Hard Drive to CF Card conversion

Hi Cherry - that's not too hard.

Restricting volume (password protected) is done through Creative Media Lite software.
How to use Creative Media Lite

After protecting the Volume Restriction settings with a password, the same password is required for subsequent changes.

If you forget your password, reinstall your ZEN Neeon 2 firmware. You can download it from Creative Worldwide Support ZEN Neeon 2

remove music and reformat then put music again

you should be able to go to the manufactures web site they will have the neccessary downloads. good luck.

Zen neeon, lock switch doesn't work. When I turn it on it shows a "PLAYER LOCKED" icon for a short time and then turns off.

Hitachi microdrives

What people have figured out is they can remove the uber expensive Hitachi drives, and replacing them with much cheaper (and lower capacity) CF cards.

These symptoms points to a bad hardrive. Replace the hardisk and reload the latest firmware.

If your out of warranty with your Neeon, open it up. Loosen the 2 screws at the bottom of the player and remove it. Then carefully pry open the back plate using a small flat screw driver and remove the battery (it has a mini connecter on the top left, inline with the USB connector).

Remove the front cover. You'll find the hardisk on top of the board below the LCD. Remove it carefully from the connector. on its right side.

If you got a new HD, replace the old one and reassemble your Neeon.

Next download the latest Neeon Firmware Upgrade here:
http://sg.creative.com/support/downloads/download2.asp?MainCategory=213&Product=12214&dlcentric=9534&Product_Name=ZEN+Neeon+5GB%2F+6GB&OSName=Windows+XP

Firmware above is for Windows XP. You can download a version of the Firmware at Creative site in your region for your specific OS requirement...

Before

To install this firmware upgrade:
1. Press and hold the Play button while connecting your player to your computer's USB port.

2. Continue to hold the Play button for 10 seconds after connecting your player to your computer.
3. Release the Play button when the Find New Hardware dialog box appears on the screen.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to install recovery drivers for your player.
5. Download the ZenNeeon_PCFW_LF_1_011_FM.exe file into your local hard disk.
6. Double-click the firmware upgrade file and follow the instructions on the screen.

I found the above instructions with other Neeon's forum here:
http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/board/message?board.id=dap&message.id=176728

You'll have the option to format and reload firmware. Choose that option. Wait for the upgrade progress to finish.

When it's done, your player will connect and recognized by your computer. If it shows in MY COMPUTER as removable drive, then your in luck!

Proceed by drag and drop method of transfering your music files or using the CREATIVE MEDIA SOURCE ORGANIZER.

I'm currently looking for a way to hack the Neeons Hard Drive and replace it with a CF card just like what I did with my Zen Micro. Unfortunately the first CF card I bought (1 Gbyte) did not work on the Neeon, the XP wont recognize the player.

But I'm not giving up, I had to find a better replacement that match the compatibility requirements of the Neeon. I'll try different brands and speed. The CF card is much more robust and shock free. It reads faster with no hang-ups.

I'll post my results in the future if I succeed.

What size Zen Neeon do you have? The 512MB, 1GB, and 2GB models are Flash based and dropping them should do much damage unless you really smashed it up. However, the 5GB and 6GB models are hard drive based and dropping them from any height can be extremely damaging (especially if the hard drive was reading/writing when you dropped it). Basically, it's dependent on that to know how to continue with your issue.

Leave it alone for a while, then try reinstalling the Zen Program, then plug it in, then rest it, then try to switch it on. It worked for me

Try charging it with a creative charger or bring it down to its retail store. The battery might be completely drained flat.

just a guse but the batery looks to have enouth mA to run a CF 802.11b card and an sd blue touth card i think if you will be connected to a network or a wifi connection i would invest the money in the 3400MAH insted of the 1440MAH.