USB mp3 player problem - help!

peckerhead

Hi guys, wonder if anyone can help out? I've a cheapie USB 256Mb flash-type mp3 player that I bought in the States. After some initial driver hassles, I got it working OK with the computer — appeared in Windows Explorer as a "Removable disk", drive H:\ — and I was able to drag-and-drop files back and forth.

Then one day I accidentally dragged across a bunch of .mp3 files that exceeded the 256Mb capacity, but instead of simply telling me that the disk hadn't enough space on it, the thing froze up completely. Now, when I turn the player on, the LCD reads "Memory full" and then starts scrolling gibberish across the screen...

Is there any application that'd allow me to flash/wipe/format the memory in the player through the USB cable? I can't just right-click format it in Windows Explorer, 'cause although the computer still "sees" the drive, if I try to view the contents (or format it) it tells me to "please insert a disk in drive H:"... The other Windows utilities (scandisk, defrag, etc) won't work on it either, and if I right-click and choose properties. it just tells me that it's full but that "the device is working properly"...!

..So is it a bin-job?

Sherifu

Simple things first.
Is it battery opperated?
Take out the battery.

RKM.

aidan_walsh

Yes, there most likely is a utility that will let you erase the disk, and update the firmware. It'' have been released by the players manufacturer, and could be specific to the model. We may need to get this information off you, as googleing "Cheapo POS mp3 player" doesn't seem to br returning many relevant results

peckerhead

Yep, by an AAA battery.
When I take out the battery it draws power from the USB connection.
But all the symptoms are exactly the same.
Ans I know there's nothing wrong with the USB cable or connection, 'cause I use it for my camera too, and there's never a problem...

Bogger77

you know what drive letter the usb drive is?

start /run / format /q/u <drive letter>

aidan_walsh

Bogger77 wrote:

you know what drive letter the usb drive is?

start /run / format /q/u <drive letter>

I'd neverf use anything but the official utility for formatting a device, as you simply don't know what the exact file system is, or if there is anything that needs to be added to the disk in order to get it to run properly. There was a thread about someone screwing up his iPod like that a few months back, as I recall...

peckerhead

Bogger77 wrote:

you know what drive letter the usb drive is?

start /run / format /q/u <drive letter>

Thanks, Bogger77, I'll try that...

@doodle sketch, this is the player. Shows up in properties as a "Sunplus Multimedia USB disk" but I can't get a peep out of the Sunplus site...

Edit: Bogger77, tried run "format /q/u <H>" & a black DOS screen flashed for a second, but no change...

peckerhead

doodle_sketch wrote:

I'd neverf use anything but the official utility for formatting a device, as you simply don't know what the exact file system is, or if there is anything that needs to be added to the disk in order to get it to run properly. There was a thread about someone screwing up his iPod like that a few months back, as I recall...

Appreciate it, but I only paid about €35 for it...

I've tried emailing the eBay seller, visualland.com and Sunplus (who in fairness only manufacture the chip!) — but all they've been able to do is send me the same drivers I already have...

Sherifu

When I take out the battery it draws power from the USB connection.

Plug it out of the USB.
Take out the battery.
Hopefully this will erase the data.
If not then you'll need to find s/w to wipe it.

RKM.

peckerhead

rmulryan wrote:

Plug it out of the USB.
Take out the battery.
Hopefully this will erase the data.
If not then you'll need to find s/w to wipe it.

RKM.

I think that's where I am...
Any software out there I could try?