Sansa plug-in USB support found in original Firmware

[threebeers]

My first post, I wanted to give something back to this great community.   I think I figured out how to get full USB support on the Sansa C200 series, and maybe the E200 series (I've only done this on a C240).    If this is a repost sorry, but from everything I have read only USB charging has been supported on the Sansas so far without first booting the Sansa to the original firmware.  

I did this in Windows XP with Service Pack 2.  If someone can figure out the equivalent in Vista please post.

Credit to Winwithben at Anythingbutipod for this method (he used it with a Sansa Express).

First, through the original firmware I changed to autodetect mode (in the Settings/USB menu).  If your C200 has no USB menu in the original firmware, it probably has the latest firmware, which defaults to autodetect.

Plugged in the Rockbox while in original FW, so it was recognized as an MTP portable device.  Then went to Settings/Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Computer Management/Device Manager/Portable Devices.  {You will only see the Portable Device option if your Sansa is in Autodetect/MTS mode.}
Find your Sansa under Portable Devices. Right click. Update driver.
Select: No, not this time, Next.
Select: Install from a list or specific location (Advanced), Next.
Select: Don’t Search. I will choose the driver to install, Next.
Be sure to check the box beside Show compatible hardware.
Highlight USB Mass Storage Device, Next.

That's it!  Once I plugged it back in it was recognized as an E/F drive without having to do anything, and I can move files back and forth.

Good luck!

[zajacattack]

Well, USB support was added recently. What build are you using?

[LinusN]

Well, USB support was added recently. What build are you using?

Ehum, USB support is not yet enabled in the official builds.

[MarcGuay]

That's it!  Once I plugged it back in it was recognized as an E/F drive without having to do anything, and I can move files back and forth.

Are you talking about while using the Sansa firmware?

[pixelma]

First, through the original firmware I changed to autodetect mode (in the Settings/USB menu).  If your C200 has no USB menu in the original firmware, it probably has the latest firmware, which defaults to autodetect.

Plugged in the Rockbox while in original FW, so it was recognized as an MTP portable device.  Then went to Settings/Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Computer Management/Device Manager/Portable Devices.  {You will only see the Portable Device option if your Sansa is in Autodetect/MTS mode.}

I didn't quite get what you want to tell us with this thread but after reading it the third time thoroughly I think I found something interesting but have to make sure if I understand correctly. So this is the important question:

Do you mean this is a way to have permanent access to the Sansa (c200) from Windows as a USB mass storage device even if it is set to MTP in the original firmware? That would be quite interesting for people who have a c200 with versions 1.01.05/06 of the original firmware where they removed the setting.

If this is not it then I still don't understand... By the way the title of this thread is very misleading as at the same time people work on an own USB support for Rockbox.

[threebeers]

To the above posters, thanks for the input.  I have changed the title so it is clearer the support is through the original FW.  I understand that there is an effort to get Rockbox support through the Rockbox firmware, interesting to know there is an unofficial build that has it.

I had the v.05 firmware, first thing I did was roll back to v.01 per the installation wiki, then installed Rockbox.  

So I don't know if this will work after RB is installed under .05/.06 firmware.

I didn't like that you had to first turn on the original firmware, then plug in the device to get it recognized as a drive, so I looked around and found the Sansa Express discussion on how to force the computer to use USB drivers to recognize the device.  It worked.

[zajacattack]

Sorry, then, I misunderstood.

By the way, I asked what build because he might have used a build that enabled USB due to the fact that it was added recently.

[Llorean]

It wasn't added recently. The code is still disabled.