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General discussion

Element mp3 player HELP!! JUNK or JUNK?

Jan 20, 2009 2:43PM PST

I have a Element GC-920/940 mp3 player with install disk, that I can't get my PC to read. It says it it is an "unknown device" under DEVICE MANAGER. I've tried several different USB ports, same thing. I've installed the software from disk sent with it, nothing seems to work. I can't download any music to player. I've tried Windows update for any drivers. mp3 player says it doesn't need drivers or driver installed is current. I've even tried formatting drive, but software just sits there and won't format. The mp3 player seems to work on my nephews PC, but not mine. I have WinXP, with Service Pack 3.(HIS IS VISTA) I've gone to Element Electronics website, and they don't even show this player. Any HELP?

Discussion is locked

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Element-ary problem
Jan 20, 2009 4:56PM PST

Element Electronics' website admits that they don't make their own MP3 players and the one illustrated there looks like any one of thousands of no-name Sigma-Tel chipped cheapos.

So the conclusions you've probably already drawn about the firm are probably correct.

Maybe, give the player to your nephew and buy yourself something branded like a Sansa or Sony or Creative or Samsung ?

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Seems like it's trouble.
Jan 20, 2009 9:08PM PST
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Element Cable!!!
Jan 21, 2009 6:36AM PST

That was the problem...crummy cable....lucky me I have a different cable for it. I never would have guessed cable? Thank you so much for the help, you're the GREATEST...this solved a lot of my problems!!

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Thank you for the report back.
Jan 21, 2009 10:53AM PST

If they gave you and my friend a bad cable you can bet there are a million more bad cables.
Bob

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I have an Element Mp3.
Jun 19, 2010 4:03PM PDT

It is a pink one with touch sensor plating. I'm not sure of the model number, because it was given to me. I can't even get the thing to start. When I attach it to USB, the screen flashes a loading symbol, but doesn't activate. When I took it apart, I realized that the headphone jack had been soldiered incorrectly, so it created a systematic glitch of the entire device, and caused it to pick up a virus. Now my computer doesn't read it. Long story short, if you have one of these, get rid of it ASAP. It downloaded a virus to my entire school's network, and took them hours to fix. Don't fall for the cuteness. I would recommend getting an iPod, because they have their own virus protection.