Switch on and recovery mode comes up

Recovery mode Creative Zen v1 21 03 0 3 1 clean up format All reload firmware Docked

Hi Lil

Sounds like you have tried all the obvious. The unit may have a terminal hardware problem or an unrecoverable firmware problem. I suggest that you return the unit to a dealer and see if there support guys can produce a cure for you. I am looking for any other things that you may try. Will post any for you soon

regards
Graeme

Hi.
You tried these yet?
Reset, Format or Clean Up a Zen Vision:M

If your player stops responding, you can reset it. To reset the player, push the end of a pin-like object (for example, a pin or straightened paperclip) into the Reset hole. This should not cause you to lose any data or audio tracks, unless you were in the middle of transferring an audio track.

To reset Zen Vision:M to factory default settings:

1. Press on the Menu/Back button on your player, and select System, and then Reset.To Format or Clean Up Zen Vision:M Detach the Zen Vision:M player from your PC , and ensure that the unit is off.If the battery is too low, charge the battery fully before continuing
   
2. Slide the Power switch towards the Power icon and hold the switch in the Power On position.
3. Push the end of a pin-like object (for example, a straightened paper clip) into the reset hole, press gently and remove.
4. Release the Power switch when the Creative logo appears. The Recovery Mode appears: * Clean Up (Performs a disk scan on the player's hard disk, it will not affect music files)* Format All (Formats the players hard disk - Note: all contents will be lost)* Reload Firmware (Reloads the Operating System on the Zen. Select this option ONLY if there is a firmware available to reload.)* Reboot (Reboots the device)
5. Select Clean Up or Format from the Recovery Mode, and then select Reboot

Good Luck^^

You tried these yet? 
Reset, Format or Clean Up a Zen Vision:M

If your player stops responding, you can reset it. To reset the player, push the end of a pin-like object (for example, a pin or straightened paperclip) into the Reset hole. This should not cause you to lose any data or audio tracks, unless you were in the middle of transferring an audio track.

To reset Zen Vision:M to factory default settings:

Press on the Menu/Back button on your player, and select System, and then Reset.

To Format or Clean Up Zen Vision:M

1. Detach the Zen Vision:M player from your PC , and ensure that the unit is off.

If the battery is too low, charge the battery fully before continuing
2. Slide the Power switch towards the Power icon and hold the switch in the Power On position.
3. Push the end of a pin-like object (for example, a straightened paper clip) into the reset hole, press gently and remove.

4. Release the Power switch when the Creative logo appears. The Recovery Mode appears:
* Clean Up (Performs a disk scan on the player's hard disk, it will not affect music files)
* Format All (Formats the players hard disk - Note: all contents will be lost)
* Reload Firmware (Reloads the Operating System on the Zen. Select this option ONLY if there is a firmware available to reload.)
* Reboot (Reboots the device).
5. Select Clean Up or Format from the Recovery Mode, and then select Reboot.

http://dmzweb4.europe.creative.com/...com:80,Case=obj(14048),Kb=ww_english_add
pls rate it, thanks

this is a recovery for the zen player
Detach your ZEN 20GB from the PC and ensure that it is turned off.

1. Connect the power supply to the player (Optional).
2. Slide the Power switch towards the Power On icon and hold it there while inserting one end of a paper clip into the Reset hole underneath the player. Warning: Take care to insert the paper clip into the Reset hole and NOT the Microphone
   
3. The Rescue Mode screen appears when ZEN turns on.

1. Remove the paper clip and release the power button.
2. The following options will be displayed:

1. Clean Up

Scans the player and removes invalid links from its music library.
Does not affect music files themselves.
Format (All) Caution! Erases all content!
Save a copy of your player's content before formatting.
Reload OS/ Firmware Caution! Erases your player's firmware.
DO NOT select the Reload Firmware option unless you have access to a PC and you have downloaded the necessary firmware to install.
Reboot Reboots the device.

I had the same problem as your and it stopped working yesterday. After search for helps and now it is working again after I reloaded the firmware. But unfortunately everything is gone. You have to reload your musics again. You can try this out: 1) go to creative labs website to download the "Recovery Tool". 2) at Recovery Mode of your zen there are options: Clean Up, Format All, Reload Firmware, and Reboot. Try out Clean Up first if it still not working then try to Format All. After that try the Reload Firmware. After you done the Reload Firmware. 3) Shut down your Zen and try to connect it to your computer. Now your Zen will automaticlly power On and computer will recognize it as a drive. 4) Open the Recovery Tool you have downloaded at creative labs website. This tool will detect your Zen and follow it's instructions: It works with my windows Vista. Well, it works for me, I think it will work for your too. Good Luck!
May God bless.

Hi!

Check-out this website and click on ZEN Micro and ZEN MicroPhoto

http://193.95.171.84/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE/,/?St=12,E=0000000000360203053,K=8001,Sxi=2,Kb=ww_english_add,VARSET=ws:http://us.creative.com/,Case=obj(4794)

This might help you out.

Detach your player from the PC if it is connected, and turn off the player.
If the player stops responding, you can reset the player. To reset the player, gently
insert a thin object into the Reset hole located below the power switch.

2. Press and hold the Play button while powering on your player.

3. When the player displays the Creative logo, release the Play button.
It will display the following options:
Clean Up
Scans the player and removes invalid links from its music library.
Does not affect music files themselves.
Format (All)
Caution! Erases all content!
Save a copy of your player's content before formatting.
Reload OS/ Firmware
Caution! Erases your player's firmware.
DO NOT select the Reload Firmware option unless you have access to a PC and you have downloaded the necessary firmware to install.
Reboot Reboots the device.

hard disk is bad.
can you format?

1. Detach the Zen player from your PC , and ensure that the Zen Sleek is turned off.

2. Connect the power supply to the player.
3. Hold down the Play/Pause button while inserting a paper clip into the Reset hole
underneath your player, beside the data/power connector. Keep on holding the
Play/Pause button while you release the Reset button. The Rescue Mode screen will
then appear.
4. After the recovery mode has started, release the Play/Pause button

It will display the following options.
Clean Up Scans the player and removes invalid links from its music library.
Does not affect music files themselves.
Format (All) Caution! Erases all content!
Save a copy of your player's content before formatting.
Reload OS/ Firmware Caution! Erases your player's firmware.
DO NOT select the Reload Firmware option unless you have access to a PC and you have downloaded the necessary firmware to install.
Reboot Reboots the device.

Sounds like it may be the index in your Music Library. Try going into Recovery Mode the routine way; remove battery(are they charged and good?), hold power switch to ON, replace battery, release power switch when the Recovery Mode screen appears on the screen. Run Option 1 CleanUP, after it completes run Option 4 Restart/Reboot. You will get a Rebuilding Library screen when it reboots, that's normal, then it should go back to your startup screen. Good luck and let us know what happened