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General discussion

Arcos 5 problems need help NOW

Jun 10, 2009 5:06AM PDT

My computer won't recognize my archos 5 when I plug it in with the USB cable. It just says the device has malfunctioned and cannot be recognized. When it installs the driver when I plug it in it says its an unknown device. I look through "My Computer" and theres nothing. I look in Windows Media Player 11 and no device. I have formatted it multiple times and it still doesn't work. I used the other repair and format tools when it starts up and you hold the volume + button but it still doesn't work and now everytime I plug it in it wants me to plug it in and install an update that I can't install because my computer can't recognize the device. So now I can't use it at all but to show it off and look at the pretty white screen. I tried to download this USB driver on this other forum but I don't even know what to do with. Please help I just bought this from techforless.com and I don't want to think I just bought a $250 brick.

Discussion is locked

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Re: Arcos 5 problems
Jun 10, 2009 5:10AM PDT

To be sure it's the player, not your PC, try it on another PC. Then back to the shop for a fix under warranty.

Kees

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Re: Archos 5 problems
Jun 10, 2009 7:42AM PDT

Yeah I have tried it on one other computer already and it didn't work on that one either. I really don't want to send my archos back to the store I got from since it is REALLY far away and I don't want to wait a month to get it back. Is there a way that I could go to maybe Best Buy and ask the Geek Squad guys to fix it?

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I don't think so.
Jun 11, 2009 7:25AM PDT

Moreover, it's not really sure it's the device. 'Malfunctioned' and 'unknown device' surely point to that.

- But you write; "I formatted it". We don't know how you did that, if that was the 'official' way to do it, and if it gave any error messages.
- And we don't know what "the other repair and formatting tools" are.
- And "everytime I plug it in it wants me to plug it in" is mysterious.
- And "I tried to download this USB driver on this other forum"
- And, finally, "but I don't even know what to do with." lets me fear you're a newbie that could easily have done something wrong.

If you didn't buy it there, I doubt if the will grant you the warranty. And such devices aren't easily repaired outside a specialized service center, I'm afraid.

Why not call the customer service of the shop where you bought it?

Kees

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Hmmm
Sep 29, 2009 12:49PM PDT

Sounds more condescending than helpful. I have an Archos 605 and I am having the same issue. My archos doesn't work anymore with ANY computer. I have tried on my Vista computer, another vista computer, and an XP computer. Online I read that an easy way to fix the issue is to turn off the PC for between 30 min and a few hours and, not only that but to remove it from the power source (or remove the battery from a laptop). I tried that. It didnt work. The only other alternatives I have seen are to toy with the registry which I personally find to be a No-No, or to reboot the OS. I don't think its got anything to do with the computers, I think it is an Archos problem. I reinitialized my Archos and deleted all files from it, thinking that a factory reset would help the issue and it didnt. Most people with an archos know what "the other repair and formatting tools" are, since it is an option under Menu>>Settings>>System>>Repair and Formatting Tools. Formatting an archos would be related to that "other repair and formatting tools". Menu>>Settings>>System>>Repair and Formatting Tools>>Format Hard Drive. I don't know about the Archos 5, but 605 doesn't need a driver to work. I still don't know what is wrong with mine but I'm sure the other poster actually was pretty concrete with their issue. I understood exactly what they meant, and I don't even have the same archos model. Its the people that call out "newbies" that might want to really look at the issues at hand before replying. I think I might have to end up calling Tech Support but I was hoping that it could be easily fixed. Too bad there really isnt a whole lot of help for Archos since its not as popular as iPod and the others.

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You took that badly.
Sep 30, 2009 2:39AM PDT

But let's try the simplest possible thing.

-> Get a new USB cable to/from that device and for a DESKTOP only connect to the rear USB ports. For a laptop only connect when the laptop is connected to the mains.

I agree with Kees assessment but I'm running into folk that feel slightly when you lay it all out on the table. You should apologize.
Bob

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Changing the cable worked for me!
Nov 5, 2009 5:44PM PST

Not sure if you've already resolved your issue, but I had the same problem with my Archos 5. When I plugged it into my computer, it would say "device has malfunctioned, not recognized, etc".

I saw the reply on changing the USB cable and that resolved the problem for me. I did not have a spare Archos propriety USB cable (which by the way is the dumbest USB cable ever), but I used my battery dock and a mini USB to regular USB cable and connected it that way.

If you don't have a battery dock, or one of the other docking devices, I think it's worth trying to buy a new Archos USB Cable and seeing if that solves your problem.

Good luck.