My PC will not recognise my MP3- It was fine for 8 months??!

[jenniewb]

Hello! I hope someone can help or advise me here as I have not a clue what to do:

I have a sony MP3 player. I download music from my computer onto the MP3 player, both via CDs and Napster. It had been working fine since the end of july/early august.

However, I went to plug it into my computer, but got an error tone- normally I get two tones that I assume means the MP3 has be recognosed by the computer. Next the Media manager automaticly starts up and I can down load straight away. This time its different. I plug in my MP3, and after about 5 seconds I get the error tone (tow tones, but sound sort of like if you get a quiz show question wrong).

I assumed it was the software becomming corrupt, so too it off the computer (uninstalled it), then rebooted, and followed it by re-downloading the software from the sony website.

STILL NOTHING!

I am not sure what to do- it does seem to me that the error is where the computer does not recognise the MP3. I don't know how to get it to do that- and yes, it is allowed through the firewall already- all packages are: (Sony Sonic stage, Media player and THE mp3 conversion tool.

Does any body out there have an idea of what next to try? no change of music is driving me mad!

[zoobie]

you could try a system restore back to when it worked
but since you've taken it off then put it back on, I don't know if it will work
worth a shot I suppose...

[yoda313]

Ok first off you mentioned napster. Is this the "new" napster that offers a subscription service?

If this is the case you might want to first try to see if you can reacquire the licenses to reactivate the music. You say mp3 but are these really encrypted wma files?

Also if they are subscription music files that aren't working in the end all you have to do is delete the files you have and redownload them again. Then you'll have fresh files ready to go.

If these are not subscription files than I don't have any other suggestions right now.

Also if these are purchased wma files I would check with napster to see how you go about reacquiring clean files. I would imagine they'd have some kind of record to show you originally paid for the download once.

[Number Six]

First - Try all of your USB ports to see if they are working properly, use a flash drive or any other device. If they all don't work, then uninstall the ports and let them reinstall. If only one does not work, then it is defective and no longer usable. If they all work, then go to the next point.

Second - Try a different cable to connect your MP3 player to a known working USB port. If that still does not work, then go to the next point.

Third - If possible, try to connect the MP3 player to a different computer. If this does not work, then your MP3 player is defective.

[Bjs]

To test properly on affected system, remove all other usb connected devices ... apart from keyboard and mouse (usb connected)

Control panel, system, hardware, device manager
Universal serial buss controllers
Expand this
Uninstall last item and work upwards
Finally removing "Universal serial buss controllers" sub category

Restart system
System will return the device drivers
Reboot once more

Try device now

---

Short test > try on another pc

A: Works means your system has developed a fault
B: Dose not work means the device is defective

[Poppa_Meth]

I hate hearing this. I just bought my girlfriend a Sony MP3 player for her birthday. I recall in the past having a Sony pendrive that had the same problem. Suddenly when I plugged it in the drive could not be recognized. It turned out the be bad memory in the device. That's the only pendrive I've ever had that happen on. After some research I found out such memory issues were common with Sony at the time. I had forgotten about that when I bought the MP3 player.

[jenniewb]

AAAGH! Poppa_Meth I really hope this is not the case! I guess I will have to test it out on another computer and try to wrangle some time on my mothers computer.

I have checked all the USB ports Number Six, I am pretty sure they all work as I currently use one for my mouse, and it works fine with all the USB ports so don't think its these, but thanks for the suggestion.

I have Napster and its not "new" I didn't think Yoda 313, as I have been using Napster for about a year now, its on a subscription and Napster itself is working fine- I can listen and download music onto my computer, play it back, make up playlists etc alll fine. Even the music on my actual MP3 is working fine, I just cant transfer any new music to my MP3, Nor can I delete any (My MP3 will only allow me to mess with the music playlists and etc when its connected to the computer). I did conact Napster but all they have suggested is to uninstall Windows Media player and then reinstall it, which I have already done. [s:8a0ab3aaca]:idea[/s:8a0ab3aaca]:

I am going to now try the suggestion by BJS and will let you know- fingers crossed! I don't think I can live without my MP3!

Jennie

[jenniewb]

Well following the advice- I checked through the USB posts and updated everything I could (I tried deleting things, but ended up not being able to type or move my mouse- I had to turn the computer off at the wall and restart that way!) but then went back again and right-clicked to update what I could.

I also tried upgrading both the drivers and Adobe, and then restarted again.

Still not recognising the MP3 player.

Its just so odd- the actual "connecting" wheel which comes up on the screen of the MP3 is not moving- normally it rotates. When I use a wall plug to charge it, it rotates...

I have contaced Amazon as I only bought it 8 months ago 9its still in warrently) and hope this gets sorted. Typical! Broke down just when I needed it most - how am I supposed to do a gym workout with no music!

Thanks for all your help!
Jennie

[Poppa_Meth]

I'd recommend looking on Sony's site for your specific model number and finding the reset instructions for it. Some of them have a small reset button on them you hit with a needle. If you can get it to work on another PC, you might be able to flash newer firmware from Sony's website to the player. It might not fix the problem but it may help restore functionality of the player. If it's a memory issue with the player though, I'd send it back to Sony ASAP. I got an extended warranty on my girlfriend's just in case of something like this. I haven't had the greatest luck out of Sony the past few years and I hate how all these newer players have batteries you can't change yourself.