T30, new firmware and Windows 2000

[VeeJayRecords]

After purchasing an Irver mp3/CD player awhile ago, I know the quality of IRiver. I also have an Archos 20 gig mp3 player and I'm quite happy with it, but it's time for me to get even more portable with a flash player.
Ipods are out of the question due to cost and the proprietary nature of the company.

After doing some research I narrowed it down to Creative Labs, Iriver and Iaudio. As someone who likes to hear their music loud, the 5mw per channel Creative 1 gig player didn't cut if for me. Iaudio puts out a great series and is about 13 mw per channel. However, at 18 mw per channel, the Iriver T30 with its eq customization sounds great (Iaudio has it, too but I like the idea of 5 more mw per channel).

One problem - I still have a Windows Windows 2000 Pro SP4 operating system.
I just started reading threads here today and now realize that Iriver got smart and offered the UMS firmware updater/converter. However, from what I understand you still need a Win XP system to do the conversion, before Windows 2000 Pro will read it as a mass storage device. I've seen threads here showing how to get Windows 2000 to read the unit so that the upgrade can be done, but it seems some have had problems while others are successful. I can always go to a friend's computer that has XP installed, but if I do try to get Windows 2000 Pro to read the drive, I'd like to know that there are fixes in case some problem occurs.

Does anyone know why Iriver pulled down the 1.70 UMS zip file from their site (release date March 27, 2006)? If there was an upgrade, it's understandable, but most companies leave all the firmware upgrades on their site for a reasonable period of time.

When using the firmware converter, which UMS firmware should I eventually upgrade to for the US market?

Btw, does anyone have experience with the Iaudio U and G series and are they as good as the reviews? Why would Iriver ever think of putting out a unit that was incompatible with previous OS since they're still about 25% of the market?

[devyanks90]

a new version of the UMS firmware was released on May 22, v1.71.
http://www.iriver.com/html/support/d...pSearchString=

BTW, windows 2000 is about 10 percent of the market (http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp) and microsoft pressed iRiver to make all of their player MTP

[VeeJayRecords]

Originally Posted by devyanks90

a new version of the UMS firmware was released on May 22, v1.71.
http://www.iriver.com/html/support/d...pSearchString=

Thanks for replying. I don't see any link to the zip file that you refer to in the url above. Does that mean that they no longer allow you to update manually, and you have to update through the updater software?

[devyanks90]

it looks like you have to use iRiver plus to update, sorry

try using this, http://www.iriver.com/html/support/f...pSearchString=

[BongMong]

Following the instructions on this forum to update through Win2K is not hard. It is not risky, same risk as with WinXP. Most of the problems were with the T10 which is a bit different. Get your 1.71 firmware from here:

http://nyaochi.sakura.ne.jp/iriverupdate/

Now just read up on it, and you can do it. Use the right firmware (pure or non pure, get this right, UMS for your country). You shouldn't need a hybrid firmware anymore I expect, as iriver have allowed UMS for all now.

[VeeJayRecords]

Originally Posted by BongMong

Following the instructions on this forum to update through Win2K is not hard. It is not risky, same risk as with WinXP. Most of the problems were with the T10 which is a bit different. Get your 1.71 firmware from here:

http://nyaochi.sakura.ne.jp/iriverupdate/

Now just read up on it, and you can do it. Use the right firmware (pure or non pure, get this right, UMS for your country). You shouldn't need a hybrid firmware anymore I expect, as iriver have allowed UMS for all now.

Which is the abbreviation on http://nyaochi.sakura.ne.jp/iriverupdate/ for the United States, and, won't the Iriver firmware updater automatically download the latest firmware for UMS?

I think I read one of your informative threads on using Windows 2000. I consider myself an advanced computer enthusiast (since the days of IBM Dos which was even before PC-Dos), and it's quite a bit more than just plugging into a Win XP OS. Is it possible that Win 2000 Pro with SP4 might recognize the unit before the upgrade (though I doubt it since MS made sure you had to have XP to use WMP10).

I ordered the unit and can't wait to use if for the gym. I'm reformatting a friend's XP OS computer next week, so I'll just upgrade from there after a fresh, clean, spyware free install.

I don't know what IRiver was thinking by making WMP the primary way of transferring files. Most computer audio/video buffs shun WMP and Real Player in favor of Winamo, VLC, Winamp or Media Player Classic with Real Alternative and Quicktime Alternative (using FFdshow).

[BongMong]

Yes, Win2K will recognise the player before the upgrade, but you need the MTP facility added to Win2K (from Microsoft) to do it. This is rather flakey, but it'll get the job done (even if it takes a couple of tries to get the file to transfer).

You may find the new iriver updater works with the MTP update from MS. I didn't have this available when I tried it. It'll either let you update or complain, so it's worth a try.

The ENG firmware files are for the US, same as for England.