The volume on my standard cd player turns it selfdown

WARNING: this process will erase all songs off the GoGear.
Disconnect the GoGear from computer.
Turn the GoGear off.
Hold in the volume + button.
Reconnect the GoGear while holding in the volume + button.
Continue holding the volume + button.
After 5-50 seconds, Windows will pop-up a "Found New Hardware Wizard." - complete the wizard (BTW, you can take your hand ff the volume + button now).
Good To Go (Gear)!
-Tha Mp3 Doctor

RCA's website has the software/manual that you need if you lost the CD
Use Windows Media Player to transfer music and delete songs
As far as downloading songs, you can sign up for a wide number of music services - each one has a different download method, and the company website will explain how to use it. The problem with this RCA player is that it was tied to Yahoo!'s Musicmatch Jukebox svc, which was cancelled in October 2007, so you will have to find another music service. Some music services will recognize the RCA player directly, and you can use their svc to download the songs directly to your player. Other services you will have to download the songs first, and then transfer them to the RCA using Windows Media Player afterwards.

Dezi -
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.

-Tha Mp3 Doctor

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

Peanut -
use your QuickStart Guide - available on RCA website if you lost it - or call RCA - plug in your mp3 player and load the CD - if the CD won't load, you may have a non-compatible version of Windows - go to RCA's website if you have Vista, because they have updated software/revised instructions

ann-
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.
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Make sure the songs are in the correct format. Make sure the songs are not AAC, WAV, streaming, or some other non-supported format
Mp3 players are more complicated than ever. This player may only accept DRM-encrypted WMA files. I would first check the songs that you have downloaded to make sure they did not have "temporary" licenses with a fixed end date. You can do this by right clicking on an individual song, clicking on properties, and selecting the "license," "digital rights mgmt" or "media usage rights" tab - the wording varies by configuration. It will give you info on the license. If the song says that it has no license, it will not work with this player. One remedy is to use mp3 converter software to convert all of those wma files to Mp3's - I don't know of any free ones, but you can certainly look for free Mp3 Converters. Another remedy on unlicensed songs is to hit the "acquire license" link in the license tab, if one exists.

-Tha Mp3 Doctor

Make sure the songs are not streaming versions

if not:
Try this: disconnect the player from the computer, 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.
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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/Retail/DriverDownloads.aspx
or
http://www.sandisk.com/DriverDownload/driverList.asp
-Tha Mp3 Doctor

Try this: disconnect the player from the computer, 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.
-----
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/Retail/DriverDownloads.aspx
or
http://www.sandisk.com/DriverDownload/driverList.asp
-Tha Mp3 Doctor

This player is not compatible with iTunes
Ripped from CD - acquire license by going into songs' Properties and clicking on license or digital rights tab; or try and re-sync

There could be something else wrong with player for which the above methods fail. In this casE:
Try this: disconnect the player from the computer, 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.
-----
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/Retail/DriverDownloads.aspx
or
http://www.sandisk.com/DriverDownload/driverList.asp
-Tha Mp3 Doctor

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.

This is the worst mp3 player ever invented - i have to tell you this up front. There is no driver, the company does not support the product anymore - I would return it now while you still can.

Either the device is bad, the pc port is bad, or the software is faulty. Try connecting to different usb port, then a usb port on a different pc with a compatible os. If still not recognized, then there is physical damage to player.

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.