My computer hates me :(

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

I swear my computer hates me.
I found out that the next town over's library (TCL) now has downloadable audio books. I happen to have a TCL library card and go to their website to find out more.
It turns out you have to have Windows Media Player v. 10 or 11 to be able to download the books with the software they (TCL) provides free of charge. So I download TCL's book downloading software and update my Windows Media Player to v. 10.

I decide that, after I download a couple of books, that I really should load these onto my MP3 player so I can take them with me when I go walking in the mornings. But in order to do that, my computer (which is running XP..I know..horribly ancient) has to first RECOGNIZE that my MP3 player is in fact an MP3 player and NOT a USB device. Only I can't seem to figure out how to make it do that..recognize that I plugged in an MP3 player and NOT a USB drive.

The troubleshooting guide on my computer is no help. Going to the Windows website is no help. I am ready to rip my hair right out.

 

[Michelle67]

My computer hates me too...I feel your pain.

If you figure out how to do it, let me know. I downloaded one onto my computer and couldn't make it go to my MP3 player either. I love audio books, and I'd like to be able to download them to my MP3 player for the car instead of having to physically check them out of the library and remember to take them back!

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

Thanks.

I'm sure somebody smarter than me will come along and go "You idgit..this is how you do it." and spell it out really simple.

 

[themarquis]

It sounds like you need to update your driver for the MP3 player (or get the driver, if you don't have one in the first place, which I find is often the case for many folks ).

You can get it at the website for your particular brand of MP3 player. Make sure you get the one for your model, and read and follow the directions they have on the site (it is often recommended that you uninstall your current driver for it first, so check the directions).

A lot of MP3 players can work fine and get recognized by your computer right off the bat without the special driver software. This is great, but then you can have problems later when you try to do more "advanced" stuff that XP can't handle with its built in drivers.

Best of luck to you.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

My computer hated me too, which is why I had a new one built yesterday. The new one seems to like me so far, but that's only because it doesn't know me very well yet.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

I went to the website for my MP3 player (a SanDisk SANSA 1gb) and there are no available drivers to update TO. Or at least..that's what I'm understanding, if I read it correctly. I have the most updated driver there is.

*edited to add*
I went to the SanDisk website to see if I could update the driver and that would fix the problem. HOWEVER..when I click on 'downloads', select 'digital player 1 GB' (which is what I have) it says there are not any available driver updates. The product is NOT listed with the other Sansa MP3 players. I have a Sansa Express and the only ones that are listed are the c ane e 200, e200R,m200, Sansa Clip, Sansa Fuze and Sansa View.

 

[themarquis]

I went to the website for my MP3 player (a SanDisk SANSA 1gb) and there are no available drivers to update TO. Or at least..that's what I'm understanding, if I read it correctly. I have the most updated driver there is.

hmmm..... <scratching head>

Well, here's my second thought ...

I know I had a similar problem with my gf's MP3 player. There was a setting on hers where you could switch its "mode" between USB and something else. You may want to try fiddling around with the settings and see if you can find something like that. It may be named something different ... but play around and see if you find it.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

Alright..I turned on the MP3 player and went to "Settings". Here is what is listed:
Equalizer
Power
Display
Language
FM Settings
Volume
Reset All
Format
System Info

No 'mode' to switch it to/from.

*edited to add--according to the OverDrive Media website my MP3 player is a compatible device, though I had to scroll way, way down to find it since it's not an Apple something or other.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

try here:

http://www.sandisk.com/Retail/Default.aspx?CatID=1355

 

[themarquis]

Alright..I turned on the MP3 player and went to "Settings". Here is what is listed:
Equalizer
Power
Display
Language
FM Settings
Volume
Reset All
Format
System Info

No 'mode' to switch it to/from.

*edited to add--according to the OverDrive Media website my MP3 player is a compatible device, though I had to scroll way, way down to find it since it's not an Apple something or other.

what happens when you select format?

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

Formatting it wipes EVERYTHING off the MP3 player and you have to start from scratch.



I only know this because I downloaded a broken music file on to it once and had to call tech support. Yes I've already called them about this, they don't know what to do either.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

Alright.
I have tried updating the firmware on my MP3 player only to find out it didn't NEED updating. It got updated a few months back when I broke it by downloading a futzed up music file from the internet.


Apparently, according to another MP3 player forum, I need to update my Windows XP to something called Service Pack 3, which I am downloading from Microsoft.com (and praying it doesn't crash my dinosaur of a computer).