SanDisk Sansa Clip MP3 Player Logo
Posted on Aug 23, 2008
Answered by a Fixya Expert

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Windows Media player will not "Connect a Device"

Trying to put a new set of songs onto Sansa Clip.
1) Connect device to USB
2) Windows Media Player starts up
3) On 'Sync' menu, choose playlist, drag to 'Sync List' area
4) 'Connect' icon above 'Sync List' area will not become active, when I mouse over it.

I think this next info has a role in the problem. If I attempt to open my Sansa clip with Explorer, there is NOTHING showing. I have approx 400 songs on it.

When I list the properties for my sansa clip in Explorer, everything is "unknown". Did I lose a driver???

  • Anonymous Jan 06, 2009

    have a mp3 player that will not connect to windows

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1 Answer

ThaMp3Doctor

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  • Master 8,597 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 23, 2009
ThaMp3Doctor
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Joined: Feb 04, 2008
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Make sure the hold/lock is not engaged.
Try a different USB port.

If that fails:
These are the most common methods for recovering Sandisk's Sansa Mp3 Players. I have been almost universally successful in recovering Sansa players using one or a combination of these methods. These methods do not work if you are having synchronization or music format issues - they are for recovering a player that will not power up, freezes, flashes, is not recognized by the computer, and a host of other issues.

Reset the Sansa Player first. On most models, restart is done by holding the power button in for 15 seconds or longer. Check your specific manual to be sure. The manuals are available from the Sansa website if they have been misplaced.
Download the Sansa Recovery Tool from the Sansa website.
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.
Firmware Upgrade- Erases Everything: Get the latest firmware upgrade from Sansa - it updates the firmware and erases every song in the player all at once. Note: this method doesn't work if already have the latest firmware. Go to this website and click "Firmware Updater" to find out: http://www.sandisk.com/DriverDownload/driverList.asp
If these fail, then:
Try this: disconnect the player from the computer, turn it off, hold in the volume + button, and reconnect the player to the computer while holding the volume + button in. Keep holding the volume + button for an additional 5-50 seconds. Windows should eventually go into recovery mode and revive the player- it will pop up a window that says Found New Hardware Wizard.
If you get the problem where MTP Device keeps popping up continuously, uninstall the “MTP Device” by going to Start à Control Panel àSystem à Hardware à Device Manager (you computer may vary slightly, depending on Windows Version).
You may have to restart your computer after each of these methods to get them to work properly. Disconnect your Sansa player BEFORE shutting down your computer.
-Tha Mp3 Doctor

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0helpful
1answer

My sansa clip (blue) does not charge when I connect it to the usb port on my computer. I've tried resetting it and using other cables but it still does not accept a charge. The computer does not recognize...

Why is my Sansa player not being detected by my computer when I connect it?

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:

SOLUTION 1 - For brand new player or first time connecting to this computer.

For Windows XP users: verify the following operating system requirements are met.
- Windows XP SP2 or higher
- Windows Media Player 10 or higher

Download and install the latest Windows Media Player if it's not installed.

For Windows Vista users: If the player is seen in My Computer when using MTP mode, but not showing in Windows Media Player.
- Download the hotfix from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939211.
- Run the hotfix.

For MAC users, see Sansa player not recognized by a MAC OS

NOTE: If you are trying to connect to a Computer at work that is part of a network, there may be user right restrictions that are set to disable access to new hardware or stop any program installations. You may need to check with your IT administrator to see if this is causing the problem.



SOLUTION 2 - Refresh the driver

STEP 1 - Connect the Sansa player to the PC
The screen on your player should turn on, show 'Connected' and indicate the battery charging or full.
- If the player does not turn on try other USB ports or on another computer if one is readily available. Ensure you are connecting directly to the computer USB port and not to a USB hub.
- If there is nothing showing on the screen and the player does show up in as a storage device in an explorer window, then the screen is just not working.

If you receive the error "USB Device Not Recognized" on the computer, the player is most likely failed. Additional troubleshooting is unlikely to correct the problem.

Image
.

STEP 2 - Check under Device Manager
1. Right-click My Computer, and select Manage.
Image
2. Click Device Manager on the left pane.
Image

NOTE: Sansa MP3 Players can connect to your computer in MSC or MTP mode. Exceptions are Sansa Connect and Sansa Express which only use MTP mode. MTP mode is the recommended and default method for Sansa Players when used with Windows OS.

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)

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.

NOTE: If a device with yellow exclamation point (!) continually appears and disappears, then the player is most likely failed. Additional troubleshooting is unlikely to correct the problem.



Have a nice day...
0helpful
1answer

I have just bought a new sansa clip. i have successfully uploaded music to the the player and i can hear it well. now when i try to access the player through the computer i cannot access the music and...

Hi, are you sure the computer is recognizing your player?...if not....

player not recognized by the computer

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:

SOLUTION 1 - For brand new player or first time connecting to this computer.

For Windows XP users: verify the following operating system requirements are met.
- Windows XP SP2 or higher
- Windows Media Player 10 or higher

Download and install the latest Windows Media Player if it's not installed.

For Windows Vista users: If the player is seen in My Computer when using MTP mode, but not showing in Windows Media Player.
- Download the hotfix from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939211.
- Run the hotfix.

For MAC users, see Sansa player not recognized by a MAC OS

NOTE: If you are trying to connect to a Computer at work that is part of a network, there may be user right restrictions that are set to disable access to new hardware or stop any program installations. You may need to check with your IT administrator to see if this is causing the problem.



SOLUTION 2 - Refresh the driver

STEP 1 - Connect the Sansa player to the PC
The screen on your player should turn on, show 'Connected' and indicate the battery charging or full.
- If the player does not turn on try other USB ports or on another computer if one is readily available. Ensure you are connecting directly to the computer USB port and not to a USB hub.
- If there is nothing showing on the screen and the player does show up in as a storage device in an explorer window, then the screen is just not working.

If you receive the error "USB Device Not Recognized" on the computer, the player is most likely failed. Additional troubleshooting is unlikely to correct the problem.


STEP 2 - Check under Device Manager
1. Right-click My Computer, and select Manage.
Image
2. Click Device Manager on the left pane.
Image

NOTE: Sansa MP3 Players can connect to your computer in MSC or MTP mode. Exceptions are mitone mp4 player Connect and mitone mp4 player Express which only use MTP mode. MTP mode is the recommended and default method for mitone mp4 player Players when used with Windows OS.

The mitone mp4 player 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)

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.

NOTE: If a device with yellow exclamation point (!) continually appears and disappears, then the player is most likely failed. Additional troubleshooting is unlikely to correct the problem.


Hope it helped ..

Have a nice day..
3helpful
1answer

My Red Sansa Clip 4GB will not show on any computer i plug it into, It only charges and i have tried the auto detect, mtp, and msc settings. Any Suggestions?

See the section about the hot fix first----- If you are using Windows XP: you need the following. Windows XP SP2 or higher Windows Media Player 10 or higher
Download and install the latest Windows Media Player if it's not installed.
If you are using Windows Vista: If the player is seen in My Computer when using MTP mode, but not showing in Windows Media Player. Download the hotfix from-->>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939211. Run the hotfix.
Refresh the players driver Connect the Sansa player to the PC The screen on your player should turn on, show 'Connected' and indicate the battery charging or full. If the player does not turn on try other USB ports or on another computer if one is readily available. Ensure you are connecting directly to the computer USB port and not to a USB hub. - If there is nothing showing on the screen and the player does show up in as a storage device in an explorer window, then the screen is just not working.
If you receive the error "USB Device Not Recognized" on the computer, the player is most likely failed. Additional troubleshooting is unlikely to correct the problem. Check under Device Manager 1. Right-click My Computer, and select Manage. 2. Click Device Manager on the left pane.
NOTE: Sansa MP3 Players can connect to your computer in MSC or MTP mode. Exceptions are Sansa Connect and Sansa Express which only use MTP mode. MTP mode is the recommended and default method for Sansa Players when used with Windows OS. 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)
If there is a yellow exclamation point (!) or question mark (?) beside the device, try to refresh the drivers. 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.
NOTE: If a device with yellow exclamation point (!) continually appears and disappears, then the player is most likely failed. Additional troubleshooting is unlikely to correct the problem.
Connect using MSC mode Connecting in MSC mode will help determine if there is a problem with MTP mode or with the Auto Detect mode feature of the player. You can use Forced MSC mode or switch the player settings to MSC.
Instructions to connect in Forced MSC mode are listed here: http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/61
Instructions to switch player to MSC mode are listed here: http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/207
If the player is detected in MSC mode but not when set to MTP mode, try to update or reinstall the Sansa firmware
NOTE: Sansa Express and Sansa Connect do not have MSC mode. For Sansa Connect you can try reinstalling the firmware using the Connect Recovery Mode.
Additional troubleshooting notes: If you have replaced the Sansa Player and you still have problems getting it to recognize in the computer, then you may need to try some additional troubleshooting. - Try connecting on another computer. - Try using a different USB cable - Try connecting to the back USB ports which may supply better power. - If only MTP mode is not working, try reinstalling Windows Media Player For Windows XP try also download and install the MTP Porting Kit
1helpful
1answer

How do you put music on the SanDisk Sansa Clip MP3 Player

1. First, you have songs saving in your computer.
2. You have 2 ways to put music on the Sandisk Sansa Clip:
2.1. Plug device into computer, Drag and Drop music from your computer into "Music" folder of the Sandisk Sansa Clip.
2.2. Use Windows Media Player in your computer to transfer songs to your device; Plug device to computer, open Windows Media Player, click on Sync tab, drag and drop music into "Drag items here " on the right side of the windows media player, click on Start Sync button.
Good luck
3helpful
2answers

How to up lode music on to my player without my disk

plug in the music player to the pc with usb a cable then open my computer and double click removable drive then copy paste the songs which u want to transfer to the player and then safetly remove the device and enjoy the song which u get in the portable player
0helpful
1answer

Computer willnot recognize sansa clip, Begins coonection and then ends imediately after. I have downloaded wmp 11 and i run xp, help?

ok, look turn your device on and select settings, next you want to find usb mode (wording may vary). select this option and change this setting to msc, i have a 2 gig clip and this seemed to work......if this doesnt work try the mpt setting under the same "usb mode" option.....also when putting songs on your device, make sure the files are in wma format(windows media audio) to do this , see the songs properties, ussually done with a right click on the songs shorcut or logo.....if the file is in mp3 format, open the song in windows media player and open the library tab, highlight what you want to put on your device right click and select send to .....then select audio converter, convert the files then send them to your clip.
0helpful
1answer

Can't find clip in my computer

This is and excerpt from "EphMusicFan" on the Real player forum. Original link is also below.

" The following steps finally fixed everything for me. While it may seem long, it only takes about 15 minutes and should fix everything.

If you run windows XP don't have Windows Media Player 11 installed, download and install it here,
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/download/download.aspx

Run Windows Update, and install all high priority and optional updates related to Windows Media Player or device synchronization.
On XP, the updates include:
Update for Windows Media Format 11 SDK for Windows XP (KB929399)
Security Update for Windows Media Player 11 for Windows XP (KB936782)
Update for Windows Media Player 11 for Windows XP (KB939683)
Security Update for Windows XP with Windows Media Format Runtime 9.5 and 11 (KB941569)

Open Rhapsody
From 'My Account' menu select de-authorize computer
Close Rhapsody

To delete the mcs.rma file:

1. Close RealPlayer/Rhapsody
2. Click the Windows Start button. Then click Run.
3. Type %windir%\system32\ and click OK.
4. Find the mcs.rma file.
5. Right-click mcs.rma and select Delete.
6. Close the window.

To delete the basi3260.dll file:

1. Open the My Computer icon on your desktop.
2. Open the C: drive (usually Local Disk (C:\)).
3. Open the Program Files folder.
4. Open the Common Files folder.
5. Open the Real folder.
6. Open the Plugins folder.
7. Find the basi3260.dll file.
8. Right-click basi3260.dll and select Delete.
9. Close the window.
10. Restart your computer.


on sansa Clip itself, disconnected from computer, go to settings, then choose format

Make sure Rhapsody, Windows Media Player, and all other media programs are closed

download firmware
http://forums.sandisk.com/sansa/board/message?board.id=clip&thread.id=2946 (make sure you get 'Americas' firmware version)
unzip firmware file
connect to computer
drag firmware file onto sansa Clip icon in Windows explorer
wait to finish all copying (Sansa Clip screen will say connected, not writing or reading)

disconect
firmware updates on device, then it shuts off automatically
turn it back on
reformat from device (settings menu, format)
put in msc (under USB mode on settings menu)

reconect
open sansa Clip E:/ in Windows explorer, delete all files (should be 6-8 folders and files in top level directory of Clip)
reformat from windows explorer (right click, format, (FAT file system, NOT FAT32))

disconect
put in mtp (under USB mode on settings menu)

Open Rhapsody
It will run through quick setup again, due to files deleted before.
'Reathorize Computer' (under 'My Account' menu)
"Update Track Licenses' (same menu)

connect to computer
wait for Rhapsody to fully load clip (may take 30 seconds)
reformat from rhapsody (right click on sansa clip icon in rhapsody, select reformat)
hold down control and shift buttons at same time, right click on sansa clip icon in Rhapsody, select 'reset secure clock'
right click on sansa clip icon in rhapsody, select authorize device
wait while sansa clip updates (wait for screen of device to say 'connected' for a while, rather than writing or reading)

disconect

reconnect
wait a while updates finish

disconect
verify acount, and dates on device, under setting menu, account
should say renewed (with today's date) expires a date 30 days later.


download one new track from rhapsody you never have downloaded before

reconect
transfer that one track to clip
wait for all updates to finish

disconect
verify account, dates on device, check that the track plays properly"

Hope that helps.

http://real.lithium.com/real/board/message?board.id=InstallingRhapsody&thread.id=26724
0helpful
1answer

Windows Media player will not "Connect a Device"

To obtain the driver for your sandisk device go to http://www.sandisk.com/DriverDownload/index.asp and find the driver for your device..and then connecct the device on the back of your computer.What i would recommend you to do is to uninstall the device andreinstall it back...to uninstall it...assuming that you are running windows xp...click on start, right click on my computer and go to properties..you should have your system properties open then click under hardwarethen device manager...look for the sansa device..it usually locatedunder portable device..if its not showing there i would recommend youto look for under disk drivesand see if its there..right click on the device and click onuninstall...after you unintall it unplug your device from thecomputer....Then follow this link below to downloadthe portingkit...http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=A2E73160-E862-4F19-BB26-C0CAFE798955&displaylang=en.Then check the mode of yuor device to make sure it sunder MTP notmsc...To check the mode go under menu, settings and choose usb mode...After you check the mode open up your windows mediaplayer click on tools, options and click under privacy...clear thehistory and caches...after you finish you can plug the device on theback of the computer not the front then windows should recongnize it and it should work properly..if that doesnt solve the problems upgrade your windows media playerto 11 even though you have done that already..and try to reconnect yourdevice..make sure you have it connected on the back USB>>>

And if that doesnt work try to obtain the driver for your sandisk device go to http://www.sandisk.com/DriverDownload/index.asp and find the driver for your device..and then connecct the device on the back of your computer...it should work properly..if you are still having any problems..let me know..i would be more than happy to assist you..
Please rate accordingly
Thank you
Computerrep

0helpful
2answers

Cannot delete the songs on mp3

I do mine through Windows Media Player
1)Plug in Sansa
2)Open up Windows Media Player and wait for the Sansa e250 icon to show up under the library. First time, might say 'What device is this' or 'Autoplay'-for autoplay,you click 'sync media files to Sansa e250 using WIndows Media Player'
3)When library shows, click 'Sync' if it is not already there.
4)Just simply click and drag the songs you want from the computer library to the list pane on the side.
5)Once your done, click 'Sart sync'

TO DELETE
1)Plug in
2)Wait for the icon under Library in WIndows Media Player
3)Go to Songs under Sansa e250
4)Right click desired songs and choose Delete. You only want to delete from Sansa e250-nothing else

~loli~
0helpful
1answer

Sandisk C200 Lost CD

Use Windows Media Player to transfer songs to the device - the manual is available from Sandisk's website
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