when i switch on my zen player it only gets as far as the 'Zen micro' screen and then it freezes. I've tried unfreezing it by removing the battery loads of times but when i try to switch it on again the same thing happens! Also, when i plug it into the computer and try to access it through Creative Organiser, my computer tells me that the player isn't connected. This is REALLY annoying!!!

catt, January 2006

I accidentally deleted my firmware when I clicked on reload firmware, in recovery mode. Now my pc won't reconize it when I try to download new firmware. I can only get up to the part where it asks to select language, but then it says device not connected. Anyone know how to correct this problem? Thanks.

Chris, July 2010

Few things to do,

1 Format it at the emergency menu
2 reload the firmware(this is what caused it)
3 Add your media

Xiahou, August 2007

I had a similar issue. But after reading couple of messages on the creative forum, I felt the HDD has gone bad. I could confirm this by uisng a compact flash card reader. I then replaced the HDD with a 4GB complact flash. Now it doesn't freeze at the creative logo, but reports as Firmware error and jumps to recovery menu. At this point if I plug it to PC using USB, my PC recognizes it. The real issue now is I'm not able to upgrade the firmware. The firmware loader (either 2.xxx or 1.xx) would show some progress (two/three points). After that it doesn't progress. Same time my player instead of firmware upgrade logo it displays recovery mode with docking logo. As it is not progressing, if I remove the USB the player doesn't respond. But the firware loader on PC reports as firmware ugrade failed. I don't know what is happening at this point. Has my player completely gone bad. If some body knows please help me on this.

ps2kumar, June 2007

I had the same problem. The Zen Micro goes to the Creative intro screen then stops. I was able to remove the 6gig micro drive and I tried to access in my CFII slot on my media reader. The Seagate ST1 drive was bad. I was able to get a new drive from a WD portable USB drive on sale. $39.99. I installed the WD drive, reformated and installed the firmware again. It works good as new.
If all you can get to is the recovery screen there is a good chance it is a bad drive. Creative told me the repairs would start at $100. The player was 3 weeks out of warranty. There are couple of good sites that explain how to get the drive out.

John, May 2007

i had the same problem before and i read online that a guy dropped his from waist high to un jam it. so i did the same thing and it actually worked. try it.

Chris Smallenberger, April 2007

same problem here... this post is a bit old .. but my Creative Zen Micro Photo stops in the ZM part ... hate i tried leaving it till battery wores out or removing battery but nothing happens .. 2 friends of mine with different creatives have probles.. i think are bugs on the actualizations creative is giving out when u plugg ur MP3 ... hate this plz help!!!

bauti, April 2007

I am having the same problem . I can't even reboot or erase the firmware or format the disk or upgrade the firmware

Muthanna, November 2006

I just had this problem for the first time. I was about to just trash it since it's out of warranty, but since the player came with an extra battery, I thought I'd give it a shot...sure enough, I put the new battery in that I've almost never used and everything is working fine.

ANonymous Jones, September 2006

I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM! ITS VERY ANNOYING! HALF WAY THROUGH YOUR SONG, IT JUST FREEZES! I TRIED TO REINSTALL THE FIRMWARE, BUT NO CHANGE! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

NAR-E, June 2006

same problem here...i did that like 20 times until the reboot screen came up...then reloaded firmware and 5 days later the headphone jack got messed up

michael, June 2006

Any links to that fix?

Marco, June 2006

Can you provide more detail Michael as I am having the same issue with mine. I tried going into recovery mode but the freezing keeps occuring. I'm thinking I will have to send it in for repair.

marco, January 2006

I had the same issue with a different unit, but a Creative. I found a fix for reseting on Creative's website. At the same time I found a firmware upgrade and installed it. I have not had a problem since.

Michael Hronas, January 2006