Zen Xtra: Display as HD in WinXP,CF?

Nate Sickler · 05-23-2006, 07:23 PM

I searched and googled to no avail....

I have a 30 GB Creative Zen Xtra and was hoping to dump my music on it and then have CF read from it when in my car. However, WinXP displays the device as an Audio Device, so CF doesn't recognize the player as a useable storage medium to pull from...is there any way to do this or trick WinXP into thinking the player is a portable HD?

Thanks

veetid · 05-23-2006, 07:26 PM

I have not personally used that device but you might look to see if there is a different driver for your device that makes it show up as a storage device.

david

Nate Sickler · 05-23-2006, 08:14 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by veetid

I have not personally used that device but you might look to see if there is a different driver for your device that makes it show up as a storage device.

david

Ok, this isn't just for David, does anyone know if this firmware update will make the device show up as a mass storage device in WinXP? I am trying to decide what the bold feature below actually means - I hate doing firmware upgrades, but this may be a neccessary evil if it allows the device to be seen as a mass storage device...but why is WMP10 required? Also, once the firmware is updated it can't be switched

According to the Creative Download Center:
This firmware update enhances your Zen Xtra with PlaysForSure™ functionality.

PlaysForSure devices enable you to:

Use subscription-based online music services
Enjoy seamless support with any computer running Microsoft® Windows Media® Player 10 and Windows® XP - no drivers or software needed
Use the drag-and-drop method to transfer songs or files to your player through Windows Explorer
Use the Sync feature in Windows Media Player 10 to synchronize your player with your music library and playlists.

ryan-neil · 05-24-2006, 02:41 PM

No, this wont work, it is the same for all Creative Devices bar there Flash MP3 players such as the muvo..

ont · 05-30-2006, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Use the drag-and-drop method to transfer songs or files to your player through Windows Explorer

I think that that point sounds like it'll show up as a removable harddrive. however I don't own that device and didn't look up any information. I think google should give you more informations...

midiwall · 05-31-2006, 02:38 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Nate Sickler

Use the drag-and-drop method to transfer songs or files to your player through Windows Explorer

Quote: Originally Posted by ont

I think that that point sounds like it'll show up as a removable harddrive. however I don't own that device and didn't look up any information. I think google should give you more informations...

I'm more than casually familiar with the PFS software and Creative devices.

What will happen is that the device will show up in Explorer as a device, but without a drive letter, like my Clix does here:

From there, you can double click on it, browse the device and drag & drop all day long:

BUT... you can't map a drive letter to the device, and you can't use a UNC name to get to the device from within an application.

This is done as a catch to preserve license integrity on the device; yes, even if you have nothing but clear rips on it.

The ONLY media player I know of in current production (and that's a stretch) that will let you fire up in UMC mode (i.e., as a drive letter), are the IRiver H10 5gig & 6gig models (not the 20). To do this either requires a special boot sequence of the player, or to hack your US player with the European firmware. But, doing _that_ loses the syncing capability with WMP.

veetid · 05-31-2006, 03:07 PM

You can also do it with an iPod very easily with a simple driver... There are drivers for a lot of units that turn them into removable hard drives essentially...

I have used an iPod with Centrafuse, which still worked with iTunes and many of the other similiar softwares, and a friend had another unit we used and it worked but I do not remember which one it was...

david

Jahntassa · 05-31-2006, 09:48 PM

I have yet to see any software for the Creative products (Zen and Nomad especially) that will make it show up as 'just another drive'.

My Archos Studio Recorder, however, shows up just fine.

EvilAngel · 06-01-2006, 10:43 AM

Well i have tried the exact same thing with my 40gig zen xtra, but the only way that i found is making a mediasource skin with skinbedder and embed it in centrafuse. Not very practical and i dont think it will be very easy to browse the device properly.

kevlar · 06-01-2006, 12:48 PM

veetid, there is an API for Portable Media Devices in Windows XP. Perhaps a way to gain PlaysForSure functionality would be to implement that, although I am not familiar with their licensing structure to use the API.

Regards,

Kevin

midiwall · 06-01-2006, 12:55 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by kevlar

veetid, there is an API for Portable Media Devices in Windows XP. Perhaps a way to gain PlaysForSure functionality would be to implement that, although I am not familiar with their licensing structure to use the API.

There's a PFS porting kit that you can get from MS. It contains working live code examples in ANSI C that will show you all the APIs that you need to do what you're looking for.

I'm not proud of all the code, but it gets the job done.

(hint)

Nate Sickler · 06-01-2006, 03:18 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by kevlar

veetid, there is an API for Portable Media Devices in Windows XP. Perhaps a way to gain PlaysForSure functionality would be to implement that, although I am not familiar with their licensing structure to use the API.

Regards,

Kevin

Yes, having the ability to use an mp3/mp4 player as your removable storage for CF would be great - Keep up the work Veetid, can't wait to beta test 1.7!