Why can't I access my mp3 files on my rca m4002a mp3 player opal firmware v1.4? It says it is almost full yet it says there are no files.

Not iTunes. Not Napster.
You could try Rhapsody's MP3 ONLY service - new!
Limewire works, but make sure you anti-virus program is up-to-date.

The key is to use Mp3 format only, and most music services have switched to WMA format.

I have an Opal 2GB mp3 player just like yours and I accidentaly busted the screen on it, so I e-mailed the RCA company, they e-mailed me back telling me that I voided the warranty, and I would have to send it back and pay 55 dollars to get a new one, because they don't sell the individual screens.

I hope this helps.

You need to re-image your firmware--it sounds like something is corrupted there. I have seen this behavior on other mp3 devices in the past; sometimes it requires special techniques to reset the device. Let's hope this isn't the case with your Opal--RCA was rude enough not to provide a handy reset procedure.

If you are daring you can try to replace the firmware files directly on your Opal using your son's files. You need to enable viewing of hidden files to do this: Tools-->Folder Options...-->View-->Show Hidden Files and Folders. Also uncheck "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" and say "Yes" to the dialog that pops up. You can change these back later. For MacOS X, open Terminal, then type "defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE", push Enter, Option-click (and hold) the Finder icon, then choose Relaunch.

Now, simply copy your Opal's files over to a local directory on your hard drive (this is a backup so you can't make things worse), and then copy your son's Opal files onto your Opal. The files should be as follows:
autorun.inf
playqueue.dat
pmp_usb.ini
RAMLIST.DAT
SETSTOR.DAT
STDBDATA.DAT
STDBDATA.IDX
STDBSTR.DAT
STDBSTR.IDX

All of these files should be placed in the root of the drive--in the folder on the Opal that also shows folders like "Audible", "FMRecord", "Music", "Pictures", etc. After the transfer, stop and unplug your Opal. Try to turn it on and see what happens. If it looks OK, try to hook up to it with Windows Media Player. If you are still having trouble, use the firmware from the RCA website--even if it is the same version. Failing that, you may need to have the device serviced or replaced.

Good Luck!

Mine didn't recognize either, so what I did is go into the device manager, find the opal in the listings, double-click, disabled the device, re-enabled it, at which time it shows that there's a firmware error. I then re-installed the driver from the cd, unplugged the opal, plugged it back in, and for whatever reason, the computer then recognized the opal as a mass storage device, instead of a portable music player. The computer now sees it everytime, and all I have to do is drag and drop any files I want into the opal. Works like a charm. Hopefully RCA will provide an updated firmware program in the near future, but this might work for you for now. Good luck!

Uninstall MTP device in the Device Manager, and reconnect

Just click this link to download the firmware, and follow the directions after install. You should be able to add/delete songs again. It just worked for my player. Hope this was helpful.

http://download.rcaaudiovideo.com/downloads/OPAL_FWUtility_v2.3.0.exe

blue standby

if yo hav vista or maby any other windows that is copatable with this mp3 player yo go to the media player where it says sync click it and then click shuffle opal it will delete all your music

The Opal has a reset hole on the back of the unit in which a toothpick (non metallic) can be inserted to reboot the player.
If this does not work, I suggest that you reformat the player by using the WindowsTM format command on the unit. To reformat the memory

1. Right click on the device within the Explorer or My Computer window
2. Select the format command (full format) to reformat the internal memory of the device.
3. Reinstall the firmware from http://download.rcaaudiovideo.com/downloads/opal_fwutility_v2.3.0.exe

trouble - this player is not MAC compatible - you will always get that error

everyone else -
The Opal has a reset hole on the back of the unit in which a toothpick (non metallic) can be inserted to reboot the player.
If this does not work, I suggest that you reformat the player by using the WindowsTM format command on the unit. To reformat the memory

1. Right click on the device within the Explorer or My Computer window
2. Select the format command (full format) to reformat the internal memory of the device.
3. Reinstall the firmware from http://download.rcaaudiovideo.com/downloads/opal_fwutility_v2.3.0.exe