When you're able to view the menus of the player, look in the manual on page 30 = page 31 of the pdf file for the USB connection mode on your player:
Settings
USB > Auto Detect
> MSC
M200 series manual in pdf format: http://mp3support.sandisk.com/downloads/um/sansa-m200-um.pdf
With Windows Media Player 11 under Vista, the player should be
recognized as a media device in this Microsoft Media Player. Transfers can be made in MTP mode (Media Transfer Protocol) using WMP 11: USB mode should be in Auto Detect.
In Autodetect mode files on the player can also be viewed in the Explorer mode under My Computer, seeing the player as an external flash drive.
In WMP11 use Library and Sync mode for creating playlists and synchronizing music. More about how to use WMP11, see the help items in the player (click on e.g. Library or Sync etc.) or go to the Microsoft site: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/11/using.mspx
When USB mode is set to MSC mode (Mass Storage Class) the player can only be viewed in the Explorer under My Computer.
Connect the Sansa to your computer using the supplied cable. Open up the operating system's explorer window. The Sansa will show as either a Sansa or a removable hard drive, depending on the USB mode. Either way, open it and you'll see a folder named "MUSIC". Open that. You can either delete entire albums or navigate into them and delete individual tracks.
You have to change the mode the player is in. See this guys tip posted here ---> Solve your MP3 Player Connection Problem. it is the best so I will just send you to his site.
The best way is to use Cd's you already have or buy. Use windows Media Plyer or iTunes. To use Media Player, Start the program and looking at the top of the program, if the classic menu's are not showing - right click out next to the heading, Media Player, -> chose view -> then -> click on Classic Menus. This will show the menus that are easier to access. Now go to -> Tools -> Options And here, click on the Rip Music tab. This is where you set up media player to rip music down to a MP3 and where to put it when done. So on this tab you will see Rip music to this location, Click the pull down and pick a folder you can find easy -(go to my computer, right click My computer and chose -> Explore -> you will see on the left side the folder tree, click on the ( C:\ ) at the top and open up the tree, then right click the( C:\ ) move to the menu at the top and chose -> New -> then Folder - then name your folder " AAA " it will always be at the top of the tree - easy to find), Tell media player to put your MP3's here, then move down on the RIP MUSIC Tab to the FORMAT section and pull down menu and chose MP3 => chose to rip when CD is inserted. click OK and close the Tools Menu, Close the Program. Now Hook up your player, go to My computer right click on the START menu, look at the folder tree and scroll down to the bottom and see if your player is there. Next insert a CD into the drive and when a window pops up asking what to do chose to RIP WITH MEDIA PLAYER. Once Media Player has finished riping the CD, Go to your folder and Copy the MP3's into your player's Music folder - one at the time or as a group. Now you should be able to un-hook your player and enjoy you new music. Now if you want to download MP3's from Wal-mart or iTunes you need to change the mode of your player. See this tip posted here.Solve your MP3 Player Connection Problem. if you do buy and download mp3's from some web site you will have to deal with the song's license. These license can get lost, I have lost many. If you ever have to reinstall or have a problem with your computer they can get lost, where CD's Ripped to mp3's do not.
Make sure the player is fully charged. 1. Connect the player to the PC. 2. Make sure the computer detects the player. NOTE: If needed, switch the player to MSC mode, to switch the player to MSC mode 1. Turn device OFF. 2. Slide the Hold switch down to Lock (orange color showing). 3. Press and hold the center button while connecting the device to the PC.then connect it to the PC. Skip this step if you think it is charged. Next Be sure the battery is charged 1. Leave the player connected for approximately 2 hours to charge. 2. Disconnect the player from the PC. 3. Verify if you can turn on the player. 4. Reset the player if necessary. To reset the player: 1. Press and hold the Power/Menu button for approximately 20 seconds. 2. Release the Power/Menu button. 3. Press the Power/Menu button again to turn on the player. If that does not do it, re-seat the battery: Here is how to get to the battery, 1. Press the battery compartment in while sliding to the right. 2. Remove old battery. 3. Insert new battery or reset the old battery. 4. Close the battery compartment. Then try and see if it will come on with out the battery hooked to your computer. 1. Remove the battery. 2. Connect the player to the PC to verify if it turns on. 3. Re-seat the battery to ensure proper connection. 4. Verify if the player turns on.
Hi big dee.
Deleting songs from your M230 can be done by either browsing the player through your Windows Explorer and then selectively deleting the music file, or by formatting the player which would delete all of your music files.
It's also important to know that your player has 2 modes -- MTP and MSC -- because music files saved in one mode would not be seen in the other mode, and vice versa.
To switch the modes on your player, use the menu and navigate as follows:
Menu > Settings > USB
You would get a choice of "Autodetect" (this is for MTP) and MSC.
Here's how to delete the files:
Step 1:
Plug in your player to your computer. Open explorer and check if your player is detected. Your player's LCD would display "USB Connected" and the mode would be indicated below that.
If your player's mode is MTP:
A. Look for the Sansa M230 icon on Explorer (it will be recognized as a Portable Audio Device). Double left click on it to browse the player.
B. The player will have 2 sub-folders: "Data" and "Media". Double left-click on the "Media" folder and either find your music files or open the "Music" folder to find your music files
If your player's mode is MSC:
A. Look for the Sansa M230 icon and drive letter on Explorer (it will be recognized as a "Removable Drive". Double left click on it to browse the player.
B. The player will have several sub-folders such as "Audible", "Config", "Record". You may already be able to see your music files or the player may have a "Music" sub-folder. Open that to check for your files
Step 2
Once you've located your files, you may now be able to delete them.
Step 3
Once you've unplugged your player, the M230's LCD will display the message "Rebuilding Library". Let that process complete, then you may turn on your player to confirm that the files have been deleted.
To format your player, just right-click on the M230 icon in Explorer, then select "Format". When the Format window appears, make sure to select "FAT" as the File System type, and also make sure that the "Quick Format" checkbox at the bottom of the Window remains un-checked.
I hope this info helps. Enjoy your M230. :)
Not to sure about a mac but I think mac's use a mp4 format when it rips a cd, and the Sansa will use a mp3 file. You can download a free program to convert these files but again, I know where for a PC but not a mac. Look for free mp4 to mp3 converter program for Mac..
