If you're having problems updating firmware and have Windows Media Player 11 B

Question

I've seen a number of problems with people updating their firmware with WMP installed and it turns out that's the problem. WMP has a bug in it that will not allow the firmware update to recognize the player. So, here's what to do to roll back to a previous version:
These instructions will only work for Windows XP
You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group to perform the following procedure.
. Disconnect any portable music or video devices that might be attached to your computer.
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. In the Category View of Control Panel, click Add or Remove Programs, and then click Remove a program.
4. Click Windows Media Player , and then click Remove.
If Windows Media Player is not displayed in the list of currently installed programs, then try the following:
. At the top of the list, select the Show updates check box.
2. In the Windows XP - Software Updates section, click Windows Media Player , and then click Change/Remove.
5. In each of the two confirmation dialog boxes that appear, click OK.
6. When the rollback process is complete (it might take several minutes), click Restart.
7. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
8. In the Category View of Control Panel, click Add or Remove Programs, and then click Remove a program.
9. Click Windows Media Format Runtime, and then click Remove.
If Windows Media Format Runtime is not displayed in the list of currently installed programs, then try the following:
. At the top of the list, select the Show updates check box.
2. In the Windows XP - Software Updates section, click Windows Media Format Runtime, and then click Change/Remove.
If you installed a non-US English version of Windows Media Player , the instructions in the dialog boxes that are mentioned in steps 9, 0, and might appear in English.
0. In the first confirmation dialog box that appears, click OK.
. In the second confirmation dialog box that appears, select the Do you want to continue with the rollback? check box, and then click OK.
2. When the rollback process is complete (it might take several minutes to complete), click Restart.
3. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
4. In the Category View of Control Panel, click Add or Remove Programs, and then click Remove a program.
5. Click Microsoft User-Mode Driver Framework Feature Pack .0.0, and then click Remove.
6. Follow the instructions that appear in the Software Update Removal Wizard.
If the Wudf0000 confirmation dialog box appears, click Yes to continue. When the software removal process is complete (it might take several minutes to complete), click Finish.
If you are still having problems and all else fails, do a System Restore to before WMP was installed.
*Note: If you remove Windows Media Player and the Windows Media Format Runtime, and then encounter error C00D27D ("A problem has occurred in the Digital Rights Management component. Contact Microsoft product support, you might be able to resolve the problem by installing the Windows Media Format 9.5 Runtime. For information about installing the Runtime, in the Microsoft Knowledge Base, see article 8922, "Update for Windows Media Digital Rights Management-enabled players."
**You might not be able to roll back to a previous version of the Player if the hidden folder $NtUninstallwmp$ is deleted from your computer. Some non-Microsoft programs (such as CCleaner) delete this folder in an attempt to remove unwanted files from your computer.
More information here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...ionofthePlayer
Some people have found these instructions to be a solution to the "Player Not Connected" Error when trying to update the firmware. (Your mileage may vary)
Note to Mods: This would make a nice sticky

Answer 1

OK. I've been having this problem and have probably read every post there is on the net concerning it. But it doesn't seem to be only a Media Player problem. I was only running Media Player 0 when it happened to me. I found the solution somewhere, I can't remember where, but it worked for me and it was easy.
Here's what you do:
. Download BOTH ZenXtra_PCFW_LA__20_08.exe and enXtraP4SAudible_PCFW_LB_2_0_03.exe
2. Connect the Zen Xtra to your PC.
3. Run ZenXtra_PCFW_LA__20_08.exe. When the window comes up and says that your device is not connected DON'T do ANYTHING! Just leave it there.
4. Now run ZenXtraP4SAudible_PCFW_LB_2_0_03.exe
5. It told me that I already had this version on my device did I still want to load it's I said yes and it went through the whole upgrade and now it works fine.