My player is telling me that i need to format the unit even though it's loaded with music files and have had no problems with it in three years. I don't know why this has happened. Please advise..thank you

MP3 players can only play music files in mp3 file format. You can download mp3 music files from the Internet toyour computer and then copy them to your MP3 player. For your CD collection, you need to convert your CDs tomp3 music files onto your computer or download them from the Internet and thencopy them to your MP3 player.
You can do this using Windows Media player and Rip the CDs - Media Player willcreate a MP3 music file for each music track.
Click on this link for instruction on converting music files to mp3 file format:- http://www.fixya.com/support/r5798418-creating_transferring_mp3_music_files

are you sure the files are in a format that is playable by the archos media player? what model is it, and what is the file extension of the music files

MP3 players can only play music files in mp3 file format. You need to convert your CDs to mp3 music files onto yourcomputer or download them from the Internet and then copy them to your MP3player.
You can do this using Windows Media player and Rip the CDs - Media Player willcreate a MP3 music file for each music track.
Click on this link for instruction on converting music files to mp3 file format:- http://www.fixya.com/support/r5798418-creating_transferring_mp3_music_files

MP3 players can only play music files in mp3 file format. You need to convert your CDs to mp3 music files onto yourcomputer or download them from the Internet and then copy them to your MP3player.
You can do this using Windows Media player and Rip the CDs - Media Player willcreate a MP3 music file for each music track.
Click on this link for instruction on converting music files to mp3 file format:- http://www.fixya.com/support/r5798418-creating_transferring_mp3_music_files

MP3 players can only play music files in mp3 file format.
All music need to be converted to mp3 file format and then copied to the MP3 player.
For details on converting music files, please click on this link and follow my instructions :-
Normal 0 http://www.fixya.com/support/r5798418-creating_transferring_mp3_music_files

Song files must be in MP3 format. If they are in WMA or AAC format they will not work with this player. It is an MP3 player only.

Also, if you are attempting to transfer DRM (protected) content to the player without authorizing the player for the content, there will be a warning message that states the license has expired for the content.

Make sure your files are in MP3 format and load again. If this isn't working then the player has a different problem. At this point try resetting the player by using a straightened paperclip, inserting in the hole on the bottom edge of the unit, press in until you feel a light click and hold for 5 seconds. Remove the paperclip and restart the player.

If the issue persists after converting all files to MP3 and resetting, there is a deeper issue with this player and will probably not playback music files. It can only be used as a radio.

Unfortunately this unit is no longer in stock at Best Buy and has reached End of Life a couple of years ago.

Hope this helps.

the files you are trying to use, are they mp3 format? some players wont recognize other formats like wma. There are programs you can use to convert files though.

Format your m240 in FAT32. That did the trick for me.

Some music files are in a DRM-protected WMA or AAC format that does not allow you to transfer the songs to certain mp3 players, even though the songs will play fine on your computer. To get around this problem, make sure that you buy a subscription level that has transfer rights - or, better yet, only download songs that are in true mp3 format. Songs in mp3 format do not have copy-protection on them, so they will never give you error messages, headaches, etc.

-Tha Mp3 Doctor

Just had to do a firmaware update on the device and it works well !!