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Problem: (Hard Drive mode) 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: Shut off any program that might be accessing data on the AV 500, including Windows® Explorer. If this does not work, shut down all programs, wait 20 seconds, then try the green arrow one or two times again. If this does not work, you can shut off your AV 500 with the Stop/Esc button and then unplug it.

25.2 Charging and Power issues

You do not need to fully discharge the batteries before recharging them. Problem: A full battery charge does not last as long as the specifications suggest.

Answer: The specifications are under the condition that the screen backlight goes off after 30 seconds (for music) and the user does not access the machine, it just sits and plays. If you get significantly less time from a full charge, call our technical support hot-line.

25.3 AV 500 locks up (freezes operation) or Stops

Problem: The AV 500 locks-up. None of the buttons work.

Solution: If the ‘Lock buttons’ is set, none of the buttons respond. Hold down the unlock action button for three seconds to turn off the ‘Lock buttons’ function. A freeze up could also be caused by electrostatic phenomena. That is, static electricity has temporarily knocked out the AV 500. Hold down on the STOP/OFF button for 15 seconds and the AV 500 will shut off. Restart it normally now.

25.4 File issues, corrupted data, formatting, and partitioning

Problem: I want to clean up my AV 500’s hard drive, but Windows® will not let me use the standard hard drive cleaning tools.

Answer: This is because Windows® sees your AV 500 as a Windows Device and not a hard drive (USB Port is set to Windows Device in Setup > System). Do not change back to hard drive and run a defragmenter program. This will give unexpected results.

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Problem: On the AV 500, I find new file names and folder names that I never created and/or they have strange gibberish names.

Answer: (Hard drive mode) Most likely, the AV 500’s file allocation table (FAT) has been corrupted. This could have been due to the AV 500 shutting down (due to low battery power) while reading or writing to your computer via the USB connection. 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 AV 500.

Problem: Can I defragment the AV 500’s hard drive?

Answer: (Windows Device Mode) The AV 500 maintains an optimized file system and does not need to be defragmented. Defragmenting will cause unexpected problems.

Problem: I want to reformat the AV 500’s hard drive.

Answer: You can do this, but it will erase ALL of the data on your AV 500. Sometimes this may be necessary if your FAT (File Allocation Table) becomes so corrupted that nothing seems to fix your file problems. First, as explained below, you should run ScanDisk or the DOS chkdsk (Check Disk) program to try to fix your problem. If this doesn’t fix your problem and you are sure you must reformat the AV 500 hard drive, then go to the screen Settings > System and press and hold the DOWN action button for three seconds. A button “Format HD” will appear. Use this button to format the AV 500’s hard drive. Remember, doing this will erase all the data on the AV 500’s hard drive!!!

Windows® ME Running Scan-Disk (Error Checking) – HARD DRIVE mode only

•Quit all running applications.

•Properly connect the AV 500 to your computer as explained in the chapter Connecting/disconnecting the AV 500 to/from your PC.

•Make sure external AC adapter is powering the AV 500.

•Right click on the AV 500 hard drive in Windows® Explorer and select Properties.

•Select the Tools option and run the Error checking program.

•Make sure you check the box to automatically fix errors.

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Archos AV 500 series user manual Charging and Power issues, 25.3 AV 500 locks up freezes operation or Stops
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AV 500 series specifications

The Archos AV 500 series, launched in the mid-2000s, marked a significant step in portable multimedia players, setting the stage for how we consume media on the go. This innovative series stood out for its combination of storage capacity, multimedia capabilities, and user-friendly interface, making it a favorite among tech enthusiasts and casual users alike.

One of the hallmark features of the Archos AV 500 series was its sizeable hard drive, available in various capacities ranging from 20GB to 100GB. This ample storage allowed users to carry thousands of songs, hundreds of videos, and a variety of pictures. The player supported multiple formats, including MP3 and WMA for audio, as well as AVI and MPEG for video playback. The versatility in supported formats contributed significantly to its user appeal, enabling seamless playback of various media types.

The Archos AV 500 series was equipped with a 4-inch color LCD screen, delivering a sharp and vibrant viewing experience for videos and images. The device also supported a resolution of 480 x 272 pixels, ensuring that video playback was both smooth and visually pleasing. This emphasis on screen quality made it a popular choice for users looking to enjoy their media content on the move.

In terms of connectivity, the AV 500 series featured USB 2.0 for rapid file transfers, allowing users to quickly upload and download their favorite media. It also included an SD card slot, enabling users to expand storage capacity easily, a great advantage for those who needed more space for their content.

The Archos AV 500 series boasted an intuitive interface, featuring an easy-to-navigate menu that catered to users of all ages. The touchscreen operation facilitated quick access to media libraries, settings, and playback options, ensuring that the user experience was both efficient and enjoyable.

Moreover, the series included features such as video recording capabilities, allowing users to capture live events or personal moments directly onto the device. This recording function combined with the playback features created an all-in-one multimedia hub.

In conclusion, the Archos AV 500 series was a groundbreaking device in the portable media player market, offering an impressive combination of storage, versatility, and user-friendly technology. Its innovations paved the way for future developments in multimedia devices, leaving a lasting impact on how we engage with digital content.
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