20 Most Recent Rio Carbon MP3 Player - Page 2 Questions & Answers

I had the same problem. I smacked the back of it (in my hand, not off any surface) to try to release the pin stuck on the hard drive. Rio Carbon currently works for me, but I will not expect too much. I have had mine for awhile now.

This is probably only a temporary solution, in the long run your hard drive will most likely get stuck again.

go to frost wire and download music to chip then plug in chip tranfer music from chip to phone.

Yes, this does require disassembly of the player though.

The front (silver) faceplate can be removed, and then the backplate and then the volume wheel can be re-glued (best to use some kind of epoxy resin).

At best, the hard drive will have come slightly disconnected or seek arm may have become stuck. Try giving it a sharp tap and re-try.

The hard drive may be permanently damaged however.

The product itself is nothing to do with any of us.
The Rio Carbon player contains a Microdrive so is prone to damage (such as the old iPod Minis) - if files are corrupted, it is very unlikely you will be able to recover them as the hard drive is likely corrupted itself.

You cannot restore the player without a computer but by formatting your drive and re-loading the Rio Carbon Firmware, you can reset it to factory settings.
The Developers cut firmware (latest (unofficial) firmware) is still available here:
http://biomoose.com/files/rio/carbon%203.04.EXE

You must use the native software - still available on rio's website. No other transfer method will work with this player.

this might help cause i know it does with cell phones, just try putting it in a bag of rice overnight.

Not compatible or not working well with windows 7?

Maybe, It doesn't work because the driver/application you installed is for other versions of operating system. I am also using windows 7 like you so don't you worry, You can still use your old installer/driver from other versions of operating systems. Just remember that before installing any program in a windows 7 Operating System Computer, Use "troubleshoot compatibility". Right Click the Icon of your program installer/application first, then choose "troubleshoot compatibility". This will allow you to choose on what type operating system your program will run. Just reply back if it still doesn't work.:D rate and vote for me:))

Mine lasted for 3 years before I killed it. If it will not power on even after inserting a paperclip into the reset hole, it is really done. The manufacturer no longer makes or supports them. It was my first mp3 player, and i miss it.

Hi, the nag screen "The semaphore timeout period has expired" is showing up because the file copy retrial time out limit is being reached & hence the error. (A firmware Problem)
But this normally occurs after your unit has frozen during file transfer or there about.
It is possible that the unit is defective. But first, re flash the firmware and then try again. You have to upgrade the firmware of the unit and you can do this while downloading the utility from the support page HERE.
If that does not solve the problem, you have no choice that to contact Rio directly to help fix the unit...

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Reset the Rio Carbon by inserting a small pin or paperclip into the EMERGENCY
RESET hole while it's plugged into USB-AC.
Then Press POWER.

Hello,
Try to transfer the tracks from the explorer.
1 Connect the Rio Carbon to a computer using the supplied USB cable.
2 Double-click My Computer on the Windows Desktop or in the Start Menu.
3 Locate MP3 or WMA audio files on the computer.
4 Highlight files and/or folders to transfer to the Rio Carbon.
5 Click Edit.
6 Click Copy.
7 Double-click My Computer on the Windows Desktop or in the Start Menu to open another window.
8 In the new window, locate the Rio Carbon (X:) icon that is associated with the Rio Carbon. (X equals the drive
letter assigned to the Rio Carbon.)
9 Double-click Rio Carbon (X:).
10Click Edit.
11Click Paste.

Sorry dude, with the hard drive clicking you are probably looking at a toasted drive or controller chip. When you get the 'upgrader' screen the device cannot get information from the drive. Your best bet is to remove the drive and try it in another device such as a digital camera or a PDA with a slot. The average life of these devices seems to be about 2 months, with a (very) few people eeking out a year or so. Most of the time the volume control breaks, or cycles, or the drive interface craps out ('upgrader' screen)

Go to My Computer. Then open the carbon drive, to view the files. Then delete the ones you do not want.

This forum http://www.gearhack.com/Forums/DisplayComments.php?file=Electronics/Rio_Carbon_Internals talks about and gives images of the battery as well as many other "hacks" that allowed them to use an otherwise dead Rio. This site http://www.greghughes.net/rant/PermaLink,guid,e9bdfa3f-da94-4c6e-a2f9-5ff3260040f1.aspx also has a good look at what the inside of the device look like and the many parts.
If you can plug the Rio into your computer and it charges then does this the battery is probably the culprit, but if it wont connect the drive might have died.

no it cant be recovered you have to format the player using xp or vista if you can that is try that out

This i not a possible problem due to the Rio Carbon only accepting a theoretical size of 8GB in a hard drive or CF card. There are no components in a Rio Carbon that could heat to such a high temperature unless you class 30 degrees C as an untouchable degree. If so then you are an idiot.

it appears that it is. should be automatically recognized by vista. if not it may have failed. try unplugging the batteries for about 20 minutes.