Using XCOPY with MTP device

[Rich Pasco]

I recently acquired an MP3 player (Sandisk Sansa e280) which
connects via the USB Media Transfer Protocol (MTP). Thus, it
appears in My Computer, not as a disk drive but as Other.

I can open it with Explorer and drag and drop files and folders
just fine. However, I rather than drag and drop I would prefer
to use XCOPY because it has a wider range of features, such as
/D (by date), /P (prompt), /U (update) and others.

But I can't figure out a way to do this. How can I assign it a
drive letter (e.g. "M:") or a UNC name (e.g. "\\server\share")?

- Rich

 

[Anteaus]

Yeah, have the same problem with my HTC Wizard phone. Unfortunately it not
only stops XCOPYing, it also means that explorer is the only filemanager that
will work with it. Which is a real pain.

At least the phone has a miniSD card slot, so I transfer the files to that,
then put the card into a reader. Not an option for you, I guess.

 

[Rich Pasco]

I recently acquired an MP3 player (Sandisk Sansa e280) which
connects via the USB Media Transfer Protocol (MTP). Thus, it
appears in My Computer, not as a disk drive but as Other.

I can open it with Explorer and drag and drop files and folders
just fine. However, I rather than drag and drop I would prefer
to use XCOPY because it has a wider range of features, such as
/D (by date), /P (prompt), /U (update) and others.

But I can't figure out a way to do this. How can I assign it a
drive letter (e.g. "M:") or a UNC name (e.g. "\\server\share")?

- Rich

I found some more about my situation here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Transfer_Protocol

Some discussion is here:
http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4806

 

[Martin C]

I also have the Sansa e280.

I have only just got it, but from what I understand, if you want to do
direct copying to the device, it is better to set the USB mode to MSC which
will then give the device a drive letter in Explorer when you connect it. In
fact, it should give 2 letters: one for the device and another for the
memory slot on the device.

The MTP mode is primarily for use with Window Media Player for synchronising
the files on the device and for converting files with the Sansa media
converter.

This may not be 100% correct, but that is how I am currently using it and it
seems to work ok.

Martin

 

[Dave Cohen]

I found some more about my situation here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Transfer_Protocol

Some discussion is here:
http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4806

Check the Sansa instructions or settings. My M200 let's you switch
between MTP and MSC. With MSC you get a drive letter. I don't know if
MTP has any advantage, maybe when using media player and online
services. Never use them.
Dave Cohen

 

[Rich Pasco]

I have only just got it, but from what I understand, if you want to do
direct copying to the device, it is better to set the USB mode to MSC which
will then give the device a drive letter in Explorer when you connect it. In
fact, it should give 2 letters: one for the device and another for the
memory slot on the device.

The Sansa_e200_UserManual.pdf says to switch between MTP and MSC modes,
go to Settings / USB Modes. However, my e280's Settings menu does not
have any such item as USB Modes. I asked SanDisk tech support about
that and got:

Your Sansa e200 series may be version 2. This means that your Sansa
is a pure MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) device. You will need to use
Windows Media Player to transfer music files to your Sansa.

Dead end there.

 

[Rich Pasco]

Check the Sansa instructions or settings. My M200 let's you switch
between MTP and MSC. With MSC you get a drive letter. I don't know if
MTP has any advantage, maybe when using media player and online
services. Never use them.
Dave Cohen

Please see my reply to Martin C. My e280 is Version 2, and hence has
no option to switch to MSC mode.

- Rich