Windows Media Player - problem and solution

[NNITRED]

What's the deal with WMP and my MV ?

Both the 8000 and 8800 are vulnerable to all "sync capable" media players, not just Microsoft's. First the MV uses an antiquated but very simple FAT file sytem. Secondly, the PC/Mac isn't seeing the actual HD when you do a USB X-fer. What the computer actually sees is the MV front end that makes it appear as a external HD. WMP skips past the front end and actually looks at the MVs HD only to find it disorganized and outdated . The host syncing protocol of WMP tries to organize the HD for syncing...and that's the core problem.

While WMP may be happy with the new arrangement, the MV can no longer locate the files. Like cans without labels, there's no way to index or identify the folders. Instead they ignored until it's native FAT format is is restored.


* The MV HD error simply means that the MV can't see the files. If the HD is removed and mounted to a PC/Mac the files will be visible and can be copied.

** Some have reported that that Microsoft's own "Fix Errors" option actually works for reconstructing the HD. I haven't tried this first hand.


Restoring Your Projects from a USB Backup or copied HD

THIS IS NOT IN YOUR MANUAL! PRINT IF NEEDED.



The CD Backup eats up a full CD for every Project (regardless of it's size) and that's not practical or cheap if you have your projects saved to HD via USB.

To transfer a single project (or collection) you can do it by USB or CD but there's a bit of a trick to it.
The MV only recognizes a Project when it in the Project list so just dropping it into a folder won't work. So just follow these instructions and it's a breeze.

I've only confirmed this method using 8800 projects but the 8000 folders shouldn't pose a problem.

* This is for Project files not CD Backup files.
** The MV will only read the first CD Backup on a CD so it's useless to put several on single disc regardless of size.
*** The main Project List is in the System folder. It's not accessible with the MV and not even visible using USB.
______________________________________________
1. You'll need to create a few dummy projects to get onto the MV's main Project List.
Create as many dummy projects as you need - naming them 1,2,3,4,etc..

* The MV will not recognize anything in the Project Folder that doesn't also appear on the Project List - located in the inaccessible System folder.

2. Before putting them on a CD or doing a USB Transfer - Rename the saved Projects to 1,2,3,4,etc accordingly.

3.Using the File Utility (CD) or USB Transfer place the newly named old projects into the PROJECTS folder and overwrite the dummy projects.

Your saved projects will now be in place and can be loaded and renamed to your liking. I find it useful to keep an empty project in the list just for stuff like this.

* A CD Backup is a single giant composite file and completely different from single saved project file.