No matter where I check, I can't find where playlists from WMP are supported.
If I have this wrong, sorry and show the link about it.
Bob
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I am fighting with a new Sony MP3 player NWZ-E354. The player is working entirely fine, EXCEPT it cannot see my playlist.
Here's the situation. On my XP SP3 machine, I created a playlist in Windows Media Player v.11, sync'd my library and playist with the device, and can see it on the device (using windows explorer). However, when I tried to pull the playlist up on the device, I got the message: "No Playlists Available. Please connect to compliant software or device and transfer playlists." All of the songs are there and play fine, but no amount of tweaking and resyncing worked.
Wondering if it might a file type issue, I recreated the playlist using Media Monkey and synced from that app. Playlist copied over, but still got the same message.
I then tried installing the Sony content transfer software. No change.
Updated the Sony software. Same message again.
I tried the Sony on-line tech support and gave up after an excruciating hour of incomprehension on their side. After hours of surfing, I cannot find anyone who has had and solved my problem.
I've now saved the list in three different formats (m3u, wmp, and pls), and all three versions of the playist can be seen on the device in windows explorer. The player simply cannot see any of them.
So I am stumped. Any advice? Please tell me there is something simple I'm missing...
Discussion is locked
Thanks for the link, Bob. Unfortunately, I was told by Sony on-line support that WMP playlists should work, which I believe is confirmed by footnote (*2) on this page: http://esupport.sony.com/docs/portable/NWZE353-E354-E355/4192093111/eng/contents/03/01/03/03.html#l2_searching%20for%20songs . So the playlist should work.
It does note "playlists" but not a word about WMP Playlist files.
For example at the link I provided "For details about supported file formats, see [Details]." and you click details and the playlist files you noted are not on the support list.
This is why I write there is likely something amiss here. i.e. no WMP playlists for this machine.
Bob
Really appreciate your pointing me in the right direction. So I need to convert one of the playlist files into a format the player recognizes. Any conversion program you would recommend?
I couldn't find any documented playlist format or file. It's as if the playlist is made in the player. I didn't read the entire manual (don't own this player) but was looking for why it was giving you trouble.
Try that. Make a playlist in the player and see if you can find it via the computer.
Bob
I've looked and looked, but I'm pretty sure that there is no way to create a playlist on the player itself. On one the manual pages you linked above, it says: "Playlists are created by using Windows Media Player. For information on how to create a playlist, refer to the Help of Windows Media Player."
And since the playlist is dependent on WMP, and WMP gets updates without notice from MSFT and such can change as MSFT issues updates, it's a house of cards.
The ONLY thing I can offer is to look at what's not stock on the PC. For example a friend installed a new Antivirus SUITE with "privacy protection" and the troubles (like this) began.
It took a week of pondering and stories to figure that one out.
Bob
I'll see if there's an AV or other conflict, but in the meantime, I'll live with my workaround -- putting the songs in a series of folders and letting the player go from one folder to the next. Not a very efficient solution, but it'll have to do.
Bob, thanks for helping me noodle this through. You've been a big help. If I find a solution, I'll post it here, in case others ever have the same problem.