HELP! Newbie stuck in Install Hell

[tl9mile]

Hey all - 1st, THANKS for the informative posts - I'm learning plenty. Now if only I could get my new iHP120 to give up its secrets of navigation and database use, I could USE this information! If anyone is willing to rescue me, I promise to stick to my New Year resolutions!

Disclaimer: I am about 80% complete dunce with computer-ese; my skills of troubleshooting and figuring out "where the trouble lies" are laughable. I can follow directions, but I am one of those who probably would have been better off with a Mac. Just so you know.

OK. Received the beast for Christmas, with firmware vs 1.17, iHP Manager CD vs 1.10. I'm running WinXP Home on a Dell Pentium 4 - latest updates and patches all installed.

I carefully followed the book for connection, WinXP (in "My Computer") found as "IHP-100", and I could access its files. Also copied some MP3's and WMA's onto the iHP by the Drag 'N Drop as promised by the book. (Saw the HD light flash, confirmed files to be found on iHP) Disconnected iHP (used "Safely Remove Hardware" as specified), and couldn't find files.
SO, I installed iHP Manager from CD. Tried the thing again, being sure to click "Add Music(s) to DB", and "Update DB" when available... still, no ability to find the files on the machine. Uninstalled iHP Manager, re-installed, same problem. I managed to copy one MP3 to iHP that had some sort of compatible info tag, and I can find this one file and its tagged info on the iHP... but still can't get the machine to play it!

I haven't installed WinAmp yet... but shouldn't I be able to do some rudimentary playing of these files without using that program?

Couple observations: When I look in "All Programs", I cannot find the iHP Manager, tho I can find its files when I search the Cdrive. The only way I know it's there is when I work with an MP3 file and its "add music" or "update DB" buttons show up. Also, those iHP Manager buttons don't show when I try to work with a file that is associated with my Real Player -- even if it's tagged as WMA or MP3. Huh??

When I use the "Safely Remove Hardware" button, the iHP shows up as "USB Mass Storage Device", NOT the "iHP 100," or "120," or "Toshiba blah blah..." as I've seen it should be... is this a clue??

I have been able to play with the machine and make voice recordings (and access and play them) and transfer those to my host PC, and delete them from the iHP using the host PC. So I know there is SOME communication.

I haven't even begun to look into the recording gap/pop/click issue, or managing playlists or anything else. I can't even get to the point of being able to access what I've downloaded on the machine. Can you say FRUSTRATING?!

Once I got stuck and realized I couldn't get out (Dec. 2, I sent an email to IRiverAmerica... no response yet. I called their Huge Orange Trouble number this morning.... and got a recording dated from what must have been Tuesday, no indication of when they are open for customer support, and a statement that messages left on voice mail would be returned "hopefully no later than Wednesday January 7...."(!) Umm, I think there is definitely trouble in paradise. I gave them a thumbnail of my predicament, asking them to return my call sometime before WEDNESDAY, for I'm sitting here with a very pretty paperweight.

In the meantime... CAN ANYONE OUT THERE HELP ME get this thing to talk to me? All reports are that this is a lovely machine, but if I have to be a programmer to use it, I'm afraid I'll have to give it up and go with the you-know-what from Apple, despite its woeful lack of features I really want (like quality recording, optical in/out, etc. etc. etc...)

This post is way too long, I know, but I figured that any brave soul willing to help should have some idea what I know (and don't know).

You can email me at: TL9Mile@comcast.net.

THANKS in advance!

[seadzz]

First of all rest assured you've come to the right place. The people on this board will help you through the learning curve.

Forget about the IHP Manager. It is not needed.

Plug the ihp-1xx into your computer and make sure it is powered up. On the ihp-1xx display you should see a Connected to Computer message.

Then click on the my computer icon on your desktop. You should see a few things there, A drive, C drive, CD drive and your ihp-1xx drive.

click on the ihp-1xx drive. What do you see? If you see something called E drive with the files voice and record you are in the right place. If you did things right you should see other files there with the names of the mp3 or wam files. If you drop and draged the files and did not create a directory for these files FIRST it is possible you dropped the files into either the voice or record folders.

To see if you did that double click on each of those files to open them and see what's there. If your tracks are there (my guess is that where they are) you will need to cut and paste tham out of there and put them into a new folder. Make a new folder first...call it My music or whatever, then put the music there.

Let us know haow you make out.....it 9is not that hard and you have the 80+ members here at all times around the world to help you.

good luck

seadzz

[PYROTAK]

the ihp-manageer is needed so taht after you put the files onto your iriver that you can right click on the drive and update you irivers DB. so that you can pik songs by genre artists album and that sort of thing.

[sparky]

kinda cute how they leave that for us to figure out.

p'raps owners of previous iriver products already know this.

So, I'm figuring out (slowly) that the voice folder is where the ihp puts live recordings and the audio is where we put FOLDERS that contian our music files.

oh.

helps to know this.

ps this msg is redundant

[seadzz]

yes PYROTAK is correct,

the ihp manager is required if you use the data base function. If you don't use it (I do not) it is then not required.

I hope you have things figured out by now.

sdz

[Big D]

The database issue is a thorny one.

You can only add songs to the database that are actually on the iHP. If they are on the computer then the option to add files to database when you right click isn't there.

The best way to create a database for all the songs on the iHP is, once you have it connected, to right click on the drive icon (e: or f: etc.) in Windows Explorer (MY Computer folder) and the option to add to the database will come up. Just select it and there will be a progress bar come up. Once finished then the database file (iRivNavi) should be in the main directory of the iHP once you open it.

The RECORD folder is automatically put on by the player and will return even if deleted. It contains two folders. The first AUDIO is for recording from line in and the second VOICE is for recording from the internal microphone. You do not need to put your music there and I would strongly advise against it.

[NOTE THAT F:/ IS MY iHP DRIVE AND SO USED IN MY EXAMPLES, YOUR DRIVE LETTER MAY BE DIFFERENT]

I personally put my songs in a hierarchical system of folders:

ARTIST -> ALBUM e.g. F:/R.E.M/Document/

Within each album folder I place the songs and the files are titled:

[Track no.] - [Song name] e.g. 01 - Breathe

This means that when I search by file tree then I can select artist, then album, then song. By adding track number by 01,02,03,etc at the start of the song it means the album stays in track order, not alphabetical order.

Try not to put the songs too deep into a folder system as when you add to the database the IHP manager will not add files more than 52 characters in length. So the total characters seems to be worked out by:

F:/R.E.M/Out Of Time/02 - Losing My Religion

not

02 - Losing My Religion

So you can see the deeper in the file structure the less likely the song will be added to the database.

There are other, and more simple programs that can be used to create the database. Gacel's iHPTool from www.gacel.de/ihptool is a useful program. It has warnings but as long as you delete the iRivNavi file from your iHP before use as I am not aware of anyone having problems if they do this first.

Using iHPTool just connect the iHP to your computer and then open up the program. It will automatically scan your iHP for songs and files. Click on All Folders in the folder structure on the top left. It will put a tick in the box and all the folders are selected.

Select SONGS from the drop down menus and then click on CREATE DATABASE. It will generate the database and save it to the IHP. It also detects wma and ogg tags in addition to mp3 tags. It will tell you how many are not tagged and how many are too long (>52 characters). The will be a list of all the files that are too long in the bottom box.

Whereas the iHP Manager will not add the songs >52 characters in length, the iHPTool will add them but cut the length of the song in the database.

e.g. If you had a file such as:

F:/R.E.M/Document/06 - It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

You will see in the database:

It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Fe

So the file has been cut at 52 characters in the database (not the original file - this is unchanged) and the song title in the database is reduced.

Finally once you have the database file created (disconnect the device in XP) then you need to turn the database on.

Go into the menus by holding down the joystick. Select GENERAL them DB SCAN. Select YES when asked if you are sure. Turn off the iHP and then turn back on. It might take a bit longer to turn on, depending on the number of songs you have. Now when you press the joystick (click not hold) you should see the icons that are described in the instructions.

Enjoy.


I think this has gone on long enough, but I hope it's helpful. Did you have any luck in getting more songs on the player?

[jeff]

This is why Big D is our resident Technician

Originally Posted by Big D

Welcome Sparky,

The database issue is a thorny one.

You can only add songs to the database that are actually on the iHP. If they are on the computer then the option to add files to database when you right click isn't there.

The best way to create a database for all the songs on the iHP is, once you have it connected, to right click on the drive icon (e: or f: etc.) in Windows Explorer (MY Computer folder) and the option to add to the database will come up. Just select it and there will be a progress bar come up. Once finished then the database file (iRivNavi) should be in the main directory of the iHP once you open it.

The RECORD folder is automatically put on by the player and will return even if deleted. It contains two folders. The first AUDIO is for recording from line in and the second VOICE is for recording from the internal microphone. You do not need to put your music there and I would strongly advise against it.

[NOTE THAT F:/ IS MY iHP DRIVE AND SO USED IN MY EXAMPLES, YOUR DRIVE LETTER MAY BE DIFFERENT]

I personally put my songs in a hierarchical system of folders:

ARTIST -> ALBUM e.g. F:/R.E.M/Document/

Within each album folder I place the songs and the files are titled:

[Track no.] - [Song name] e.g. 01 - Breathe

This means that when I search by file tree then I can select artist, then album, then song. By adding track number by 01,02,03,etc at the start of the song it means the album stays in track order, not alphabetical order.

Try not to put the songs too deep into a folder system as when you add to the database the IHP manager will not add files more than 52 characters in length. So the total characters seems to be worked out by:

F:/R.E.M/Out Of Time/02 - Losing My Religion

not

02 - Losing My Religion

So you can see the deeper in the file structure the less likely the song will be added to the database.

There are other, and more simple programs that can be used to create the database. Gacel's iHPTool from www.gacel.de/ihptool is a useful program. It has warnings but as long as you delete the iRivNavi file from your iHP before use as I am not aware of anyone having problems if they do this first.

Using iHPTool just connect the iHP to your computer and then open up the program. It will automatically scan your iHP for songs and files. Click on All Folders in the folder structure on the top left. It will put a tick in the box and all the folders are selected.

Select SONGS from the drop down menus and then click on CREATE DATABASE. It will generate the database and save it to the IHP. It also detects wma and ogg tags in addition to mp3 tags. It will tell you how many are not tagged and how many are too long (>52 characters). The will be a list of all the files that are too long in the bottom box.

Whereas the iHP Manager will not add the songs >52 characters in length, the iHPTool will add them but cut the length of the song in the database.

e.g. If you had a file such as:

F:/R.E.M/Document/06 - It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

You will see in the database:

It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Fe

So the file has been cut at 52 characters in the database (not the original file - this is unchanged) and the song title in the database is reduced.

Finally once you have the database file created (disconnect the device in XP) then you need to turn the database on.

Go into the menus by holding down the joystick. Select GENERAL them DB SCAN. Select YES when asked if you are sure. Turn off the iHP and then turn back on. It might take a bit longer to turn on, depending on the number of songs you have. Now when you press the joystick (click not hold) you should see the icons that are described in the instructions.

Enjoy.


I think this has gone on long enough, but I hope it's helpful. Did you have any luck in getting more songs on the player?

[Big D]

Don't know about that Jeff.

That's probably about my limit!!

[tl9mile]

Great group of folks -- sorry in my delay of response; busy performing schedule this weekend has kept me away.

seadzz, I did as you suggested, and voila, there they are! Simple fix. Thanks for the clear instruction. (I'm amazed the instruction book doesn't tell you this important point.)

I also found that if I didn't use the iHP Manager "Update DB" button, the disconnect button would warn "Device still in use." So I went back and updated, and it let me disconnect. I'll fiddle with that some more (maybe I just didn't wait long enough before attempting to disconnect).

Question to anyone regarding voice recording: Is it true that there is NO way to adjust record levels when using internal mic? I used internal mic, with AGC on, for casual recording of live acoustic music, and on playback the meters were buried most of the time, with obvious distortion. I was recording in MP3, 256khz, AGC on. Perhaps the AGC is not the way to go... I guess I assumed it would protect from clipping. Ideas?

This morning I tried external mic (the one included), set rec level at 7 (out of 20) to be safe, and the result is ok - meters barely topping out at highest sound levels (when trumpet, organ, piano, choir, etc at full blast...). This is all from close range. (SURE WISH they had meters visible in record mode -- what were they thinking??!)

OK, gotta head back for more noise making... I'll play with the iHP some more tonight and get familiar with the folder system -- and I bet I'll have more questions!

Thanks to you all. This machine must be worth it for so many of you to chime in and offer advice. So far, IRiver 'support' gets a lump of coal in their stocking. Let's hope they redeem themselves in the next couple days.