Cannot upgrade firmware on new Zen

Question

So, I've got the new 6gb zen, I have XP SP2, installed wmp, then installed the software that came with the player, got the upgrades from creatives website... went to upgrade the player... "player not connect" - connect player (it charges so IS connected) and nothing.
Done all the usual, uninstalled everything, re-installed it all and nothing has changed.
I cannot see the Zen at all on my PC.
Also I note, creatives knowledge base states "DO NOT connect your player to your PC before setting up the software. "
Where as microsoft website says "If you have a Creative ZEN device, make sure the device has the latest firmware before you install Windows Media Player " So what do I do first If your in cahoots with each other, at least state corresponding advice.
ANy advice
Cheers
ps, BIG complaint on having to use windows media!! Why doens't the new Zen come with a complete software package, I bought creative as all their other products had excellent software with the player.... are creative in cahoots with microsoft
I always praised creative on all thier products.... had soo much grief with apple and was happy to come back to creative after 3 years of hell with an ipod, and now creative do this It's unbelievable.
Message Edited by bretch on 04-9-2008 02:47 PM

Answer 1

Earlier this week I had the same problem with a used Zen Micro 5GB that I purchased. After hours of the same problem, I finally remembered what I had to do when installing some newer Creative Players earlier this year.
One way is to revert back to Windows Media Player 0 by removing the WMP and the WMP Runtime . Then install the firmware. That's what worked for me this time.
The other method was to revert to WMP 0 (using the above method) and also removing all the Creative software installed on my computer (using add/remove programs), Then the computer recognized the new players. After installation, I was able to put the Creative software back on my computer and everything then worked. At a later date, WMP 0 asked if I wanted to install new updates and without thinking, I clicked yes and then I had WMP back and everything still worked.
Hope this helps you. I found some of the information in the tutorials on the Support page on this site and other information on fixya.com (an Internet site for fixing all sorts of MP3 Players including Creative.)
You know, it shouldn't be this hard to get a player running, as most people buying their first players aren't very computer literate. I remember when purchasing my first Zen Micro several years ago, I was completely snowed as to what to do when I couldn't hear the music on start up. Of course then I locked up the player and spent a long time trying to figure out what happened. I can see why so many people think they got a lemon, and return their players.
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