New uploaded files show up as "format error"

[clover779]

Hello all,

I've recently bought a chinese clone of the ipod nano 8GB. It came with a few songs, a video and has a menu with:
Music
Videos
Record
Voice
FM-Radio
Photo
Setup
E-book
Game

When I try to get the FW version I get the following info:
2007/06/06
9.1.52
2007/08/08
ACT209N_S75_SZG

I plug it in the computer and it only detects it as USB storage device, where I can see the mp3 or video files, I can upload files but the player will always say "Format Error!" for the new uploaded files. iTunes does not detect the ipod, and even on the ipod screen I get "CONNECT", nothing else (it actually charges the ipod).

So, I would like to know:
- what kind of device I have here
- any driver for XP that will allow windows and iTunes to detect the device has an ipod?
- any other way to upload files to the device in order to have those files played?

Thanks in advance

[admin]

Unfortunately the "format error" messages are generally a result from a player being hacked to show more memory than it physically has stored on it.

There has been a lot of members who have a similar problem to yours. Did you buy it from eBay?

My best suggestion is to go through the steps mentioned here --> How To: Removing Memory Hack.

That should hopefully remove the memory and should eliminate the 'format error' messages.

Hopefully that helps.

[yarosLP]

Try to format it with mp3 player utilites(fat32 system).

[hercfamily]

Like a lot of people, I have a ChiPod which is not working right. The demo songs all work as do demo videos (demo.amv). I am on Mac OSX and the unit loads up fine, files save fine, when I go to play songs I get "format error".

I have gone to media-convert.com to try some differnt .amv conversions but no workee. My MP3's (exported from iTunes) work halfway. When I save a song (say "song.mp3") it will save and play the MP3 but it will make its OWN file called "_.song.mp3" which of course gives FORMAT ERROR when played. So playlists are impossible because you have to manually forward to usable files constantly. Grr.

It is a silver 2G unit which looks like the one depicted on this site (http://mympxplayer.org/image-asp622.html).

1. How do I solve the MP3 problem - convert to some other variant of MP3?

2. How do I convert videos (MPEG, MOV or AVI) to AMV? What settings?

3. I see lots of help discussions of reformatting. What format - using the normal Disk Utility I have option of MSDOS FAT16...which is what the format is currently. If need be I can do it from a PC if there is a specific trick to be done.

4. I see lots of discussions of firmware updates. How does one determine what to use and how to flash the player? The unit itself says MP3 Player/QSSM_AK1025/2007-10-19/9.1.52/2005-01-09.

Help? I am about to just format the thing and roll.

JW

[neferset]

Hi JW,

The ._song.mp3 is a file created by the Mac OS, usually containing icon/thumbnail information. Usually it is hidden on the Mac, but visible on the PC. It sounds like the player is not set up to ignore these files even though it can be opened/used on a Mac. If it is possible to use a PC or boot as a PC to transfer files, that may be your best option.

Alternately, there may be utilities to remove these "hidden" Mac files. I haven't looked for those because I normally strip them out on my PC or leave them if there isn't a need to get rid of them.

You will notice that ._filename files are saved onto thumb drives if you transfer files from your Mac and open the thumb drive on a PC.

It should be alright to format your player from the Mac using the current format settings. I haven't tried it yet from mine. I'm still trying to find out which version of the PC based MP3 player utilities will format my "4gb" player to its true 2gb size. ops:

Nef

[hercfamily]

Thanks I will find and kill those hidden files.

I am still stuck on the video files though. I have gone to http://media-convert.com/ to try and convert files from .mov (or mpeg, etc) to amv but no luck. Any help on video format specifics?

So my pending questions are:

1. How to do determine which firmware I need to ensure its up to date
2. How do I set the settings for mp4, mov, avi etc to amv.

Thanks!
JW

[admin]

Have a look at Bytessence MPxConverter 1.1 (Linux) for converting to .amv for Linux or Bytessence MPxConverter 1.1 (Windows) for Windows.

This is a program created by a member of this site and was originally focused on converting to .amv so you should find it quite helpful and it should work.

Also remember that you will need the correct codecs when converting from .mov files as well.

Let us know how that goes and whether that works.

[hercfamily]

I made hidden files visible and it did not help the weird "extra files" showing up. Very odd. All I had was some .DS STORE files. So unfix that one.

In terms of conversions - I am on Mac. Soooo thats why I went with the web based converter. I can use PC when I absolutely have to but either Mac native or web based is easier.

Any ideas what settings? I used the default .mov (and .avi and .mpg) to amv but no workee. If I knew what to set I would use the advanced settings but alas...

1. Mac or help w Web converter?
2. Firmware - how to find right one?
3. Weird format error.

JW

[masterofpuppets]

Originally Posted by her family";p=&quot

Thanks I will find and kill those hidden files.

I am still stuck on the video files though. I have gone to http://media-convert.com/ to try and convert files from .mov (or mpeg, etc) to amv but no luck. Any help on video format specifics?

So my pending questions are:

1. How to do determine which firmware I need to ensure its up to date
2. How do I set the settings for mp4, mov, avi etc to amv.

Thanks!
JW

9-1-53 is the latest I have seen for Version of this software..........

My Ipod shows up under Windows xp as a FAT 32 with 4092 for size under Properties. This is all after Formating it in Windows.

[hercfamily]

Ok copy 9-1-53 but having never updated the firmware how do I do that? Update via an application (online here) or what?

I am on Mac but if firmware updater is PC only I can do that too if needed.

1. Are 9-1-53 avail on download here
2. How do I install it?