Rio Forge 256mb volume button broken

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

When mine did this it meant the firmware inside had gotten corrupted. It started working again when I reinstalled the firmware. The official firmware is available at the official website, and wikipedia promotes an unofficial firmware that provides more features.

For either of them, plug the unit into the USB port of your computer, then run the utility to upgrade the your Forge.

(Eventually, my Forge's internal memory storage died - it still play music from card memory, but every time I turn it on I have tell it my language is english etc.)

I hope that helps.

Mine wasn't recognising the player through the USB cable so I followed Mantraguy's instructions to reload the firmware. Make sure though that you hold down the menu key before you switch on the player. Then it shows upgrade and you can reload the firmware. Of course you will lose all the songs on the internal memory but if it isn't working anyway.

good luck

not sure but when i plug in mine, it also shows another USB drive labeled as if it also were linked to the Rio player when it is most certainly not. ...maybe a manufacture or firmware error?

My switch broke, too. The player is easy to take apart, and you can see where the switch broke, but it's too small to sodder back yourself. I just switched to a headset with an adjustable volume slide on the wire. My player was stuck at a LOW volume, so I had to touch a wire across the switch leads to "click" back up to being stuck at a high volume. Now i use the headphone line to adjust from there.

Press the MENU and turn it on, as soon as the word RIO shows on the screen release the power button but do not release the MENU button until it says upgrading
Plug the USB cord to it and install Rio Forge Firmware_120
Turn the mp3 off then on normally
Put the music back on your mp3 and it SHOULD be fixed. but your music will be gone..

hope this helps,
trin

I had the same problem and, after scouring the internet in search of a solution, found nothing. So I started messing around with things. About 5 minutes ago I came up with something that worked for me! I'm still in 'testing' mode but it's playing some ACDC now so I'm happy. ;-)

My first step was to download a firmware 'update'. I'm not sure if it's newer or older than the firmware that I already had in there, but it works so what the heck. It's version 1.16 and is available for download here:

http://www.opendrivers.com/downloaddriverlink.php

Filename is 'RioForgeFlash_116.exe'

To update the firmware, I connected the player via the USB cable. It will power itself up automatically - make sure you have a fresh set of batteries in it. Once it powers up, turn it off but leave it plugged in via USB. Then, power it up again but press and hold the mode button (the small button on the face, to the left of the main navigation buttons. It's the one you use to select different play modes etc.). It will power up and display 'UPGRADER'. From this mode, run the udate file (RioForgeFlash_116.exe); it will update the firmware in the Forge.

Once completed, my Forge interacted normally with the Rio Music Manager and I was able to upload music to it again. I did lose all the music that was in there and on the storage card, but that's better than having a useless MP3 player!

Best of luck!

i had the same problem. the rio web site told me to format the rio but i couldnt do it. i found this site and this link should help you out. http://www.fixya.com/support/t122630-rio_forge_256_mb_mp3_player hope it helps you out like it helped me. heather in ontario canada

What worked for me following the inverted battery suggestion above and then, without reinserting the battery, connecting to Forge to my computer. It came back to life and works normally again.

Nick try taking it to your local electronic repair shop. They maybe able to repair it for you at a price substantially below what a new one might cost.