Does not work

Vista by default will support the Zen Sleek Photo as an MTP device, which means that Windows Media Player will recognize it as well as Explorer.

You can use WMP to sync music to it, and Explorer to drag/drop photos to it.

I had this same problem and almost threw out the Zen. You need to download the Zen Sleek Photo firmware upgrade software from Creative (http://ccftp.creative.com/manualdn/Drivers/PDE/9475/0xD499781C/ZenSleekPhotoP4S_16_1_10_01.exe).

1. The firmware updater needs to run in XP SP2 or SP3. It apparently won't run on Vista.
2. The trick to getting the Zen recognized by the firmware update software is to make sure you uninstall both WMP11 as well as the WMP11 Runtime. Those two things are listed separately in Add/Remove programs. BOTH must be uninstalled before the firmware updater will recognize your Zen.

Now I'm back to using my Zen. It's all good.

Ha, I think I know how to fix this. I've brought five units back from the dead this way.

The key to making the computer recognize the player is to uninstall all traces of Windows Media Player version 11 from your computer programs. The creative software and WMP11 are not simultaneously compatible. Use the uninstall function in your compuer's "control panel". Don't worry, it's easy and free to put them back on form the internet. If you don't know how to do this, ask a moderately savvy computer user to show you how. Then restart the computer, attach the Sleek, and reload the firmware from Creative's support site.

Use this link if you have the sleek, not the sleek photo:
http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=213&subCatID=214&prodID=14259&prodName=Zen%20Sleek%20Photo&subCatName=ZEN&CatName=MP3+Players

and this one if you have the sleek photo:
http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=213&subCatID=214&prodID=14259&prodName=Zen%20Sleek%20Photo&subCatName=ZEN&CatName=MP3+Players

Unfortunately your music is gone so I hope yu had back-up files. Good luck.

Try this...Push a pin into the reset hole at the bottom of the player while at the same time holding down the play and power buttons. Next on the recovery screen that shows up, run the ":clean-ip" function. Then try again to import the music files.

I am also facing the same problem try unistalling WMP11 and then connect it if it works then do reply me on [email protected]

What you have to do is flash the firmware. And this is another huge problem. If you have WMP 11 you have to downgrade/uninstall it from you computer or use a computer that doesn't have it on.
Next connect your MP3 player after you have:
1. cleaned it
2. formated it
(you get to the recovery menu by holding play/pause sign and inserting a paper clip into the reset orifice.
Once it is recognized a menu will pop up asking you if you want to do various things, one of them is to sync or add files to your player using WMP 9 or 10, depending on the machine you have. CLICK that option.
Next you have to run the firmware application provided on the Creative website and that will flash your player with the firmware. It should work fine afterwards.

Make a backup of of the files if you care about them before you start this adventure.

The recovery tool mentioned above is not designed for the sleek photo. You need to download the firmware for the sleek photo from creative's site. Now we need to get your player recognized to get the firmware loaded. If you have Windows Media Player 11, it needs to be removed. Also remove WMP runtime. After that, restart the pc and your player should be recognized. You can then double click on the firmware program to run it. It might say something like, this firmaware is already installed...do you want to reload it? Click yes to reload.

I had the same problem with my sleek photo. Once I got rid of WMP and the runtime everything worked like a charm.

Try this: disconnect the player from the computer, turn it off, hold in the volume + button, and reconnect the player to the computer while holding the volume + button in. Keep holding the volume + button for an additional 5-50 seconds. Windows should eventually go into recovery mode and revive the player- it will pop up a window that says Found New Hardware Wizard.
Clicking, though, normally indicates a hardware issue - call manufacturer to see if you are eligible for replacement.

-Tha Mp3 Doctor

I got my Creative Zen Sleek Photo from a friend and everything I did wouldn't let Windows recognize it, but then I got it to work almost magically.

1. Make sure you have the proper drivers installed for it that come with the CD. If you don't have the CD, you can download the ISO here.
http://wp.randyr.net/windows-xp/creative-zen-sleek-photo.html

2. Reboot. When it comes back up, plug the cable into your computer, then into your Sleek. The software should sync up. For some reason, my Zen wasn't being recognized from the usb port on my computer tower, but I plugged it into my monitor's USB port and then it worked. Try that, if none of that works, then it may be a problem with your computer not knowing which driver to assign to your Zen, and if so, try the steps below.

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1. Plug your Sleek to your computer.
2. Open up Windows' Device manager (right-click on "My Computer" and select "Properties". Go to the "Hardware" tab, then click "Device Manager").
3. Locate the entry for "Creative Zen Sleek" in your device list. It should appear either under "Sound, video, and game controllers" or under "USB Devices". Once you locate the entry, uninstall it.
4. Unplug your Sleek and wait a few seconds.
5. Plug your Sleek back in and allow the "new Hardware Wizard" to identify and install the drivers for it.

If you can, the best test is to try your player with another PC,