🚀 go-pugleaf

Hello:

This is extremely frustrating.  Back in 2005, Creative released the
new MTP mode (Plays For Sure) firmware for the Nomad Zen Xtra (among
others).  This creates a whole new way for the jukebox to talk to
Windows XP.

I desired better functionality with Windows Media Player so I could
transfer files from my 40G Nomad to a small 2 gigger I keep in the
car.  So, I carefully read the release notes (Be sure you have Windows
XP and Media Player 10 installed), and started the upgrade.  The
program told me there would be a few reboots, and there was at least
one, but then something went wrong, and the update did not complete.

Well, this happens from time to time, because it is Windows after all
(right now there are Linux and Mac people laughing at me).  So, I
needed to restart the update.  Problem is, the update program no
longer recognizes my Nomad, and my Nomad is stuck in Rescue Mode.
However, there is enough of 2.10 installed that Windows sees my
device, and I can even look at the hard disk.  But, there is no OS,
and the Nomad is a brick.

So, here's my analysis:
There are two modes for a Nomad to work in:
Creative Mode (1.xx firmware versions), and MTP mode (Plays For Sure
mode, which Windows and Media Player recognize without loading any
drivers.)

The trouble is, my player has switched to MTP mode, but even the 2.10
firmware upgrade requires Creative Mode before it can do an upgrade.

I'm sure if Creative were to release another version of MTP software I
could recover my Nomad because a new 2.xx update would expect my Nomad
to already be in MTP mode, but alas, they have not.

So, does anyone know any tricks so I can move my Nomad either forward
(2.10.03) or backward (back to 1.02 or 1.20)?  At this point, I will
accept any solution that allows my Nomad to play music again.

Creative is no help, only pointing me to their Knowledge Base, which
would be fine if I was still at 1.xx.  Rescue Mode works fine,
firmware updates just fine.  But now they've put my Nomad into a Catch
22 mode.

In a nutshell:  If you had a Nomad at 2.10.03, then lost your hard
drive, how would you rescue it?

Thanks for any help!

Dan