Sansa® Clip | Sansa® Clip+

[ellymoo]

I'm really pleased with my Sansa which hasworked well for a few years; but all of a sudden it won't turn on or off. If I plug it into a USB then it charges up and works fine, but it's like the 'power' button doesn't exist. It won't recognise I'm touching it at all. I know it's a long shot, but any help would be gratefully received! Thank you.

[Miikerman]

It could be a physical button/connector issue.   

Or, hopefully, it could be a software glitch, which can develop over time.  I would try manually reapplying the latest firmware, easy to do (see the firmware sticky thread at the top of this sub-forum).  You also could try reformatting the player from its System settings, which can clear up mystery issues--note that this will delete user content, and so save anything you want to keep to another device first.

[ellymoo]

Hi, thanks for your reply. Resetting it hasn't worked, alas. I will try the firmware thing when I'm back on my laptop.

[Tapeworm]

Does the device power up when plugged into your computer, but shuts off when unplugged?

If so, It's likely a loose/broken connection from the battery to the device (internally). You didn't say which Sansa player you have, but this was a very common issue on the original Clips (round scroll wheel), and some of the newer models as well (Clip+).

If this is the case, it is possible to open up the case and re-solder the connection. There are guides/instructions on how to do this online.

[ellymoo]

Thanks for your reply. It's a Sansa Clip and a few years old! The only way to turn it on is to plug it in. I can't turn it off either, so I have to wait until it gets to the end of a track and allow it to shut down naturally.

[Tapeworm]

So the player will work after you plug it into your computer, and then stay on after you disconnect it? That doesn't sound like a battery lead issue . . . did you try (manually) re-applying the firmware and/or formatting as Miikerman suggested?

[ellymoo]

I've reset it but to no avail.

I tried using the firmware download, and it said that the .exe wasn't an valid Win32 application.

I tried doing it the alternative way, and can't find a programme to run the BIN file from. Lost!

[Tapeworm]

You don't 'run' the .bin file. You simply copy it to the root (uppermost) directory, unplug the device after transfer is complete and the player will install it itself.

[ellymoo]

Ah I think I've done that then - again to no avail. Unless I've copied it to the wrong place. The player doesn't turn itself off, but when I disconnect it it says "disconnecting" and then goes back to normal.

[Miikerman]

Did you place the bin file at the player's "root" level, that is, the top level of the player?