I would think 1) and 2) are related - and 2) is really the issue causing 1). Sounds like the player is on the fritz.
I am sure that if you COULD find someone to repair it, you would spend as much to try and get it fixed as you would buying another one. One consumer review on Amazon for this product stated that:
"One day, while playing music, the unit just quit, and the display went dead. I sent multiple emails to iRiver and received no reply. I called their 800 number, and was informed that they do not have a servive center, and make no repairs of the flash players
Apparently, if the unit is still in warranty, they can send out a new unit as a replacement, but beyond the warranty period, you're out of luck as iRiver won't touch the unit."
Best bet is to try and find another IFP-899. At $80 and for the functionality and form that this unit provides, I think it's a bargain. I used my 899 during bike rides and loved the no-look joystick control. The LCD Display started to go bad and I sent it in to Best Buy's extended warranty dept and got 100% of my money back. That was the BEST $30 I ever spent for an extended warranty. I would suggest that MP3 players are one of the best products to get an extended warranty for since they often go bad. I now have an iRiver Clix and while I like it, I miss my 899...a lot...
Here's an eBay link for IFP-899's on sale (don't buy the one with the broken display)
http://search.ebay.com/ifp-899_W0QQf...dsreturnedZ300