adding new firmware

[danielmak]

I should say up front that this not strictly a video question, but relates in terms of recording sounds that are used in multi-media work. I posted in the Audio forum but did not get any responses and am guessing that this is because most folks there were on PCs.

Anyway, I just purchased two Marantz PMD661 solid state recorders and after a recording session I could not access my .wav files when I connected to my Mac. It turns out the files were stored in a .spotlight-v100 folder, which could not be read by the Mac. I was able to transfer them (by using the Marantz transfer file function on the recorder itself) to the MPGLANG1 folder, which could then be read by my computer. My second recorder had the same problem, but this recorder also has a .trashes folder. I read on a forum on another Web site that these folders are created on Macs, and we can rename and then delete them. I tried that but it only works with the .trashes folder. Although the folders are supposedly not harmful, it is a pain to have my recordings saved in the Spotlight folder, because I have to transfer before being able to be seen by the Mac. I have 2 questions:

(1) What can I do to get rid of these spotlight folders and is there way to insure that the folders do not return next time I connect to my Mac?

(2) Marantz said I should update my firmware. I have downloaded the firmware update, which is supposed to be dragged into the root folder of my SD card. I do not own a card reader and my iMac does not have built in card reader, but can connect the card via the USB connection to the Marantz. How do I update firmware on an SD card? I am guessing I do this through disk utility.

[rumplestiltskin]

Any folder whose name begins with a period is rendered invisible in OSX. If you download a utility like PathFinder, it can navigate through your system (including the mounted Marantz drive) and will be able to see all invisible files/folders.

Otherwise, you could use the Terminal and "cd" to the directory...

cd diskname/.spotlight-v100

and then "ls" to list the files. You can then copy them...

cp filename MacHD/Users/myHomeFolder/Desktop

Obviously, substitute your HD and home folder names for the ones I've used.

To prevent the .spotlight-v100 folder from being recreated (and used), open Spotlight preferences and drag your Marantz hard drive into the window that tells Spotlight NOT to index these volumes.

You say you don't have a card reader but you can connect it to the Marantz. How can you do that without a card reader? Are you referring to the USB connection between your Mac and the Marantz? If so, this won't cut it. Get a $5 USB SD card reader from Meritline (looks like a flash drive but you put your SD card into the end). That should do it.

[danielmak]

Thanks for the reply. I connect the Marantz to the iMac via USB. When the Marantz is turned on, a MARANTZ1 partition appears on the desktop. In disk utility I see: D&M PMD661 Media and below that and to the left MARANTZ1. Which of these would I drag into the Spotlight preferences?

And jut to double check, even though that higher level D&M PMD661 Media drive is being read by Disk Utility, there is no way to update the firmware through Disk Utility?

Second to last question, I have dragged all my wav files off the SD card, so I have no problem with wiping the card to get rid of this .spotlight-v100 folder. I have tried to do it with the Marantz recorder vis-a-vis its built in option for reformatting the SD card but that .spotlight-v100 folder still stays. Is there a way to use Disk Utility to do this (I assume I select the Erase tab, but perhaps not) and if so, would I do this on the upper level D&M PMD661 Media or the MARANTZ1.

Finally, one of my colleagues has a Macbook pro with a built-in SD card reader but doesn't know much about the function of that reader. If I used that card reader, could I (A) wipe the card with that reader (provided I can't per my question above) and/or update the firmware? If so, what would be the steps for updating the firmware (is it just drag and drop or am I using Disk Utility)?

Thanks again.

[rumplestiltskin]

Drag the icon that appears on the Desktop to the Spotlight prefs. Disk Utility has nothing to do with what we're doing. (BTW, The physical hard drive - the SD card - appears to the left in Disk Utility and, under it and to the right, appears the volume which we work with.)

The updating of the firmware is done with the Marantz in control. When it's connected to your Mac, the Mac just sees a hard drive.

I do not know what will happen to the SD card that's in the Marantz if you attempt to format it in Disk Utility while it's actually sitting inside the Marantz. It will probably be okay as, when you have it in a card reader and plugged into your Mac, you should see the same volume (although the physical device will be listed as the card reader). If you erase the card (using the volume listing below and to the right of the physical disk listing), that should remove any invisible stuff.

Yes, your buddy's card reader will do the erasure just fine. According to your original post, didn't you say that Marantz just said to place the firmware update at the root level of the SD card? I would imagine that, when you use whatever buttons on the Marantz that mean "look for the firmware update on the card", it will then see it and act accordingly. Copy the firmware update to the card by drag & drop. (unless there are specific instructions otherwise from Marantz.

If you post the link to the firmware update's webpage, I'll take a look at it.

[danielmak]

Thanks again.

Here is the link: http://www.d-mpro.com/users/folder.asp?FolderID=4405&CatID=18&SubCatID=169

The guy I spoke with at Marantz wasn't familiar with a Mac. He had not heard about this problem with the .spotlight-v100 and was surprised that the normal methods of using the Marantz to erase the SD card did not get rid of the .spotlight-v100. I find this odd since the Mac seems to be a preference for many people doing audio documentary work and this recorder has become the best option for such work.

[rumplestiltskin]

Just read the pdf that accompanies the firmware update. Just drop the ".bin" file in the root directory of the SD card, put the card into the Marantz, and power up the unit. My guess is that dropping the firmware file into the mounted volume you see on your Mac (which is the SD card), unmounting the volume, unplugging it from the Mac, and cycling the power off then on will accomplish the update.

However, I see nothing in the description of the update that has anything to do with the spotlight issue. Check the manual for the unit to see if you may set a different preference for where the files may be saved.

[danielmak]

Thanks; that did the trick. Not that many other people will be in the same situation given the peculiarities of the Marantz recorder but I will share just in case someone else runs into a similar problem with some kind of portable drive. I used Disk Utility to erase the disk at a higher level than the mounted partition. Then I reformatted the disk with the Marantz recorder, but I could have done that with the SD card reader on the laptop. Using the Spotlight preferences will hopefully work.

If I can ask one more question about this. You suggested using a program like Pathfinder to find the .spotlight folder because Pathfinder can find hidden files. I know that search box in the Finder can be set to search for hidden files as well File>Find then drag Kind>Other and selecting the File Invisible box. But this set up could not find the spotlight folder. Is there some reason PathFinder can find hidden files but the making this changes in the Finder itself only finds certain hidden files (i.e., it did not find my .spotlight folder on the SD card prior to my erasing in Disk Utility)?

[rumplestiltskin]

I just did a search just like yours and failed to find the ".spotlight" on my hard drive (which Spotlight has indexed and is set to keep indexed). Apple probably hacked its own search engine to keep us from messing with the indexes in this manner.

I believe Onyx will also delete Spotlight indexes. PathFinder uses its own method to navigate and ignores Apple's hacks, so to speak.

Glad it's all working out for you.