Alternative driver install & software ?

[digger]

I am trying to hook up my V 4GB to my pc at work.
The pc has XP SP2 and WMP9. I assume that without installing the sw on the cd provided I won't be able to connect(or charge !) my zen V ??

I don't have admin rights so can't install the Creative suite of sw on the cd.

Any ideas on alternative sw or driver install methods would be appreciated
Ideally I'd like to be able to load music to/from the player - but as a minimum I'd like to be able to charge it via usb

Many thanks

[CrowdAds]

[Daytona955]

You don't need the Creative SW.

You do need at least WMP10. WMP10 or 11 adds MTP support to XP.

You can transfer content using Explorer (an icon appears in My Computer) or via WMP.

WMP11 adds more (pointless) features - but also means the USB doesn't go quiet, so a Zen V doesn't leave docked state & you can't listen & charge at the same time.

Edit:
I think you can at least charge it whatever OS/application is running at the host end of the PC. E.G: I have an ancient Linux PC at work with only USB 1.1. If I boot into the BIOS screen, the USB has only power on it, no protocol happening at the host end. But my ZVP still charges.

[digger]

Are there any alternatives to WMP, I have version 9 but if I try to update to 11 it says i need admin rights.

Also I can't install the driver as I don't have admin rights
thus I can't get my player recognised. This is becoming annoying

[iamtheworld]

if u can get the player into "removable disk" mode you can charge it on any computer, anywhere... u wont be able to transfer anything tho.

[Daytona955]

Originally Posted by iamtheworld

if u can get the player into "removable disk" mode you can charge it on any computer, anywhere... u wont be able to transfer anything tho.

You don't need to set up the removable disk partition on your Zen V to charge it - even if the PC does not have WMP10/11 or the Creative SW.

I haven't got removable disk set up, and mine will charge off anything with a powered up USB port (including a powered USB hub not connected to a PC).

You don't need compatible SW on the host PC to charge a Zen V.

[moto]

Originally Posted by Daytona955

I haven't got removable disk set up, and mine will charge off anything with a powered up USB port (including a powered USB hub not connected to a PC).

really? as far as I know the Zen V only charges through a PC that can recognize it properly, or a wall/auto charger made by creative. it won't charge through ordinary wall chargers or a USB hub without the data connection. do you know which firmware you have by any chance?

[Daytona955]

Originally Posted by moto

really? as far as I know the Zen V only charges through a PC that can recognize it properly, or a wall/auto charger made by creative. it won't charge through ordinary wall chargers or a USB hub without the data connection. do you know which firmware you have by any chance?

My ZVP has firmware 1.15.03. It's an Asian version, as is my ZVP. However, I've previously loaded European FW into my ZVP, so I imagine Asian FW can be loaded into Euro/US ZVPs.

Here's a piccy of it charging on an el-cheapo 4-port hub, from here:
http://www.gsquared.co.uk/acatalog/Hubs.html
The hub is disconnected from the PC, but the ZVP is still charging.

Edit: And the PC was disconnected before I connected the ZVP up to the hub.

[moto]

ooh very interesting. i'm gonna give the asian firmware a try. i hope the FM radio still works on it.

[Daytona955]

Originally Posted by moto

ooh very interesting. i'm gonna give the asian firmware a try. i hope the FM radio still works on it.

It does!

Now I have to add some text to get above the 10 character minimum post size

[iamtheworld]

is there any really big difference between us firmware and asia firmware?

[Daytona955]

Originally Posted by iamtheworld

is there any really big difference between us firmware and asia firmware?

Who knows?

1.15.03 is only available on Creative Asian pages (others have 1.11.01). I loaded it out of interest. Only claim Creative make is that it supports Thai.

ZenChick wrote elsewhere that the European versions (denoted by an 'e'
suffix) have a limit on the output volume. I personally didn't notice much difference, but I didn't do a thorough test at all.