to expect printed instructions

[pranma]

I have already put this in 'products' but I am so fed up I will put it here as well.Today is my birthday and my dh has just given me a hitachi DMP460 mp4 player.This is a direct result of an AIBU thread about cds as Mothers Day pressies.Anyway there is no instruction manual and the little disc thingy is no help.I discovered myself that I charge the battery by plugging the whole thing into the laptop but please please can someone tell me what to do next.Thanks.

This is a serious enquiry [ingratiating smile]............

can you not google the instructions?

Is it like a stick thing where you take off the end and there is a USB?
I have one of those and it had no destructions either. You plug it into the laptop on the USB and then it will start itself, a window should appear with an option to copy files and then you just drag over the music you want on it.
If it doesn't work then go into 'My Computer' and find the icon for the USB driovem open it and do the same.

DH said it had no instructions as it was 'sop easy a chimp could do it' but I still sat there for ages looking at it like this

Often the user manuals are on the CD. Try putting the CD into the computer and look at what files are there by using Windows Explorer (or equivalent, if it's a Mac).

ugly, mine didn't even have a CD! I was completely flummoxed!

Jack, I'd also be completely flummoxed without an instruction manual (though I'm sometimes flummoxed even with an instruction manual ).

I've googled for this mp4 player - couldn't find much at all, certainly no downloadable manual - but from a couple of images I found, it looks very much like my iPod, rather than what I guess you have. The OP mentioned a disc, and I would guess that there should be relevant software on there (similar to iTunes for the iPod) and maybe some instructions.

Thanks for trying !The disc doesnt have instructions on it at all-it just says things like-Playlist[empty]Files[empty] etc.I did try googling and found lots of places to buy one but no downloadable manual-I am sure it must be so simple 'a chimp could do it' but this chimp has just mastered peeling bananas!
When I connected the device to the computer it charged the battery but I will try looking into 'Computer' and seeing what happens.

If you're running Windows then you should be able to just plug the thing in and then start up Windows Media Player and it'll find it.

If you've already got music in Windows Media Player then go to the Media Player's "Sync" tab and you should see some information about the MP4 player on the top-right. Then just drag the CDs etc from the big list on the left to the bit on the right saying "Drag Items Here". Once you've got the list of stuff you want on your MP4 player then click the "Start Sync" button near the bottom-right and it should sort it all out.

If you haven't already got music in Media Player then you'll need to rip some CDs first.

When you plug it in either directly or via a usb cable. If you then go to MY COMPUTER it should show as a REMOVABLE DISC/USB DEVICE. From there you will be able to take a note of what it is and then open the music files you want on it and RIGHT CLICK opening the drop down menu. click on SEND TO and select the place you want to send it which in this case will be the REMOVABLE DISC/USB DEVICE. Although most computers/laptops should/do install new hardware automatically.

DMP460 Manual English (911Kb, PDF)

Loading Files from a Computer to the MP3 Player
Files can be transferred directly into the MP3 player using the USB data cable.

1. Connect the MP3 player to the computer using the USB cable.
2. The computer system will detect ?New Hardware? and start to install the driver

automatically. Wait for the system to finish the installation. When it has finished, a new ?Removable Disk? will be created in ?My Computer?.

1. Select the files on your computer and simply drag and drop them into the

?Removable Disk?.

YABU in expecting a printed manual these days. The cost of printing the manuals would mean the device would cost more. Lower cost to provide the manual in PDF format on the CD-ROM.

Thank you thank you so much especially nannynick for finding that link.Mumsnet is amazing-you have all saved my birthday.I feel ott effusive with gratitude.

My latest problem is that when I rip then sync onto the player the next time I try to add to the list it deletes all the stuff added previously-is there a setting to stop it from doing this?Sorry-I came to computers etc rather late and am finding the technology so difficult.

What application are you using for ripping/syncing? Windows Media Player or something else?

Sorry not to come back-I do use Windows media Player and find that if I dont delete anything from there then it stays on the player.Is there a way to empty the list and still retain songs on the player when I try to add new material?