Latest Zen Xtra Firmware Makes MP3s Without Full Tags Worthless

I recently loaded my Zen Xtra with the latest firmware and after two days of troubleshooting found that it now refuses to play MP3s with less than full tags using the "Play Any Track" mode which since I have over 000 songs is the only way to go... All my MP3s are tagged simply with Artist - Song and I never put any of the extra junk like Genre or Album names in. I had to add dummy info just to get the Xtra to recognize these MP3s... I'm using WMP since?the NOMAD Explorer no longer works.Message Edited by stevcoll on 2-2-200609:27 AM

You won't believe but I had the same problem just couple of days ago with the same player (but 40 gigs). I was confused just like you, so I tried to format the disk again (while connected to PC) and reloaded the OS. Then a message appeared like 'Now you can update your firmware' or something like that, so I ran the firmware from PC, and no message about a battery level appeared, and the firmware was updated correctly. Try it, and let me know if it's OK! Good luck!

Similar Messages

How does someone become a beta tester for Zen Xtra Firmware

I have a lot of experience in Hardware/Software integration and am interested in becoming a beta tester for Zen Xtra firmware. Is there someone that a mod could put me in touch with to pursue this oppertunity?
Thx in Advance
Dustin

There is a beta programme, but I'm not sure how you apply to be a tester.
At a guess Creative pick people they know, or if they need to recruit they'll post on the forum.

Creative Zen Xtra Firmware not updat

Hi everyone,
After a few months of disuse I got out my old Zen Xtra 30GB. I turned it on and it booted to Rescue Mode. I formatted everything and erased the OS. Now when I plug the player in (After installing the most recent drivers) Windows recognises it and Media Source makes a half-hearted attempt at syncing it, but when I try to update it with the latest PlaysForSure firmware the updater first gives me "Your player's current firmware is the same as this version. Do you want to continue?". I click yes, and the firmware updater says "Your battery levels are too low. Please charge your batteries before you proceed."
Obviously I can't charge the batteries while in Rescue Mode, so I am unable to proceed with the firmware update. The player is plugged into the mains as I do this. The player appears in Media Source (latest version) and in the device manager without a malfunction sign or anything. Also the old version of the firmware updater before PlaysForSure doesn't recognise the player.
Is there anyway to bypass the battery level check so I can install the firmware? Thanks.

You won't believe but I had the same problem just couple of days ago with the same player (but 40 gigs). I was confused just like you, so I tried to format the disk again (while connected to PC) and reloaded the OS. Then a message appeared like 'Now you can update your firmware' or something like that, so I ran the firmware from PC, and no message about a battery level appeared, and the firmware was updated correctly. Try it, and let me know if it's OK! Good luck!

Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra FIRMWARE PROBL

In the spring of 2005, I bought a 40GB Nomad Jukebox Sen Xtra. It worked for a little over a month without any problems. Since then, it shuts off on its own and?it freezes. For the first time since I bought it, I attempted to load new music onto it. Now whenever I turn it on, it reads "re-building library..." and then it's stuck on "Firmware Problem."? I tried updating?the firmware from the website, but since?my computer no longer recognizes that?the player is?plugged in.
?I welcome any suggestions for this problem. Please help me so I can stop regretting my decision to buy this...

Kayla24?Looks like you're going to have to start regretting buying something?made by?Creative. There are oodles of stories on these boards regarding software problems and creative mp3 players. Creative have published ?'updates' that effecti'vely disable players but will not take any action unless the machine is still under warranty. The last e-mail I got from tech support said 'We know the firmware [update] disabled your machine, but unless it is still in warranty there is nothing we will do about it."? It was a Zen Xtra 30GB, it's now a paperweight. If your's still turns on, try reinstalling the firmware on a old pc/laptop that has never had Windows Media on it, but has been updated to media player 0. This sometimes works - otherwise join the crowds and get an i-pod. At least they work - and Apple fix 'em when they break 'em.

Nomad jukebox zen xtra firmware quest

Hello all,
happy to be on the boards. I have a few questions I would like to ask:
) what product do I have? on the front it says "nomad jukebox zen xtra" with 40gb on the side. is it a "zen xtra" or a "nomad jukebox"? I was trying to find updated firmware, but found both "zen xtra" and "nomad jukebox" on the creative site.
2) i've read horror stories of firmware 2..03. is there newer or firmware that works?
3) is there a way to treat this player as a regular hard dri've? as in when I plug it into Windows/Linux (Debian linux), it will be recognized as a regular hard dri've without much trouble?
Thanks all!

Oo
ps.
I didn't mean to take the hard dri've out and use it as a computer hard dri've. I meant: is there a way (maybe changing firmware?) to make the creative plug and play with windows without installing drivers?
An example: I want to go to a friend's house, plug my creative in, and copy a 5gb ISO off his computer. This is assuming he doesn't have the creative drivers.
I read that the 2..03 (or whatever the bad one is called) is supposed to allow this. Any solutions?

Nomad Zen Xtra Firmware / USB Connection Iss

<SPAN class=postbody>I have Zen Xtra 60Gb I was transferring music and then it said it couldn't transfer the track or the following track and so on. The menu on the Zen Xtra froze. I waited for a while but I got impatient I just pulled the battery out and put it back in to restart the player. Since then I have had nothing but issues. . Zen Xtra is connected via USB, computer makes the sound to show a USB device has been connected but the computer does do not see the device. 2. I have performed the scan disk, re-loaded the OS with the latest firmware and also re-formatted the unit. Somehow on Wednesday night I go the unit back in working order and then last night exactly the same thing happened again - I was transferring music and then it said it couldn't transfer the track or the following track etc... I did a all the same again to try and resolve the issue (except I didn't pull out the battery!) I am currently getting a firmware error. Any ideas?

From the?BEFORE you post, READ THIS FIRST (FAQ) post it links to here in the Zen FAQ at Nomadness.net.

Zen Xtra - low bitrate MP3s sound terri

I download a lot of mp3 speeches, lectures, etc. - i.e., all spoken word stuff (as opposed to music). Many of these files are fairly low bitrate (6KBS) in order to minimize space and make the downloads go faster.
These low bitrate mp3s play/sound fine when I play them on my computer (remember, we're talking spoken word, not music - I know 6KBS is too low for music to sound good). But, while they sound ok when played on my computer (in Windows Media Player), they sound like crap when I play them on my Zen Xtra (really slow and slurred speech, etc.)
The problem is not my car cassette adaptor since the same thing happens when I use headphones.
Is there anything I can do? I've never upgrade the firmware - might that help?
Or, would re-encoding these at a higher bitrate help - recognizing that I don't have anything better to start with than the 6KBS file I started with?

JimG90 wrote:
Thanks for the good and prompt response. If I may follow up?
I never installed CMS - did it come with my Zen Xtra? To install it now, do I need either to buy it or to find my original CD (which may be hard) or can I download and install it free from the support website as a Zen Xtra owner?
I do have Windows Media Player and MusicMatch Jukebox Deluxe - will either of those do what CMS does?
CMS would have come with the player on the installation CD but you can download it from the website. When you install it you need to install the drivers first, then connect your player so that when CMS installs it will see that you have a device that entitles you to load the program. Then load the Zen Xtra plugin for CMS.
You can convert the files with WMP when you sync the files to your player - in the Sync settings there is a quality tab and you can choose to convert the files before transferring. I think it will only convert to WMAs though. If you have Copy Protect switched on in the WMP settings then the files will have DRM applied.
PB

Creative Zen Xtra Firmware Upgrade Problems v1

While trying to upgrade the firmware on my Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra, there was a problem with the upgrade. I'm now stuck in rescue mode v.3. When I plug the MP3 player into the computer, Windows will recognize it and asks me what to do. I exit that window and try to run the firmware update again. The firmware program tells me "Your player is not connected, please connect your player."? there are 2 options "Upgrade" and "close". Upgrade is greyed out, but close is clickable. I've tried
1. clean up,
2. format all,
3. reload OS and
4. Reboot.
None of those options seems to do me any good. I've uninstalled all the Creative software from my computer, but still no luck. Please help me. I'm doing my best to avoid having to go buy an iPod, but if I can't get my Creative Mp3 player to work, I guess I will have to. I have spent a lot of money between cables, the docking station and the leather case. I'd hate for all this to be wasted, so please help me.
I've tried to "reload the OS" and then clicked on the language the moment the Player told me to start the update. Someone please shed some light on this for me. I've tried email Customer Support. I've searched Google. I've put my best skills on it and of course I've scoured this website to no prevail. Someone help me out.

READ ALL BEFORE PROCEEDING You do need to install the driver. http://support.creative.com/Products...e=MP3+Players# When you get to the page for your player bottom left the manual selection choose Xp & clik submit the driver should be the first one version 2.0.00 .After the driver is installed when you plug in the player check in device manager to see that it shows up there Start>Control Panel> System>Hardware>Device Manager look under Portable Devices or for the name of the player. Use a rear USB Port to assure a good connection. Then run the firmware file on the computer ,choose reload firmware or Os on the player,choose language when player asks for update(the pop-up from windows indicating that it "sees" the device DO NOT CLOSE IT.)

HILFE......Creative Zen Xtra Firmware Prob

Hallo, leider kann ich nicht englisch, aber meine Hoffnung ist, dass hier jemand deutsch versteht und ich hier Hilfe bekomme. Ich habe mir einen MP3 Player gekauft. Und zwar einen
Creative Zen Xtra 30 GB.
Da ich dachte, dass der Player mit neuer Firmware noch besser funktionieren w rde, habe ich versucht die Firmware 2.0.3.0 zu installieren.
Aber w hrend dem Installieren gab es einen Stromausfall und jetzt geht gar nichts mehr. Jetzt meldet der Player immer: Firmware Problem.
Wenn ich auf Arbeitsplatz gehe, ist der Player aufgef hrt. Aber wenn ich die neue Firmware laden will, erscheint immer: Player nicht angeschlossen.
Ich habe es mit Media Player 9 und 0 und probiert, mit dem gleichen Resultat.
Auf dem Arbeitsplatz erscheint der Player als Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra. Wenn ich ihn dann durch Doppelklick ffne, erscheint Storage Media und darunter steht 20.0 MB frei von 20.0 MB.
Ich bin eine Hausfrau und habe nicht besonders viel Ahnung von all diesen Dingen. Ich m chte nur, dass mein Player wieder funktioniert und ich meine Musik und meine H rb cher wieder h ren kann.
Bitte, bitte, kann mir jemand helfen
F r eure Hilfe jetzt schon ein grosses DANKE.
Gruss Annemarie
Message Edited by Annemarie on -2-200702:49 PM

German to english translation using babel fish translation
Deutsch-Englisches bersetzung Verwenden bersetzung babel fish
unfortunately I know hello not English, but my hope is that someone understands here German and I get assistance here. I bought a MP3 Player. A Creative Zen Xtra 30 GB. Since I thought that the Player with new firmware would work still better, had I tries the firmware 2.0.3.0 to install. But during installing there was a power failure and goes now nothing at all more. Now the Player always announces: Firmware problem. If I go on job, the Player is specified. But if I the new firmware to load wants, always appears: Player not attached. I tried it with Media Player 9 and 0 and , with the same result. On the job the Player appears as Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra. If I it then through doubleclick open, STORAGE appears Media and among them 20,0 MT stand freely from 20.0 MT. I am a housewife and have not particularly much notion of all these things. I would like only the fact that my Player again functioned and I mean music and again can hear my hearing books. Please, please, someone can help me For your assistance now already a large THANKS.
the firmware update only works using Windows XP.
Go to the control panel, then add remove programmes
remove windows media player , then re-start your computer
remove windows media player runtim and re-start your computper
remove all creative software from your computer, and re start your computer
Translation bersetzung
die Arbeiten des Mikroprogrammaufstellungupdates nur mit Windows.xp.
Gehen Sie zur Steuerverkleidung, f gen Sie dann entfernen Programme entfernen Fenstermittelspieler , wiederbeginnen dann Ihren Computer entfernen Fenstermittelspieler runtim und wiederbeginnen Ihr computper entfernen alle kreati've Software von Ihrem Computer hinzu, und Re stellen Ihren Computer an
downloaden Sie die playsforsure Software von der creative Web site, und bringen Sie es an
versuchen Sie das Mikroprogrammaufstellungupdate noch einmal
Aufmerksamkeit! Sobald Sie das Mikroprogrammaufstellungupdate (2.0.3) beginnen, das alles aus Ihrem Spieler gel scht wird, wenn Sie havent eine Kopie auf Ihrem Computer erhielten, sollten Sie versuchen und fr here Mikroprogrammaufstellungversion, die mit beginnt. wenn dieses doesnt owkr dann Sie verwenden mu , verbessern die 2.0.3.0 Mikroprogrammaufstellung als oben.
Hoope I verstehen Sie dieses, wie es auf dem Internet bersetzt wurde http://babelfish.altavista.digital.com/tr

Jukebox Zen XTRA Firmware update fail

I have a nomad jukebox zen XTRA 40GB. I recently saw an update for PlayforSure on the creative website. As i have done earlier, i had tried updating the firmware. It asked me to backup and run the formware. I sincerely backed up and started the firmware. This went for about a minute and said its rebooting the player which never happened for a nice hour. Now the firmware is not completed and when i try to reload os from the recovery options, the firmware update program says palyer is not connected. I had verified it in DEvice manager. The player is been seen as Nomad Jukebox/ MTP device. I tried starting the player and it says "Firmware Problem". i also tried loading the original firmware which says "Player not connected". I had updated latest driver.
Any help is greatly appreciated

Thanks for the info. I just wanted to know is there anyway Creative has to redo the whole thing. Like removing all of the firmware and rebuild it. I am looking for some tool or some way to remove the incomplete firmware on the player.
Rightnow, my player is just a paper weight for me. I dont want to be used like this..
Please help me further

Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra Firmware Update Issue

My player does not get recognized after attempting to update firmware (ZenXtraP4SAudible_PCFW_LB_2_0_03.exe) according to website instructions.
When turned on the player displays "Firmware Problem" for a fraction of a second, then it goes into Rescue Mode v., Boot v.4, HW v0.0., 4 items in the menu ( Clean Up; 2 Format All; 3 Reload OS; 4 Reboot)
This is my setup:
Kernel version: Microsoft Windows XP, Multiprocessor Free
Product type: Professional
Product version: 5.
Service pack: 3
Kernel build number: 2600
IE version: 8.0000
System root: C:\WINDOWS
Processors: 2
Processor speed: 2.6 GHz
Processor type: AMD Athlon(tm) 7750 Dual-Core Processor
Physical memory: 3072 MB
Video driver: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series
Relevant Applications:
Creative Jukebox Driver
Creative MediaSource
Creative NOMAD Jukebox Zen Xtra
Windows Media Format Runtime
Windows Media Player 0
Please advise, thanks in advance,

Problem solved!
I did not follow the link you provided, thanks for the suggestion anyway. I read in another post that you advised to disable the device in Device Manager, although I took a different route. This is what I did after enabling Mediasource DETECTOR
. Completely uninstall Windows Media Player , revert to WMP 0, inlcuding the Runtime
2. Reboot the PC
2. Once rebooted connect the player to the PC
3. right click MY COMPUTER->MANAGE->DEVICE MANAGER
4. Under Windows Portable Devices right click NOMAD JUKEBOX ZEN XTRA, then select Update Drivers
5. Navigate to "C:\Program Files\Creative\Jukebox 3 Drivers" to select the driver, OK all the windows
6. Run ZenXtraP4SAudible_PCFW_LB_2_0_03.exe with the player connected
7. I was prompted if I wanted to replace the Firmware with the same version (2.0.03) I said yes... within seconds the player came back to normal.
I hope that the above can help people in my same situation. The culprit seems to be WMP and all the hidden software installed with it. Freakin Microsoft!
Final question. Now that the firmware has been updated, am I safe by installing WMP ?
Thanks!

Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra firmware prob

I tried to upgrade the firmware and now my Xtra is in Rescue Mode.
None of the updates that I downloaded from the website area all telling me that no device is detected.
But my computer recognizes my Xtra.
I tried downloading everything again but that didn't work.
Now my wife bought a Zen V with all different programs, but I don't know if that makes a difference.
What exactly am I doing wrong?

if the above solution doesn't work, i had a similar problem on the same model. if i remember, i just did different combinations of reboots, formatting, and firmware upgrades. it sounds unscientific, but i eventually got the computer to recognize the player and it worked until it got stolen (sad story). i know this isn't great advice, but in short: don't give up on it too easily. those things are surprisingly resiliant.

Creative Zen Xtra Firmware Failure/Reload OS- Here's the how to fix

I know all of you must be excited just reading the word Fix.
Alright here is a very simple guide how to get that "upgrade button" back on the firmware upgrade software.
Considering that you have reached this point because you tried and failed to load firmware 2.0.3.0 because creative sucks.. well i have more bad news for you.. the only way that players is going to work now is you have to retry that crappy firmware and hope it'll work once.. so have it ready on your desktop. Remember you can't revert to old firmware.
OK, now the most important thing is requirements: You need to have all of these requirements:
.Win XP SP2
2.Window Media player 0 with all the updates (go to microsoft and update it!)
Now you need to go to Device Manager, while your player is connected to your PC and find that MTP (ussually all the way at the bottom of the list). higlight it and update it's drivers (requires internet connection)
After doing that, you would have to Delete all of your USB Controllers. It is not messed up, but it is the only way for creative crappy software and player to re-connect.
Now when your done go to that firmware update and the Upgrade button should be Lit up once again.. and hope this time the upgrade works.. if not. well repeat all steps again.
Note: Be sure the Battery is FULLY charged, plugging it to a power outlet doesnt do the trick. If the battery is to low the firmware will say it wont proceed because of battery. Another creative dumbass programming.

On your desktop.
. Right click My Computer.
2. Click on Hardware Tab
3. Click Device Manager
4. Click Uni'versal Serial Bus Controllers +
5. Right Click Each of them and Click Unninstall
6. Restart your computer (press Windows button and use keyboard and select Shutdown)
7. Windows will automatically re-install USB drivers. Make sure Nomad Is not Connected
8. Go Back to Device Manager, and plug in your Nomad. Window will detect it and place it under MTP Devices.
9. Creative Mediasource Will not Detect it.
0.Right Click MTP device and chose Update Driver.
Now go to the firmware upgrade software you downloaded. Must be the latest version, the playfor sure version.
Click the upgrade button.
To use media source, you have to download the playforsure plug in for Play for sure firmware.
Without it, you can only use window media player 0. If you dont have window media player 0, you have to download it.

Zen Xtra firmware update fail

Hi all,
i try to update the firmware to version ZenXtraP4SAudible_PCFW_LB_2_0_03 and the program only say "Player is now rebooting, please wait..." indefinily, and the player not respond no longer anymore (no turn on, no lights, no enter in Recover mode), any suggestion? Tanks.

I'm sure it's of little consolation, but you're not alone...

Creative zen xtra vs sony ericsson mp3 functional

I have both the sony ericsson w800i mobile (cellphone) and zen xtra 30 gb mp3 player. In my experience the sony software is far superior to that of creative in terms of reliability and functionality.
From the time I bought my zen xtra I have been totally frustrated by it - I have only been able to load a few tracks at a time from my pc before I get the familiar error message and 20 second timer. The xtra is not recognised sometimes, other times it starts when connected to the pc. I have tried this with several usb leads on 3 separate computers, all with more than adequate system resources to cope with the simple task of transfering mp3 tracks down a usb2 lead to the zen xtra. I have tried every tip, workround, on the support site. Nothing I have done has made any difference. I have reset the player, rebooted my computer, updated latest firmware, updated windows media player 0, followed the guidance to ensure that the usb settings in the registry are correct.
NOTHING WORKS!!!! THIS PRODUCT IS RUBBISH!!!!
By contrast, my Sony w800i phone has a very easy to use mp3 player, with a software interface called disc2phone which is a complete joy to use. Just 3 simple boxes, a couple of add or remove buttons and it is simplicity itself!!!
Clearly the phone has only a small memory, but due to the problems with the creative software, the phone has more music on it than the xtra!!!
Come on creative....Sort this problem out before I finally head for the nearest ipod store.

Hi,
Make sure you have the Playsforsure firmware on the Zen Xtra player.
This article may also help.

Latest Zen Xtra Firmware Makes MP3s Without Full Tags Worthless

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