Archos Gmini200 File issues, corrupted data, formatting, and partitioning, Troubleshooting

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Troubleshooting

Problem: What do I do if I try to disconnect via the green arrow but keep getting “The device ‘Generic Volume’ cannot be stopped now. Try stopping the device again later.”

Answer: Use the green arrow a second time. Sometimes Windows® does not update its status. Shut off any program that might be accessing data on the Gmini, including Windows® Explorer. If this does not work, shut down all programs, wait 20 seconds, then try the green arrow again. If this does not work, you should shut down the computer and disconnect the USB cable once the computer is off.

Problem: When I plug the Gmini into my computer, I do not see a new hard drive icon on the screen.

Solution: Use the troubleshooting section USB Connection Issues above.

Problem: I have Windows® XP and a USB 2.0 port, yet my file transfer rates are very slow.

Solution: The original version of XP does not have native support for USB 2.0. You must update your Windows® XP to a minimum of SP1 (Service Pack 1) in order for it to transfer files at the full USB 2.0 port capacity.

Problem: The Gmini shuts off by itself.

Solution: This is normal. If you are not playing music or using it, it will automatically shut off based on the automatic power-off parameters in the Power submenu. Go to the menu [Setup  Power] where you can adjust the Power off parameter.

Problem: The Gmini locks-up. None of the buttons react.

Solution: Did you set the Gmini to ‘lock’ mode? This is the mode that blocks the buttons from functioning so that you can put the Gmini in your pocket or backpack without worrying about buttons getting accidentally pressed. Hold down for three seconds on the Menu button to unlock all the buttons. The other possibility is an electrostatic phenomena. That is, static electricity has temporarily knocked out the Gmini. Hold down on the POWER button for 15 seconds and the Gmini will shut off. Restart it normally now.

Problem: When I go to the Music icon in the main menu, I cannot see the mp3 files or albums that I just put into the Gmini.

Solution: The Gmini’s ARCLibrary must be rewritten to the Gmini each time new music files are transferred to the device. You can refresh (update) the ARCLibrary by connecting your Gmini to the computer, starting up the program MusicMatch™, and then select View > Portable Device Manager. By doing this, MusicMatch™ will look at the contents of the Gmini hard drive and take into account any new files you have copied to it and then refresh the ARCLibrary on the Gmini accordingly. MusicMatch™ will tell you when the update process is complete. Properly disconnect your Gmini from computer. Your new files will now be visible in the ARCLibrary.

9.2File issues, corrupted data, formatting, and partitioning

Problem: On the Gmini, I find new file names and folder names that I never created or they have strange gibberish names.

Answer: Most likely, the Gmini’s file allocation table (FAT) has been corrupted. This could have been due to a shut down while the Gmini was connected to your computer. To fix a corrupted FAT problem, you should use the Error Checking utility or the Check Disk utility explained at the end of this section. Attention: Windows and Macintosh often write extra files to the hard drive such as finder.def or System volume info. These are normal and will not harm the Gmini.

Problem: I have been using my Gmini to transfer files back and forth between different computers. Will defragmenting the Gmini hard drive do any harm to it?

Solution: Defragmenting the Gmini hard drive may actually be useful after having transferred many files to and from the Gmini. It is never harmful to use the Windows® defragmenter utility on the Gmini. Make sure no other program is running while using the Windows® defragmenter utility. Make sure you power the Gmini with the external power adapter during this procedure.

Problem: I have copied files to my Gmini via USB from my computer, but now I cannot see these files on the device.

Solution: You have probably transferred a file which the Gmini cannot play, for example a PDF, MOV, or DOC file. Go to the System Settings under Setup on the main screen and you will find a parameter called Show All Files. If you set it to On, the Gmini will show all files, even if it cannot play the file (you must browse via the browser mode from the main menu screen). The browser will show a ? icon indicating that it is not one of the standard file types that it can play.

Problem: I want to reformat the hard drive of the Gmini.

Solution: You can do this, but it will erase ALL of the data on your Gmini. Also note that Windows® will only format up to 32GB on your device, thus if you have a 40GB or higher model, you will only have 32GB of space after reformatting. You will have to use a third party formatting utility. First, as explained above, you should run ScanDisk or the DOS chkdsk (Check Disk) program to try to fix your problem. These will solve your problems 99% of the time. Remember that you should create at a minimum, the root level directory Music in order for the Music icon to drop you into that directory. Note that Windows® XP and 2000 will, by default, format your Gmini hard drive in the NTFS file format. This will make the Gmini unusable. Make sure you tell it to format the hard drive in FAT32 format. Further, if the hard drive is 40GB, XP can only format in FAT32 up to 32GB, thus, you will loose 8GB of storage space. You will need to use a third part software such as Paritition Magic™ or Norton Utilities™ to format the entire 40GB of hard drive

space in the FAT32 format. Note: FAT is not the same thing as FAT32.

Troubleshooting

Problem: I would like to partition the Gmini hard drive.

 

Solution: If you know how to partition a hard drive, this is OK. The Gmini will, however, only

 

recognize the first FAT32 partition. Thus it will just see and use that partition of the hard drive. The

 

size of that partition depends, of course, on what you set it to when you partition the hard drive.

 

40

 

41

 

 

 

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Contents Archos Gmini 200 series Table of Contents Ports, Buttons and Connections Ports, Buttons and ConnectionsPlugging in the AC Adapter First Time UsageTurning on the Gmini Changing the user interface languageUser Interface Overview Using the Virtual Keyboard Settings screenMessage boxes Contextual MenusPlay Mode Using the GminiPlay Status Play OrderUsing the Gmini Using PlaylistsChanging the Sound Settings Changing the Gmini SettingsChanging the PlayMode Settings Parameter DescriptionChanging the Power Settings Setting the ClockSetup screen Power Off Range 1 to 9 minutes or NeverChanging the Recording Settings Changing the System SettingsGmini File and Folder Operations in Browser Mode Using the BrowserKey Symbol Action Inside the Music FolderContextual Menu on a Folder Recording MP3 MusicCreate Folder same as above Contextual Menu while in the Double BrowserMicrophone Recording Using the photo wallet 4.5.1 Using the photo browserLine-In Recording Copying Files from a CompactFlash CardConnecting the Gmini to your Computer Making the USB ConnectionWindows ME/2000/XP and Macintosh 9.2 or 10.2.4 and better Using the Gmini as an external drive Disconnecting the Gmini from your Computer WindowsConnecting the Gmini to your Computer Installing MusicMatch Using MusicMatchUsing MusicMatch MacintoshARCLibrary Updating Creating MP3 files from your Audio CDsUsing iTunes 4 with your Gmini Creating and Using Playlists with MusicMatchUsing iTunes 4 with your Gmini Updating your Gmini Operating System OS software TroubleshootingFile issues, corrupted data, formatting, and partitioning TroubleshootingProblem I would like to partition the Gmini hard drive Technical Specifications Windows 98SE & ME Running Scan-Disk Error CheckingWindows XP & 2000 Running Check Disk Utility ChkDsk Archos Gmini 200 seriesTechnical Support Warranty and Limited LiabilityTelephone Support Mail SupportFCC Warning Statement Worldwide OfficesCopyright Notice United States & Canada Europe & Asia