I have exactly the same problem, the manual tells you to use MS Windows check disk to fix the problem - but Windows DOESN'T SHOW THE DEVICE even though it detects it and this is the problem - thus you can't sync it, move music or anything. On the player it does nothing but display "USB Cable Attched" and none of the buttons do anything. When playing it has a mind of it's own, jumping from track to track. This mp3 player has never worked properly and now I can't even reformat it. In short Archos = waste of money, my daughters Xmas present wasted.
Annoyed, May 2008