Sandisk Sansa USB problems
Last week I got myself a new Sandisk Sansa Clip mp3 player (this is the model I got). I was very happy on the way back home, and when I got to my laptop the trouble started.
Every time I tried to connect it to my laptop, it was dinging like a new USB device was connected, but I couldn’t see anything in “My Computer”. I have tried everything, but nothing helped. When I called Sandisk support I was shocked - they solved my problem!
They asked me to unplug the USB cable, lock the device, push the round button in the middle of the Sansa player, and while holding it, plug in again the USB cable… and it worked!!! How stupid of me not to think about it!
Why am I writing this?
Because if only those SOBs would add a user manual to the tiny mp3 player with a troubleshooting guide, that would save me so much time and energy, but they didn’t. They probably save the trees, or save their money. All that beings said, a manual would help only if I would RTFM, which honestly I’m not sure I would…
I actually can’t remember when was the last time I read a manual of an electronic device I got. My kids like to play with them, they like to rip off the high quality paper booklets, but not more than that…
So in case you got a Sandisk Sansa MP3 player and can’t make it work, lock it and while connecting the USB cable, push the button. You can’t RTFM because there isn’t any FM.update: I heard that upgrading Windows Media Player to version 11 might help as well, but never tried it myself. I do my best to stay away of Microsoft updates…
This is the model I got . I think this tip works for others as well, but I’m not sure.
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Tags: sandisk sansa cant connect, sandisk sansa clip, sandisk sansa clip cant connect usb, sandisk sansa connect problems, sandisk sansa usb device not recognized











February 23rd, 2008 at 1:32 am
Thank you.
I’m so happy that I got my clip recognised. I was so sad that my shiny device wouldn’t work. That info is NOT in any of the manuals btw
Patricia
March 18th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Thank you for this information. =) It’s very helpful.
March 29th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Awesome!!!!! It worked for me tooooo!!! thanks a ton…!!!
April 3rd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Simply outstanding ^_^! I like posts like that. Your blog is added to my favorites ;-). Continue writing.
April 5th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Thanx Dear
I also had the same problem, but when i pluged my Sansa Clip (1GB) to another laptop, it worked…………but it was not working on my laptop.
I thought there is some problem with my laptop and i was about to format and reinstall WinXP in my laptop. But fortunately i found this website and was able to solve my problem. Now my Sansa clip works very fine and i enjoy the misic.
Its very true that this solution is not mentioned in the manual.
Thanx to u that u helped us all out………
bye and take care
and keep on doing your good work.
April 6th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Thanks alot!
Now device finally working.
April 8th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Thankx alot for this great info….My computer identified it but I cant paste or send the songs to sandisk clip 2GB player..Wen I paste the song …windowsXP is displaying the msg that “specified path not found”
But for oder players (Transcend, Creative ) etc its wrkng smoothly
Can you give me a solution?????
April 19th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Cheers! Pain in the arse that was.
AGAIN PRBLM:
have you tried to put them in the \Music folder, mate?
May 13th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Thanx, that did the trick…..now its listening time
May 17th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
SOLUTION!
Before your update firmware, reformat, and try holding buttons while plugging it in.
Try this solution.
- Turn Sansa ON (not connected to USB)
- Rotate your dial on the Sansa to “Settings”
- Find “USB Mode”
- Change it opposite section (MSC or MTP) of what it is currently on.
- Done!
It worked for me!
Good Luck!
May 21st, 2008 at 4:27 am
Still trying.
I have tried all of the solutions people have suggested.
I am on version .11 and there are no USB Mode MSC MTP setting choice. I have tried the, lock, hold, and put in USB to no avail.
When I put in the USB cable it says “Connected” and shows the picture of the Clip and Computer.
I am running on Visita w/ WMP11.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks
May 28th, 2008 at 1:07 am
My computers (work and home) would not recognize that anything was plugged in, though the player (Sansa Clip 2MB) said it was connected. I couldn’t see it, couldn’t sync any files to it, and it wouldn’t even charge.
I tried this, along with every other suggestion I could find online or heard while on the phone with the troubleshooting hotline. I tried pressing practically every combination of buttons I could think of, locked and unlocked, while plugged in and not, and while plugging it in. None of it worked. It was pissing me off.
Finally I called the hotline again, got a different person, and they said something about me having “an expensive paperweight.” Evidently they have recalled a bunch of them for similar problems. They are sending me a new 4GB one for free.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Thanks,
my desktop couldn’t see it and your solution worked. I also had problems with charging sansa from this desktop but now it’s ok.
July 5th, 2008 at 8:27 am
OMG. It worked. I have been trying to get this working for over an hour. THANKS SO MUCH!!! Yes best thing ever!
July 7th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
I just wanna say “thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaank you” and hope I serve in your wedding
August 3rd, 2008 at 9:00 pm
thank you so much! you made me happy after two hours of fighing with computer and the new sansa!
ina from jerusalem
August 7th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Thank you alot! It’s 3 of this sansa mini in my house and people got mad at me when they didn’t work. And now…
WTF is the problem spending a little time on a user manual that actually have usefull information???
And where do I find the answer? Using google as always, and thx to some random guy sharing this usefull information.
k, peace!
August 13th, 2008 at 11:18 am
i tried all the solutions none worked!!
i have this sansa sandisk 4GB version:v01.01.18f..
i also tried (MSC and MTP) it doesnt work..
help!!:’(
August 15th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Thank you so much! You just saved my day
Gro from Denmark
August 23rd, 2008 at 12:23 am
Thank you, Thank you!
from Lima PERU
August 24th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
THANKS!
September 2nd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
SOLUTION!
Before your update firmware, reformat, and try holding buttons while plugging it in.
Try this solution.
- Turn Sansa ON (not connected to USB)
- Rotate your dial on the Sansa to “Settings”
- Find “USB Mode”
- Change it opposite section (MSC or MTP) of what it is currently on.
- Done!
It worked for me!
Thanks a million SmoothFade it worked absolutely perfect for me as well, good for all. thanks - amit
September 6th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
graias despues de una semana de lucha al fin trabajo
September 10th, 2008 at 6:31 am
Many Thanks
Finally it working
September 11th, 2008 at 6:29 am
I have both a sansa e280mp3 player and a flash memory (stick) both of sandisk, In my device manager I get a yellow ? with 280e sansa written next to it I also get a yellow ? with cruzer micro written next to it. It is clear that i need some sort of a driver. Please help, thanx in advance Yaakov H p.s. I tried all the above nothing helps all the other companies usb devices work.
September 14th, 2008 at 6:00 am
Oh my god! THANK YOU! I was on my last stand with this thing and a little pissed I may have to buy a different mp3. thanks again you saved me money!!
September 15th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Thanks a bunch! It really helped me troubleshooting my Sansa.
September 20th, 2008 at 3:18 am
Thanks so much for your advice. It worked perfectly, and as we say in Georgia, I owe you a Coca-Cola!!!! Thanks again for you help.
September 27th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
thanks a million!!!!
so simple….;-)
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Awesome! Thanks so much.
I was beginning to suspect that some type of Digital Rights Management was preventing my new computer from reading the flash drive.
This procedure worked for both of my MP3 players:
Sandisk Sansa 1GB
Samsung YP-T7J
October 8th, 2008 at 4:02 am
My nephew has a clip as well, but he has gone through all of these steps with tech support. Are there any other fixes???
October 11th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Awesome! Worked for me too. Only if I had this information about 8 agonizing months ago.
October 12th, 2008 at 2:17 am
OMG…I am sooooooo glad that I found this page on the web! Was about to throw my pretty red mp3 against the wall! Thanks soooooo much, and btw, it worked like a charm!!!!
October 17th, 2008 at 7:00 am
I just brought home a sansa 4GB and same thing…ding but no joy!! No usb connectivity. I spent 2 hrs buggering around with Microsoft driver updates, and reboots…all no joy! I was too pissed at that point to call Sansa support I wasn’t in the mood to get a hot ear waiting on some phone queue! Later when I wasn’t so upset I googled “sansa usb problem” and there was your post. Gave it a whirl and BINGO!! Thanks for posting this info!! Bob C
October 19th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
mate, this was the most efficient, useful faq i have EVER come across. brilliant.
November 2nd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
This Sansa is angering me. Computer won’t recognize it. Trick that worked for many didn’t work for me. Suspect dead battery on 1gb Clip. Did work on this computer at one time. Tried uninstalling drivers; rebooting, etc.
About ready to destroy it and send it in to Sandisk with a LOT OF BAD LANGUAGE. Thanks.
November 11th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
i have a different prob., if anyone knows how to solve it, i’ll be his or her slave for the rest of my natural life:
I have a Sansa 280e and it was working more or less okay (not recognizing many tags though) - and one day MY SCREEN WENT ALL BLURRY!!!
I did nothing to provoke this and I tried formating the thing 3 times, to no avail.
Has anyone encountered a similar problem? is it a hardware or software prob.?
And of course: DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO MAKE THE SCREEN CLEAN AGAIN?
thanks a bunch,
Jon
November 26th, 2008 at 7:00 am
Thanks! I would have never guessed….
November 26th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I had the EXACT same problem….the dinging noise…and no new hardware! A few hours later, I run by this blog and it worked like a charm! Thank you so much!
November 30th, 2008 at 12:23 am
Your instructions worked, but i have to do it each time when I turn it back on. Whats up with that.
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:53 am
Great job with this post! It was immensely helpful. keep up the great work and thanks!
December 12th, 2008 at 11:55 am
thanx worked for me too. though i didnt have any problems when i connected it to my pc with vista. but when i connected it to my pc with xp the problem occured which got resolved by your advice. The only thing in which i differ with u is that i think SOBs should be repeated 3 or 4 times in your blog.
December 13th, 2008 at 10:59 am
THANK YOU I SWEAR MANE, I WAS BOUT TO GO PAWN THIS MUG, I JUST GOT IT FOR A GIFT AND DONT KNOW WHERE THEY GOT IT FROM. IT TOOK ME TWO DAYS OF DOWNLOADING, REBOOTING, AND JUST PLAIN GETTING UPSET. SEE I USE THIS AS A TOOL FOR THE MUSIC PRODUCTION AND BOY I WAS BOUT TO SHOOT UP THE WHOLE SANSA COMPANY,LOL, BUT THANKS SHAWTY THAT REALLY HELP, GOD BLESS YOU!!!
December 15th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Simply superb solution. 2nd best to none. Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaank you very very very very very much
December 22nd, 2008 at 3:40 am
I have tried all these trick with my 1Gb Sansa Clip, but it is still not recognized by my PC (XP SP2, WMP11). I am trying to load this up with songs to give as a gift to my son for Christmas. The cable is good (I use it with other mp3 players).
Please help!
December 24th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
You’re a lifesaver! I just got one of those, and I was wondering how to work it! It wasn’t being recognized, but when I did what you said, it worked like a charm. THANK YOU!
December 25th, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I really need help…well i just got the sansa clip MP3 and its cool, but i don’t know why it keeps saying the only way i can make it work and download music is if i install Rhapsody. I don’t want to download that because at the end of whatever trail they give you you must pay….my mom said i cant pay anything so i wanted to know if there is another way i can connect it to my computer without downloading rhapsody?
This is what the manual said….Install the Rhapsody software on your PC and create an account. Creating an account is the only way to activate all of the features on your new Sandisk Sana Clip.
Connect your Sandisk Sansa Clip to your PC. Your new player is specially optimized to work with Rhapsody.
December 28th, 2008 at 5:06 am
This was extremely helpful. It fixed my problem immediately. This saved me money as I was just going to get a new one. Thank you.
January 4th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Thanks a lot! I spent two weeks to solve this problem and now I did it. I really heppy. You didn’t give me die without my music on Sansa Clip
January 13th, 2009 at 12:38 am
Great stuff. Thank you!
January 19th, 2009 at 12:33 am
AMEN!!!
January 23rd, 2009 at 7:18 am
Your tip was my lifesaver, as my clip initially worked when plugged in, THEN blacked out. Holding the lock button as i replugged solved the prob. thanks people!!!
January 27th, 2009 at 1:54 am
The initial tip didn’t help me, but the later idea did - Switching the USB mode from auto-detect to MSC did the trick
January 27th, 2009 at 3:19 am
my goodness, this is EXACTLY what i couldn’t find anywhere else. thanks, it worked like a charm.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:56 am
thanxxx alot ………………………..
January 29th, 2009 at 3:04 am
I just purchased a Sansa Clip MP3. I am having a problem in using it with books downloaded from my local library. I can get the books into my desktop computer. When I try to download a book to the MP3, it seems to go OK but when I look for it, the Audio book space is empty. When I try to download it again from my desk top, I get a message that “One or more of the selected parts already exist on the selected portable player.”
I get this message even if the MP3 player is not connected to the computer. Does any one have any thoughts about what I am doing wrong?
February 1st, 2009 at 8:40 am
The battery on the new 8G clip is dead, and nothing was happening at all when plugged into the USB.
When I tried your lock and press technique, though, at least I got a message from Windows XP telling me that I had connected to a “malfunctioning device.” No kidding.
Thanks. I can return it with confidence now.
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:51 am
i did all the steps here and it still wont work!! Grrr… i hat this thing!!!!!
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:51 pm
oh my god. thank you soo much!! because of this usb trouble, i didn’t use this mp3 player nearly 4 months and now it works great!!! thank you >.<
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:44 pm
thank you so much!
finally it worked!!!! awesome babe!
February 4th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Bookmarking your post ~~~
February 4th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Thank you for the heads’ up - Yep! Silly us we couldnt figure out to push a button and plug it in. Humans -
THX for saving me 2 hours
March 12th, 2009 at 12:24 am
Oh thank you sooooo much I was about to smash my mp3 player then beat my laptop to hell
March 12th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Thank you! Works!
March 15th, 2009 at 1:34 am
exactly what i needed. thanks so much.
March 18th, 2009 at 6:01 am
My Sansa 1gb Clip Plugs In Say Its Charged AND When I unplug It Shuts Down AutoMatically!! Ive Tried The Other Things And They Havent Worked Any Help Plz.Thank You
March 18th, 2009 at 7:44 pm
May I add my thanks also. I was hunting in the bin for the packaging to send my new toy back until I found this page.
March 28th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
That was awesome…thanks so much …….
April 5th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
I too tried all the fixes listed here to no avail. This is my third sansa clip 4 gig unit (this is my second replacement). Have loaded firmware update, locked the unit/s held center button, no luck. Also tried changing the usb format, no luck. With each unit I have been able to charge when I get it and transfer music onto the unit. When I go to charge the unit the computer won’t recognize that it is attached. Have tried with several computers and I wish there was something I could do. Asked Sansa for a refund (they say no way) and now I have asked for another type of mp3 player. Can’t believe this is so tough. Bought by wife and daughters a Sansa player 2 years ago, one had to go back once but they have been great units. If anyone has any suggestions it would be appreciated.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Wow, thanks for writing this. Found it on google. It seemed like one of those too-simple-to-be-true suggestions to just throw out there. After trying to install new drivers, reading stuff about updating BIOS, etc. this made it work. Thanks.
April 15th, 2009 at 2:25 am
mine is somewhat like that. my sansa 1gb wont charge and wont appear in my computer. the device says writing then connected for 5 seconds and will turn off then come back on and and do it all over again. i left it on the charger for like whole day and still wont charge. PLEASE HELP! thankyou.
April 17th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Thanks a lot, worked like a charm!
April 18th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Thanks that worked I am very grateful you published this information
April 23rd, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Thanx for making my life easier
April 24th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Thank you so much!
April 30th, 2009 at 3:45 am
My Black Sansa clip is a 1G.B,
And i’ve tried doing that,
but it still wont work.
(for sync i mean.
The clip’s screen say’s ‘connected’,
but on MY COMPUTER it doesn’t show up,
and the USB mode is on autodetect sooo.)
Is there anything else that I could do?
May 1st, 2009 at 5:11 am
You seriously saved me 4 more hours of frustration. Thank you.
May 5th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
So nice of you, I love you man!! Incredible, now maybe I’ll actually be able to put music on. Well, let’s not push it…
May 11th, 2009 at 6:16 am
Thanks for the info man but I on the other hand have a major problem know. This Bit#& want work at all now. It want even cut back on, completely none responsive to the pc (dead). Pluged it in the USB wall plug and still nothing. Anyone have any solutions for this uniquie problem ? Or am I just SOL?
May 11th, 2009 at 6:20 am
Well wouldn’t u know, the old slap upside the wall did the trick. Although now it works it still want connect to pc. Oh well i guess.
May 22nd, 2009 at 4:57 pm
That was amazing. Thanks
June 1st, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Thank you, very, very much.
If not for this blog, I’d be googling for an extra hour.

June 1st, 2009 at 10:41 pm
Holy F, it worked! Thanks alot. I love you.
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Thanks - I changed mine to MSC and it worked.
Still no update on the Sandisk website to point this out - 16 months after you first posted !
June 4th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Thank you- I was having issues with charging and recognizing in my computer, and I think this fixed both. Boo Sansa for not having it do this when you just connect it…
June 5th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
To put in the manual in short that what customers need to do is wiggle the thing a bit before it will work would be an embarrassment. I just got a sansa clip today and inside is FILLED with useless papers and information. Plug the sansa clip by using the USB. Here’s the diagram. DUH. The actual support website is not that helpfu eitherl. At least the MP3 is good.
June 13th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
You’re a star. Solved a serious headache for me!
June 15th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Never though of this combination, but I’m contact now!!
Thx for this post
June 16th, 2009 at 8:59 am
i have purchased sansa scandisk 2gb ,my problem is that when i connect my scandisk to my pc ,it starts charging and it does not show anything in my pc .To remind u that i have lost the software that u have given me …it doesnot show newly hardware connected to my pc……please help me …..does it need any software ?…prescribe me soon….
June 28th, 2009 at 6:35 am
U ROCK MAN
June 30th, 2009 at 3:20 am
omg i looked and looked and tried everything i couldent find anything to fix it and it worked the first time with what u said thank u soooo much
July 11th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Thank you for your post. After spending an hour in vain I was packaging it to send it back as I thought it was defective. I agree with everything you said about them.
July 14th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Worked for me, thank you
July 14th, 2009 at 11:49 am
I did that and it was recognized but now my folders all come up as empty
August 21st, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Wow this actually worked, thank you very much, just made my day
August 26th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
It worked beautifully, thank you so much for this piece of advice!
September 7th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
wow, oi love u man, i spent last 4 hours trying to get it to work and your tip worked a treat
:)
September 17th, 2009 at 7:29 am
WORKED GREAT FIRST TRY!! GOOD TIP!! THANKS A BUNCH!!
September 18th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
OMG!!!!! I’ve had this ‘waste of space’ in my drawer for almost 2yrs because it wouldn’t connect No Matter What. I actually got a little giddy when it connected to my computer just now!!! I sooooooo thank you for sharing. It’s people like you who make this crazy ‘place’ easier…
October 1st, 2009 at 2:45 am
Thank you, I know many people have said this but thanks. i lost my charger ( a moto cell phone charger) and my mp3 died. I did what you said and what do you know, its working. once again thanks its working.
October 15th, 2009 at 5:02 am
Thank very much.
I’m going to find out the way to return it ” SANSA clip 2G ”
after tried so many way for fix this problem.
October 20th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
thank you for the article, it helped.
October 22nd, 2009 at 1:02 am
Thankyou so much 3 hours ive just spent searching the net and downloading different things untill i read this page.
Thank you
November 7th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
I cant believe I did not think of doing that myself!
November 8th, 2009 at 5:49 am
This is the excellent solution i found nowhere….Thank you so much for your writing….
November 16th, 2009 at 2:02 am
Woohoo thanks its now midnight and i have been trying to figure out wtf was wrong with my sansa clip. many many thanks! hmm i see a lot of people with the same problem here… maybe they need to include this in the manual under connecting to your computer.
December 6th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Thank YOU sooo much! IceCOld man u r my rasta! One love peace!
December 14th, 2009 at 3:44 am
Thanks a lot man… Ive been trying to get it to work for weeks! Your post has been very helpful for a lot of us, and I agree, why not include MANUALS! Have a nice Christmas my friend!
December 16th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Thanks so much! Such a simple fix thanks for posting it.
December 17th, 2009 at 4:32 am
Awesome. Huge props for taking the time to share this fix. I love the mini clip for working out and have had to go without it for several weeks. Just followed your simple steps and I’m back in business. Thanks!!!
December 22nd, 2009 at 7:26 am
Thanks soooo much for sharing.I really didn’t think it would , but wallah.
Saved me from installing media player!
December 29th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
you are truly wonderful! Thanks!!
January 24th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Thank you.!!! It worked…!!! and you seem to be the only person who knew the answer in this whole world (at least in my google results!) Thanks you again….
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:20 am
thank you so much for this information, something so simple as this!! My step sister threw the mp3 player away luckily my dad saved it haha now i have fixed it thanks to this wonderful helpful post
February 6th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
Thank you!!!!! It worked and after to much time to look for a solution i found your hint. Great
February 8th, 2010 at 2:38 am
Thank you so much worked like a charm.
February 8th, 2010 at 6:57 am
Thanks a ton! Had such trouble to get it charged on my MAC. Your solution worked like a charm…
February 17th, 2010 at 10:54 am
After four attempts of doing the lock/hold button/plug in WinXP finally recognized it and I was able to finish running the Sansa Updater and update the firmware which gave me the USB option under Settings. Selected MSC and XP recognizes the Sansa each time I plug it in.
Thank you for posting this fix!!
February 21st, 2010 at 12:54 am
im sure this really does work but mine does not want to work!!! Thanks for the help anyways…
February 28th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
it didn’t work for me
do u have to use the usb it came with???
March 13th, 2010 at 2:31 am
after two weeks of frustration, now my sansa clip charges and is recognized by my computer. thank you for posting this on a google search. You have helped one more person. much thanks.
March 13th, 2010 at 2:34 am
smoothfade, in usb settings. what does autodetect usb mean? I had it on that setting; should I not have?
March 13th, 2010 at 2:39 am
this is weird. the sansa clip is recognized by computer. But when i double click on it to see what’s inside; it is blank. I have 4 books on the clip. it’s charging. it is like a whole new blank device is being recognized.
April 6th, 2010 at 10:56 pm
WOW!!!! after all these years that i’ve been using my sansa i can finally connect it on my laptop. Thanks a lot!!!! lex from the philippines. ;D
May 4th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
i can’t believe this worked. that was freaking incredible. I was honestly stunned.
May 20th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Thanks so much! I was going crazy. Mine just stopped working after a year of doing just fine. Had tried everything under the sun. Then this easy solution. Thanks so much for sharing.
May 29th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! I was getting ready to throw it away and buy another!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!
May 31st, 2010 at 12:10 am
The icon now appears, but the content of my clip does not show up.
June 1st, 2010 at 9:40 pm
I had problem with my Windows XP computer reading my Sansa Clip after I had to wipe the computer clean following a nasty virus. Tech support at Sandisk said that I needed Windows Media Player 10 or higher to read Sansa Clip. Once I updated Windows Media Player, it worked like a charm.
Of note, there is a more permanent solution to the “hold the enter button down”. In Sansa Device, go to Settings, select USB Mode, select MSC instead of MTP. The achieves the same effect as holding the enter button down, but it is not satisfactory because you cannot read files already stored on the machine. The better solution is to load a more recent version of Windows Media Player.
June 9th, 2010 at 2:15 am
Thank you so much for this information! I have had my Sansa Clip when it stopped being recognized by the computer. I’m so glad I didn’t have to go through customer service to solve this problem!
June 23rd, 2010 at 10:49 am
for over a year, I was able to transfer MP3 files from a podcast, but suddenly out of the blue when I tried to do this recently I got an error message saying, “Cannot transfer file xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx. Device has either stopped working, or is disconnected.” I could not understand this as according to the system info, there was still 990 MB of free space in the memory, and the device was connected.
After many hours of unsuccessful searching for help yesterday, I went on to Google again this morning and came across your “Troubleshooting USB” page.
I tried your suggestion of locking the device, and then holding the middle button down. when I plugged the USB cable in. This procedure obliterated all the files that I had stored on the device, which is not a real problem, as I had listened to them all many times before, but I can now transfer files from my computer successfully.
You have earned my grateful thanks, because I have been struggling to correct this problem for a long time now.
June 28th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Oh, lord. I think I LOVE YOU. Thank you. (It’s been 2 and a half years since this was posted and they still haven’t put anything about it in the manual - which I DID read, btw, including the troubleshooting part).
July 5th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
thanks you… it worked great …
July 11th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
I need help with my sansa disk and everytime when I oull the plug out of the sansa after its charging. it goes right off whenI was charging it for like 7 hours or less.so I tried again this time let it charge for 1 day, didnt work, 2days, didnt work 1 week, and it didnt work, will this trick also help me or do I have to spend my money and fix it?
July 17th, 2010 at 8:19 am
thanks alot for helping me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 3rd, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Thanks, worked for me. BUT still only one of the four USB cables I have work (and the one which does ISN’T the one Sandisk supplied)… Kudos for Sandisk for making such poor and finicky USB connectivity for such a simple device.
August 7th, 2010 at 5:13 am
Horray! This solution worked. I have a different model with a square button in the middle, and this still worked. I wonder why it was not in any manual. I read the online pdf manual without receiving any help. Thank you so very much!!!