Zen Vision M 30GB in Recovery Mode - Win 7 error message

[mpmohan]

Hi,

My Zen Vision M 30GB is about about 5 years old and recently has had connectivity issues.

I set it in the Recovery Mode and Cleaned/re-started, formatted/re-started and Re-set firmware/re-started. It is stuck in Recovery mode and cannot connect to any of 3 computers that I have access to - Desktop with Xp Home, SP3 with all updates, laptop with Xp Pro with SP3 and updates and and my new laptop with Win 7 Pro, 64-bit.

Once, I got it to work with Win 7 and reloaded firmware. I copied some photos from Win 7 Pro 64-bit library and lost connecticity afterwards.

All 3 computers show ' Problem with unknown USB device '.

Under Xp Home, I followed MS solution for this problem by un-checking power management, removed all the hubs under Device Manager an dre-boooted but still both Win xP systems do not show Creative.

In Win 7 Pro, 64-bit, the error message I got was: "

5
Unknown Device is not working properly
Detected

Windows has detected a problem with Unknown Device.

Device information
Name:
Unknown Device
ID:
USB\VID_0000&PID_0000\5&21A3470E&0&1
Error code:
43

Is it hard disc failure or firmware corruption ?

Thanks for your help,
MPM

[CrowdAds]

[ZenChick]

It sounds like corrupt firmware or a filesystem error to me. The ZVM usually behaves like this when something has gone wrong with the filesystem (a corrupt media file, for example). Booting into Recovery Mode and running Disk Cleanup usually fixes these problems. If they persist, however, then you may need to reformat the disk.

If this is a chronic problem - that is, you are having this issue rather often - then this could be a sign of impending hard drive failure.

[mpmohan]

Hi,
Thanks for the post.

Just to give some background info.

1. Under Win 7, I copied a few jpeg files from Win 7 library to the Zen.
2. Zen froze but was recognised by Win 7.
3. Sine the battery was 4-year old, I was going to replace it with 1700mAh
one and since I read in the forum that the latest firmware that was
resident in the Zen might have some issues with the new battery, I
rolled back the firmware to 1.41 ( I think).
4. I got the warning that I was installing an older version and the
installation could not be completed.

Now, it boots into recovery mode, giving Firmware error message.

I have cleaned and re-booted.
I have formatted, got the message that 28500 MB capacity message
and booted into recovery mode.
I ' restored firmware' got the message to upload the firmware but the computer does not recognise the zen.

If it is impending hard drive failure, why does the computer not recognise the Zen ? Motherboard failure ?

TIA,
mpm

[ZenChick]

Hmmmm... Unfortunately, I have no experience with loading ZVM firmware under Windows 7. For that matter, I can't even recall if I tried it with Vista. Unfortunately, it sounds like your player dumped its firmware for whatever reason, which is indicative of a hard drive or motherboard fault. Still, you should be able to plug your player into your computer while it's in Recovery Mode, and it should dock. With the variety of computers you tried this on, even an XP machine, if it does not dock in Recovery Mode, then you might have a motherboard issue.

Before we make that ruling, however, try a couple of things:

1. Try a different USB cable. It's not unheard of for a faulty cable to cause these kind of symptoms.

2. Try a Windows XP computer with Service Pack 2. It must have WMP10 or WMP11 installed. For best results, make sure it is one that has never been touched by Creative software.

[mpmohan]

I am happy ( and sorry !) to report that the problem was with the dongle !!! Sorry that the faulty dongle set so many on the wrong trail !

Borrowed a set and connected the ZVM and it was recognised in Win 7 and Win Xp Pro (SP.3) and loaded 1.62.02 on Win Xp Pro laptop. Happy ZVM 30GB works now.

Only question remains now - my battery is 4-years old and may need Firmware downgrade (?) to work with CS 1750 mAh battery ??


Thanks for all the help.

Al those who had similar problem might consider checking the dongle and USB cable.

Cheers,
mpm