Zen V- is it worth

OK after being told that i need to buy a new mp3 player after mine has a 'hardware problem' i got very cross and swore never to buy a creative product again... then I had a look round.. I?don't like ipods (my sister has one) and don't like the look of anyother brands so it looks like i'll have to stick with Creative after all. Then I saw the Zen V. and i quite like the look of it, and from what i've seen it has less problems than the others in the Zen range. Does anyone have some experiances with the Zen V they'd like to share? Is it worth getting one?I don't really want a V+ as radio reception in my area is poor anyway and i don't need video.

I have a -Gig ZenV and I really love it. I got it as a Christmas gift, and since an mp3 player was totally new for me, I wasn't sure what to expect, and was pretty clueless about using it. I managed to figure it out, with the help from the manual (it's on a disc which comes with the player), and this Board (thanks, Creative!),?and I find new things to do with?the ZenV ?on a daily basis. It was easy to install (XP operating system on your computer?is a must), and easy to use. It's become my constant companion
!!! The only thing is, if I were to buy one, I'd get one with a higher capacity; the Gig is fine for me for now, but my next player will defintely be a Creative, and it'll have a higher capacity. I'm glad I didn't get the Vplus, since, like you, the radio reception where I li've is terrible, but I can see where someone might like having the radio. Depends on their circumstances.; I'd put the money into the 2-Gig or higher...
Hope this helps!!

Similar Messages

  • Creative Zen Micro - Is it Worth

    I am looking to get my first MP3 player. I basically have 3 choices - an iRi'ver, an Ipod Nano -_-, or a Creative Zen Micro (5gb). I am hearing all kinds of problems with freezing and the headphone jack problem. My friend has had his a year and says his is fine. Should I be worried? Is it worth the risk? I am the most unluckiest person out there, solI know somethign will happen the first week.

    NO NO NO NO!!!!
    I posted this in another thread :
    If time is on your side TAKE IT BACK ASAP. Like you, I did plenty of research before putting out the money on an Mp3 player. I was impressed with what I read about the Zen micro so I went ahead and purchased 3. WHAT A MISTAKE!!!! I purchased them in May 2005. I've already sent player back twice for repair - and am awaiting the RMA label to send THE SAME player back again for replacement. Now the other 2 players are starting to act up. One won't hold a charge at all and when it does start it goes to the clean up screen and the other has started freezing up quite a lot. As far as I am concerned this product is a joke. I was patient with customer service, even after I was LIED to. I let them replace the product not once but twice and am actually going to see if I can't cancel the advanced RMA on the third replacement and try and get my money back on all three of the players through the replacement plans I bought on them. If I have to wait until May 2006 for the year manufacturers warranty to be up I'll stick them in a drawer and wait.
    The funny (not ha ha funny, but strange funny) thing is that I bought the Zen Micro's because I didn't want to be like everyone else and buy iPods. Now I wish I had. I have a feeling I threw over $600.00 away. Not quite 7 months and almost $700.00 spent- $00.00 a month for nothing but problems - wow what a really bad investment!
    If I thought Creative would buck up and do the honorable thing and give me my money back, I probably wouldn't have bothered to register and post here. But I really don't think they give a crap about me or any other poor sucker that fell for their line and bought this junk. Buyer Beware....

  • Zen Micro is it worth

    Would anyone strongly suggest buying the zen touch. Is the touch good?

    it depend on what u want out of ur player i would recomend the zen micro couse its small and have big enough compacity for all music lovers.the thing about this the zen touch has 20gb but will u ever fill up with song i think its impossible trust me its hard,
    i have a 2o gb ipd g4 sold it couse too much space and its a little bulky.
    to be o honest wait a few months and get the zen micro photo in 6gb its amazing its like a minature version of the ipod photo
    just a few suggestions
    the zen micro or the micro photo is the way forward

  • Is zen micro photo really worth buyi

    i am not sure to buy it or not
    can hear someone's opinions so i can make a decision
    Pease
    THANX

    I've had the Microphoto for 3 days now and used it extensi'vely, also at the gym. I gotta say I was disappointed at first and was going to return it (for the reasons listed below), but since then was able to compromise/work around them and came to appreciate it's advantages. Here are MY initial cons and my dispositions after 3 days, as well as the pros....you decide how to weigh them:
    Con:
    - Static noise => The noise evidently is induced by the colour display, i.e. it's only there while the display is lit, which isn't usually the case, as the player shuts it off to save battery after a few seconds if the the touchpad isn't used
    - No charger => Oh well, you can either charge it while connected to USB or buy an external charger for a few bucks on ebay
    - No resume feature when changing playlists/changing to FM radio => Bookmarks can do the job just as well, it didn't take me very long to get used to it
    - Slow upload => I still don't like that!
    - Messy/faulty/lacking Media Organizer Software, e.g. external m3u playlists can't be imported directly to the player, freezes up etc. => That is still a big con, but I was told here that a 3rd party software (Notmad) can do everything the Creative software can't, unfortunately it's not free :-( but I guess I will get it.
    Pros:
    - Biggest pro has to be the HUGE memory (8GB) at a s size smaller (i.e. thinner) than the original Zen Micro. I don't think there is one player out there that squeezes that much memory in such a small palyer and still keeping the weight down.
    - Using the custom equalizer settings the sound quality is superb IMO (and I've gone through 3 different mp3 players so far), in contrary to what people have reported here. Enabling the bass booster gives it an extra kick, I like it!
    - Audio normalizer (normalizes all tracks to the same volume), that's a great feature!
    - The display is bright and clear IMO (also contrary to what people said), there are 0 brightness/contrast settings, the highest making it extremely bright and flourescent. Mine is set to 7 which works just fine in daylight.
    - The case seems very sturdy, almost indestructable, I think it's out of metal, no flimsy plastic pieces here as with most players
    - The battery life seems very good, I haven't done a long enough field test yet, but after fully charging it and doing three .5 hour gym sessions, it's still charged more than half.
    - Simply put: FM Tuner!! I refuse to get any Apple product, as they persistently ignore consumers' requests/complaints to add a lousy FM tuner to the iPods. What is Apple's problem anyway?
    Well, the pros outweigh the cons in my case, my older player (Mpio FL00) just can't compete anymore, and iPods are out of the game because a) everybody has one (boring) and b) they have no FM Tuner......so I decided to keep the MicroPhoto hoping I will stay happy with it!

  • Cure to the Zen Micro headphone ja

    [url="http://www.noboundrees.com/Micro_Fix/">
    Zen Micro Audio Jack Fix[/url]
    I haven't tried this yet, so use procautions. If anyone knows if this is legit, please give a reply.

    Yes, I did and it works!
    Got a Zen Micro with a headphone jack problem? I fixed mine very easily. This could also help with other models too. Here?s how:
    Note: disassembling your unit will void any remaining warrantee.
    Problem: The headphone jack solder joints get cracked from the prying force of the headphone plug. This force could be especially severe if you carry your player in your pocket and you?re not careful. It is an engineering problem but unfortuanately hard to prevent on any pocket device due to the design of the industry standard mini-phono headphone plug exerting prying force on the jack.
    You?ll need a tiny Phillips screwdriver, a small pocket knife or small flat screwdriver, a fine soldering iron and some rosin-core solder, and a hot-melt glue gun.
    Begin by sliding the on/off/lock switch to the locked position. Pry up the plastic jack face plate cover. It?s just stuck on with glue. You can replace it again when finished. This exposes two tiny Phillips-head screws. Remove them.
    Slide the battery cover door off. Remove the battery. You?ll notice a metal plate under the battery that serves among other things, to secure the white plastic back cover to the main chassis of the player, and that the metal plate has two tabs that are inserted into slots at the top by the three gold battery contacts. Using your fingernail, slide the metal plate downward away from the battery contacts end. This will disengage the chassis from the back cover.
    Use a small screwdriver to gently pry the bottom of the case out away from the chassis. This disengages a catch holding the chassis to the body. With the bottom of the case pried out, press on the metal plate down a the bottom at the small white circular Creative Labs warrantee seal to swing the chassis out from the white plastic back cover. Gently remove it all the way and set the player chassis aside in a safe place.
    You?ll notice a small circuit board with the jacks and switch in the top of the back cover. It is held to the cover by two tiny Phillips-head screws. Remove them. Remove the circuit board from the back cover. The screws also hold a small metal cover over the jacks. Remove it.
    Carefull remove the existing hot-melt glue from the factory. Take special care not to knick anything with your knife and don?t simply rip the hot melt off, but carefully cut and/or peel it off gently so as not to damage anything.
    Notice 4 leads from the headphone jack are soldered onto the circuit board. If you look closely you?ll probably see that one or more are loose. It's usually the top right one between the headphone and USB jacks. * Solder them again, using more solder than was previously used, but don?t put too much on the top left one as it could come into contact with the little metal jack cover when it is replaced. Solder the 4 USB jack leads (outer cover ones) and the 4 on/off/lock switch leads while you?re at it. Replace the small metal cover to make sure the solder joints for the headphone jack don't come into contact with it.
    Now you?ll want to secure the jacks so that the newly repaired solder joints are not stressed and broken again... but TEST THE REPAIR NOW before glueing. Apply a generous amount of hot-melt adhesi've to the sides, backs and tops of the jacks and IMMEDIATELY replace the small metal cover pressing it quickly down until the mounting holes align. Very carfully remove any excess, taking extreme care not to knick anything.
    Replace the circuit board into the back cover and replace the screws. Pay special attention to the fit. Make sure any extra hot-melt you may have missed removing isn?t interfering with the fit.
    Carefully reassemble the chassis into the back cover, paying special attention to properly align and connect the two socket connectors on either side of the boards, and pressing firmly to ensure proper connectivity. Check the fit. Make sure the top of the display face is exactly aligned flush with the cover when reassembled. Check all the edges of the front face to ensure they are all aligned flush with their corresponding sides of the back cover.
    Replace the small screws on the top by the jacks that attach the back cover to the chassis.
    Replace the stick-on plastic top-end face plate. Slide the metal plate in the battery compartment back up into the locked position. Make sure the 4 tabs on the sides of the plate lock over the corresponding tabs in the sides of the back cover (you can see through 4 holes in the sides)
    Replace the battery and battery cover. Turn the power on. If successful, have a listen. You should hear both sides of the audio while wiggling the headphone plug.
    It?s too bad you have to go through this but your Zen Micro is definitely worth the effort to fix, which you will agree having done it, is easier than it seemed like it would be. You shouldn?t have to do it again, but with the hot-melt for adhesi've, you can, using a little heat.
    * Alternately you can use epoxy cement instead of hotmelt. I personally perefer this method but you have to be competent at electronics rework technicques, in particular, de-soldering of the jack. If you're not comfortable with this then just use the hot-melt. You'll need to de-solder the four jack leads from the circuit board pads and remove the jack. Make sure the leads are straight. Dry-fit the jack to make sure the leads aren't bent from the removal process and dry-test on the pcb to make sure the leads line up with the pads. Mix a pea-sized blob of epoxy cement and apply some on the bottom of the jack, but not enough that it will squish out and interfere with the cover, and position it back on the pcb. Place the jack on the board and line up the leads again on the pads. Re-solder the leads, replace the metal cover, and screw down the cover right away. (don't over-tighten) Reassemble and enjoy.

  • Headphone Jack def

    <SPAN>Got a Zen Micro with a headphone jack problem?<SPAN> I fixed mine very easily.<SPAN> This could also help with other models too.<SPAN> Here?s how:
    <SPAN>Note: disassembling your unit will void any remaining warrantee.
    <SPAN>Problem: The headphone jack solder joints get cracked from the prying force of the headphone plug.<SPAN> This force could be especially severe if you carry your player in your pocket and you?re not careful. It is an engineering problem but unfortuanately hard to prevent on any pocket device due to the design of the industry standard mini-phono headphone plug exerting prying force on the jack.
    <SPAN>You?ll need a tiny Phillips screwdriver, a small pocket knife or small flat screwdriver, a fine soldering iron and some rosin-core solder, and a hot-melt glue gun.
    <SPAN>Begin by sliding the on/off/lock switch to the locked position. Pry up the plastic jack face plate cover.<SPAN> It?s just stuck on with glue. You can replace it again when finished. This exposes two tiny Phillips-head screws. Remove them.
    <SPAN>Slide the battery cover door off.<SPAN> Remove the battery.<SPAN> You?ll notice a metal plate under the battery that serves among other things, to secure the white plastic back cover to the main chassis of the player, and that the metal plate has two tabs that are inserted into slots at the top by the three gold battery contacts.<SPAN> Using your fingernail, slide the metal plate downward away from<SPAN> the battery contacts end. This will disengage the chassis from the back cover.
    <SPAN>Use a small screwdriver to gently pry the bottom of the case out away from the chassis. This disengages a catch holding the chassis to the body. With the bottom of the case pried out, press on the metal plate down a the bottom at the small white circular Creative Labs warrantee seal to swing the chassis out from the white plastic back cover. Gently remove it all the way and set the player chassis aside in a safe place.
    <SPAN>You?ll notice a small circuit board with the jacks and switch in the top of the back cover. <SPAN> It is held to the cover by two tiny Phillips-head screws. Remove them.<SPAN> Remove the circuit board from the back cover. The screws also hold a small metal cover over the jacks. Remove it.<SPAN>
    <SPAN>Carefull remove the existing hot-melt glue from the factory. Take special care not to knick anything with your knife and don?t simply rip the hot melt off, but carefully cut and/or peel it off gently so as not to damage anything.
    <SPAN>Notice 4 leads from the headphone jack are soldered onto the circuit board. If you look closely you?ll probably see that one or more are loose. It's usually the top right one between the headphone and USB jacks. * Solder them again, using more solder than was previously used, but don?t put too much on the top left one as it could come into contact with the little metal jack cover when it is replaced.<SPAN> Solder the 4 USB jack leads (outer cover ones) and the 4 on/off/lock switch leads while you?re at it. Replace the small metal cover to make sure the solder joints for the headphone jack don't come into contact with it.
    <SPAN>Now you?ll want to secure the jacks so that the newly repaired solder joints are not stressed and broken again... If you have any doubts about your re-soldering job you might want to take a few minutes and reassemble and test the repair before using the hot melt. When ready, apply a generous amount of hot-melt adhesi've to the sides, backs and tops of the jacks and IMMEDIATELY replace the small metal cover pressing it quickly down until the mounting holes align. Very carfully remove any excess, taking extreme care not to knick anything.
    <SPAN>Replace the circuit board into the back cover and replace the screws. Pay special attention to the fit.<SPAN> Make sure any extra hot-melt you may have missed removing isn?t interfering with the fit.
    <SPAN>Carefully reassemble the chassis into the back cover, paying special attention to properly align and connect the two socket connectors on either side of the boards, and pressing firmly to ensure proper connectivity. Check the fit.<SPAN> Make sure the top of the display face is exactly aligned flush with the cover when reassembled.<SPAN> Check all the edges of the front face to ensure they are all aligned flush with their corresponding sides of the back cover.
    <SPAN>Replace the small screws on the top by the jacks that attach the back cover to the chassis. <SPAN>
    <SPAN>Replace the stick-on plastic top-end face plate.<SPAN> Slide the metal plate in the battery compartment back up into the locked position. Make sure the 4 tabs on the sides of the plate lock over the corresponding tabs in the sides of the back cover (you can see through 4 holes in the sides)
    <SPAN>Replace the battery and battery cover. Turn the power on.<SPAN> If successful, have a listen. You should hear both sides of the audio while wiggling the headphone plug.
    <SPAN>It?s too bad you have to go through this but your Zen Micro is definitely worth the effort to fix, which you will agree having done it, is easier than it seemed like it would be. You shouldn?t have to do it again, but with the hot-melt for adhesi've, you can, using a little heat.
    <SPAN>* Alternately you can use epoxy cement instead of hotmelt. I personally perefer this method but you have to be competent at electronics rework technicques, in particular, de-soldering of the jack. If you're not comfortable with this then just use the hot-melt. You'll need to de-solder the four jack leads from the circuit board pads and remove the jack. Make sure the leads are straight. Dry-fit the jack to make sure the leads aren't bent from the removal process and dry-test on the pcb to make sure the leads line up with the pads. Mix a pea-sized blob of epoxy cement and apply some on the bottom of the jack, but not enough that it will squish out and interfere with the cover, and position it back on the pcb. Place the jack on the board and line up the leads again on the pads. Re-solder the leads, replace the metal cover, and screw down the cover right away. (don't over-tighten) Reassemble and enjoy.
    Message Edited by watcher on 04-27-2006 0:46 PM

    Very nice.. I didn't need to bother with all those words. Thanks!
    I noticed when I looked at the site above mentioned by SSR that I missed the step about releasing the catch at the bottom of the unit that holds the chassis with the back cover. Hopefully I didn't cause anyone to bust off the tab by leaving this step out.
    Still I think it's a good idea to use the glue or it will likely happen again. The solder pads are pretty small so they might not hold on their own... Still it's easy to take it apart and do it again... but the fewer times you have to do that the better, and also, the pads have been known to delaminate.. then you're stuck with having to use wires AND then you'll HAVE to use glue to hold the jack in place..
    Message Edited by watcher on 2-22-2005 07:00 PM

  • Zen 32GB...is it worth buying

    Hey all...! I've already got a Zen 8GB. So far i am completely satisfied with the product. But i am seriously thinking of buying the 32GB version and the reason is that i want to put in all my favourite movies that i have already converted to .avi I am asking you...does it worth doing that Buying the bigger version for that reason It would be cool having in such a small device all your favourite songs, movies and pictures...but again...will i ever watch some of these movies I know i'll do it a couple of times at work, especially when i work the night shift... What do you think about that...have it mostly as an mp3 player or something more Message Edited by sambora on 0-25-20082:46 PM

    40 movies.. wow, that's quite some collection you are planning to upload to a device the size of a credit card! :P Anyway, this should be entirely up to you, though, as it is your money and your final decision. As others pointed out earlier, it would probably be worth checking out a few SDHC cards first and see if they would?satisfy your needs before going further. Apple is Apple and has been forcing users of iPods to use iTunes, and as far as I know, you still have to use it if you want to buy copy protected contents and transferring it to an iPod. I don't know about drag and drop, you best ask someone away from here, who has an iPod :P?So you are complaining about the plastic becoming scratched? Well, I'll let you know that iPods are just as susceptible to scratches as these devices. The back of an iPod is metal and you see every single scratch on it. I use Creative's own "Clear Case" to protect my player, and I don't have a single scratch on my player, except for some where the front buttons are (which aren't covered). You are right about the ZEN 32GB being more expensi've than iPod Classic 80GB. This is because that iPod uses a hard dri've instead of the flash memory that the ZEN uses. Flash memory has many more advantages over a HDD-based player, but is also more expensi've per GB. This technology use less power, is much, much less vulnerable in case of shocks (no mechanically moving parts to damage in the memory module if you drop the player) and players equipped with this kind of memory can be built much smaller.Message Edited by de_zwaluw on 0-26-200803:03 AM

  • Creative Zen V Plus - Worth

    I paid $03 for this stupid thing. It constantly freezes and my screen is dim, I can barely see it. It was fine when I first bought it. The screen was bright and it played just fine. But now I can barely see my frickin screen and it keeps freezing during some songs and I can't turn it off or reboot it. I just have to let it sit until it decides to unfreeze. So far, this ZEN V Plus was not worth my money and I'm debating on taking it back unless someone can tell me how to fix it.

    Squeeshie wrote:
    I paid $03 for this stupid thing. It constantly freezes and my screen is dim, I can barely see it. It was fine when I first bought it. The screen was bright and it played just fine. But now I can barely see my frickin screen and it keeps freezing during some songs and I can't turn it off or reboot it. I just have to let it sit until it decides to unfreeze. So far, this ZEN V Plus was not worth my money and I'm debating on taking it back unless someone can tell me how to fix it.
    Dark screen means (almost certainly) hardware fault. Similar thing happened to me. I got a replacement from the retailer & it's been fine since (3 months so far).
    The freezing stuff might indicate that the file system is unhappy. Might be fixed by 'Clean Up' or 'Format' (see Recovery Mode sticky above).
    Most times you can unfreeze it using the reset switch.
    Updating to latest firmware might also help.
    But not much use with a knackered screen...

  • Zen Vision:M, worth upgradi

    My Zen Micro can't start up and be formatted. It's not a year yet. I'll send it back to Creative for warranty and decided to buy a new one. I think Zen Vision:M is quite good but I'm still considering due to its irreplacable battery plus the inconvenient Sync Adaptor. Is it worth buying? And did anyone buy it at the Creative's Store? Is a power adapter included? It's only $285 with power adaptor at Circuitcity (5 bucks is a big deal for me). I wonder if the quality is the same. My last two Zen Micros was bought at Circuitcity and Creative, they're a bit different, the one at Creative's better.
    Please give me your opinions you guys.
    Thanks!

    It seems you dont know too much about these players, well thats ok thats why your here right? Well i have the Vision:M, so i can tell you its a really great player. Though you must realize this thing plays video. Sure its a cool feature and consequently the screen is amazing but if your using your MP3 player while your doing everything the Vision:M is too precious for that. 285$ is a good deal, and yes it does come with a power adapter. No company makes cheaper versions of the same product, if anything maybe a manufactural error was fixed...what is the difference between the two?
    You might want to ask yourself why your player is so messed up before you buy a 285$ vision:m (which scartches unlike your Micros).
    Ask yourself what you need in these respects:
    -what features do you NEED
    -how much storage?
    -flash, or harddri've
    -most you will spend
    -how often and what you use the player for

  • Creative, Is it worth it? (i.e. whats your experience with the Zen 16gb) and Firmware questi

    After doing a sizable amount of research on the Creative Zen 6gb MP3 player, I was relati'vely comfortable with the product and decided to purchase it.
    However, after browsing this forum for a few hours, I see quite a few things that trouble me about Creative in general:
    "Real person" my (CENSORED) -horrible customer support
    Creative Expects 3rd Quarter Loss, Sells HQ Building?
    Message to Daniel_K -lack of product support/customer relations
    and a countless number of other posts about hardware and software issues with the Zen
    I really like the features built into the MP3 player (FM transmitter, voice recorder, Equalizer) and do not want to sell my soul to Ipod.
    That being said, I wanted to see if there was anyone on this forum that actually liked their Zen and did not have issues with it.
    I would greatly appreciate your positi've feedback as I hope that I will not have to spend countless more hours searching for and then researching a different MP3 player that fits my needs.
    In addition, I was curious about the user interface on the Zen. I know that it uses ID3 tagging and that a folder directory cannot be used to view mp3s on the player (unless this has been added in a firmware update?, however I checked the site and did not see anything about this addition). How impeding is this ID3 tagging reliance if about 00 to 500 of my mp3s have incorrect tagging? as in, will I go crazy trying to retag everything because all I see if "Unknown" for all the data?
    Yeah, that's about it for my long winded post...
    Thanks,
    Joe?

    Just return from Mexico and found my Zen 4 GB player missing from a light finger baggage handler. I would not even consider, in a thousand years, of purchasing from the "fruit company" their overprice Ipod without a FM receiver. The Creative Zen rocks. Need I say more.

  • Help me - Zen Touch from a zen usb 2 - Is it worth

    I have a 60gb usb2 mp3 zen player. The battery and general condition of the unit is beginning to show its age.
    4 Questions....
    ) What functionality would I be losing/gaining from switching players.
    2) Is the archos 80gb or iri'ver h340 in your opinion better players?
    3) Will it definately be napster to go compatible.
    4) What are everyones positi'ves/negati'ves about this player?
    I would appreciate anyones help to these questions as I am on the verge of going to Dixons tomorrow to purchase the 40gb model.
    Thanks

    nparrett: I'd be surprised if the battery has problems as they should last around 3 years before peak performance drops off.
    I'll leave the comparison with the Touch to the other reply. Not sure about the Archos player but the iRi'ver gets good reviews and is certainly feature packed. You'll have to look at the detail to see if it's a better player for you. Napster to Go support is coming for the Touch.

  • Zen Nano Plus Price Drop; Are they dumping these due to problems? Worth buyi

    The GB Nano Plus is only $70; $60 for GB Nano. This is on Creative's own website as well as Amazon.com
    http://us.creative.com/shop/shopcategory.asp?category=23
    The specs are everything I want in a device for running / mtn biking / hiking. There's only one thing that keeps me from hitting "Buy": I get the feeling that creative is dumping this whole line due to problems (hence the huge price drop recently).
    Is it safe to buy this thing? Is creative responsi've to warranty requests? What's the deal with only 90 days of service on a -year warranty?
    As a current owner, would you jump on this player at it's current price point or tell me to RUN AWAY due to the problems it has?

    ssjmichael wrote:
    There's no problems. There's been a drop in flash memory prices so they can sell them cheaper. Additionally they are streamlining their products so they are trying to sell their old stuff and make way for newer players. Two new flash players are expected later this month.
    -Michael
    Maybe it's because I'm seeing a biased sample of owners? If you are happy with your product, maybe you are less likely to come to these forums and less likely to post a review on Amazon?
    On Amazon, about /5 of the reviews were -star due to mechanical problems (battery door, won't turn on, turns off after 5 seconds, other problems...)
    On this website, about 50% of the posts are about problems. But I guess forums tend to be the place for that...
    So, do you actually own one of these and has it been good to you? If you read too many forum posts it can really scare you away from almost any MP3 playing product...

  • Helpful hints for new Creative Zen MP3 2/4/8/16/32 GB (flash) Users On

    Summary of helpful hints (from this forum and me) for new Creative Zen MP3 2/4/8/6/32 GB (flash) Users Only!
    Rev..
    Date: 4/28/2008
    Author: ZenAndy
    Creative terminology:
    MP3 Player Recovery Tool - A program that resolves the majority of player problems quickly.
    One click is all it takes to update your player to the latest available firmware, and to give your player a clean bill of health.
    Link: http://www.creative.com/products/mp3...me.asp region=
    Note: You can also go to "Creative" "Support" "downloads" choose your MP3 Player type to obtain the latest firmware and software releases.
    Note: On your Zen you can look under "System" & "Information" and then compare the firmware download
    releases OR you can have the "MP3 Player Recovery Tool" (above) do it for you automatically.
    Note: Creative Zen 4/8/6 GB "MP3 Recovery Tool" DOES NOT stop on a firmware comparison match.
    Note: All firmware releases/revisons for the 4/8/6 GB Zen also works (is the same as) for the 2 GB & 32 GB Zen.
    Recovery Mode - If you experience one or more of the following symptoms, it is recommended that you boot the player into its unique Recovery Mode, and then clean up, format or reload the firmware.
    . The player is not detected in Creative MediaSource or Windows Media Player
    2. The battery does not last as expected
    3. Your computer stops responding during file transfers
    4. There is a power outage during file transfers
    5. There is an error about firmware
    6. LCD displays a "Firmware Problem" message
    7. Your player is not responding.
    8. The player is performing erratically.
    Getting Started
    . Load your Creative Zen software from CD FIRST and BEFORE plugging the Zen MP3 player, using the short cable, into the PC USB port to charge it.
    2. Try charging the Zen MP3 player directly from the USB port on the PC. If not, make sure the USB Hub you are using is adequately powered to provide full charging current to the Zen player. Also, try to have the Zen MP3 player as the only USB device, if possible, on the USB hub.
    Some/most Creative Zen flash MP3 Music players come "fully discharged" so, in the mean time, just read the manuals.
    FULLY charge the Zen MP3 player for several hours (~4.0 hrs max) until the battery symbol is NOT flashing AND the battery symbol/icon has a small plug/key symbol in the middle.
    After the first full charge - additional charging is much quicker about 2 /4 hours. (From 0% empty to full)
    3. Go to Creative/Support/Downloads and check for the latest software releases for the Creative Zen. Then check on your Zen MP3 player under System/Information for your firmware revision. Make sure you have the latest software downloaded on your PC and firmware on your Zen MP3 player. < Latest revision [.2.0] 28Feb08>
    OR
    You can run MP3 Player Recovery Tool - see above.
    4. In some cases you might have to do the Recovery Mode "paper clip reset" to get the Zen MP3 flash player started.
    See the Zen User's Guide FAQ. The paper clip reset hole is on the bottom edge below the music pause/run switch.
    (Not the slotted mic hole on the top edge of the player near the earphone jack and SD card slot!!!)
    5. My preference is to have the player shutdown/off before inserting and removing the earphone/headphone plug.
    Recovery Mode Using The Paper Clip OR
    Alternati've Method For Recovery Mode Without The Paper Clip.
    Why use it's
    If you experience one or more of the following symptoms:
    . The player is not detected in Creative MediaSource or Windows Media Player
    2. The battery does not last as expected
    3. Your computer stops responding during file transfers
    4. There is a power outage during file transfers
    5. There is an error about firmware
    6. LCD displays a "Firmware Problem" message
    7. Your player is not responding.
    8. The player is performing erratically.
    Save a copy of your player's content, if possible, before cleaning up the memory!
    Recovery Mode Using The Paper Clip Reset Method
    #. Turn off player if not already turned off
    #2. Press/hold play/pause button. If you accidentally release
    the button, start this reset procedure over again.
    #3. Gently push the end of a metal paper clip into the reset hole on
    the botton edge below the play/pause switch.
    (Do not use the slotted mic hole at the top edge near the earphone jack)
    #4. Slide the on/off/lock switch towards the on position - slide it to the botton hold
    until the display lights up and then release.
    #5. The recovery mode screen appears and four menu items are shown - see below
    <Alternati've Method For Recovery Mode Without The Paper Clip>
    #. Turn off player if not already turned off
    #2. Press/hold play/pause button. If you accidentally release
    the button, start this reset procedure over again.
    #3. Slide the on/off/lock switch towards the on position - slide it to the botton hold
    until the display lights up and then release. Be patient and wait!
    #4. The recovery mode screen appears and four menu items are shown:
    < Clean Up> - cleans, rebuilds and reorganizes your player's memory and restores it to optimal efficiency.
    When the cleanup is complete, select Reboot. Your player restarts and starts rebuilding its music library.
    Note: Your player's firmware is reset to default settings after your player's memory is cleaned up.
    Note: This procedure the hide/show password is reset.
    <2 Format All>- Warning - Formatting your player erases all content on your player's memory and resets your player's firmware to default settings. If possible, back up all data on your player before proceeding.
    Also, you can do this from the PC see Zen User's Guide. FAQ
    <3 Reload Firmware> - Caution !!!! Selecting Reload Firmware erases your player's firmware.
    DO NOT select Reload Firmware unless you have downloaded a newer firmware version for your player, or have been advised to do so by Creative Customer Support.
    Note: My advice when loading/replacing firmware is to connect directly
    to the PC USB port without using a USB hub.
    <4 Reboot> Restarts the player just like the "on/off/lock switch" when switched ON.
    Note: Having NO battery energy/charge/juice this procedure will not work.
    Lithium-Ion Polymer Battery Hints
    Ref:
    http://www.omnica.com/omniview_electronics2.htm
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_ion_battery
    . Allow the battery to completely discharge from time-to-time then recharge it fully.
    2. Lithium-Ion batteries loses about 5%- 0% capacity per month.
    3. Lithium-Ion polymer batteries have about 300-500 discharge/charge cycles.
    4. A half full battery indication (50% @ /2 the battery color) used up about 24 hrs worth of battery. Below 50% the indication goes fairly fast to the max of 30 hrs. Note: The battery level indication seems non-linear through out its range.
    5. Battery is Empty~0% - warning screen will appear on LCD and player might shutdown.
    6. Battery is Full- 00% with battery symbol NOT flashing AND plug/key symbol in the center of the battery.
    7. It takes about 2 /4 hours to charge the battery from empty to full.
    8. It takes about 4 hours max to charge a "New" Zen player shipped from the factory.
    9. There is a battery manufactuer's failure rate, which is normal ~ % or less, in which the Lithium-Ion Polymer battery refuses to charge. Creative, ships the Zen MP3 players with some or no charge so there is very small probability that you could have one. I call it the "Deep Six Discharge Battery" Contact/call Creative for replacement.
    Documentation
    There are several pieces of documentation you might need to read to fully understand and use your Creative Zen MP3 flash player to its fullest capabilities.
    #. Zen Users Guide "English" - For Zen MP3 Player - download from Creative/Support/Product documentation
    #2. Zen Quick Users Guide /Front/Back - download from Creative/Support/Product documentation
    #3. Sync Manager (Creative Zen) Click on sync symbol on PC task bar then help
    #4. Creative Zen Media Explorer - Just look under the main help menu
    #5. Windows Media Player <if used>(Microsoft)Use the help files with this program.
    General Tips to increase/decrease the playing time on your Creative Zen flash player.
    <Creative Battery Spec: 5 Hrs. Video & "UP TO" 30 Hrs. Audio/Songs>
    Please do the following:
    . Volume control lower/higher - higher volume settings will decrease playing times. This is logical. More output "volume power" decreases the battery juice.
    2. Audio Settings: EQ, Smart Vol, & Bass Boost will effect your playing time but I believe they are not critical as the Volume & Bit Rates(28 kbsp and others) / File Format (MP3,WMA) & Lock Switch.
    3. Bit Rates & File Formats Do Matter. Bit Rates and File formats will increase/decrease your playing time.
    Per Catherina-CL
    "WMA files will use up more power than MP3 files, and higher bitrates more so than standard ones (like 28kbps MP3). Best thing to do is rip an album in 28kbps MP3 and leave it playing in a loop on a normal volume level. See how long the battery lasts then."
    Please Note: The main difference between MP3 and WMA is the compression. According to Microsoft a 64KBPS WMA file is the same quality 28KBPS MP3. This is of course up to a person's preference but you may find you can get better compression out of WMA.
    4. FULLY CHARGE your Zen. This means the battery symbol is NOT flashing AND there is a plug/key symbol embedded within the battery symbol. The battery is 00% FULL under BOTH conditions. Having just the battery symbol all green will not do it.
    From the link:
    http://www.omnica.com/omniview_electronics2.htm
    Regarding lithium-ion shelf life, one of our engineers recently met with a battery-house representati've. It has come to their attention that repeated charging and re-charging of a less than fully discharged Li-ion cell affects the battery "gas gauge" included with many devices. Over a number of cycles there is a resultant loss in accuracy. Frequently, the indicated remaining charge has little relationship to the actual amount of life left in the cell! Fortunately, according to the battery expert, the gauge will reset itself if the battery is allowed to completely discharge from time-to-time.
    5. Having different types of earphones/headphones will increase or decrease the playing time by how much "electronic load" the earphones/headphones create on the Zen player. There are some power hungry earphones/headphones out there.
    The 6 ohm earbuds conserves battery power more than the 32 ohm earbuds supplied by Creative. (About 0% more)
    6. Always, always lock your Zen player while playing music. This cuts off the power drain from the color 2.5" LCD and blank the LCD screen. After all, you can't read the LCD screen if it is in your shirt pocket and playing music!
    7. Make sure you have the latest firmware upgrades in order to get the best of your Creative Zen Flash MP3 Player.
    Troubleshooting
    Your Creative Zen is extremely complex.
    Check this link to peek inside player http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archi...isassembly.php
    Also, this link:
    http://arstechnica.com/journals/hard...ssor-behind-it
    There could be a million things that could go wrong with your player so you will not be the FIRST or LAST to have a problem. Keep in mind, there are many, many others that have the Zen with no problems whatsoever. Things happen, but Creative is there to help.
    Dropping a Zen or any other player might/will/possibly ruin the player for good!!!
    Since this player is solid-state (no moving parts e.g. mini-disk dri've) then the only thing that will keep it from running for years is the non-user replaceable Lithium-Ion battery. I will concentrate on some troubleshooting tips which are battery related but I hope you have already the latest firmware downloaded and installed on your player
    Battery - Lithium-Ion Polymer
    #. Battery won't charge "out of the box" new player.
    A. First, read above "Getting Started"
    B. Next, try a different USB mini cable.
    C. Next, there is a battery manufactuer's failure rate < %, in which the Lithium-Ion Polymer battery refuses to charge.
    Creative, ships the Zen MP3 players with no charge so there is very small probability thatyou could have one.
    I call it the "Deep Six Discharge Battery" Call / Contact Creative.
    #2. Battery won't charge properly after using the player for some time.
    A. When you plug in your player into the USB port via mini USB patch cable, the connection resets the player to the "docked screen" with the battery level gas guage , in the right hand corner.
    Sometimes this action does not reset the player properly but there is no indication to you that the player is charging.
    Just disconnect/connect the USB cable again.
    B. Sometimes, the Zen player gets confused and you have to do a Recovery Mode "paper clip reset" which forces the player into a "special menu screen" to clean-up the player and to reset the player which allows showing the "docked screen" while charging the unit. See Zen User's Guide for explicit instruction und FAQ.
    C. Since the Zens came out late in 2007, the maximum of 300-500 charge/discharge should not apply YETbut users beware, as with any other Lithium-Ion Polymer battery it will not charge fully "like new"because of a " fixed shelf life" (2-3 yrs) OR too many charge/discharge cycles. A battery replacement is in order.
    Methods of charging the Creative Zen MP3
    . The short mini-standard USB cable provided by Creative from the factory. Plugs into a PC USB port.
    2. Uni'versal Power Adapter (Creative) plugs into the wall. Works "anywhere in the world"
    Note: Different countries have different wall AC voltages and hertz requirements. This has adapters for different countries/locations wall outlets and a uni'versal power supply for all voltage and hertz requirements.
    Note: This is a heavy duty high/fast charging wall outlet charging adapter. (2400 ma)
    3. Auto/Vehicle 2 VDC charger (Creative) or other compatible vehicle 2 VDC to USB charger.
    4. EARHUGGER IPOD POWER POD - MP3-8370 (White compact module)
    http://www.earhugger.com/powerPod.html
    http://www.amazon.com/Earhugger-MP3-.../dp/B000QTTKSS
    This compact module will solve all the following travel modes and conditions:
    . Camping, hiking or outdoor travel - no PC or noAC or maybe no auto/car.
    2. Airplane travel - no PC or no AC or no auto/car.
    3. Train/subway travel - no PC or no auto/car
    4. Car travel - no PC or no AC
    5. Foot travel - no PC or no AC or no auto/car
    It uses 4 ways to charge the Zen:
    . Retractable mini-standard USB cord for PC charging. <--- does not communicate with PC! - only for charging
    2. Retractable mini USB cord for auto/vehicle charging (Fused)
    3. Retractable mini USB cord for wall 0-20 VAC 50/60Hz charging. (non-international use plug style)
    4. 9 VDC battery terminal for using standard alkaline 9 VDC or high ma Lithium 9 VDC to charge the Zen via
    mini USB cable. Note:You might need several alkaline batteries to charge the internal 550 ma hr Zen battery!
    Great for remote destinations.
    5. Rechargeable portable battery packs.
    Black & Decker has several "Power To Go"models CPI0B-C & CPI20XB (not for international use because of 20 AC 60Hz only charging wall wart)
    Note: There are other brands that also do this method of charging.
    http://www.blackanddecker.com/Produc...Path=4033.4040
    You charge this portable NiMH battery pack from the AC wall outlet so you can carry with you on trips to charge the Zen.
    6. Mobile phone chargers. Some have a mini-USB plug for charging the phone but it could be used to charge the Zen BUT BEWARE IT COULD RUIN THE ZEN IF IT IS NOT COMPATIBLE! The output should have a voltage of 5 VDC +- 5% (4.75-5.25 VDC) ON THE PROPER MINI-USB PINS and a charging current at least 200 ma to 2400 ma. See this forum for the recommend phone phone chargers to use with the Zen.
    Note: You are charging an internal Lithium-ion polymer 550 mahr battery in the Zen so the lower the charging current the longer it takes to charge.
    Note: You will find that charging the Zen from the wall charger is much faster than the "current limited" charging on the standard PC USB port.
    Note: For diagnostic purposes and emergency charging of the Zen it is wise to have an external (non-PC) charging device for your Zen.
    Note: Only the battery charging symbol shows up on the Zen when using an external charger.
    Scratches
    All plastic screens will scratch, doesn't matter which type you have.
    For minor scratches you could use the Novus three part cleaner, polish and scratch remover system. Do not use the #3 coarse abrasi've in this system! Be extremely careful in using this product !!!! Please check the web.
    OR
    Low abrasi've toothpase <--- some say this works
    OR
    CD scratch remover/repair kit <---- have not tried this.
    The Zen (Flash) MP3 glass LCD screen is covered by the overlay plastic you see on the front. Worst case, you can have only the outer shell repaired and replaced by Creative.
    To prevent scratches in the first place:
    Use the Zen cloth bag which comes with the unit (sometimes ) to prevent scratches.
    OR
    Buy the Zen clear plastic case (Clear Case #70AB2600002). Sold by Creative.< I use this>
    OR
    Buy an clear plastic overlay. (Screen protector #70AB2600003) which goes over the LCD protector screen for protection. Sold by Creative.
    OR
    Also, you can cut up a "generic" PDA screen protector to fit the Zen.
    OR
    Obtain a "digital camera lcd screen protector" from a camera store or internet
    OR
    "Invisible shield" -The best protection money can buy
    http://www.zagg.com/invisibleshield/...ns-shields.php
    How to destroy your Zen - WHAT NOT TO DO
    . Leave it in the auto/car/vehicle - the vehicle inside heats up 20-35 F higher than the outside temperature.
    2. Leave it outside in freezing temperature 0C 32F. The LCD will freeze/discolor/absorb water.
    Note: It is remotely possible it could recover when warm-up at room temperature.
    Note: Just keep the Zen near your body heat when outside in freezing temperatures.
    3. Dropping it might cause the LCD screen to crack or loosen up the internal connections to the electronics or short out the internal electronics.
    Note: Use a protecti've case to cushion the blow from dropping the Zen.
    4. Dropping or submerging or getting the Zen wet in water might short out the electronics and battery.
    You could prevent destruction by immediately shaking the Zen vigorously in open air to dry it out.
    5. Sitting on it could flex the electronics and short or open circuits which would cause a defecti've/faulty Zen.
    <A bit of humor ... There is No Santa Claus, Easter Bunny or Tooth fairy and Creative does NOT give away money. If you destroy or damage your Zen you will pay not Creative>
    How can you tell if your Zen is defecti've/faulty
    . A "white screen" or a "totally blank black screen" shows up on the Zen LCD.
    2. You cannot force the Zen into the special "Recovery Mode" menu screen.
    3. The Zen refuses to "take a charge"(To charge up the internal Lithium-Ion Polymer battery)
    4. The Zen LCD is cracked or distorted due to dropping or handling abuse.
    5. The Zen clock does not keep accurate time (within 2 mins max per month)
    Contact Creative if any of the above faults occur - the Zen is bad and nothing you can do will fix it!
    WSOD "White Screen of Death"
    The "White Screen of Death" is really caused by a hardware problem. You see, the internal Freescale/SigmaTel STMP3700 MP3 processor has to write to the LCD. If this operation is prevented by internal electronic opens or shorts, bad STMP3700, locked-up firmware, bad LCD or any other electronic component failure then the CPU might/will halt and refuse to write to the LCD which will be reflected in a "white screen of death" I cannot cover all the causes of the "white screen of death" but rest assured Creative should pick these problems up in their quality control manufacturing process with a 99% success rate. Problems do show up after the manufacturing process but Creative has warranty protection for this other % fault rate. (Which is normal in electronics manufacturing)
    Media Content
    Listening to the built-in music on the Zen is OK but after a while your question now becomes "What else can I do with my Zen "
    Note: The "How to" instructions for adding Media content can be found in the Zen documentation.
    Terminology:
    Album: Collection of tracks or songs under one "album" title.
    Artist: Track or song artist
    DRM: Digital rights management - copy protection scheme - Zen cannot use music with this music protection scheme. (itunes) (But "itunes plus" will work)
    Genres: Type or kind of music
    <The following genres are defined in ID3v>
    Blues,Classic Rock,Country,Dance,Disco,Funk,Grunge,Hip-Hop,Jazz,Metal,New Age,Oldies,Other,Pop,
    R&B,Rap,Reggae,Rock,Techno,Industrial,Alternati've ,Ska,Death Metal,Pranks,Soundtrack,Euro-Techno,
    Ambient,Trip-Hop,Vocal,Jazz+Funk,Fusion,Trance,Classical,Instru mental,Acid,House,Game,Sound Clip,
    Gospel,Noise,AlternRock,Bass,Soul,Punk,Space,Medit ati've,Instrumental Pop,Instrumental Rock,
    Ethnic,Gothic,Darkwave,Techno-Industrial,Electronic,Pop-Folk,Eurodance,Dream,Southern Rock,
    Comedy,Cult,Gangsta,Top 40,Christian Rap,Pop/Funk,Jungle,Nati've American,Cabaret,New Wave,
    Psychadelic,Rave,Showtunes,Trailer,Lo-Fi,Tribal,Acid Punk,Acid Jazz,Polka,Retro,Musical,Rock & Roll,
    Hard Rock
    <The following genres are Winamp extensions>
    Folk,Folk-Rock,National Folk,Swing,Fast Fusion,Bebob,Latin,Revival,Celtic,Bluegrass,Avantg arde,
    Gothic Rock,Progressi've Rock,Psychedelic Rock,Symphonic Rock,Slow Rock,Big Band,Chorus,
    Easy Listening,Acoustic,Humour,Speech,Chanson,Opera,Cha mber Music,Sonata,Symphony,
    Booty Bass,Primus,Porn Groove,Satire,Slow Jam,Club,Tango,Samba,Folklore,Ballad,Power Ballad,
    Rhythmic Soul,Freestyle,Duet,Punk Rock,Drum Solo,A capella,Euro-House,Dance Hall
    <A bit of humor: I think the above Genres lists are missing two - "elevator music" & Crying and Whining e.g. Country Western>
    ID3 Tags: Internal file information associated with an Mp3 or wav audio file. This format contains
    Track number, Album name/title, Genre, Artist and Song Title which can be sorted and indexed by
    the Zen device.
    IPTV: Is a system where a digital television service is deli'vered using Internet Protocol over a network infrastructure, which may include deli'very by a broadband connection. http://zencast.com/
    JPEG: Is a commonly used method of compression for photographic images.
    This is the only photo format used by the Zen.
    MP3 and WMA music tracks: Music format used by the Zen.
    Note: Having the wrong bit rates will drain the Zen battery faster. (See above)
    MP3: Is a digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression.
    Non-protected AAC: Files are regular AAC files without any DRM: they can be converted to other formats (like MP3) and can be played on an unlimited amount of devices and burned an unlimitd amount of times. They have no restrictions.
    Podcast: Is a series of digital-media files which are distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and computers. http://zencast.com/
    Protected AAC: Files are AAC audio files that contain DRM (Digital Rights Management), most often music purchased from the iTunes store. The Creative Zen cannot use these files.
    Note: "Itunes Plus Store" have songs without DRM which the Zen can use.
    Ripping CDs: Copying tracks from an audio CD on a PC and downloading tracks to the Zen.
    Note: Use the Creative Zen Media Explorer for ripping audio CD is one method.
    Song Title: Name of song or track
    Track Number: Numerical number of track of CD album.
    Track: General name for song or song title.
    Unprotected AAC format: Music format used by the Zen
    WMA:Is an audio data compression technology developed by Microsoft. The name can be used to refer to its audio file format or its audio codecs.
    WAV: (or WAVE), short for Waveform audio format, is a Microsoft and IBM audio file format standard for storing an audio bitstream on PCs.
    Note: The Zen's built-in microphone produces this audio file format.
    Zen Audio Format:MP3, WMA, WAV, non-protected AAC (.m4a), Audible (2, 3, 4)
    Zen Media Content: Video, Music, Audio, Photos/Images transferred/dowloaded into the Zen
    Zen Photo Format:JPEG
    Note: You can copy/drag/paste JPEG photos from your PC to your Zen for viewing.
    Note: You can import photos & view photos from the SD card.
    Zencast Organizer: Seamlessly integrates ZENcast media files with Creative portable media players and/or your computer
    Zen Video Format:MJPEG, WMV9 and (with transcoding - MPED4-SP, DivX 4/5 and XviD)
    Warning - In some countries (including the US) its illegal to do:
    Copying audio DVD & DVDs
    Defeating DRM MP3 Music (Digital Rights Management)
    Intercepting/copying (non purchased) music.
    Downloading music/songs from an illegal or "free" rouge website.
    General Media Content links:
    http://pro-music.org/Content/GetMusi...lineStores.php
    Note: Check to see if your music files/tracks contains ID3 tags.
    Note: ZEN also supports iTunes Plus tracks from the iTunes store,
    Note: The following media content is only a small fraction of means and ways
    of collecting/dowloading media content to the Zen.
    Media Content from Creative Website(s)
    Note: The Media Content can be found under "Fill your Zen" on the bottom of the Creative Zen product page.
    http://zencast.com/
    ZENcast is the ultimate source for free IPTV channels, video blogs and podcasts on the Internet. It provides quick and easy access to a wide range of interesting and entertaining video and audio content online.
    http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/cre...seBVCookie=Yes
    Audible.com - Audible.comis the Internet s leading audio provider of bestselling audio books, comedy programs and today s most relevant magazines and newspapers
    http://creative.vongo.com/
    VONGO is the video download service that gives you instant access to over 2500 hit movie and video selections from Starz .
    Watch movies whenever, wherever on your ZEN. A great entertainment venue for watching movies while on the road or on the go.
    http://www.napster.com/creative/
    Transfer unlimited music to your ZEN without paying per song.
    With Napster To Go you can:
    Choose from over 5 million songs, plus new releases every week
    Play music instantly from any internet-connected computer
    Find old favorites and discover new music by exploring playlists, radio, Billboard charts and more
    Create a library of your favorite music and build custom playlists.
    http://www.emusic.com/ZEN
    Choose from over ,500,000 songs
    Burn unlimited CDs
    Compatible with every MP3 player
    No confusing restrictions-Own your music!
    http://www.lala.com/frontend/action/...=user:2672@223
    Why pay 99per song when you can get the whole album for $At lala.com, you can trade your used CDs for new music.
    .8 million titles available for trade. CD quality guaranteed.
    Every CD you receive is yours to keep - no restrictions.
    Pay only $ per CD received. No monthly fees or commitments. Sign up is FREE.
    http://www.amazon.com/b/ &node=62663
    Buy or Rent Movies Online
    Watch DVD-quality video downloads on your PC or ZEN
    Conveniently download from your PC at work to your PC at home
    Discover thousands of TV shows & movies available for download
    I started this thread in April 08 to help other new Creative Zen MP3 (Flash) users. If there are common threads that are posted from new users then I try to make a section to inform other new users in solving their similar problems. I cannot believe that this thread was viewed over 0,000 times! Thank you for your "viewing" support.
    Please note: This thread is constantly changing so check back for any new helpful hints, problem solving, troubleshooting and practical solutions for the Creative Zen.
    "The Creative ZenR O C K S"
    Zenandy
    Message Edited by Zenandy on 08--2008 08:26 AM

    Hi,
    I'm from germany so no 'best buy' but I think I will lock around sleeve/bag for a different product with same measures. Any tip?
    The clear plastic case is not what I want. I would like to use the player without such protections. I just want a sleeve to protect the player while its in my jacket/pants.
    Btw, i have bought this version: Creative Zen (maybe european version?). I also doesn't seem to have your mentioned sleeve. I also couldn't find it on the website.
    Anyway, thank you,
    Chris

  • Zen Touch latest Firmware Update...player not connec

    I tried installing the latest Firmware update for my Zen Touch (released 2-09).
    The player is connected and recognized by Windows and the Media Explorer. However, when I try to install the new Firmware it keeps saying "player not connected".
    I tried d/l two different language packages cause I wasn't sure what counted - player language or operating system langauge. Anyway, that didn't make a difference.
    So what do I do? I have no idea where to start. It's firmware for the correct device connected through Windows XP.
    I have made a firmware update before, which worked fine. After that I updated the media explorer software.
    Help is very much appreciated! Thank you in advance.
    -tina-Message Edited by tinas on 2-0-2005 08:56 PMMessage Edited by tinas on 2-0-2005 09:00 PM

    Perhaps it's worth making sure no software is using the player, so reboot the PC, and turn off the Creative Detector. Then try again.
    Are you trying to upgrade to the .0.03 version?

  • 30gb Zen Vision M problem

    Hi, I'm currently running Vista and my Zen Vsion M upto now has been working fine.
    My firmware version is .30.02
    Recently, everytime I transfer media from my computer to the player, the transfer is normally unsucessful or for example, half an album is transfered. (I then receive a message about skipping the transfer as the device has stopped being recognised),
    I therefore tried to "clean up" the player and then formated it via the recovery mode. However this hasn't helped at all, I'm now I'm stuck trying to transfer media to the player.
    The only time the player seems to be able to transfer media is immediately after it has "rebuilt" itself, after I use the reset button.
    But after about albums worth of transferring, I get the message about skipping/skip all/cancel, after I receive this message the player is then unrecognisable to the computer and will only be recognised again after being reset once or twice.
    I've also tried downloading the firmware MP3 recovery tool, however everytime I try to upgrade, I receive the message: "Upgrade failed!"
    Is there anyway one can upgrade the player's firmware without using the MP3 recovery tool?
    Or does ?anyone have any better suggestions?
    Many thanks, jamflan

    jamflan wrote:
    Hi, I'm currently running Vista and my Zen Vsion M upto now has been working fine.
    My firmware version is .30.02
    Recently, everytime I transfer media from my computer to the player, the transfer is normally unsucessful or for example, half an album is transfered. (I then receive a message about skipping the transfer as the device has stopped being recognised),
    I therefore tried to "clean up" the player and then formated it via the recovery mode. However this hasn't helped at all, I'm now I'm stuck trying to transfer media to the player.
    The only time the player seems to be able to transfer media is immediately after it has "rebuilt" itself, after I use the reset button.
    But after about albums worth of transferring, I get the message about skipping/skip all/cancel, after I receive this message the player is then unrecognisable to the computer and will only be recognised again after being reset once or twice.
    I've also tried downloading the firmware MP3 recovery tool, however everytime I try to upgrade, I receive the message: "Upgrade failed!"
    Is there anyway one can upgrade the player's firmware without using the MP3 recovery tool?
    Or does ?anyone have any better suggestions?
    Many thanks, jamflan?
    Sounds like your hardri've is failing & will need replacing. Not hard to do & less exspensi've than buying a new player with all the features it has. This site has all you need including how to do it. On the left side of that page checkout the You Tube channel link http://www.thegadgetdr.com/Creative-...Parts-s/25.htm

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