LOAD MAIN IMAGE FAILED SWITCH TO RECOVERY MODE - SANSA E260

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5

barty,

The “load main image failed” message refers to the player’s firmware stored in memory.  The good news is that your music is still there, we just need to reinstall the firmware.

To do this, the v1 device has Recovery Mode, which allows you to connect and reinstall the firmware.  the player will then refresh, and your music should be once again available.

There are two files you will need, the mi4 file, and the rom file.  To recover your music, be sure that you don’t format the device at this point.  I must stress an important point: Recovery Mode opens the reserved data area of the Sansa.  NEVER attempt to use te Windows “format” command when connected in Recovery Mode.  The only area we should format is the media area (music, photos, video that are stored).

What you’ll do is simple:  connect in recovery mode, then transfer these two files over.  In a moment, I’ll give you a link to the process.  The two firmware files are zipped or compressed and must be extracted or unzipped before transferring to the device.  Be sure to unsqueeze them first, then drag them over to the 16MB FORMAT icon that you will see.  You will then slide the HOLD switch back to the normal position, and disconnect.  The rest happens automatically.

For e200v1, e200R, and c200v1 :

  1. On your Sansa player, press and hold the Power/Menu button for 15 seconds to turn the device completely off.

  2. Slide the Hold switch so the orange portion shows.

  3. On your PC, double-click My Computer

  4. On your Sansa player, press and hold the REC button while connecting it to the PC.

  5. Release the REC button when a 16MB-FORMAT drive partition appears under My Computer.

Here’s the link to the v1 firmwarefor the two needed files.  Choose the version needed based upon your region.  A box will pop up with the firmware download for you.  Unzip them, and drag them to the 16MB FORMAT icon.  Slide the hold switch back to the left, and unplug.  If you forget to slide the switch, you’ll get a message telling you that the device is still “locked”.  Slide it back to the left, and power up the device as usual.

_ microsansa _