Why does Windows7 (but not Xp) have difficulty recognizing my mp3 player

[jimdagys]

I frequently use public library computers, so I can't change any settings. My question is:
I don't understand why Windows7 (increasing being installed on public computers)
has difficulty recognizing my 2006 bought Sandisk mp3 player. The usual scenario is this:
I connect the mp3 player to the USB jack. After about 15 seconds, I get the message, "Installing driver software".
Then after about 30 seconds, I get the message, "Device driver software was not successfully installed".
(And the mp3 player does not show up on My Computer.)
Then I unplug and reconnect the mp3 player. This time, usually, after about 30 more seconds, the mp3 player will properly install. Sometimes, I have to repeat the disconnect/connect operation a 3rd time, before the mp3 player is installed properly. I always can get the mp3 player eventually installed with several of these disconnect/connect operations.
My question is:
1) Why does Windows7 have this problem, but Xp did not have this problem?
2) If I had my own Windows7 computer, what would I change in the Windows settings, so that my mp3 player is recognized in a prompt manner?
3) I don't have this problem (difficulty recognizing connected device) when I connect an ordinary USB memory stick.
Why is that?

[aedipuss]

personally i wouldn't go sticking my usb memory devices in public computers but maybe i'm just overly cautious. i'd guess the sandisk is actually more than one device, i.e. player, memory and chip or the like and win7 must only find the player the first time it's used and the next time it finds the memory in the player. after the install on your own computer win7 would have it stored and you wouldn't go through that everytime.

[filmboss80]

I seem to recall that on Sansa/Sandisk mp3 players, the USB mode needs to be set to MSC, not MTP. If memory serves, the former makes file transfers as simple as with using any USB storage device, while the latter only interfaces with certain media drivers. Since I cannot be positive that what I'm telling you is 100% accurate, you may just want to do your own search on those MSC and MTP modes. But I recall having a similar problem with a Sansa Fuze player I had a few years back, and it was remedied by changing the USB mode.

[loster]

I seem to recall that on Sansa/Sandisk mp3 players, the USB mode needs to be set to MSC, not MTP. If memory serves, the former makes file transfers as simple as with using any USB storage device, while the latter only interfaces with certain media drivers. Since I cannot be positive that what I'm telling you is 100% accurate, you may just want to do your own search on those MSC and MTP modes. But I recall having a similar problem with a Sansa Fuze player I had a few years back, and it was remedied by changing the USB mode.

You are correct I have one of those player and they work as you describe.

[jimdagys]

Thanks for the answer, but problem is not related to the MSC/ MTP thingy. If the MSC/ MTP is set wrong, the result is that certain files/folders will not show up in Explorer, however, the mp3 player will still be recognized and installed properly by the computer. However, I have seen on occasion that Windows7 (for no apparent reason) will change the MSC/ MTP setting on the mp3 player. In this case, I just need to reset the MSC/ MTP in the settings menu of the mp3 player.
My feeling is that Windows7 is a deprovement (opposite of improvement) from Xp. For this reason, I bought a Xp computer, before they only can be found in collector shops. Another deprovement of Windows7 is that on most (but not all) public computers with Windows7, one cannot install Google Voice (allows you to make free domestic calls). Nearly all public Xp computers would allow me to install Google Voice. On the public Windows7 computers that allow you to install Google Voice, all require a microphone to be plugged in, even if you just want to call the time and temperature in Fairbanks. Another annoying deprovement.