RANT: H10 20gb system files missing (again!)

[HotStuff2]

My kids each have a blue iRiver H10 20gb MP3 player. Just a few short months ago, I had to return them to iRiver, under warranty, to get the dreaded "system files missing" issue resolved. It took over a month to get them back! And now, 3 months later, guess what? SAME PROBLEM!

iRiver wants me to fax them "proof of purchase", AGAIN. I went thru this LAST TIME. Now I have to go thru it AGAIN. Sheesh...

Fortunately, my iRiver H120 (aka iHP-120) is still pristine and works like a charm. My son's H120 needs a new battery; seems his got corroded contacts on it somehow, and was overheating. I've seen them for sale on eBay, and I know I saw threads here about replacing the battery with a larger mA version, so that's on my to-do list. his is beat-up, battered, and worn, but he loves it and won't stop bugging me to get it running. But the H10 20gb DAP has been nothing short of a headache for me.

[devyanks90]

by looking at your previous posts, it looks like you haven't even tried fixing the problem yourself (and yes, it can and has been done) If you're so angry at Iriver, switch to Rockbox

[HotStuff2]

Wrong. I tried all the fixes; just because I don't post here on the forums much any longer doesn't mean I didn't try everything first. I tried the solutions here, as well as the ones from iRiver (which are to download the tool, put it in UMTS mode, etc.) Doesn't work, since the PC (and I've tried it on 4 computers and 1 laptop) all can't see the H10 once this happens.

Don't assume something. Chances are, you'll be wrong.

[Karashata]

Sounds like it's unable to detect the hard drive, where it has to load the firmware files from. This may mean that the drive has died and needs to be replaced. I would check and see if you can get a hold of a 1.8" drive with a ZIF style connector and swap out the drive that's inside the player with it, then connect it in UMS mode to the computer and see if the computer recognizes it and can access it. If so, you'll likely want to format the new drive inside it, then you'll have to install the system files to the device so it can work.

I'd like to take a moment to ask a couple questions: First, do these players get used a lot? And second, have these players been dropped or thrown around a lot (ie. in a backpack or bag of some sort) while in use? Both of those could potentially wear the drive out a lot faster than it would be under moderate use in a more stable environment.

[HotStuff2]

Actually, iRiver RMA'd both of them (again) and I'm waiting to get them back.

Neither of them get dropped, and 3-4 months is simply unacceptable. That's how long ago I had BOTH of them RMA'd for the same exact problem. I know HDDs wear out, and MTBF is usually ~5 years, give or take 5 years or so. Still, this will make the third time these two players have been RMA'd in less than one year, all for the same problem.

I asked iRiver if they had *any* H120 or H320 units (or H140/H340) to swap them out for me. Yeah, I know, the odds are small, but my H120 has never had a problem, and my son's has never died (well, that's not true, since he got it wet and the battery corroded and needs replacing...) But other than that, it's been a champ. And my buddy's H320 has been rock-solid as well.

[Karashata]

Well, that's rather nice of them to RMA them especially with how "outdated" the player is... I hope this time it works out for you.

Also, a slight correction to my earlier post, I don't think you'd want to look for a ZIF style connector for the H3xx or H1xx players, I believe they use a different connector style then the H10 20 GB (my DAP).