As late as two days ago, the Muvo2 4gb coming out of Creative Labs own online shopping are not soldered. This rumor has been floating around. As of now, it is unsubstantiated by any individual, even anecdotally.

Here's how to downgrade it to 1gb and end up with a 4gb MD and a very nice 1gb MP3 player for the price of the Muvo2 (Currently $299) and whatever you paid for your 1gb MD. Please be aware that there are reports that it will not work with a solid state CF. I have not independantly confirmed this.

1. Before you do anything else, visit this link:

http://www.nomadworld.com/downloads/firmware/wma-muvo_2_4.asp


And upgrade the firmware of the unit. This is VITAL. If you do not upgrade ahead of time, you will have serious issues later on. Upgrade the firmware FIRST. It has some auto-recovery features that will prove necessary in later steps. Remove the battery when you are done. Now ground yourself.

2. At the top of the Muvo2 there are two small screws. With a very small philips screwdriver, remove these screws.

3. Open the battery compartment. At the bottom, there are two very small screws. Remove these as well.

4. Remove the back of the unit.


5. Lift the circuit board carefully. It was held in place by the previous 4 screws.

6. Underneath the top circuit board, there is a plate holding down the microdrive. At the top, there are two screws. Remove them. On the side, there is a very very small silver screw. It is smaller than the two black ones. Remove it.

7. There is a piece of black tape in the lower corner. Underneath that tape is the last screw holding down the MD plate. Remove the tape carefully, and unscrew the screw.

8. Lift the plate out. Now, CAREFULLY pry the pin-array from the microdrive. Very gently use a small flat screwdriver to work your way down the black plastic strip. DO NOT FORCE ANYTHING. It should come out easily.

9. Take the 4gb MD and format it in your camera. You should have a 4gb MD now.


10. Put the 1gb MD back into the array. Carefully press it down. Again, do not force anything, it should slide in very easily.

11. Replace the screws, place the tape over the black screw where you found it, and reassemble the Nomad.

12. Turn it on. It will report that there is a media error and go into recovery mode.

13. Select Reload firmware from the recovery menu. It will take a few seconds, reload the firmware, and then report a media error.

14. Select Connect to PC. Now, connect the USB connector to your PC.

15. Run the Firmware upgrade again, and allow it to upgrade the firmware.

16. Power it down. Then back up.


17. When it turns on, it will report a scansearch error, or a media error then throw you into recovery mode. Select Format. It should take a few seconds to format.

18. Power it off, power it back on, and you should have a working 1gb Muvo2, a working 4gb MD in your camera, and a big smile on your face.

Good luck!

LK

Someone already posted photos on the surgery he had done a couple days ago. Search the threads if you want to do this. He saidit was pretty easy. He pulled a 4GB microdrive out and put a 1GB microdrive in.

John

Yeah, I know... the reason for this post is not really because the 4gb is hard to get out of the Muvo2, it's actually because getting it to boot up again and work as an MP3 player is a little trickier.

Just thought I'd share.

I started the original thread a couple of days ago and I did not do step one. I did upgrade the firmware AFTER I installed the 1GB CF card and it works like a charm.

Thanx guy's for putting this out for us sitting on the fence....

has anyone talke with Creative Labs and confirmed the solder vs non solder drive
story....

If I was Creative Labs I wouldn't give a hoot if we were down sizing their player.

If they were smart they'd just sell the drives at $300 and save the player.

They''d make more mulla.............