Tape, thank you for your suggestion. I truly appreciate the effort. I didn’t want to list all the steps I took to overcome the glitch that happens when I open the Windows Explorer ( or what I used to call the :file mangler: beginning with Win 95).
When you do, you discover quickly that the firmware update has greyed out the Clips file folders. When you view WMP MUSIC entries, all the podcasts are visible. Switch to Explorer and all you see is the CLIP folder, followed by only one sub-folder - memory alloaction. Click on it for a 15 minute process which tells you Clip is A-OK.
I took the Clip to my NT PC, my XP machine, and my Vista workstation. The file manager on each machine cannot display the Clip folders. Ergo, there is no way to move files from one Clip folder to another because the Clip firmware prevents you from seeing any folders, save the one mentioned above.
Perhaps if you could use iTunes in conjunction with WMP, and a Clip that had the latest firmware “upgrade” installed", it would be easier for you to assist me. Unfortunately, what you say “should” happen, is not actually occuring.
Do you have any other suggestions for me, Mon ami`?
After resetting my clip for the 4th or 5th time, Win Explorer was finaly able to list the folders and music on the Clip. Voila` - the podcasts were all there, visible only in the MUSIC folder. Remove the clip from the PC, select MUSIC and it says - “no songs.” They do display in the PODCAST folder where I can play them one at a time. (Yes, the repeat option is set to ALL).
So I put the Clip back on the PC. Using WinExplorer, I deleted the podcasts from the MUSIC folder. Then I copied them w/drag’n’drop to the Clip’s MUSIC folder. Unplug the Clip and 2 of the 14 podcasts display in the MUSIC folder, but they will not play. Flatline.
The other podcasts which I copied to the MUSIC folder? They are back in the podcast folder where the PLAY ALL command is not available, and the REPEAT function doesn’t work.
Anyone know how to uninstall or roll-back a firmware “update?”
PS, this is a perfect example of Project Management rule 7 -
“The attempt to either remove bugs or add features from software always introduces new bugs.”
I downloaded the 01.01.35 firmware .bin file and manually ran it. Reset my preferences, and re-downloaded my podcasts. No change. They display in WinExplorer in the MUSIC folder, but the Clip shows “no songs” in that folder. They are in the PODCAST folder but don’t repeat. PLAY ALL is available but doesn’t function in PODCASTS.
Next thought was to edit the MP3 tags. Nope. But, while investigating the sort orders used by WMP et.al. to keep podcasts in order, show the album / artist name, time, etc., I discovered one link that works - GENRE. By manually editing the GENRE inside WMP from PODCAST to MUSIC and synching, the Clip now displays my podcasts in the MUSIC folder and I can again PLAY ALL so they repeat. Lots of hoops to jump thru just to restore the function that made me buy the Clip to start with.
OK, so I have to edit the GENRE in WMP after each daily download. Less than a half-minute to get what I want is no big deal at my house.
I’m Clippin’ again! And “Thanks” to those who attempted to assist.
