Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Aug 11 - 11:12 AM

Years have passed and I'm using a Sony Walkman now. Sounds great and is easy to navigate. I still sometimes have to poke around the menu to find all of the disks in any given recorded book I've stored in there.

We drove to Tucson last week and my son hasn't had an mp3 player for a while. He uses them up, and we haven't replaced the last one. He had a small SD disk with music and I found a $9 DP Video universal car music player with FM Transmitter, model DF59, that plugs into the truck lighter outlet and it has a digital setting that takes a USB device, an SD/MMC card, or a mini plug input jack. Before we left for our drive he took the music on his little SD card and moved it onto several flash drives since this device doesn't easily find all files on huge drives. The multiple flash drives worked great. This is for people with older vehicles that don't have docking ports for their iPod, etc. http://dpaudiovideo.com/

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 11:22 PM

To find Windows Explorer, if you don't routinely use it, go to the Start button, then All Programs -> Accessories to find it. It's a tree type file management. I've just been taking a guess at this device, so thanks Malcolm for offering more authoritative advice. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 10:42 PM

Creative's own 'Media Explorer' has limited functions. For deleting files on an ancillary memory card you will find Windows Explorer more useful. Both the player and the card should be recognised by Windows as storage devices; if they are not, then you have probably done something wrong.

You need to describe your problem(s) a little more clearly if you want help.

What OS you are using? What model of Zen is it? What make and capacity is the memory card? Have you checked to make sure that your card is compatible with the player? Is it correctly formatted? Does Windows Explorer 'see' the card? Does Zen's own 'Media Explorer' see it? Can you access the card via the player's own menu?

If you haven't already done so, look at the support pages for whichever model you have:  http://support.creative.com/Products/Products.aspx?catid=213. If that doesn't answer your questions, by all means come back and ask again with some relevant details. Probably somebody will be able to help you, but do bear in mind that this isn't really a tech support forum.

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 09:56 PM

When you delete a file you're essentially telling the device with the card or memory that it can write over the space previously occupied by that file. So you can go in with Windows Media Player and tell it to delete that file and it will go away--that space will be available to be written over.

If you can't use WMP, the device itself has a file system you should be able to access and tell it the same thing--to delete that file.

Have you managed to locate the memory card via computer or menu?

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: GUEST,BILLROBB
Date: 22 Feb 09 - 08:54 PM

how do you delete podcasts on the memory card?

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 10:00 PM

I am not sure how to tell you to look for it, except that when you plug your device into your computer, and log onto Windows Media Player, it should see both.

Try removing and re-seating the card in the media player. Maybe it needs a little adjustment.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: GUEST,BILLROBB
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 09:05 PM

help me find the WMP acknowledgment of the memory card. I don't see it. thanks

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 10:01 AM

I have the additional memory card in place, but haven't used it yet. When I open the Windows Media Player it sees that the card is there. Why not try dragging files onto it via WMP and see what happens? (This is the old "trial and error" method, coupled with the assurance "it won't explode if you try it.")

Someone told me about the YouTube download software out there--and it seems there is quite a battle raging. Apparently one of the more popular download programs has been effectively disabled by YouTube (aka Google). I don't use this software, I've just been reading about it. It seems the downloads may be a revenue stream for Google, if they can knock out all of the other downloaders.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: GUEST,BILLROBB
Date: 20 Feb 09 - 03:17 AM

i inserted a memory card so as to add to the original memory of my ZEN. I can easily put podcasts on my ZEN from Juice Podcast receiver and Windows Media Player but I don't know how to add podcasts using the memory card. HELP

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 12:28 PM

What kind of video can you watch on these devices that say they allow you to watch videos? Where do you get them or convert them?

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 04:59 PM

Only if you find the bed isn't short-sheeted when you try to retire for the evening.   

My son leaves picks in his pockets every so often and I usually find them in the bottom of the machine. You know that funny little "watch pocket" in jeans? He cleverly calls it his "pick pocket." :)

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 01:42 PM

I believe that round goes to me!

LTS

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 05:08 PM

Want to sit on the doorstep next time you forget your keys?

LTS

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 06:44 AM

When I put stuff in the washing basket I empty pockets first. You want to do your own washing?

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 06:29 AM

Sssh... Manitas doesn't know it got washed yet... even though it was him put it in the machine! When I do laundry, I check ALL the pockets!

LTS

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Darowyn
Date: 22 Jan 09 - 04:16 AM

There is a tiny hole in the edge of the Zen.
This is not a mystic Koan leading to satori, it's how you reset a crashed device, using a straightened paper clip.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 06:24 PM

maybe if you'd iron it, the back would stick. :)

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 06:17 PM

I discovered today whilst ironing, that Manitas's Creative Zen MP3 player had been through the washing machine, where I'd forgotten it was in my pocket last week.

Guess what...











It still works! And so do the headphones! I had to change the battery but I'm not entirely sure I didn't have to do that anyway... but it's fine, and despite being nearly ironed, it's working as well as it ever did.

Shame the back won't stay on it though, but that's an old problem.

LTS

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 06:10 PM

Did you check to see if the "hold" button is in the "hold" position? Did you try replugging it in again?

This weekend I found a SanDisk Sansa Fuze on sale only a few dollars more than the really cheap one mentioned above. I took the really cheap one back and am having a much easier time setting and navigating the new one. (On sale this week at Office Depot in the U.S.)

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: GUEST,jamawo
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 05:59 PM

I recently tried to erase files and download new ones. sometime time during this process i disconected the Zen from the computer and now the Zen jis stuck in shutting down mode. Please help.

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Bernard
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 06:12 PM

It's easy - you just plug it in and the application should pop up. Then you simply drag and drop from the folder on the computer to the folder on the Zen.

I haven't tried it, but I'm guessing Picasa probably has a way of doing it, too - it seems to have a way of doing most things with photos!!

If you're a technophobe then maybe you should find a tame 'clever sod' to show you what to do - maybe your daughter!!

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Jan 09 - 12:36 PM

Does it have a picture menu to navigate? I'm learning a new (very inexpensive) MP3 player myself, and my answer was to hand it to my 16-year-old son. He flicked through a few screens and set it up (in my case, I wanted the battery to last and the screen display was staying on).

If there are photos to navigate there are probably screens where you can choose the language. After watching him set that one thing it has been a process of trial and error. I still can't get more than one radio station to stay programmed in at a time.

Oh--to download photos into it--plug it into the computer and a (in Windows) dialog screen should pop up asking how you want to open it. Use the "open folder to view files" setting, and then drag your photos into the appropriate folder. I haven't found a way to set any of these things through the computer, only through the device setup screen.

Good luck!

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: GUEST,kristine
Date: 05 Jan 09 - 01:09 PM

how do i download photos to my daughter's new Zen? I am so stumped!!
PLEASE HELP!!!

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 06:35 PM

HELP please!

When I am using the creative audio cd ripper of my zenM, the inside display information is in chinese. How can I change it to english?

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: GUEST,notsage
Date: 20 Jul 08 - 03:15 AM

i want to move bookmarks to a position under playlists. Is there a good place to find these basic things explained? thanks

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Darowyn
Date: 18 Apr 08 - 11:21 AM

And just in case you want to use your Zen with a Mac, there is a free download called XNJB that allows you to do that- and organise files, and transfer files to and from iTunes. But it won't play protected AAC files.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: GUEST,Tara
Date: 18 Apr 08 - 09:32 AM

Hey

You probably don't check this any more... since this was from Christmas... however.... If you use Microsoft Media Player you can arrange who all of the artists are and you can manipulate the songs however you want.

This will make the music on you computer format the same way, which in the ZEN surprisingly makes it much easier and you have the option to have the CD art as well... I would definitly recomend doing it that way...

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: GUEST,Jonny Sunshine
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 02:26 PM

I had fun and games working out how to get tracks in right order on my Creative Zen V Plus.. It works best to name the files beginning with track number (eg 01 First Song), leave the track number out of the title (otherwise you can't search titles alphabetically), and most crucially make sure the "track number" tag is correct.

"MediaSource Organizer" on the CD of bundled software that came with the player can edit the tags of files on the player. Other than that I only use the Explorer programme which appears to be necessary for drag'n'drop transfer of files.

Eventually I'll try and get it to work with Amarok & Linux on my home PC.

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Bernard
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 12:26 PM

The only way is to change the tag information to read as you'd like them to do (as mentioned above). In a Windoze folder you simply right click on the file you want to edit, select properties, summary, and advanced, and from there it should be obvious.

Changing the filename of the track is not the same as changing the title, and I find it handy to put the track number at the beginning of the filename so they play in the correct order on some of the more basic players.

Everyone has their own pet way of doing things, so it's no wonder the MP3 player manufacturers don't appear to have got it right!! You can please some of the people... etc...

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: GUEST,fateaxis
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 04:30 AM

ive just got a question with the zen, the track name it displays with some of my chinese or japanese songs are just random squares and boxes whereas most of them actually show up correctly. Is there a way where I can change the display of the tracks?

For example

The track for : Elevator by Timbaland ft Flo Rida

shows up as

FloRidaPROMOexclusive-TIMBALAND-elevator.mp3

thats really annoying

can anyone help????

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Stu
Date: 10 Jan 08 - 11:48 AM

Crikey, all this seems very complicated, but then that's PC's for you. I'll be sticking to my Mac.

My new iPod touch is so easy to use - everything is done via iTunes and I am currently loading it with music and videos, plus a load of photos. Ace!

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Bernard
Date: 10 Jan 08 - 11:38 AM

You don't need tag editing software - just use Windoze Explorer, and right click on the file you want to edit, select properties, summary, and advanced (in that order - there is another 'advanced' button in the 'General' tab!), and you can edit the tags there very easily. If you want to edit the album, artiste, date etc. on a group of files, hold Ctrl and left click each file you want to include, then right click on the selection.

You'll find you can name the tune differently from the filename, and you can also edit the track number and other useful things.

I have a Creative Zen and a Nomad II, and that's all I've ever needed to do.

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: GUEST,Elfcall
Date: 10 Jan 08 - 11:24 AM

Steve T

Why not try some Tag editing software - I use mine regularly - I am not at home so cannot give you a name straight away but I am sure there are plenty around. Try download.com

Elfcall

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: GUEST,Steve T.
Date: 10 Jan 08 - 11:17 AM

One of the problems that I have is that my Vison M reads the files differently to the Creative software. So although in Creative Media Explorer I have 7 albums by AC DC, when I am scrolling through artists on the player itself I have three albums by AC DC, 3 by AC/DC and 1 by ACDC. Windows Media Player 11 does read them the same as the player, but I can't edit the name in that software either. So I just deleted them from the player and reinstalled them having checked that they were all the same in WMP 11 and ended up with three folders again, this time AC DC, AC/DC and simpl AC. I've given up now and will simply re-rip the albums when I get home on the same software and make sure that the tags are the same.

Steve.

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Susan of DT
Date: 20 Jun 07 - 06:27 AM

They also have a new model now. The Zen Stone which is tiny, costs $39 and holds 1 gig. I loaded it with versions of the songs I am working on, rather than the most of my collection, which is on the bigger Zen Micro. It is even more convenient in the gym.

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: GUEST,Nikkwaxx1
Date: 19 Jun 07 - 08:23 AM

Had my Zen M for 2 weeks and I am having problems with the touchpad. It works fine most of the day but there are intermittent problems with it whereby all of the buttons will work apart from when you try to select something. When I press in the centre of the touchpad nothing happens, it doesn't click and on occassions, I have tried to switch it off and it just freezes for ages .... can anyone suggest something?

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Scrump
Date: 19 Jan 07 - 10:48 AM

If this is a new product, you can simply call for tech support - the number is on creative.com

That may well be so, but I'm afraid I only ever call anyone's telephone support line as an absolute last resort. I've spent way too much time and money listening to electronic 'music' and annoying pre-recorded messages in the past :-(

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Jan 07 - 12:03 AM

I figured that was probably what it was doing, it's like the program is alphabetising the numbers, and I didn't want to go back right then and fool with renumbering 14 tracks each on six different CDs. So I'll try it again later, but this confirms what I suspected. Thanks!

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Jan 07 - 08:57 PM

" it still manages to order the tracks in such a way that I'm listing to 1 then 11 "

That's to do with the way computers sort numbers.

Instead of 1 2, 3, 3, etc 10, 11, etc - try 01, 02, 03, etc

if you have larger number that run into 3 digits, then do

001, 002, 003, etc

I'm not making this up you know!


Hmmm, I got to this before JiK did - is he getting slow?

:-P

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: dwditty
Date: 18 Jan 07 - 12:26 PM

If this is a new product, you can simply call for tech support - the number is on creative.com.

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 11:06 PM

I am also a new user of an mp3 player. I received a gift certificate that covered half of the cost, and I'd been considering getting one for ages, so I let this be the push to go look and decide what would work for me. Those players with the screens are mighty appealing, but I will use mine only for radio (yes, I figured out how to do it and preset my stations--it isn't difficult if you read the instructions), music, and books, not visual stuff. My player is a Samsung 2gig digital audio player (YP-U2J) with a small screen and the same kind of organizing you discuss, though it tells me to use Windows Media Player to rip the CDs and load them to my player. I've figured it out (with the help of my 14-year-old son) but I've had a slightly different problem along the same lines.

I practiced loading a few music CDs, but I got this because I want to listen to downloaded radio programs (got that figured out) and books on tape. Those aren't cooperating so well. I tried with a five-CD book to put it under one artist and tracks are all mixed up, like a book by William Burroughs. I took that all out of the player (after so carefully trying to fix it by getting the names all uniform and numbering the CDs and tracks chronologically) and tried several times. Even when I put in each disk as separate albums but named so I know which is first and second, etc. it still manages to order the tracks in such a way that I'm listing to 1 then 11 then who knows what. I gave up on the big book for a while and am trying with some short stories. Those seem to be arranged better by the producer and they are read in the proper order (with two or three stories per CD).

I can't use any Explorer programs to move files around on the player itself, either. I have to do it on the computer and then put them on the player.

I waited a long time to get this--I wanted one with a good amount of space, a reasonable price, and really easy to use. This has a USB plug on one end (no wires except the headphone) and it recharges when it is plugged into the computer. I saw some other types with slightly longer battery life, but this one is good at about 15 hours.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Scrump
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 08:54 AM

Incidentally, something I was very impressed with, regarding the Creative software, that I forgot to mention earlier.

I have a home-made CD-R, that I created by recording two vinyl albums by the same artist. The two albums both happened to fit onto a CD.

When I used the "Rip CD" facility to get them from the CD onto the PC and thence the mp3 player, I expected it to draw a blank, and ask me to enter the details manually (as usually happens with such CD-Rs).

I was gobsmacked to find the artist and track titles had been correctly filled in. I can only assume the two albums are commercially available on a single CD, and that somehow the software was able to match my CD with that. The software must actually try to match the music, as there were obviously no matching serial numbers or anything like that on my CD-R. Quite how it does this, when my CD-R has the vinyl crackles, etc. is beyond me - but it did (just for this one, unfortunately not for any of the others I tried).

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Scrump
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 08:46 AM

Foolestroupe - I haven't even tried to work out how to use the radio on it - or the videos, recordings, organiser, etc.. If they're anything like as awkward to use as the music library functions, I don't think I'll bother :-)

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 07:46 AM

Scrump

My head hurts!

Think I'll just keep listening to the radio!

:-)

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Scrump
Date: 17 Jan 07 - 07:15 AM

An update on this: last night I uploaded a compilation CD, and got it to put all the tracks into the same folder on the player, by renaming the artists to all be "Various" (or anything that doesn't clash with any other artists already loaded) - you can do this easily in Zen Media Explorer by typing it in once and clicking on "apply to all" (it will replace all the real artist names with your chosen name). This fooled the software into thinking it was an album by someone called "Various" and it put all the tracks under the same album in the Various > Blah folder (where Blah is the album title - obviously you can use the real title).

I then had to manually right-click on each track and change the artist name for each track back to the real artist (this is the boring bit, but it's the only way I've found to get all the tracks of a compilation album into the same folder).

Doing this means that when I select on the player by artist, I don't get all those 1-track artists displayed, and can just select Various, then select the album, then play it.

OK, I could have just loaded the tracks as it wants to and create all those '1-track albums', filed under artist, and then create a playlist to group them all together.

But I think it's better this way, even though it's tedious to have to do it (and I still can't see any good reason why the software won't let you drag and drop files between folders on the player itself - it seems an unnecessary and pointless restriction).

The reason it's better, is because I can choose whether to select an album (I get the album listed under "Albums"); or select Artists (and I don't get all these "1-track wonders" listed, which makes the Artist list very long and tedious to scroll through); or of course I can still create a playlist with anything I like in it (e.g. make up my own compilations from existing albums stored in folders).

It would be nice to do what Foolstroupe said, and have all the files on the PC to manipulate them there, but my PC's a few years old and I don't have 30GB going spare on it (maybe I'll upgrade sometime, but I'm not planning to just yet). So as I was loading albums, every now and then I would delete some of them from the PC after loading to the player, to free up space for the next lot.

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Jan 07 - 06:29 PM

Wait a minute!

I've just been 'enlightened'!

Why are you going thru all this stress with a 'Zen' player?


:-)

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Susan of DT
Date: 16 Jan 07 - 08:06 AM

I have not used playlists, but they are there on the Zen organizer. I just leave the player on random and enjoy the selection while at the gym.

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Jan 07 - 04:45 AM

"manipulating the mp3 tags with a good tag editor"

That's a very good idea - I wish I had said exactly that!

You can add/delete/modify spelling here! Even change the name of a 'CD'... which would throw many different CDs into a 'compilation'...

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: IvanB
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 10:55 AM

Like Susan, I have the older Zen. Since Martin refers to the Media Source Organizer, I'm assuming it's similar to the version that we have, albeit somewhat newer. When Susan refers to playlists, I assume she is referring to doing the organization on the computer, in Media Organizer, rather than on the player itself. One key to successful organization is always using Media Organizer rather than Windows Explorer.

I think one problem with the Zen is that it creates its own "catalog" from the mp3 tags rather than giving you an Explorer-like view of the disc contents. Since I use my computer to create playlists when I want, a process I find quick and easy, I haven't experimented much further. I suspect that, by manipulating the mp3 tags with a good tag editor, you might be able to get a player display more to your liking.

Subject: RE: Tech: Creative Zen mp3 player user queries
From: Scrump
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 10:21 AM

Ah, Foolstroupe, maybe that's the answer. I haven't really investigated that (i.e. moving stuff around on the PC). Maybe that would work, it's worth a try anyway.

I deleted a lot of the stuff on the PC after uploading it because it was taking up a lot of space, so I may have to reload it again, depending on whether any of the 'problem' stuff was deleted or not. I still don't see why the software won't allow you to move stuff around in the player itself, but if it doesn't, it doesn't.

Yes, Susan, I can create playlists, but it's still a pain to have to select all the individual tracks that have been split into separate artist 'albums'. I prefer to load an album and search by artist, as that's easier for albums where all tracks are by the same artist.

Thanks Martin - I might try that too.

When I first got it I had real trouble using the touchpad, in fact I thought there was a problem with it and was on the point of sending it back. But I got used to it and I now know it was finger trouble. My main gripe with it is the lack of documentation, with nothing to explain what all the various menu options are.