OK, 3rd dead zen micro

[SrGuapo]

If you read my previous posts, I have a Zen micro 5GB. I bought it back in may from ZZF. Anyways, the first one refused to be recognized by my PC with all the software installed. I RMAd it to creative and I got a new one...

The second one worked for about a months until the same thing started happening. MY PC would no longer recognize it. I called creative support and they told me to reinstall the firmware, which obviouly I couldn't since MY PC couldn't communicate with it.

Third one. It has worked for about a month now, and yesterday, the gosh dang (edited for younger readers) thing stopped working again. I can still play all my music already on there, but it won't hook up with my PC. I can also chrage it through the USB port.

This is extremely annoying and I really want to know whatv is going on. I am having problems believing that I just ended up with 3 defective products... Is it possible something is screwed up with my PC that is causing it to kill the mp3 player?

**CLIFFS**
I am on my third broken zen micro. All three have a dead USB port. What the hell is going on?!

 

[leegroves86]

either ur really unlucky or something is wrong with your computer. Sorry about that man

 

[Rock Hydra]

Originally posted by: SrGuapo
If you read my previous posts, I have a Zen micro 5GB. I bought it back in may from ZZF. Anyways, the first one refused to be recognized by my PC with all the software installed. I RMAd it to creative and I got a new one...

The second one worked for about a months until the same thing started happening. MY PC would no longer recognize it. I called creative support and they told me to reinstall the firmware, which obviouly I couldn't since MY PC couldn't communicate with it.

Third one. It has worked for about a month now, and yesterday, the gosh dang (edited for younger readers) thing stopped working again. I can still play all my music already on there, but it won't hook up with my PC. I can also chrage it through the USB port.

This is extremely annoying and I really want to know whatv is going on. I am having problems believing that I just ended up with 3 defective products... Is it possible something is screwed up with my PC that is causing it to kill the mp3 player?

**CLIFFS**
I am on my third broken zen micro. All three have a dead USB port. What the hell is going on?!

Time to move on? Maybe an Ipod mini. It looks like you have bad luck with Zens.

 

[SrGuapo]

Originally posted by: Rock Hydra
Time to move on? Maybe an Ipod mini. It looks like you have bad luck with Zens.

That is what I was planning, just get my money back and maybe try a new product. I am on hold with customer support right now... I was actually thinking of a bigger player anyways, since I am quickl;y running out of room on my 5GB...

 

[minofifa]

maybe you could try uninstalling the driver / software for the zen, and reinstalling everything / check for updates?

 

[magomago]

try a different USB port you could try?

 

[SrGuapo]

Originally posted by: minofifa
maybe you could try uninstalling the driver / software for the zen, and reinstalling everything / check for updates?

I am using the "PlaysForSure firmware and I shouldn't need any drivers at all. It should be a simple pkllug 'n Play device. It has worked for a month with no software installed.

Originally posted by: magomago
try a different USB port you could try?

Tried all 4 powered ones on my PC. No avail... I also tried two other USB->mini-USB cables I had sitting around. Nothing

Annyways, just got off the phone with creative. The girl was pretty useless and just asked what firmware I had and kept saying "that is really weird". She confirmed both of my previous devices were determined faulty. She told me I will have to speak to her supervisor, but he is "busy" now, but will call me back with one business day.

Maybe they are just giving me halfway repaired items as replacements and hoping they last longer than the warranty period...

 

[SrGuapo]

Any other comments? I have seen mny issues with the micros (battery life, headphone jack, USB port), but I assume these are from a small portion of the population. Anyone else have any issues with their micro?

 

[SrGuapo]

Yeah, so I finally got a hold of the supervisor. She tried to offer me another RMA and I tried to get her to offer a refund... She claimed they couldn't do that, but tried to offer a seperate item (some cheap ass flash card). I said no. She told me she would talk to her boss and figure out what to do. I am hoping if I rasie a big enough stink, I'll either get my money back or a much superior product...

We'll see. Any advice?

Edit: She offered me a Zen touch, but I would have to pay an extra $50. Also, aparently it does not support DRM protected WMAs... So much for that. I complained a little while longer and she finally agreed to talk to her supervisor about a refund. "I shouldn't get my hopes up though."

 

[CraigRT]

whatever you do, don't buy an iPod either.. they suck hardcore... maybe a Rio Carbon? or an iRiver player?

 

[d2arcturus]

The Creative players I know need installed drivers for it to work as a drop and drag device. I needed the drivers for my Muvo2 and my friend needs em for his Zen Touch. Try installing the Creative drivers on the CD (not Media Source or anything) and it should work.

 

[SrGuapo]

Yeah, they claimed they can' give me a refund. However, now if I return the the micro, they are giving me a free set of Noise canceling headphoneds and a wired remoted (SO ?I can change the volume, track, etc. without looking). I also made sure that the warranty was upped to at least a month and a half. If this one dies, I have no idea what I am going to do.Can one person be that unlucky?

At D2arturus:
Yes, but I m using the PlaysForSure firmware 2.11.02. It is required to play DRM protected music. It also enables the micro as a simple plug and plkay device, so you can see it through Explorer and other programs (Such as media player and Yahoo music engine). It allows you to drag and drop music with no software installed.

That coulc be the problem though. If the firware got messed up enough to not work anymore, which also means I cannot update the firmware since it cannot connect. What could cause this though?

 

[ericlala]

funny how that is the feature i find annoying with my zen. everytime i plug my zen to the usb, it loads up even if it was off and lags my system when i open My Computer lol
mines working perfectly since Jan

 

[d2arcturus]

Hmm the firmware must be buggy then, have you tried it on any other PCs?
There've been a lot of headphone jack problems with the Micros but haven't heard anything regarding USB failures. Have you checked on the Creative forums?

 

[TStep]

I got my kids Zens, three in total. They are a complete pain in the a$$ to get working properly (especially w/ napster2go), but once it's done, they work fine. I wish I could offer direct advice, but I cannot, since I don't really know what steps (be it firmware, install/ reinstall software, drivers, etc) I took got them to work properly. I must have deleted and reinstalled firmware and software 10 times, over and over, then finally it decided to take. Persistance is the only advice I can offer. No problems with teh headphone issues BTW.