I have a zmate mp3

MP3 players can only play music files in mp3 file format.
You can download mp3 music files from the Internet to your computer and then copy them to your MP3 player using the USB cable.
For your CD collection, you need to convert your CDs to mp3 music files onto your computer or download them from the Internet and then copy them to your MP3 player after you have connected the USB cable to the MP3 player and the computer.
You can do this using Windows Media player and Rip the CDs - Media Player will create a MP3 music file for each music track.
Click on this link for instruction on converting music files to mp3 file format :-
http://www.fixya.com/support/r5798418-creating_transferring_mp3_music_files

MP3 players can only play music files in mp3 file format. You can download mp3 music files from the Internet to your computer and then copy them to your MP3 player using the USB cable. For your CD collection, you need to convert your CDs to mp3 music files onto your computer or download them from the Internet and then copy them to your MP3 player after you have connected the USB cable to the MP3 player and the computer.
You can do this using Windows Media player and Rip the CDs - Media Player will create a MP3 music file for each music track. Click on this link for instruction on converting music files to mp3 file format :- http://www.fixya.com/support/r5798418-creating_transferring_mp3_music_files

Does the OS recognize the device, install the "Mass Storage" drvier, etc.? If it does, try uninstalling then reinstalling the drivers.

http://www.dane-elec.fr/scripts/home/publigen/content/templates/TPL_ADV_FAQ_01.asp?P=282&L=EN&SYNC=YES#35

Here's a link to the drivers from that companies website, you might try them.

http://www.dane-elec.fr/home/liblocal/DOCS/Drivers/zMate%20Pen%202/zMate%20Pen%20usb2.zip

This also may be a problem with USB versions too. I have a 4GB Deisel USB drive and it will not work on any USB 1 devices.

The A-B music is the repeat button.

Press the first time and you set the start point. Press it again later in the music and you set the end point and for that time on the player just plays from start point to end point and repeat it again. To remove the repaet option just press the A-B button once again. The lock button is to lock all the control buttons so that you don't accidentally press then while in the pocket. To put the music is no secret just insert the mini-usb cable in the zMATE and the computer and it should detect it as a usb drive in the next available drive letter. (if you have a network drive letter in the next available letter it will not appear and you must change the letter in the manage computer system, of course this is for windows systems)

I am canceling my purchase........I bought hardware that does not need to have drivers updated
Thanks for your help

I don't the configuration of your computer, but it sounds like the F: drive is the zMate player... so if I am correct, the message means there is no memory card in the player. If yours is the same as mine, the "player" itself is a card reader/writer with no memory of its own, and works only when you put an SD card in it (mine actually came free with the purchase of the SD card).

As for the files being in the root, what that means is, when you first use a device it has no subdirectories in it (what Windows calls "folders"). So essentially the card is one big folder with no categories or subdivisions. Like if you built a house with no rooms in it, it would just be one big room with no den, no kitchen, no living room - just one big area.

Since there is just the one huge, unnamed folder, this is called the ROOT. All folders that you create on the memory card are like "branches" that begin at the "root". Most people will create a folder on the card, and call it "My Music" or something like that. Or several folders and call them "Country" and "Rock" and "Hip Hop". Or maybe you'll make a folder for the Beatles, one for Aerosmith, one for Rihanna... you get the idea. If you do NOT make any subfolders, at least on my zMate, then the player can't find the music. You need to make a folder and name it "AUDIO" and put your .mp3 files in that folder.

To make a folder, you first put the card in the player (or in your PC's card reader, if it has one) and then, if you are using the player, you plug that into the USB port on the PC. Windows should open the player in a window, and it looks like it is one of the drives on your PC. If you look in "My Computer" you will see the card and it will have a drive letter higher than C:, and if you have a CD-ROM the letter will be higher than D:. The drive will be listed as a "REMOVABLE DRIVE". When you open up this "drive" you will see no folders, just the root folder (which has no name). Use the mouse to "Right-Click" and then choose "NEW" and then "FOLDER" or use the "FILE" menu at the top of the window, choose "NEW" and then "FOLDER". Windows makes a folder called "New Folder" - change the name to "AUDIO" at this time (just type over the name "New Folder". If you can't type over the name, use the mouse to right-click "New Folder" and choose "Rename" from the menu.

Hope that helps.

Try a different cord, USB port, and bypass any splitters if used. Then try another USB support driver in Device manager.

hold play/pause to turn it on.  hold for about 3 seconds, it will come on, then press once more to play

Make sure if it's the player that uses SD cards, the songs can't be in the root.  They must be in a sub-folder (subdirectory), preferably one named AUDIO.

IF YOU FIND OUT ANYTHING ABOUT THE ZMATE, WILL YOU EMAIL ME? IM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHATS WRONG WITH MY BOYFRIEND"S ZMATE THAT I GAVE TO HIM!! THANKS!! APPRECIATE IT!! : )