My creative zen not getting dectected

http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=213&CatName=MP3+Players&prodID=17108&prodName=ZEN

http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=948&subCatID=958&prodID=16424&prodName=ZEN%20Stone&subCatName=MP3%20Players&CatName=Entertainment+Devices+%2f+MP3+Players&VARSET=prodfaq:PRODFAQ_16424,VARSET=CategoryID:948
Copy and paste the above link into your browser's address bar and scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page. On the right hand side is a button that will allow you to automatically update the software for your Zen Stone. If that does not resolve your issue, the last link on that very same page, Starter Pack 1.51.03, his starter pack is updated with the latest software and User's Guide for your Creative ZEN® Stone player and Creative ZEN Stone player (with built-in Speaker). It enables you to drag audio files to and from your player using Creative Media Lite. For more details, read the rest of this Web release note. The starter pack can also be found at www.creative.com/zenstone, and it includes the following:

• Creative Media Lite (1.51.03)
  Rips CDs, transfers media files and controls your player's volume restriction level.
• User's Guide
  Provides information on using your player.

Added Features or Enhancements:

• Enables you to drag audio files to and from your player using Creative Media Lite.
• Adds an audio playback feature in the Creative Media Lite window.
• Enables the conversion of unreadable tag properties of audio files in Creative Media Lite.

Requirements:

• Microsoft® Windows Vista®, Windows® XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later
• USB port
• Creative ZEN Stone or Creative ZEN Stone (with built-in Speaker)

Note:

• To install this starter pack
  1. Download the ZENStone_PCApp_CLI_L4_1_51_03.exe file into your local hard disk.
  2. Close all application windows that are currently running.

Double-click the downloaded file and follow the instructions on the screen. That should resolve any issues you have by not have the original Start up Disk!

Please get here: www.nodevice.com/driver/.../Creative-Labs/MP3_Player.html
www.mycreativefansite.com/.../creative-zen-v-plus-installation-cd.html

Regards, Jay

The problem is with a conflict with Windows Media Player 11. Uninstall WMP 11 and roll back to 10 ..restart and your Zen should work fine.

When you plug the Mp3 player into 2 computers running slightly different versions of XP, a reformatting occurs which will cause it not to work on one PC or the other. You must reformat your player for the home computer. Actually, you might want to check the firmware also: Go to Creative's website and double-check the firmware - it will also give you the best way to reformat your player:

http://support.creative.com/Products/Products.aspx?catid=213&catName=MP3+Players

have you installed any drivers for tghe device?

I got my Creative Zen Sleek Photo from a friend and everything I did wouldn't let Windows recognize it, but then I got it to work almost magically.

1. Make sure you have the proper drivers installed for it that come with the CD. If you don't have the CD, you can download the ISO here.
http://wp.randyr.net/windows-xp/creative-zen-sleek-photo.html

2. Reboot. When it comes back up, plug the cable into your computer, then into your Sleek. The software should sync up. For some reason, my Zen wasn't being recognized from the usb port on my computer tower, but I plugged it into my monitor's USB port and then it worked. Try that, if none of that works, then it may be a problem with your computer not knowing which driver to assign to your Zen, and if so, try the steps below.

----

1. Plug your Sleek to your computer.
2. Open up Windows' Device manager (right-click on "My Computer" and select "Properties". Go to the "Hardware" tab, then click "Device Manager").
3. Locate the entry for "Creative Zen Sleek" in your device list. It should appear either under "Sound, video, and game controllers" or under "USB Devices". Once you locate the entry, uninstall it.
4. Unplug your Sleek and wait a few seconds.
5. Plug your Sleek back in and allow the "new Hardware Wizard" to identify and install the drivers for it.

Ever since vista dropped alot of support files for simple thing like Creative's older model Mp3 Players, try going to creatives website, and look in the support section for a driver update for VIsta.

I found a solution at a Creative dealer site in the UK....it worked for me when nothing else did.

This unit comes with a "hidden" recovery accessory...be careful in this area if you do not know what you are doing.

Hold the power switch to the left and at the same time use a paperclip to push the Rest button on the bottom of the unit....remove the paperclip and as soon as the Creative logo appears on the screen, release the power switch. A recovery menu will appear. I selected "Clean" from the screen and waited about 5 minutes for process to complete. When that was finished I selected "Reboot"....after it rebooted, my computer recognized the unit. I was afraid that my files (music, pics etc) would be lost, but it was all there in perfect condition.

Hope it helps
pashopper

I have found that it works if I dump all mp3:s in one directory, the freeze only happens if \Music has a lot of subdirectories. Weirdness! The drawback is that synching seems to be a lot slower with all mp3:s in one directory.

tried doing a cleanup, reformatting, and reloading firmware,