Can I upgrade memory on my Creative Zen? Or should I just buy a new player?

angelil

Hi Hope this is in the right place...

I've had a 32GB Creative Zen for a couple of years. Generally happy with it.

However, my 32GB is now full

I've noticed there is a memory card slot in the player. If I put in a bigger memory card (say, 64GB) would this increase my storage space? Or does the fact that this is only a 32GB player mean that a larger memory card would not work?

If a new memory card would not work, I suppose this means I should just buy a new MP3 player, as I am not at all techie and so not in the least up to cracking this thing open, messing around with motherboards etc. If this is the case, which MP3 player (64GB +; ideally not Apple) would you recommend?

Thanks in advance

Horseunderwater

Do you mean that it has an internal memory of 32gb and has an additional slot where you can add extra memory? If so, just buy the right memory card of the size you want and plug it in. That way you will have 32 + 64gb in total then.

Lifeforms

It should work with at least 32gb, assuming the player isn't years and years old. I dunno about any size over, never tested anything bigger in my little clip thing.
You might find that it considers them two separate things, and to play the card, you need to go onto a card section, rather than integrate seamlessly, but you should be able to google that, or other users can tell you it.

You simply would not just crack it open to throw in more memory. if a card doesn't work, then look for another mp3 player. If you have a spare micro sd card around, try it, or borrow a friends, but generally with those players that have the extra slot for memory, will work upto at least 32gb. so you could buy a newer one of 32gb, then throw in a card on top, but find out if it works seamlessly, or if you have to access each one ~(internal memory and card memory) separately. It'll become annoying especially if you just shuffle.

angelil

Yes, I think that's it. It's a standard SD card slot. However, the slot already has a card in there (presumably a 32GB one). Does that matter? (I am rubbish with tech...you can probably tell )

dartilov

Hi angelil

Just take out the card and have a look at what is says on it, it depends on the model of the Zen but you have a few options IMHO depending on the player spec.

The Creative will have an in built storage and it might be 16 gb with a 16 gb card = 32gb

You might be able to buy a 32 gb card and transfer the music on your existing card onto the new one and then you will have 16 gb (internal) and 32 gb on the new card = 48 gb.

If you cannot expand any more, it may be best to upgrade to something like this:

http://uk.store.creative.com/entertainment-devices-mp3-players/zen-x-fi3/948-20866.aspx

but the 32 gb version with an SD slot for another 32 gb.

pledgeX

As dartilov says, just take the card out and see what it says on it. If you've got a spare card kicking about (camera? phone?) test that to see if it works.

If you need to get a new player and are looking for a cheapish option, I'd recommend a sansa clip plus. Comes with a 8GB internal memory, so buy a 32GB micoSD card to bump it up to 40GB. If that's still not big enough, you can by 64GB microSD card (although I haven't tried this personally so I'm not sure if there's a size/compatibility limit)

angelil

Thanks for all the replies so far.

The "card" in fact is just a plastic tab with "Zen" written on it (presumably to stop dust etc getting into the slot). I'm guessing then that I could put an extra SD card in without trouble.

I'll see how it responds to my camera SD card being in there, but it should be fairly straightforward by the sounds of things.

On a related topic, are SD cards always as expensive as I saw in the shops today?! I had this in mind when I went out to buy my new laptop today and was amazed to discover that a 64GB SD card is about €100 :eek: Have I just been living under a rock for the past few years? Or are there cheaper places to buy SD cards?

pledgeX

angelil wrote: »

On a related topic, are SD cards always as expensive as I saw in the shops today?! I had this in mind when I went out to buy my new laptop today and was amazed to discover that a 64GB SD card is about €100 :eek: Have I just been living under a rock for the past few years? Or are there cheaper places to buy SD cards?

A standard SD card can be had for under £40 on amazon.

Dave_C_2

I have an 8 GB Creative Zen and it's a great player.
BUT the SD card interface is pants and is no way integrated into the main player. You can't playlist, bookmark or even resume from the SD card.
All you can do is navigate to a folder on the SD card and press play. The player will play the files in the folder. but when you turn off you have to navigate the SD card from square 1 again.
That's the bad news, the good news is that the SD card is ideal for storing ripped DVD movies and so forth that use a lot of memory. I tend to watch movies all in one go, so lack of bookmark/resume is not a problem.

More here especially in the first and fifth stickies. Also the FAQ is worth a read.

The memory in the player cannot be upgraded and you already have the biggest size.

Dave

angelil

pledgeX wrote: »

A standard SD card can be had for under £40 on amazon.

Haha, thought as much

Dave_C: that helps a lot as well. Many thanks

Lifeforms

I use just the card with my clip thing, got a 4gb cheap with 32gb card in it, so don't know how integrated the two are.

Offline shop rip the pants off you for digital memory, but online be careful as it can be easy to pick up counterfeit cards. Stay away from market place and eBay, go for play only sales on play.com, or dispatched by amazon on that site.