Cannot be reconized
Try other USB ports on your computer. A USB port behind a PC usually has the most power output.
Try a different cable if there's one available, to rule out a cable malfunction.
Try another computer.
NEXT - Refresh the drivers
STEP 1 - Connect the Sansa player to the PC
STEP 2 - Check under Device Manager
-> 1. Right-click My Computer, and select Manage.
NOTE: The Sansa player will show up on Device Manager's right pane as:
1. USB Mass Storage device (if the player is set to MSC)
2. Portable Device (if the player is set to MTP mode.)
See this tip posted here on this site. This might be what is going on with your player.
http://www.fixya.com/support/r3774047-solve_mp3_player_connection_problem
If there is a yellow exclamation point (!) or question mark (?) beside the device, try to refresh the drivers.
STEP 3 - Refresh the drivers
1. Right-click the entry with the error mark, select Uninstall.
2. On the top menu, click Action then select Scan for hardware changes.
A brand new Sansa player NOT recognized by the computer when plugged in:
This may be caused by one of the following:
1. Minimum system requirements were not met.
2. Corrupted drivers.
3. Computer restrictions.
4. Power issue.
To resolve this issue, try the following solutions:
Verify if minimum operating system requirements are met.
Operating systems supported by Sansa players:
Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2
Windows Media player supported by Sansa players:
Version 10 and 11
Download and install the latest Windows Media Player if it's not installed.
For MAC users, see Sansa player not recognized by a MAC OS
Next Connect the device to the PC in MSC mode
View/c200: Turn on then press and hold the rewind button while plugging to the PC
See List of Sansa players with instructions on enabling MSC mode
If all this has failed - Refresh the drivers
STEP 1 - Connect the Sansa player to the PC
STEP 2 - Check under Device Manager
1. Right-click My Computer, and select Manage.
SOLUTION 4 - If that didn't work, and you are running Windows Vista, verify if you have Service Pack 1 installed.
If all that does not work - Manually add the hardware driver.
STEP 1 - Connect the Sansa player in MTP mode
STEP 2 - Manually install the device driver
1. Click Start select Control Panel then select Add Hardware.
2. Click Next to begin the Add Hardware Wizard.
3. Click Yes, I have already connected the hardware, then Next.
4. Scroll to the end of the list and select Add a new hardware device then click Next
5. Select Install the hardware that I manually select from a list (Advanced) then click Next
6. Select Portable Device or Windows Media Device from the list, then click Next
7. Select MTP device, then click Next.
8. Click Next to start loading the drivers.
9. Click Finish to close the wizard.
STEP 3 - Verify if the device is detected properly
1. Double-click My Computer.
2. Check if the device is showing up under Portable devices.
SOLUTION 6 - Set user restrictions.
Some computers have user right restrictions that are set to disable access to new hardware.
STEP 1 - Log-in as an Administrator
STEP 2 - Edit restriction
NOTE: Disconnect the Sansa player if connected.
1. Click Start then Run,
2. Type cmd, then the press Enter.
3. After the prompt, type Net localgroup Administrators local service /add then press Enter.
STEP 3 - Reconnect your device
