I won’t be updating this much more, but still interesting that I do seem to still get visits every week to this story, comments and queries.
Most all of the zen the mp3 players/products this addressed have long been considered end of life for creative labs. Creative labs themselves are struggling and they may soon be end of life themselves, as they struggle to reinvent and diversify themselves. With apple owning so much of the mp3 market place and Microsoft about to get in the mix, via the windows mobile 7 platform, creative will have to work hard to even compete for low market share. As a result of all of this the availability for drivers for the older players are currently still on the creative site (here is a short-cut) http://bit.ly/zen-mp3. I see by my last update windows 7 has come out since I updated last. It is actually easier for windows 7 then vista on the compatibility side of things so that is good. Please continue to leave comments and questions I will try to be as fast as possible on my responses.
Jan 2009
Merry New Year ! – (thanks eddy m)
Had quite a few emails recently asking for additional help. Sorry don’t have time anymore to address everyone. However I will update the blog occasionally with anything worth adding.
Most of the older Zen Mp3 Players (like my NX) that I wrote about originally, are thankfully (for Creative.com). Technically end of life. This mean that the support of the these (if there ever was any) Is all but capture. However to date all the drivers I mention are still available (if you have lost your orignal cd or drivers.. at their site here .
Now creative is changing their site soon, so the site may change url embedded above. Always go to creative.com, technical support, mp3 players then look for your zen player for all your driver needs. Hope that helps.
<updated 21 September 2008>
Hi Again,
I am still heartened to hear form so many of you around the globe.
Keep asking (and let me know where in the world you are from please (what city is cool)
A question that is coming up more frequently now, is will it work with this zen device or that zen device.
Just remember, I am not using anything other than Creative’s own software to get it to work with vista.
It is just the order it is installed, that works.
So if the software works, it is the order it is installed.
For a faster email response you can now email me here @ big-knut@news-knut.net
(be nice I hate spammers)
<updated 31 July 2008>
Hello folks,
Nice to see this is still working for you long after I originally posted the blog (judging by the comments)
It still amazes me that creative blew it so bad. I for one just bought a new mp3 player and avoided creative like the plague (but I have to confess I did look) so I could glare and dismiss them.
As some folks might be aware creative actually sued someone last year for taking what I did a step further as they actually made their own drivers for some creative products to work with Vista.
The article is here if you are interested. I think he was sued, but it would have been interesting had my plight got on their radar as nothing was tweaked just the order in which their own drivers were installed.
It is a shame that creative as great as they once were seems to be less of a player these days (no pun intended but ok). So the moral of this story is if it isn’t broke don’t fix it.
But if it is broken (or in the case here, not broken just not working)
You should have the right as a consumer to raise hell, complain and when all else fails find a way to get your money’s worth (and perhaps a bit more).
My 30gb zen NX (my 3rd zen mp3 player), just got out-grown, like those before it, and with it the last likely Creative product I will ever buy.
Thanks again for the feedback (positive or otherwise).
Regards,
News-Knut alias Mr-Internet
PS, Creative keeps moving some links around, so please let me know if you bump into any dead links and I will keep updating them.
<updated 3 January 2008>
Just a further note that when you complete the install on vista, you should have the ‘nomad’ explorer logo showing per the image above regardless of whether or nt a device is connected.
When you click on it, it will show its state as connected or not (per the images above) and change when you connect the device(s). I also use the 3rd party ‘notmad’ product by ‘redchairsoftware’, and it requires the creative driver to be installed and working 1st.
Hope that helps .
<Updated Story 4 November 2007
I decided to give my already updated PC to my wife, and build myself a new Quad Core PC (why not).
I also decided not to install any software that came with my Zen NX to see if I could make vista work without it this time. It was harder this time but took 10 min. vs 3min last time.
Note: MAKE SURE YOUR ZEN IS NOT PLUGGED INTO YOUR PC’S USB PORT yet..!!
1) So you need to decide if you need the creative media player/converter (media source) or just the explorer program so you can sync programs.(file explorer).
2) Either way you will need the program “JB3MV2_PCWDRV_US_2_01_00.EXE”. It is on creative .com or around the globe just google it. You need to run it in windows xpcompatability mode (that’s right click properties, seciurity run as xp sp2). Also run and install as administrator (right click, properties, run as admin.) This is the zen driver for your PC.
Note: If you intend to use a 3rd part product like red chair <updated they have good ipod products also) , you also need this driver above. Note: I have tried it not doing this way and it gives you errors. Note: In installing it with the player plugged into the USB it killed other USB ports, that I then needed to unplug and replug into, no biggie either way.
3) On installing the jbmv2… driver it appears to hang at some number 52% say… after it is there for a while you may need to manually cancel it (do not turn off your pc). This is because the code written for XP is not written for Vista so it appears to hang when it really has not). Once you manage to kill it then it says it is in installed.
4) Depending if you want file explorer (for syncing NMEX_PCApp_3_01_10.exe) or the media source program for playing and converting (CMS_PCAPP_LB_3_30_21.exe) they should install fine now.
Note: I suggest installing media souce 1st as it works witohut rebooting, file manager for syncing required a re-boot).
5) Note: desktop shortcuts might not appear but will be under programs/creative via your start button.
6) Enjoy (or reboot and enjoy).
Original Story
A Little Tweaking and your Zen NX is now Vista Compatible..Chew On That Creative March 2007- Melbourne Australia
Not thanks to Creative Labs that ignored all contact on the subject (from me and the rest of the world) all but to say the Zen NX is not Vista Compatible Bull Sh**. So why would they say that if it wasn’t true? So you buy a new MP3 Player.. maybe. Because they couldn’t be bothered to support a last generation MP3 Player..maybe. Or because they were perhaps too lazy to spend some time finding out how to do it…likely. So I have to start this quickly to say I was a Zen fan boy, from the original hi-tech 8-bit PC soundcards, other incarnations of mice, and yes MP3 players.
I started with the original NOMAD MP3 for $300 US, then when the NX came out I had heard the spec and that it had essentially a laptop battery inside…hmm what would happen if I hacked it and added a 60gb HD into it..hmm.
OH MY GOD! It worked a 60 gb Zen NX and I used to amaze my friends (the geek ones of course then). SO when I finally went to install my little friend on Vista, I was more than a bit saddened by the fact I had to use my XP machine to update my music.. But wait a minute, Vista can see the player but the drivers are pooched .. SO after a bit of trial and lots of error (days) I got it to work on my new M90 Dell laptop but I don’t know how I did it. Time to try on PC, this time it took 45 minutes to figure out how I did it, so simple I can afford the waffle on.
1) Install original software that came with nomad.
2) Sometimes it will install other times it will all run but in the end after all the software (media source) etc is installed it will see the Zen NX, but not work.
3) Reboot
4) Go to creative.com and download the lasted media source program (currently Creative MediaSource Player/Organizer 3.30.21 and is about 52mb.. I know some are going tried that..
5) Install the software (currently here ) 6) Run it, it should install (but still won’t work on the Zen NX)
7) Reboot
8) Go to your original software disk and under drivers run the Jukebox driver driver_JB3.exe It will say it cannot read your disk on this and windows will say this is not a legal driver. Just keep installing it, and saying yes or ignore.
9) It may ask you to reboot, if it does reboot
10) Enjoy This should leave you with your portable device icon being live and the latest media source software. If the latter doesn’t happen you can now reinstall the latest media source (or firmware etc) and all works fine. For me it was installing Notmad Software from my friends at redchairsoftware.com/notmad. That now also worksAny questions leave a comment on my blog here, I will answer all. Except why didn’t creative do this themselves in the 1st place..
Updated 19 September 2007
Hi all,
I tend not to edit unhappy comments, so all comments appreciated.
I am sorry if any of you have had trouble getting this to work.
I have recently spoken to Creative Labs and Redchair Software (or at least tried).
Thus far neither are willing to offer any patches for their products to make this easier for folks to use their Zen NX.
Their view off the record, is they see the demand for a fix, not worth their time in revenue.
I can appreciate it (even though I disagree with it).
So, I note that there was a more recent release version (version 5) of the media source organiser. It did not work for me with the Zen NX. Nomad, or Zen (the orignal10gb model) on Vista.
So to date I am still happily using the tweaked 60gbzennx 110% with vista. If anyone needs help just ask.
Hello,
I tried the method mentioned above with no luck. I will run through the steps I took to see if maybe I missed one.
1.) Installed original software that came with my ZEN NX. It installed and you can see then NX on the My Computer device screen but when you click on it, it says “Not Connected”.
2.) Downloaded the Mediasource player/organizer 3.30.2. Clicked on it to install it. It extracted the files and then a pop up titled “CMS Web Installer” came up and Said something along the lines of “Setup Unable to Detect a Supported Product” Then gave options to “Retry” or “Cancel” after retring a few times I clicked on “Cancel”. After that a windows box popped up and noted that program did not install correctly and asked if you want to “Retry Installation” or “Accept as Correctly Installed” I accepted it hoping that I got what I needed.
3.) Went to original software and attempted to install the Dvr_Jb3.exe. While installing it stops and and indicates “Error Occured While Installing”. After this it still says “Not connected” when I go the device screen.
Can you see anything that I missed or did wrong. I’m gettiing desperate at this point. Thank you very much in advance for any additional information you can give.
This gentlemen is trying to help us, and you are asking him if he smoked a good one? 🙂
I can confirm that IT WORKS. Exactly the way it is described + one more step (at least for me):
* After all the previously described steps, I had to open my device manager, right-click on the ZenNX that was detected (with an exclamation mark) and I selected “Update Driver”. I then pointed windows to the “c:\program files\creative” directory and finaly, Vista accepted the “legacy” driver.
Thank you for the hint and shame on Creative Labs.
I got a new computer this week with Vista. I’ve spent the last four days trying to get my Zen Xtra to work with it and it’s been frustrating. The best I’ve been able to do is to finally get Vista to recognize it, but not to fully load the player. I can get it half full and Vista refuses to load anything else on it. What a crock. I learned an awful lot about Creative this weekend and none of it is good. I really love my player, but half a player isn’t really going to do it for me. I guess I’m in the market for a new (non-Creative) mp3 player.
Hi everyone:
I’m having the same problem with my Jukebox and Vista.I hope that the stuff I read here can help me fix it.But I have a question.Why does everyone keep blaming Creative?Yes they should be able to release some new drivers compatible with Vista.But that’s not the point I guess.The point is when you re-product a software,a new version,it should be able to do whatever the previos version did and some more features …So why don’t you blame Microsoft for producing Vista?!Anyhow,I bought my jukebox 3.5 years ago.The drivers are rather old for sure.But shouldn’t my Windows Vista be able to deal with it like my XP?!
My view from an industry perspective is that, the driver compatibility for any product has a responsibility split of 25%/75%. That is Microsoft or any OS needs to provide the ability for the product to work in its, Operating System (Vista in this case) and the 25%, but it is mostly (75%) the hardware suppliers responsibility to make sure their product, and its user documentation, allows its hardware to work (easily) with various OS’s. Microsoft did fail in making driver compatibility available early enough for hardware manufactures to react and were not clear enough that hardware manufacturers would need to be proactive for the 1st time in addressing hardware needs.
However, Creative and Microsoft had an intimate relationship, (teaming up to take on Apple and the iPod) so this was not an issue.
This then goes down to the mighty dollar, where creative in cutting staff also had a problem in sales with its new products coming on at the same time as the iPods were taking over the market and to make matters worse ally Microsoft had decided to capatalise . What better way to stimulate growth then to kill all previous owners’ ability to work with vista. It is also known internally that Creative were not that chuffed with Microsoft introduction of the Zune, hurting matters further for new Zen products. It had been discussed that Creative would make the Zune for Microsoft and that also did not happen.
SO the bottom line is Creative (or any seller) has the responsibility to look after its customers. Vista works with all creative products (including the nomad), so if I (and others) can figure it out why can’t Creative?
This can be proven in that there could easily have been a class action law suit against Creative, in failing to support users, when Vista was launched. Creative was able to avoid this by ‘back cataloging’ any products it did not want to support with vista (for what ever reason). This is shown, of course by looking for drivers for the older products, where it shows it is not supported by vista.
Finally, all the compatibility issues has since been resolved going forward by introducing new driver compatibility standards with Microsoft called ‘playforsure’. This new standard makes it very easy for products to work with Microsoft, very easily. The older creative products could not meet these criteria so Creative smartly avoided the problem again.
Most users (according to Creative), were not negatively affected by vista. In English this meant the cost of supporting vista for older players like the nomad, and Zen NX was too great, and many users either did not migrate to vista or were happy to buy new players (vs. the cost of support and hurt on new sales).
Where Microsoft says Creative MP3 Players suck let’s make our own,
And the other against Apple by Creative, where Apple lost $100m ouch. This actually granted Apple a license to use the the ‘tree’ structure on all iPods.
Again this firmly puts the burden of blame on Creative.
I am still a fan of creative hardware but quite dissapointed how they treated existing owners.
I am sure this mean users like us looking at other players closer next time. I know I do .
Mr-Internet started life as an electronics buyer in the UK, buying and selling retailers the 1st and 2nd Gen gaming consoles, PC’s and sound cards.
He won various accolades from Sony, Microsoft, IBM, Creative and others, including Distributor of the Year, and Salesman of the Year.
He then moved on to the Internet(s), being part of the team that introduced business adsl, and fixed internet access in the UK, and Europe, where he won more accolades from this global telco. He continues introducing new Internet Products today, moving more into online applications solutions. He has spoken as a futurist across the UK and beyond.
I tried this technique with Vista and my Jukebox and initially it didn’t work. Neither Vista nor Creative Media PLayer would recognise the Zen. Then I rebooted and plugged the Zen in to the USB port. Vista said ‘Installing new hardware’ and when prompted, I chose to select the drivers myself and pointed Vista at the directory where the drivers had been installed. Bingo, Vista accepted the driver and what’s more it appeared as a connected device in Computer view. I could even double-click on it and browse and transfer files in native Vista explorer. However Creaive Media PLayer still insisted there was no Creative device installed even though Vista was seeing it. So I didtched Creative media Player and installed Winamp instead. Winamp manages the Zen perfectly. Thanks for getting me started.
hey… i have a creative zen xtra and the same problem got me frustrated…. then i came across this…. and it WORKED….!!!! i had all my data on my creative and i dunno what hell i would have gone through if it wasnt for this…..
everything’s working just the way it used to in xp once you install…(or say semi- install 🙂 the driver that’s mentioned….
thanks a lot … 🙂
Yes, I am so glad that winamp can work with Creative Zen Xtra under vista, EVEN x64 which I have! Just install the latest XP driver under compatibility mode and run as aministrator, restart your PC. Open winamp and BINGO! Winamp’s “portables” function works perfectly.
thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you
I’m away from home with 20Gb of music on my Nomad Jukebox 3 and a Vista laptop…so frustrating not to be able to access my music
Thanks ! I got my zen nx working on vista sp1 by just installing the “JB3MV2_PCWDRV_US_2_01_00.EXE” drivers as administrator and in win xp compatibility.
Following these directions I was able to get Nomad Zen Explorer to work and managed to use that and dragging and dropping from my MP3 folder to load my music onto my device. Thank you for the experimental work.
I am so happy – using these directions I was able to get my 20gig Zen to work with Vista.
I did as someone above did – installed the driver (JB3etc), plugged in the Zen, which Vista then found and installed okay. I can’t see it in explorer, but winamp picks up the Zen with no problems and I can manage everything through there.
THANK YOU!! You’ve done a great job, I now have my JB3 working with Vista. I am grateful for this, I hate Creative for not doing this themselves, it’s their responsbility to look after their customers!!
This method works great but only for the USB interface, do you know why the firewire port doesn’t work??
ok for anyone for which this method didnt work and that tried everything else and is at wits end like I was
here is a great fix to get this thing working in vista
first upgrade your firmware to the 6.xx version
then
On an administrator account:
>>Right click “Computer”
>>Click “Manage”
>>Under the “System Tools” section, Double click “Local Users and Groups”
>>Click “Groups”
>>Right click “Administrators”
>>Click “Add to group…”
>>Click “Add”
>>Click “Advanced”
>>Click “Find Now”
>>Double click “Local Service”
>>Click “Ok”
>>”NT Authority\Local Service” should show up in the list now
>>Click “Ok”
>>Close Computer Management and reboot.
If that does not work, boot your computer up in safe mode with command promt. In the command prompt, type in one of these three variations of this command. (first one worked for me)
Worked for my Micro, though a couple of things were done differently, but it was these fantastic guidelines that even got me close. Thank you so, so, so much.
Worked like a charm. I own Nomad Jukebox ZEN USB 2.0. I was sure I will need to by new one (forsure not creative’s… fuck them for the way they treat their customers)
Thanks a lot… It’s working great.
Thanks for putting this info up – didn’t exactly go without a hitch, but at least I was able to update and sync my old Zen Jukebox.
I agree with the poster above … never again will I buy anything from Creative!
I made one mistake,but now it’s OK,when i changed my pc with vista OS i thought that i can’t use nomad any more…thank you for help,i realy grateful and happy now,i like nomad zen extra, and now i can use it with vista…
Thanks a lot! I was afraid I had to dual boot with XP just to put music onto my mp3 player. I’ve been trying to get this to work for months and I feel kind of silly that it was that simple. Creative and their marketing schemes can eff off.
got a creative zen touch…20gb…windows vista dont regonize my player at all…what is the way to let it work…try differt things but will not help…
email from creative that i can buy a new one with 5 % discount…
tried just on website to dowload new driver but wont…by now already lost al mine music…
Many thanks. I had vista for 9 months and could not get my Creative Zen Jukebox 2 gig to work. It took 3 attempts to get it to work, but it now works perfectly.
I tried multiple time to get this to work with no luck. I finally got Vista to recognize the Zen Xtra by putting the Zen in rescue mode (hold the play button down and hit reset), and while in rescue mode, I connected it to the computer. After Vista recognized it, I restarted the Zen and it worked fine.
Windows explorer sees it as a drive and Windows Media Player will sync to it. Nomad explorer does not see it and the media source software will not install. This is probably because I have the play for sure firmware (2.10.3) installed on the Xtra.
Hi: Thanks for the great directions. I, too, can only get my Creative Nomad Jukebox 3 to work through the USB port . . . it fails on the 1394 port. Has anyone gotten the 1394 port to work on Vista? Thanks
Just bought a Vista computer, and I really didn’t want to buy a new player since I love my Zen NX. Thanks to the directions, it works like a charm. Thanks!
finally got it to work using win amp but used the 1_30_03 driver version did not need to run it in compatibility mode also…..found this information on the creative forum….
i want to thank the writer of this blog for helping me get over this hurtle i have the nomad juke box 30 gig ….
I was wondering if this would work with a Zen Nomad Jukebox, and if so, if there was a way you could help walk me through it. I’m trying to follow the steps you posted, but I’m not too great with computers and I feel like I’m going to end up frying either my computer or my mp3 player.
Hi, it just happened that i found this website and like you all i’m very disapointed by creative and i don’t buy any of their product anymore.
Anyway i found a way since the vista beta to make my Nomad Zen Usb 2.0 work with vista x64.
1) find this drivers on internet “JB3_PC64DRV_US_1_30_01” and install it even if it tells you it’s not mean for vista.
2) install “Creative media source 5_PCAPP_LB_5_20_23” (or newer) wich is vista ready.
3) install “Nomad zen usb plugin for Creative Media source 5_LB_5_00_22.exe”
6) Reboot and connect the Nomad zen.
Now you can access, move and play your music throught Media source without any problems. Have fun.
For Mark Haley -> Didn’t try with vista x32 but if you’re in this case just try to install this driver “JB3MV2_PCWDRV_US_2_01_00” (1) , and after that it’s the same as for the x64 vista.
Can anyone tell me where i can find the drivers for a Creative zen microphoto???? cuz i’ve downloaded all thej drivers fromt he liks above and nothing is working for me…. soooo I NEED specifics cuz downloading rendom files is def. not my thing…
I just got my Creative Nomad Jukebox zen USB 2.0 working on Windows Seven x64 Beta realease 7000.
To get it work i did the same as for vista x64.
!!!!!! Don’t connect the MP3 player until the driver is installed and the PC is rebooted !!!!!!
-> (1) Download : Creative ZEN and Jukebox Driver 2.01.00 (see the link at the bottom)
-> (2) “Right Click” on it, select “Properties”, then in the “Compatibility Tab”, select “Run this programm in compatibility mode (Windows XP service pack 2)” and finally “Run this programm as an Administrator”, then “Apply” and “Ok”.
-> (3) Execute install. (Like in Vista the drivers won’t install completly, it should stop around 70%, don’t worry and wait a little bit).
-> (4) Reboot the PC (don’t bother to close the drivers install windows)
-> (5) After reboot just connect the Nomad jukebox zen with USB cable directly on a free USB Port on the PC (don’t use any USB Hub or it won’t work). Wait till the drivers is installed.
!!!! There won’t be any jukebox icon in the taskbar anymore !!!!
-> (6) Managing the Nomad jukebox zen with winamp.
a) Download winamp.
I choose to try the Music files managing with winamp (last version 5.541) availlable here : http://www.winamp.com
(it includes a plug in for Nomad zen in default installation).
Choose to download the full version (winamp5541_full_emusic-7plus_es-us.exe)
b) Before running the installation :
Select the installer file (here winamp5541_full_emusic-7plus_es-us.exe) and “Right Click” on it, select “Properties”, then in the “Compatibility Tab”, select “Run this programm in compatibility mode (Windows XP service pack 2)” and finally “Run this programm as an Administrator”, then “Apply” and “Ok”.
!!!!!! Now, install winamp, and at the end of the installation process don’t start immediatly winamp !!!!!!
c)When you’re done installing winamp :
Go to the installation folder(by default: C:\Program Files (x86)\Winamp)
, then select ” Winamp.exe ” and “Right Click” on it, select “Properties”, then in the “Compatibility Tab”, select “Run this programm in compatibility mode (Windows XP service pack 2)” and finally “Run this programm as an Administrator”, then “Apply” and “Ok”.
d) Start winamp
After winamp start, you should see in winamp’s media library in the section “Portables” all the music files you have on your MP3 player if it’s linked.
You can directly play them, edit tags, transfer music from the computer library (Local Media) to the Jukebox (Portables) by drag and drop with the left mouse click.
It seems that the files transfer with winamp is not so fast but it’s working nicely. For now i won’t try Creative Mediasource (+ jukebox plugin). If Anybody will, comments are welcome 😉 .
Creative Links for Drivers, Mediasource 5 and the jukebox plug’in for mediasource:
(at the bottom of the screen are all the drivers, Creative media source 5 and the plug’in for the Nomad Zen)
Final Words, i have to say that i’m already fond of windows seven :O .
I installed it directly from vista x64 on a new drive therefore i didn’t have any drivers issues (or i’m really lucky ^^).
It’s faster than vista, specially when it comes to files transfer (on drives, usb key and network) and gaming (F.e. Far Cry 2) … …
The new personnal folder management (as libraries) is awesome … …
At first glance, windows seven looks very much like Vista but after a little time playing with it, it’s another world :D.
So if you are a computer enthousiast with a good knowledge on how to install an OS, you should try it.
Open beta access is free and legal. You’ll get a key from microsoft (valid till the 1st October 2009) to activate Windows seven and access windows update.
Select “Zen”, then on the right panel (Archived Products) you should see your Products.
For exemple “ZEN USB 2.0”, select it and click next.
And the next screen at the bottom of it you’ll find everything you need (Drivers – Firmware – Apllication – All ), click on all and download these files :
– Creative ZEN and Jukebox Driver 2.01.00
Filesize : 1.86 MB
Thanks for the advice. I too upgraded to a Dell Quad Core using Vista after Christmas. My Nomad Jukebox Zen NX now communicates with my Redchair software thanks to you. I live in London UK
***THIS WORKED***
For all of you that want to get their music out of the Zen touch, and are stuck with Vista and 1.01.03 firmware (non vista recognisable), and don’t want to erase everything by installing the latest firmware, here is what worked for me:
1)Uninstall every piece of Touch software you got and reboot.
2) Download the latest drivers from Creative: JB3MV2…exe, together with the latest Creative Mediasource Organiser, Nomad explorer, and the latest Notmad explorer from Red Chair (a trial is enough, version 9.0.3 currently).
3) Right click the driver, properties, go to compatibility mode, and select Windows XP SP2. Make sure your Zen is unplugged (worked for me that way). Right click the driver installer again and Run as Administrator. It hanged around 72% for me, no biggy, open your task manager and shut the installer off.
4)Before rebooting, install Notmad explorer.(I installed only the Zen touch part of it. I tried to run it right away but got a ‘cannot find explorer.exe error – again, no biggy).
5) Reboot, plug in your Zen. Again for me, Notmad didn’t work. This is what worked: Without messing up anything, install Nomad Explorer by Creative on top of it all, and reboot again.
6) After reboot, with your Zen still plugged in, right click the little Notmad icon on the right part of the taskbar and select ‘Connect Jukebox Zen’.
And voila, check your explorer, it should hopefully recognise the Zen Touch like windows xp would.
If you still run into trouble, just install stuff from the beggining, making sure Compatibility: WinXP SP2 and Run as Admin are used everywhere, and keep rebooting till it hopefully works.
Does anyone have a copy of the Nomad zen usb plugin for Creative Media source 5_LB_5_00_22.exe ? I can’t find it online. A google search only leads back to this site. markredwall@hotmail.com
Tried getting a Mozaic during their March sale – they’re terrible. I don’t recommend them at all. That’s why I’m going back and trying to rescue my Jukebox.
Unfortunately your solution did not work for me.
However, it is through this page that the solution was found. thanks.
this is truly shocking behaviour by Creative though!
Many thanks to the quoted post which very quickly solved the problem after hours of frustration. Many thanks.
#
I tried multiple time to get this to work with no luck. I finally got Vista to recognize the Zen Xtra by putting the Zen in rescue mode (hold the play button down and hit reset), and while in rescue mode, I connected it to the computer. After Vista recognized it, I restarted the Zen and it worked fine.
Windows explorer sees it as a drive and Windows Media Player will sync to it. Nomad explorer does not see it and the media source software will not install. This is probably because I have the play for sure firmware (2.10.3) installed on the Xtra.
Baird said this on October 14, 2008 at 2:29 pm | Reply
Thanks, that really helped. I set the driver to compatibility mode and installed it. Together with Mediasource 5 and the Mediasource 5 Zen NX Plugin it is indeed working under Vista Business 64bit.
Though Dr. Watson (Windows compatibility and problem solving program) gaveme some incompatibility messages and the Windows Media Player always complains when the Zen NX is plugged in via USB, but that’s just Microsoft nitpicking. XD
All i did was install the software on my pc, rebooted and then went to program files/creative/Jukebox 3 Drivers/CtDrvIns.exe and put that file in compatibility mode XP SP2, next run program files/creative/Jukebox 3 Drivers/CtDrvStp.exe and ignore the not legal driver notices. Then plugged in zen NX and the driver was recognized.
I would like to say a big THANKS to the author of this post. After I tried so many drivers, applications and did such a big research, finnally I found this simple and genius solution. It works just perfect. Thanks again.
Just passed bye to see how’s things going up for the final realease of Windows 7.
As my last try to use jukebox zen was on Seven build 7077 and i had issues to get it work correctly.
I finally manage it a much simplier way using “WinXP mode in Seven.
“Xp mode, is a complete virtualized Windows XP system running in a window in Windows Seven”.
Therefore you can install your jukebox directly in this windows xp and using it normally without getting any error or compatiblity problems.
But there are some requirements to do that :
– A processeur capable of vitualization (see your bios or manuel to check this, and how to activate it on your motherboard)
– WinXP mode only work with Windows Seven Ultmitate and Windows Seven Professional.
-You need to download *Windows virtual xp” software on microsoft website.
Finally I am able to recover my Creative Jukebox Nomad Zen Extra! I had failed to done it when my PC was Vista and had given up. Now my PC was Windows 7 and I thought why won’t I try again. However if not for the tricks in this website, my Jukebox will still continue to collect dust.
Yes it works, thanks and many thanks.
Now I have to struggle for my other Creative Zen Micro. So far no luck yet.
Hi,
My name is George. I have a Creative Zen Neeon 6 GB.
Although I plug it into my Vista PC, I got the message that my Neeon is not plug in. Is there a solution.
Appreciate very much any advice you can give.
Thanks
Dear Mr. Knut….I also was one of the Nomad “victims”when getting a new laptop with Vista. The Nomad Zen NX 30 GB ( bougt in 2004!! or so) was not running in Vista . So I had to use my old XP laptob for loading new music on my Nomad.
I often was looking via Google for the solution of this problem. Could not find anything what was helpfull.
But then…yesterday evening …I start some googling again and found your blog…!!!!! Very detailed and very good instructions and good link for the driver. I did everything according your step by step instructions and …oh miracle…I all got installed smoothy. Then using my old Creative disc for installing tMedia Source…and also no prob. No reboot …everything installed 100% . No indicatinon even of getting download only 53 % or so . I did not had to kill it as you suggest in your 4 november 2007 updated Story!!!
All went very satisfactional and works for the fully 100%!!!!!
I am very happy with your instructions and really want to thankyou very very much for putting your story in your blog!!!!!
Maybe nice to know , that I am from the Netherlands and you are from Australia……see how people crossing the globe can help each other!!!
Thanks Jan, nice to hear it did the trick, and that you took the time to let me know .. BTW I miss my trips to Holland; (last one 7 years ago when I was still in the uk) but looks like I might be over in November
I have a Nomad Jukebox 3; just had to upgrade to a Windows 7 64-bit system and am trying to get my Jukebox working with it. I found and installed the latest driver mentioned as an administrator and with XP SP2 compatability. it installed okay and Device Manager in the Control Panel sees it and says it is working finel. Then I installed and updated Creative MediaSource. It recognized by Jukebox and installed fine. But the Jukebox does not show up under Computer nor does it appear in CMS. Any suggestions?
Thanks
In case anyone wants to know, I solved this problem by installing the version of Creative MediaSource that came with my Muvo (v. 2.03.29). The one that came with the Jukebox installed and recognized the Jukebox, but was old and really buggy. The newest version that I found on Creative’s website was too new to recognize the old JukeBox. But the Muvo version was the one that i had been using with XP. It ran just fine on W7 and recognized my Jukebox right off.
have Nomad Jukebox Zen Nx (30GB) and using Windows7 32-bit system but the player have failed to open with the computer when i connect it. Help mi get the driver(s) too.Thanks and reply.
Hi-
I’ve read all the posts in the hopes I can reconnect my beloved Zen but unfortunately they’ve been of no use thus far. I would really appreciate any help that anyone can give.
I’ve tried the following to get my Creative Zen Nomad Jukebox NX to work with my Windows 7 and I’m having no luck. First I installed the JB3MV2_PCWDRV_US_2_01_00.exe and tried connecting my Zen via USB- no luck, computer didn’t recognise it. Then I installed the software on the original CD and tried that- the only difference now was that it would recognise it in the “other” section of my computer as a NOMAD Jukebox 2/3/Zen, but when I tried to open it, it didn’t show any files (I have 1223 songs on it.) I’ve tried the Carambis Driver updater but that doesn’t seem to have done anything either, including when I’ve used it to “repair” the drivers. Lots of rebooting in between each step, getting nowhere. Any help is most appreciated!!
So I have no idea how I managed to do it, but I’ve fixed the problem. My computer now happily recognises it, the driver works and I can transfer all my music. I am one happy chappy. Thanks for the ideas to get me started on fixing this!
wow, this has been a nightmare for me. I have tried everyone’s advice and I am still left with nothing. I did manage a small victory by installing the sync manager but when I plug the device into the computer the sync manager says no player connected. I think I have bigger problems. Does anyone know if there is a place that I can take my jukebox3 and zen xtra into where they can extract my music onto a flash drive or something? I would be happy just to get all my music onto the computer. I am grateful for any advice, thanks.
ok, maybe im slow or something but I just bought a nomad jukebox zen xtra second hand and im operating on a windows 7 program on my lap top and I cant get this thing working at all…theres music on it from the other guy but im not liking his music so much, would rather my own…can you/anyone help me please!!!!!??????
Tech Net TV - 
This looks great…do you know if it will work with a creative zen micro?
yes it will
Hello,
I tried the method mentioned above with no luck. I will run through the steps I took to see if maybe I missed one.
1.) Installed original software that came with my ZEN NX. It installed and you can see then NX on the My Computer device screen but when you click on it, it says “Not Connected”.
2.) Downloaded the Mediasource player/organizer 3.30.2. Clicked on it to install it. It extracted the files and then a pop up titled “CMS Web Installer” came up and Said something along the lines of “Setup Unable to Detect a Supported Product” Then gave options to “Retry” or “Cancel” after retring a few times I clicked on “Cancel”. After that a windows box popped up and noted that program did not install correctly and asked if you want to “Retry Installation” or “Accept as Correctly Installed” I accepted it hoping that I got what I needed.
3.) Went to original software and attempted to install the Dvr_Jb3.exe. While installing it stops and and indicates “Error Occured While Installing”. After this it still says “Not connected” when I go the device screen.
Can you see anything that I missed or did wrong. I’m gettiing desperate at this point. Thank you very much in advance for any additional information you can give.
hi what version of windows are you using vista, or windows 7, 32 or 64 bit
This doesn’t work at all. I’m not sure what you were smoking when you wrote this, but it’s not accurate or reproduceable.
Creative gets major negative marks in my book for not directly supporting Vista. There must be a way to get everything to work, but this isn’t it.
How about Nomad Jukebox 3 anyone got a work round for that in Vista
yeah….i’m having trouble getting to intall the driver for my zen micro too =(
…as kenna says =D
Guys,
This gentlemen is trying to help us, and you are asking him if he smoked a good one? 🙂
I can confirm that IT WORKS. Exactly the way it is described + one more step (at least for me):
* After all the previously described steps, I had to open my device manager, right-click on the ZenNX that was detected (with an exclamation mark) and I selected “Update Driver”. I then pointed windows to the “c:\program files\creative” directory and finaly, Vista accepted the “legacy” driver.
Thank you for the hint and shame on Creative Labs.
Cheers.
I got a new computer this week with Vista. I’ve spent the last four days trying to get my Zen Xtra to work with it and it’s been frustrating. The best I’ve been able to do is to finally get Vista to recognize it, but not to fully load the player. I can get it half full and Vista refuses to load anything else on it. What a crock. I learned an awful lot about Creative this weekend and none of it is good. I really love my player, but half a player isn’t really going to do it for me. I guess I’m in the market for a new (non-Creative) mp3 player.
mrinternet you totally rock. My CL Zen Xtra – Vista recognized it now. Thanks for your help!
Hi everyone:
I’m having the same problem with my Jukebox and Vista.I hope that the stuff I read here can help me fix it.But I have a question.Why does everyone keep blaming Creative?Yes they should be able to release some new drivers compatible with Vista.But that’s not the point I guess.The point is when you re-product a software,a new version,it should be able to do whatever the previos version did and some more features …So why don’t you blame Microsoft for producing Vista?!Anyhow,I bought my jukebox 3.5 years ago.The drivers are rather old for sure.But shouldn’t my Windows Vista be able to deal with it like my XP?!
Hiya,
Good Question, long answer.
My view from an industry perspective is that, the driver compatibility for any product has a responsibility split of 25%/75%. That is Microsoft or any OS needs to provide the ability for the product to work in its, Operating System (Vista in this case) and the 25%, but it is mostly (75%) the hardware suppliers responsibility to make sure their product, and its user documentation, allows its hardware to work (easily) with various OS’s. Microsoft did fail in making driver compatibility available early enough for hardware manufactures to react and were not clear enough that hardware manufacturers would need to be proactive for the 1st time in addressing hardware needs.
However, Creative and Microsoft had an intimate relationship, (teaming up to take on Apple and the iPod) so this was not an issue.
This then goes down to the mighty dollar, where creative in cutting staff also had a problem in sales with its new products coming on at the same time as the iPods were taking over the market and to make matters worse ally Microsoft had decided to capatalise . What better way to stimulate growth then to kill all previous owners’ ability to work with vista. It is also known internally that Creative were not that chuffed with Microsoft introduction of the Zune, hurting matters further for new Zen products. It had been discussed that Creative would make the Zune for Microsoft and that also did not happen.
SO the bottom line is Creative (or any seller) has the responsibility to look after its customers. Vista works with all creative products (including the nomad), so if I (and others) can figure it out why can’t Creative?
This can be proven in that there could easily have been a class action law suit against Creative, in failing to support users, when Vista was launched. Creative was able to avoid this by ‘back cataloging’ any products it did not want to support with vista (for what ever reason). This is shown, of course by looking for drivers for the older products, where it shows it is not supported by vista.
Finally, all the compatibility issues has since been resolved going forward by introducing new driver compatibility standards with Microsoft called ‘playforsure’. This new standard makes it very easy for products to work with Microsoft, very easily. The older creative products could not meet these criteria so Creative smartly avoided the problem again.
Most users (according to Creative), were not negatively affected by vista. In English this meant the cost of supporting vista for older players like the nomad, and Zen NX was too great, and many users either did not migrate to vista or were happy to buy new players (vs. the cost of support and hurt on new sales).
It is of some notable interest that there were 2 lawsuits around at the time as well. One anti-trust against Microsoft by Creative in 2003
Where Microsoft says Creative MP3 Players suck let’s make our own,
And the other against Apple by Creative, where Apple lost $100m ouch. This actually granted Apple a license to use the the ‘tree’ structure on all iPods.
Again this firmly puts the burden of blame on Creative.
I am still a fan of creative hardware but quite dissapointed how they treated existing owners.
I am sure this mean users like us looking at other players closer next time. I know I do .
Mr-Internet started life as an electronics buyer in the UK, buying and selling retailers the 1st and 2nd Gen gaming consoles, PC’s and sound cards.
He won various accolades from Sony, Microsoft, IBM, Creative and others, including Distributor of the Year, and Salesman of the Year.
He then moved on to the Internet(s), being part of the team that introduced business adsl, and fixed internet access in the UK, and Europe, where he won more accolades from this global telco. He continues introducing new Internet Products today, moving more into online applications solutions. He has spoken as a futurist across the UK and beyond.
I tried this technique with Vista and my Jukebox and initially it didn’t work. Neither Vista nor Creative Media PLayer would recognise the Zen. Then I rebooted and plugged the Zen in to the USB port. Vista said ‘Installing new hardware’ and when prompted, I chose to select the drivers myself and pointed Vista at the directory where the drivers had been installed. Bingo, Vista accepted the driver and what’s more it appeared as a connected device in Computer view. I could even double-click on it and browse and transfer files in native Vista explorer. However Creaive Media PLayer still insisted there was no Creative device installed even though Vista was seeing it. So I didtched Creative media Player and installed Winamp instead. Winamp manages the Zen perfectly. Thanks for getting me started.
hey… i have a creative zen xtra and the same problem got me frustrated…. then i came across this…. and it WORKED….!!!! i had all my data on my creative and i dunno what hell i would have gone through if it wasnt for this…..
everything’s working just the way it used to in xp once you install…(or say semi- install 🙂 the driver that’s mentioned….
thanks a lot … 🙂
Does anyone know if this process will work witht the Creative Zen 2.0 MP3 Player? Thanks
Yes, I am so glad that winamp can work with Creative Zen Xtra under vista, EVEN x64 which I have! Just install the latest XP driver under compatibility mode and run as aministrator, restart your PC. Open winamp and BINGO! Winamp’s “portables” function works perfectly.
thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you
I’m away from home with 20Gb of music on my Nomad Jukebox 3 and a Vista laptop…so frustrating not to be able to access my music
but this makes it all better
Thanks ! I got my zen nx working on vista sp1 by just installing the “JB3MV2_PCWDRV_US_2_01_00.EXE” drivers as administrator and in win xp compatibility.
Quite simply – you are a genius! Painless and done in 5 minutes. You put Creative to shame.
Its Works!! , finaly my zen NX works on vista T_T
Thank you !!
Following these directions I was able to get Nomad Zen Explorer to work and managed to use that and dragging and dropping from my MP3 folder to load my music onto my device. Thank you for the experimental work.
I am so happy – using these directions I was able to get my 20gig Zen to work with Vista.
I did as someone above did – installed the driver (JB3etc), plugged in the Zen, which Vista then found and installed okay. I can’t see it in explorer, but winamp picks up the Zen with no problems and I can manage everything through there.
Nice work !!
Vista sees my Nomad 30GB Zen Xtra and Nomad Zen Explorer + Creative Source5 software works.
THANK YOU!! You’ve done a great job, I now have my JB3 working with Vista. I am grateful for this, I hate Creative for not doing this themselves, it’s their responsbility to look after their customers!!
This method works great but only for the USB interface, do you know why the firewire port doesn’t work??
Once again, thank you, great job!!
(taken from another website, it worked for me)
ok for anyone for which this method didnt work and that tried everything else and is at wits end like I was
here is a great fix to get this thing working in vista
first upgrade your firmware to the 6.xx version
then
On an administrator account:
>>Right click “Computer”
>>Click “Manage”
>>Under the “System Tools” section, Double click “Local Users and Groups”
>>Click “Groups”
>>Right click “Administrators”
>>Click “Add to group…”
>>Click “Add”
>>Click “Advanced”
>>Click “Find Now”
>>Double click “Local Service”
>>Click “Ok”
>>”NT Authority\Local Service” should show up in the list now
>>Click “Ok”
>>Close Computer Management and reboot.
If that does not work, boot your computer up in safe mode with command promt. In the command prompt, type in one of these three variations of this command. (first one worked for me)
Net localgroup Administrators local service /add
net localhost Administrators /add Local Service
net localgroup Administrators /add Local Service
its flipping brilliant i say
Brilliant. Used your instructions to install my Zen Xtra on my vista box with the Zencast software (media player 5 would not install).
Thank you so much.
Worked for my Micro, though a couple of things were done differently, but it was these fantastic guidelines that even got me close. Thank you so, so, so much.
Worked like a charm. I own Nomad Jukebox ZEN USB 2.0. I was sure I will need to by new one (forsure not creative’s… fuck them for the way they treat their customers)
Thanks a lot… It’s working great.
Thanks for putting this info up – didn’t exactly go without a hitch, but at least I was able to update and sync my old Zen Jukebox.
I agree with the poster above … never again will I buy anything from Creative!
could you repeat how to instal software nomad zen extra for vista,from 1step,i will be very grateful.
I made one mistake,but now it’s OK,when i changed my pc with vista OS i thought that i can’t use nomad any more…thank you for help,i realy grateful and happy now,i like nomad zen extra, and now i can use it with vista…
Thanks a lot! I was afraid I had to dual boot with XP just to put music onto my mp3 player. I’ve been trying to get this to work for months and I feel kind of silly that it was that simple. Creative and their marketing schemes can eff off.
Thanks again!
Hey,… Lovely. I have a Jukebox3 and i followed the steps and it works pretty well on my new Vista..
Thanks …..
does vista work with nx
THANK YOU! I can stop swapping HDs on my laptop (XP) just to manange my music! My ZenNX works in Vista w/ NotMad explorer — connected FIRST TRY!
Cheers and thanks again!
wondering if you know anything about getting the Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra to work with Vista?
got a creative zen touch…20gb…windows vista dont regonize my player at all…what is the way to let it work…try differt things but will not help…
email from creative that i can buy a new one with 5 % discount…
tried just on website to dowload new driver but wont…by now already lost al mine music…
Many thanks. I had vista for 9 months and could not get my Creative Zen Jukebox 2 gig to work. It took 3 attempts to get it to work, but it now works perfectly.
I tried multiple time to get this to work with no luck. I finally got Vista to recognize the Zen Xtra by putting the Zen in rescue mode (hold the play button down and hit reset), and while in rescue mode, I connected it to the computer. After Vista recognized it, I restarted the Zen and it worked fine.
Windows explorer sees it as a drive and Windows Media Player will sync to it. Nomad explorer does not see it and the media source software will not install. This is probably because I have the play for sure firmware (2.10.3) installed on the Xtra.
Hi: Thanks for the great directions. I, too, can only get my Creative Nomad Jukebox 3 to work through the USB port . . . it fails on the 1394 port. Has anyone gotten the 1394 port to work on Vista? Thanks
Just bought a Vista computer, and I really didn’t want to buy a new player since I love my Zen NX. Thanks to the directions, it works like a charm. Thanks!
finally got it to work using win amp but used the 1_30_03 driver version did not need to run it in compatibility mode also…..found this information on the creative forum….
i want to thank the writer of this blog for helping me get over this hurtle i have the nomad juke box 30 gig ….
I was wondering if this would work with a Zen Nomad Jukebox, and if so, if there was a way you could help walk me through it. I’m trying to follow the steps you posted, but I’m not too great with computers and I feel like I’m going to end up frying either my computer or my mp3 player.
Thank you so much.
-Mark Haley
Hi, it just happened that i found this website and like you all i’m very disapointed by creative and i don’t buy any of their product anymore.
Anyway i found a way since the vista beta to make my Nomad Zen Usb 2.0 work with vista x64.
1) find this drivers on internet “JB3_PC64DRV_US_1_30_01” and install it even if it tells you it’s not mean for vista.
2) install “Creative media source 5_PCAPP_LB_5_20_23” (or newer) wich is vista ready.
3) install “Nomad zen usb plugin for Creative Media source 5_LB_5_00_22.exe”
6) Reboot and connect the Nomad zen.
Now you can access, move and play your music throught Media source without any problems. Have fun.
For Mark Haley -> Didn’t try with vista x32 but if you’re in this case just try to install this driver “JB3MV2_PCWDRV_US_2_01_00” (1) , and after that it’s the same as for the x64 vista.
Good luck
I’m with you down to step 3. I can’t find the plugin anywhere. Do you know where I can find it?
Thank you!
Mate, you’re a legend. It works.
Can anyone tell me where i can find the drivers for a Creative zen microphoto???? cuz i’ve downloaded all thej drivers fromt he liks above and nothing is working for me…. soooo I NEED specifics cuz downloading rendom files is def. not my thing…
e-mail me at kenzieBgood@aol.com
Can anyone tell me where to find “Nomad zen usb plugin for Creative Media source 5_LB_5_00_22.exe” ?
if you know, please email me at markredwall@hotmail.com
Thanks!
Happy new year all,
I just got my Creative Nomad Jukebox zen USB 2.0 working on Windows Seven x64 Beta realease 7000.
To get it work i did the same as for vista x64.
!!!!!! Don’t connect the MP3 player until the driver is installed and the PC is rebooted !!!!!!
-> (1) Download : Creative ZEN and Jukebox Driver 2.01.00 (see the link at the bottom)
-> (2) “Right Click” on it, select “Properties”, then in the “Compatibility Tab”, select “Run this programm in compatibility mode (Windows XP service pack 2)” and finally “Run this programm as an Administrator”, then “Apply” and “Ok”.
-> (3) Execute install. (Like in Vista the drivers won’t install completly, it should stop around 70%, don’t worry and wait a little bit).
-> (4) Reboot the PC (don’t bother to close the drivers install windows)
-> (5) After reboot just connect the Nomad jukebox zen with USB cable directly on a free USB Port on the PC (don’t use any USB Hub or it won’t work). Wait till the drivers is installed.
!!!! There won’t be any jukebox icon in the taskbar anymore !!!!
-> (6) Managing the Nomad jukebox zen with winamp.
a) Download winamp.
I choose to try the Music files managing with winamp (last version 5.541) availlable here :
http://www.winamp.com
(it includes a plug in for Nomad zen in default installation).
Choose to download the full version (winamp5541_full_emusic-7plus_es-us.exe)
b) Before running the installation :
Select the installer file (here winamp5541_full_emusic-7plus_es-us.exe) and “Right Click” on it, select “Properties”, then in the “Compatibility Tab”, select “Run this programm in compatibility mode (Windows XP service pack 2)” and finally “Run this programm as an Administrator”, then “Apply” and “Ok”.
!!!!!! Now, install winamp, and at the end of the installation process don’t start immediatly winamp !!!!!!
c)When you’re done installing winamp :
Go to the installation folder(by default: C:\Program Files (x86)\Winamp)
, then select ” Winamp.exe ” and “Right Click” on it, select “Properties”, then in the “Compatibility Tab”, select “Run this programm in compatibility mode (Windows XP service pack 2)” and finally “Run this programm as an Administrator”, then “Apply” and “Ok”.
d) Start winamp
After winamp start, you should see in winamp’s media library in the section “Portables” all the music files you have on your MP3 player if it’s linked.
You can directly play them, edit tags, transfer music from the computer library (Local Media) to the Jukebox (Portables) by drag and drop with the left mouse click.
It seems that the files transfer with winamp is not so fast but it’s working nicely. For now i won’t try Creative Mediasource (+ jukebox plugin). If Anybody will, comments are welcome 😉 .
Creative Links for Drivers, Mediasource 5 and the jukebox plug’in for mediasource:
Here is the Main link for creative worldwide support for limited support product : http://support.creative.com/Products/product_list.aspx?catID=213&CatName=MP3+Players#
(there you can choose between the NX, the Nomad zen usb, and many others products drivers support)
Here is the link for everything concerning the Nomad jukebox zen usb2 :
http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=213&subCatID=214&prodID=117&prodName=Jukebox ZEN&subCatName=ZEN&CatName=MP3+Players
(at the bottom of the screen are all the drivers, Creative media source 5 and the plug’in for the Nomad Zen)
Final Words, i have to say that i’m already fond of windows seven :O .
I installed it directly from vista x64 on a new drive therefore i didn’t have any drivers issues (or i’m really lucky ^^).
It’s faster than vista, specially when it comes to files transfer (on drives, usb key and network) and gaming (F.e. Far Cry 2) … …
The new personnal folder management (as libraries) is awesome … …
At first glance, windows seven looks very much like Vista but after a little time playing with it, it’s another world :D.
So if you are a computer enthousiast with a good knowledge on how to install an OS, you should try it.
Open beta access is free and legal. You’ll get a key from microsoft (valid till the 1st October 2009) to activate Windows seven and access windows update.
Have Fun
The second link for creative support don’t work so just go there :
Main link for creative worldwide support for limited support product :
http://support.creative.com/Products/product_list.aspx?catID=213&CatName=MP3+Players#
Select “Zen”, then on the right panel (Archived Products) you should see your Products.
For exemple “ZEN USB 2.0”, select it and click next.
And the next screen at the bottom of it you’ll find everything you need (Drivers – Firmware – Apllication – All ), click on all and download these files :
– Creative ZEN and Jukebox Driver 2.01.00
Filesize : 1.86 MB
– Creative MediaSource Player/Organizer 5.10.38
Filesize : 39.77 MB
– Creative ZEN and NOMAD Jukebox Plugin 5.00.22
(for Creative MediaSource 5 Player/Organizer)
Filesize : 16.24 MB
Good luck
Thanks for the advice. I too upgraded to a Dell Quad Core using Vista after Christmas. My Nomad Jukebox Zen NX now communicates with my Redchair software thanks to you. I live in London UK
Worked perfectly for my Creative Zen Xtra 30 GB. I was about to throw it at the wall!
***THIS WORKED***
For all of you that want to get their music out of the Zen touch, and are stuck with Vista and 1.01.03 firmware (non vista recognisable), and don’t want to erase everything by installing the latest firmware, here is what worked for me:
1)Uninstall every piece of Touch software you got and reboot.
2) Download the latest drivers from Creative: JB3MV2…exe, together with the latest Creative Mediasource Organiser, Nomad explorer, and the latest Notmad explorer from Red Chair (a trial is enough, version 9.0.3 currently).
3) Right click the driver, properties, go to compatibility mode, and select Windows XP SP2. Make sure your Zen is unplugged (worked for me that way). Right click the driver installer again and Run as Administrator. It hanged around 72% for me, no biggy, open your task manager and shut the installer off.
4)Before rebooting, install Notmad explorer.(I installed only the Zen touch part of it. I tried to run it right away but got a ‘cannot find explorer.exe error – again, no biggy).
5) Reboot, plug in your Zen. Again for me, Notmad didn’t work. This is what worked: Without messing up anything, install Nomad Explorer by Creative on top of it all, and reboot again.
6) After reboot, with your Zen still plugged in, right click the little Notmad icon on the right part of the taskbar and select ‘Connect Jukebox Zen’.
And voila, check your explorer, it should hopefully recognise the Zen Touch like windows xp would.
If you still run into trouble, just install stuff from the beggining, making sure Compatibility: WinXP SP2 and Run as Admin are used everywhere, and keep rebooting till it hopefully works.
Best of luck, Fandom
Does anyone have a copy of the Nomad zen usb plugin for Creative Media source 5_LB_5_00_22.exe ? I can’t find it online. A google search only leads back to this site. markredwall@hotmail.com
Tried getting a Mozaic during their March sale – they’re terrible. I don’t recommend them at all. That’s why I’m going back and trying to rescue my Jukebox.
Thank you!
It’s on this page under applications http://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=213&subCatID=214&prodID=9288&prodName=ZEN%20Xtra&subCatName=ZEN&CatName=MP3+Players
Unfortunately your solution did not work for me.
However, it is through this page that the solution was found. thanks.
this is truly shocking behaviour by Creative though!
Many thanks to the quoted post which very quickly solved the problem after hours of frustration. Many thanks.
#
I tried multiple time to get this to work with no luck. I finally got Vista to recognize the Zen Xtra by putting the Zen in rescue mode (hold the play button down and hit reset), and while in rescue mode, I connected it to the computer. After Vista recognized it, I restarted the Zen and it worked fine.
Windows explorer sees it as a drive and Windows Media Player will sync to it. Nomad explorer does not see it and the media source software will not install. This is probably because I have the play for sure firmware (2.10.3) installed on the Xtra.
Baird said this on October 14, 2008 at 2:29 pm | Reply
Cheers Baird.
Thanks, that really helped. I set the driver to compatibility mode and installed it. Together with Mediasource 5 and the Mediasource 5 Zen NX Plugin it is indeed working under Vista Business 64bit.
Though Dr. Watson (Windows compatibility and problem solving program) gaveme some incompatibility messages and the Windows Media Player always complains when the Zen NX is plugged in via USB, but that’s just Microsoft nitpicking. XD
All i did was install the software on my pc, rebooted and then went to program files/creative/Jukebox 3 Drivers/CtDrvIns.exe and put that file in compatibility mode XP SP2, next run program files/creative/Jukebox 3 Drivers/CtDrvStp.exe and ignore the not legal driver notices. Then plugged in zen NX and the driver was recognized.
Hello All,
I would like to say a big THANKS to the author of this post. After I tried so many drivers, applications and did such a big research, finnally I found this simple and genius solution. It works just perfect. Thanks again.
Just wanted to say “THANKS” for your blog, sorted my ZenNX out a treat:)
Hello everyone, hello Mark,
Just passed bye to see how’s things going up for the final realease of Windows 7.
As my last try to use jukebox zen was on Seven build 7077 and i had issues to get it work correctly.
I finally manage it a much simplier way using “WinXP mode in Seven.
“Xp mode, is a complete virtualized Windows XP system running in a window in Windows Seven”.
Therefore you can install your jukebox directly in this windows xp and using it normally without getting any error or compatiblity problems.
But there are some requirements to do that :
– A processeur capable of vitualization (see your bios or manuel to check this, and how to activate it on your motherboard)
– WinXP mode only work with Windows Seven Ultmitate and Windows Seven Professional.
-You need to download *Windows virtual xp” software on microsoft website.
All infos and tools here :
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx
Keep going jukebox zen is not dead 😀
bye Nikopolis
Finally I am able to recover my Creative Jukebox Nomad Zen Extra! I had failed to done it when my PC was Vista and had given up. Now my PC was Windows 7 and I thought why won’t I try again. However if not for the tricks in this website, my Jukebox will still continue to collect dust.
Yes it works, thanks and many thanks.
Now I have to struggle for my other Creative Zen Micro. So far no luck yet.
Hi,
My name is George. I have a Creative Zen Neeon 6 GB.
Although I plug it into my Vista PC, I got the message that my Neeon is not plug in. Is there a solution.
Appreciate very much any advice you can give.
Thanks
Fastest way is to load up Windows XP Virtual on Vista business or ultimate and it will solve your issue.
best regard
Dr Azrin
Dear Mr. Knut….I also was one of the Nomad “victims”when getting a new laptop with Vista. The Nomad Zen NX 30 GB ( bougt in 2004!! or so) was not running in Vista . So I had to use my old XP laptob for loading new music on my Nomad.
I often was looking via Google for the solution of this problem. Could not find anything what was helpfull.
But then…yesterday evening …I start some googling again and found your blog…!!!!! Very detailed and very good instructions and good link for the driver. I did everything according your step by step instructions and …oh miracle…I all got installed smoothy. Then using my old Creative disc for installing tMedia Source…and also no prob. No reboot …everything installed 100% . No indicatinon even of getting download only 53 % or so . I did not had to kill it as you suggest in your 4 november 2007 updated Story!!!
All went very satisfactional and works for the fully 100%!!!!!
I am very happy with your instructions and really want to thankyou very very much for putting your story in your blog!!!!!
Maybe nice to know , that I am from the Netherlands and you are from Australia……see how people crossing the globe can help each other!!!
Jan from Holland
Thanks Jan, nice to hear it did the trick, and that you took the time to let me know .. BTW I miss my trips to Holland; (last one 7 years ago when I was still in the uk) but looks like I might be over in November
Kind Regards,
Loren (aka… big-knut / mr-internet)
What talented phrase
hi i need the software fot windows vista, thanks crfeative zen 210gb,
Bless you!!!! I was about to cry trying to install this driver…..it’s working great
I have a Nomad Jukebox 3; just had to upgrade to a Windows 7 64-bit system and am trying to get my Jukebox working with it. I found and installed the latest driver mentioned as an administrator and with XP SP2 compatability. it installed okay and Device Manager in the Control Panel sees it and says it is working finel. Then I installed and updated Creative MediaSource. It recognized by Jukebox and installed fine. But the Jukebox does not show up under Computer nor does it appear in CMS. Any suggestions?
Thanks
In case anyone wants to know, I solved this problem by installing the version of Creative MediaSource that came with my Muvo (v. 2.03.29). The one that came with the Jukebox installed and recognized the Jukebox, but was old and really buggy. The newest version that I found on Creative’s website was too new to recognize the old JukeBox. But the Muvo version was the one that i had been using with XP. It ran just fine on W7 and recognized my Jukebox right off.
Interesting post. I may try it.
have Nomad Jukebox Zen Nx (30GB) and using Windows7 32-bit system but the player have failed to open with the computer when i connect it. Help mi get the driver(s) too.Thanks and reply.
Nid driver for Nomad Jukebox Zen NX (30GB) on Win7 32-bit system
Thanks
Hi-
I’ve read all the posts in the hopes I can reconnect my beloved Zen but unfortunately they’ve been of no use thus far. I would really appreciate any help that anyone can give.
I’ve tried the following to get my Creative Zen Nomad Jukebox NX to work with my Windows 7 and I’m having no luck. First I installed the JB3MV2_PCWDRV_US_2_01_00.exe and tried connecting my Zen via USB- no luck, computer didn’t recognise it. Then I installed the software on the original CD and tried that- the only difference now was that it would recognise it in the “other” section of my computer as a NOMAD Jukebox 2/3/Zen, but when I tried to open it, it didn’t show any files (I have 1223 songs on it.) I’ve tried the Carambis Driver updater but that doesn’t seem to have done anything either, including when I’ve used it to “repair” the drivers. Lots of rebooting in between each step, getting nowhere. Any help is most appreciated!!
Cheers,
E from Melbourne, Australia
So I have no idea how I managed to do it, but I’ve fixed the problem. My computer now happily recognises it, the driver works and I can transfer all my music. I am one happy chappy. Thanks for the ideas to get me started on fixing this!
wow, this has been a nightmare for me. I have tried everyone’s advice and I am still left with nothing. I did manage a small victory by installing the sync manager but when I plug the device into the computer the sync manager says no player connected. I think I have bigger problems. Does anyone know if there is a place that I can take my jukebox3 and zen xtra into where they can extract my music onto a flash drive or something? I would be happy just to get all my music onto the computer. I am grateful for any advice, thanks.
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ok, maybe im slow or something but I just bought a nomad jukebox zen xtra second hand and im operating on a windows 7 program on my lap top and I cant get this thing working at all…theres music on it from the other guy but im not liking his music so much, would rather my own…can you/anyone help me please!!!!!??????
3 months later, it’s going to be 10th anniversary of the purchase of my Nomad Zen Xtra 30GB and it still rocks.. Wish it could play flac too…
help does anyone out there know how to get my zen nx to work with windows 10