A friend gave me this mp3 player with the hopes that I could get it running. I think it's defective, however I am looking for a second opinion. I can load files onto the player no problem but I cannot seem to get them to play. The little keypad seems unresponsive. I have formatted the unit, changed batteries but all it displays is what looks like a computer monitor with FS on it and Ver 2.600.100.
i have the same problem with the same mp3 player. only the keypad works fine but i cant load songs on it because when i plug it into my computer it says FS on it and Ver 2.600.100. the first time i used it i could load songs on and listen to them after that i started having that problem. no idea what is wrong with it.
i am getting the same problem...i got the curtis Mp3 player..i got the blue 256mb mp3 player..it is like stuck on trying the recognized by the laptop..its not communicating with the laptop..i installed the driver and all and still nothing..
player type: STMP3503 & TC58NVG Flash based Manufacturer: Curtis MP1003, IGB, no FM stuck at logo showing "computer to player" connection with "ver 2.600.100" in INVERTED (you needed a mirror to read it) Logo was larger than LCD as well. Made in China, sold in North America... my systems: Win98 and Win2K
I fixed mine after doing some research...(thanks to internet)
1.I pulled out sticker under battery and it revealed following info on chips: SigmaTel STMP3503 (MP3 market is dominated by them and they SUCK big time!!) Toshiba XT8858 TC58NVG3D4CTG00 (1GB NAND Flash: they SUCK too!!)
2. since it was a sigmatel chip based player, all I did was to experiment with various versions of sigmatel MSCN players (firmwares available at various websites for look-a-like players with same chip..STMP35xx) :but none worked... including those ones available at curtisint*com (They dont offer it under support/download section).
3.I also tried installing wrong(supplied)version of firmware CD (2.600.100) AND switching these files resource.bin, stmpsys.sb, usbmsc.sb, bootmanger.sb and hostrsc.bin: again didnt worked..
4. finally, I found firmware zip file CUR_MP3257_UPDATE_EN.Zip under FAQ section at curtisint's web...it was for 256MB player but after extraction it showed similar files with wrong-supplied CD which came with player. this zip is incomplete: you cant install it.
5. STMP35xx are pretty forgiving, whenever my player turned dead after flashing with other versions of MSCN players, I was able to bring it back to life using wrong-version-CD firmware on another computer with Win2K. either by simply connecting it (it would show up as a drive) or by holding play button (without battery) as suggested in the manual.
6. I had better luck with MPIO's MB100 MSCN firmware which was more latest and better as it would find and lock the player. so I uploaded it and switched all of its files with zip found in step5. it was basically copying and dropping them on program folder "Mscn" under Sigmatel, and saying yes to all, when replacing files. After Flashing this time, guess what: VOILA!!!!
I will NEVER buy anything CURTIS or No-brand names ever again. 30$ cheap piece of shi*t wasted my 1000$ time: but I'm glad, I learned my lesson.