My SanDisk Sansa c250 is not turning on at all. I know it still works because my computer recognizes it when i plug it in, but I can't do anything with it and the mp3 player still wont light up at all. What do I do?

The software that came with Sansa C250 only contains the userguide and Rhapsody installation disc. The Player itself is a Plug and Play device. Provided that your computer meets the minimum system requirements.

Below is a link from SanDisk knowledgebase for troubleshooting the Sansa if it is not recognized on a computer:
http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/42/kw/not%20recognized

Hello, you can download it at : www.sandisk.com/sandisk-support/driver-download-wizard
www.givemefile.net > ... > Audio > Audio player > MP3 Flash-player

REgards, Jay

Sansa c200 series – Computer/OS Not Recognizing
Connect the device to the PC in MSC Mode
View/c200: Turn on then press and hold the rewind button while plugging to the PC
If that fails, unplug the Sansa from the computer. Uninstall all the Sansa software in the add/remove programs section of Control Panel. Reinstall the clean version of the software from Sandisk’s website – make sure you get the files for the c200 series. Then replug the Sansa and try again. The root of the problem is that Sansa has one set of drivers and Windows has another. If you plug the mp3 player into the computer before installing the Sansa drivers, the Windows drivers will trump the Sansa’s.
Here is a helpful link from Sandisk on the problem with extra information on Vista operating systems:
http://kb.sandisk.com/cgi-bin/sandisk_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=42&p_created=1221328944&p_sid=8VPwlRmj&p_brand=sansa&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NzQsNzQmcF9wcm9kcz00JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0xLjQmcF9jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1jMjAw&p_li=&p_topview=1

-Tha Mp3 Doctor

Sansa c200 series – Computer/OS Not Recognizing
Connect the device to the PC in MSC Mode
View/c200: Turn on then press and hold the rewind button while plugging to the PC
If that fails, unplug the Sansa from the computer. Uninstall all the Sansa software in the add/remove programs section of Control Panel. Reinstall the clean version of the software from Sandisk’s website – make sure you get the files for the c200 series. Then replug the Sansa and try again. The root of the problem is that Sansa has one set of drivers and Windows has another. If you plug the mp3 player into the computer before installing the Sansa drivers, the Windows drivers will trump the Sansa’s.
Here is a helpful link from Sandisk on the problem with extra information on Vista operating systems:
http://kb.sandisk.com/cgi-bin/sandisk_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=42&p_created=1221328944&p_sid=8VPwlRmj&p_brand=sansa&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NzQsNzQmcF9wcm9kcz00JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0xLjQmcF9jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1jMjAw&p_li=&p_topview=1

-Tha Mp3 Doctor

Sansa c200 series – Computer/OS Not Recognizing
Connect the device to the PC in MSC Mode
View/c200: Turn on then press and hold the rewind button while plugging to the PC
If that fails, unplug the Sansa from the computer. Uninstall all the Sansa software in the add/remove programs section of Control Panel. Reinstall the clean version of the software from Sandisk’s website – make sure you get the files for the c200 series. Then replug the Sansa and try again. The root of the problem is that Sansa has one set of drivers and Windows has another. If you plug the mp3 player into the computer before installing the Sansa drivers, the Windows drivers will trump the Sansa’s.
Here is a helpful link from Sandisk on the problem with extra information on Vista operating systems:
http://kb.sandisk.com/cgi-bin/sandisk_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=42&p_created=1221328944&p_sid=8VPwlRmj&p_brand=sansa&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9NzQsNzQmcF9wcm9kcz00JnBfY2F0cz0mcF9wdj0xLjQmcF9jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1jMjAw&p_li=&p_topview=1

-Tha Mp3 Doctor

turn on the lock button and hold the record button and plug it in computer while you hold the button . easy as that hope it works for ya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!it worked for me i think it will workfor you

does your computer recognize it when you plug it in?

download the Sansa Connect Recovery Tool from:
http://www.sandisk.com/Retail/Default.aspx?CatID=1532

then do a firmware upgrade

Open device manager under the Control Panel to view hardware and devices. There should be a tab under portable devices that recognizes the Sansa c250. If their is a yellow exclamation point, then most likely the device has stopped working. Right click on it, and uninstall the device. Unplug your Sansa, wait a couple seconds, then plug it back in. Let it do its thing. If this does not solve your problem, then you should deffinately call the manufacturer.

Connect to the internet and install the sansa media converter and check to see if you have the right windows media player(11 works best but you can make do with 10)