Picked up my Archos 104 for the first time in 8 months as I had changed jobs, but find it takes fore ever to boot up, then wont let me carry on to play my music. It then shuts down. any ideas??. Ken

Windows 8 is and has been obsolete and unsupported for over 8 years.
Time to update your OS.
Linux is excellent, Ubuntu Mint is free and easy to use, the choice is yours.

I fixed my son's 605 4 GB had Recovery code (104) on it These are the steps i followed
* Use the computer for this process that you always used for this archos
* Download the firware Upgrade 2.1
* Plug the Archos to Pc
* When the white screen comes up do format
* Wait until all done then put the firmware in to the root sector of the Archos
* Safely remove the usb for Archos from your pc first and then unplug the cable.
* Do not pick any option on the Archos screen
* Just turn it off from the power button by holding it until it turns off
* Wait about 5 minutes and plug in back to pc
* it will come up with white screen again but this time it will start Update you will see the progress bar moving wait until it is all done and it will shut off. Turn it back on Your archos will be back to normal.
When you go to download from Archos site it will explain how to download depending upon how your device pops up on your Pc.
Hope this helps

If you chose any of these options already your Os is gone.. 
try this solution 
I fixed my son's 605 4 GB had Recovery code (104) on it. This might work for other error codes too. These are the steps i followed 
* Use the computer for this process that you always used for this archos Archos should be plugged in to Pc before starting the process.
* Download the firware Upgrade 2.1
* Plug the Archos to Pc 
* When the white option screen comes up pick the format disk
* Wait until all done do not pick any option on archos after format is done Pc should recognize your archos in 5 seconds 
* Put the firmware in root section of the archos not in any folder.
* Safely remove the usb for Archos from your pc first and then unplug the cable.
* Do not pick any option on the Archos screen
* Just turn it off from the power button by holding it until it turns off
* Wait about 5 minutes and plug it back to pc 
* it will come up with white screen again but this time it will start Update you will see the progress bar moving, wait until it is all done, it will shut off. Turn it back on and  your archos will be back to normal

I fixed my son's 605 4 GB had Recovery code (104) on it. This might work for other error codes too. These are the steps i followed 
* Use the computer for this process that you always used for this archos Archos should be plugged in toPc before starting the process.
* Download the firware Upgrade 2.1
* Plug the Archos to Pc 
* When the white option screen comes up pick the format disk
* Wait until all done do not pick any option on archos after format is done Pc should recognize your archos in 5 seconds 
* Put the firmware in root section of the archos not in any folder.
* Safely remove the usb for Archos from your pc first and then unplug the cable.
* Do not pick any option on the Archos screen
* Just turn it off from the power button by holding it until it turns off
* Wait about 5 minutes and plug it back to pc 
* it will come up with white screen again but this time it will start Update you will see the progress bar moving, wait until it is all done, it will shut off. Turn it back on and  your archos will be back to normal

I fixed my son's 605 4 GB had Recovery code (104) on it. This might work for other error codes too. These are the steps i followed 
* Use the computer for this process that you always used for this archos Archos should be plugged in toPc before starting the process.
* Download the firware Upgrade 2.1
* Plug the Archos to Pc 
* When the white option screen comes up, just pick the format disk
* Wait until all done do not pick any option on archos after format is done Pc should recognize your archos in 5 seconds 
* Put the firmware in root section of the archos not in any folder.
* Safely remove the usb for Archos from your pc first and then unplug the cable.
* Do not pick any option on the Archos screen
* Just turn it off from the power button by holding it until it turns off
* Wait about 5 minutes and plug it back to pc 
* it will come up with white screen again but this time it will start Update you will see the progress bar moving, wait until it is all done, it will shut off. Turn it back on and  your archos will be back to normal

I fixed my son's 605 4 GB had Recovery code (104) on it. This might work for other error codes too. These are the steps i followed 
* Use the computer for this process that you always used for this archos Archos should be plugged in toPc before starting the process.
* Download the firware Upgrade 2.1
* Plug the Archos to Pc 
* When the white option screen comes up pick the format disk
* Wait until all done do not pick any option on archos after format is done Pc should recognize your archos in 5 seconds 
* Put the firmware in root section of the archos not in any folder.
* Safely remove the usb for Archos from your pc first and then unplug the cable.
* Do not pick any option on the Archos screen
* Just turn it off from the power button by holding it until it turns off
* Wait about 5 minutes and plug it back to pc 
* it will come up with white screen again but this time it will start Update you will see the progress bar moving, wait until it is all done, it will shut off. Turn it back on and  your archos will be back to normal

Recovert code 104
would you like to recover your system?
NO
Repair disk
Format disk
P.S. pressed the OK button on the device and its telling me to
connectto your divise to my PC and install an update file DONE
then the devise reapear back to recovery code 104

Hi
i had same issue. nothing worked until i saw a guy who fixed his by dropping it on floor?
i dropped my archos in the protective case from 2 feet off floor. the bloody thing when came back to life, 100% good. i think the hard drive was stuck and the fall fixed it!! it cannot hurt as yours is broken still i guess. hope it works for you to

go to archos firmware and download version 2.1.04 to your pc or laptop and save it in a folder then get ur mp4 turn it on and go format you will get a screen that says done leave it on that and connect to your pc or laptop it will recognise your mp4 then go in my computer and open 405 and open your save file and drag the save file into the 405 but NOT into a folder below them and after it has\copied turn the 405 off and start it up should be as good as new

RESET IT