Every time i turn it on, it tells me "ncorrect format , pls reformat the player." How can I reformat the player?

The best solution out of situations like this is to do as the device tells you to(to format it) but since it doesn't allow you to by not staying on for long enough you have to use the hard reset or format method which requires you to format the device even before it turns on completely.
Follow the instructions below

1. hard reset the 704 using the button under the battery right hand side;
2. reformat the unit (but that would of course delete contents).

Just curious, did you try/did a firmware update recently? Additionally, the manual has some details on troubleshooting as well as Archos online support.

Hope this be of initial help/idea. Pls post back how things turned up or should you need additional information.

Wipe the drive clean of all data.Then try to reformat it.

Try the link.It may help.

http://www.iolo.com/ds/3/

you need to reformat that, just right click your unit and go to format and click Quick format,, because it is an TROJAN virus that will destroy the format of each system so needed for reformating, just follow the step what i command  hope it can help it to you pls rate it!! thanks 

There are two ways to format an Mp3 player - one on the computer itself, and one in Windows Media Player. Both methods will end up erasing all the songs on the player, but the player will be "good as new" after that. Sometimes reformatting in this manner will override the player's native formatting and cause problems - this can be reversed in most cases by updating the player's firmware. Firmware upgrades are available from most manufacturers' websites.

WARNING: The following procedures will erase all songs on the player.
Check if the file system is NTFS. If yes, format it to FAT or FAT32. - Connect player to computer, double-click my computer, right click on icon of mp3 player and select format. This only applies to Windows-based computers.
You can also format the player in Windows Media Player itself:
Connect your Mp3 player to the computer and open Windows Media Player. Click on the Sync tab. Pull down the drop down menu underneath the Sync tab by moving your cursor over the Sync tab and left clicking on the little black arrow underneath the Sync tab. Highlight "name of Mp3 player here 1GB" (wording may vary slightly), and then select "Format." - this should erase everything.
-Tha Mp3 Doctor

Reformat in Windows Media Player instead.
Format - Erases Everything: Connect your Sansa player to the computer and open Windows Media Player. Click on the Sync tab. Pull down the drop down menu underneath the Sync tab by moving your cursor over the Sync tab and left clicking on the little black arrow underneath the Sync tab. Highlight "Sansa 1GB" (wording may vary slightly), and then select "Format." - this should erase everything.

Go to RCA.com then download the software updates, maybe ur firmware has een corrupted so u nid to reformat it..

The Sandisk site says that your dad's device should play .wav, .mp3 and .wma files. Has the player EVER worked? I got a C250 for my wife as a Christmas present and my computer recognized but refused to communicate with it UNTIL I DOWNLOADED AND INSTALLED THE FIRMWARE UPDATE. The player was a paperweight until then. It turned on and played the demo files pre-loaded on it, but I couldn't transfer a single file into it. Just a thought. Here's the link:
http://www.sandisk.com/Retail/Default.aspx?CatID=1376
good luck.
groove_guy

The Opal has a reset hole on the back of the unit in which a toothpick (non metallic) can be inserted to reboot the player.
If this does not work, I suggest that you reformat the player by using the WindowsTM format command on the unit. To reformat the memory

1. Right click on the device within the Explorer or My Computer window
2. Select the format command (full format) to reformat the internal memory of the device.
3. Reinstall the firmware from http://download.rcaaudiovideo.com/downloads/opal_fwutility_v2.3.0.exe

Formatting is pretty easy. Go to a computer, plug it in, then right click and it should have an option to format. Unfortunatly, it will delete any saved information on it. Hope it Works

how do you fix it using the stmp3rec.zip and the install program?