As with any peripheral, your Nomad needs device drivers installed on your computer in order to run. The exception is the MuVo, whose necessary drivers are included in Windows ME, Windows 2000, and Windows XP (but still need to be installed for Windows 98 and 98SE). Please note that the device drivers are different from the firmware. Device drivers are installed on your computer, while firmware is installed on the Nomad itself.

You should always make sure that the Nomad device drivers are installed on your computer before installing and using Notmad. If you have previously installed Creative PlayCenter, the drivers are already installed.

Note that while Notmad requires the device drivers to operate, it does not require PlayCenter to be installed. PlayCenter and the drivers are separate, and you can have the drivers installed without installing PlayCenter. Or, if you have PlayCenter installed now, you can uninstall it, leaving the drivers in place.

Although the drivers can be found on the CD included with your Nomad, they are most likely out-of-date. Since older driver versions do have bugs, we highly recommend that you download the latest version of the drivers for your device:

When used with a Nomad II-series device or the original Nomad Jukebox, Notmad Explorer employs the JBDirect driver in addition to the Creative standalone drivers. The Notmad installer installs JBDirect automatically for you, so you don't have to worry about it, but just be aware that it exists. JBDirect is not used with Jukebox 2, Jukebox 3, or Jukebox Zen.

Note: Some versions of the Creative driver installer fail to properly register all its own DLLs, including one that is necessary for Notmad to function. When this DLL is not properly registered, Notmad will complain that the driver is not installed when you try to connect to your Nomad. Starting in release 6.6.0 of Notmad Explorer, we've modified our installer to register this DLL itself, so if you install 6.6.0 or higher, this should not be a problem as long as you installed the Creative driver in the default location on your C:\ drive. If you continue to get this "driver not installed" message, particularly if you installed Windows on a non-C drive or use a non-English version of Windows, please follow these steps:

1. Search your computer for a file named "ctnmjb2.dll". Note its location.
2. Run the following command:

   regsvr32 "C:\Path\to\your\ctnmjb2.dll"

3. Reboot, and you should be all set to go.

When Notmad Explorer is used with the original Nomad Jukebox or any of the Nomad II-class flash memory-based devices, an additional driver called JBDirect is used on conjunction with the standalone Creative driver. This section only applies to the Nomad II, IIc, IIMG, the Nomad Jukebox and Nomad Jukebox C (of all capacities). It does not apply to the Jukebox 2, Jukebox 3, Jukebox Zen, or MuVo.

The JBDirect driver is automatically installed by the Notmad Explorer installer. There is no separate download or additional steps required.

When using Notmad Explorer with the Nomad Jukebox or Nomad Jukebox C, you have the option of disabling the JBDirect driver and using the Creative driver directly to communicate with the device. A small handful of users have run into a problem where they cannot connect to their Jukebox using the default JBDirect mode. Since JBDirect is no longer actively maintained by its creator, we have made the direct Creative driver mode an option for the Jukebox 1. If you are unable to connect to your Jukebox 1, then switching to the Creative driver mode should solve the problem. Note that if you do not have a problem with connecting, you should stick with JBDirect mode, as it is somewhat faster at displaying the contents of the Jukebox.

To enable Creative driver mode, right-click on the systray icon and select "Notmad Manager Options..." and go to the "General" tab. Enable the "Use Creative driver instead of JBDirect for Jukebox 1" option. Then close Notmad Manager and restart it. To switch back to JBDirect mode, unselect the option, and restart Notmad Manager.

Today's MP3 players are a far cry from the original cassette-tape Sony Walkmans. They are literally miniature computers complete with CPU, memory, display, input buttons, permament storage, and I/O ports. And just as a desktop PC runs Windows or a Palm Pilot runs PalmOS, each Nomad device runs its own operating system. This embedded operating system is known as firmware.

Originally, the term firmware was intended to describe something between hardware and software. Firmware would generally run with more specific knowledge of the underlying hardware, while software existed several layers of abstraction away from the hardware. Today, with portable devices becoming more like their more powerful, generalized desktop predecessors, firmware is becoming much softer.

Once you have the proper drivers and firmware installed, the next issue to consider is the proper physical hookup of your Nomad device to your computer. The issues discussed here are not specific to Notmad. Rather, they are general best practices for using your Nomad device regardless of what software you use.

First, while this may sound like something out of a tech support nightmare, make sure your Nomad is turned on! The Nomads turn themselves off after some period of inactivity, and the delay always seems to be shorter than you think it is. From time to time we actually get requests for help on a connection problem in Notmad, and it turns out that the Nomad was not even powered up. If you have a Nomad II, tap on one of the buttons to wake it up.

Second, make sure your Nomad is connected to AC power whenever you are accessing it from your computer. Your Nomad may behave unpredictably and potentially cause corruption during transfers if battery power is low or runs out altogether. Sometimes it may not be possible to supply AC power (e.g. on an airplane with a laptop), so just be aware of potential problems if your battery level gets low.

Notmad is compatible with all the different cable connections that come with your Nomad. It is also compatible with the available docking cradles.

USB: Many Nomad Jukebox owners have reported connection instability (with all software) when plugging into a USB hub rather than directly into a USB port on the computer itself. While this problem seems to be less prevalent with later firmware releases, we advise you to bypass your USB hub if you are having connection instability, if for no other reason than to eliminate one possible cause. Also, when trying to isolate a problem it may help to temporarily unplug other non-essential USB peripherals like cameras or scanners.

Firewire: Some users who have difficulty with one Firewire card often find their problems fixed by switching to another card. There don't seem to be any strong patterns as to which cards are best. For example, connecting the Jukebox 3 to the Creative Audigy causes blue-screen crashes for some users, but works perfectly fine for others. If you are having connection stability problems, it might be worth trying a different card. For reference, at Red Chair we use $25 generic cards sold by Inland. Nothing special. Finally, some users have reported that the Nomads will not work with "DV" Firewire ports found on digital video capture cards. Switching to normal non-DV Firewire ports seemed to solve the problem for them. There have also been reports lately of Nomad devices not working properly with the Firewire controller on nForce2 chipsets.

At the present time, Notmad does not support having more than one device physically connected at once.

This section only applies to the Nomad Jukebox, Jukebox 2, Jukebox 3, and Jukebox Zen. It does not apply to the Nomad II-series devices or the MuVo.

Each of the Jukebox models has built-in cleanup and maintenance routines. If you have a problem where you suspect file corruption or it seems like some capacity is missing from your Jukebox, you should try these routines. Take care not to reformat your Jukebox if that's not what you intend to do, because a reformat deletes all your music files. These modes are power-user features, so be alert when using them!

• Nomad Jukebox:
  • Rebuild Audio Cache: From time to time, you may find that Notmad starts to display fewer than the actual number of tracks on your Jukebox. This is more likely to happen if you switch between PlayCenter and Notmad, or move your Jukebox between computers a lot. What is happening is that the cache file that the JBDirect driver uses is getting out of sync. To fix this, just run the "Rebuild Audio Cache" found on the "Jukebox" tab of the Configuration dialog, and everything should return to normal. If this does not help, then shutdown all Nomad-related software (including Notmad Manager in the systray), search your computer for files named *.njb, and delete them. This forces a cache rebuild from scratch.
  • System Cleanup: You must be running firmware 2.96 or higher with AC power plugged in. In the "EAX" menu, select "System Cleanup".
  • Maintenance Mode: While plugged into an AC power source, power up your Jukebox. During the boot sequence, press and hold the "EAX", "Middle Soft Key" (middle unlabeled button under the screen), and "Down Arrow" buttons. Keep them pressed until the boot sequence completes and you will be in Maintenance Mode, allowing you to either "Format" your drive or do a "System Cleanup".


• Nomad Jukebox 2 and Nomad Jukebox 3
:
• Maintenance Mode: Remove the battery. Hold down the "Stop" button and reinsert the battery. As soon as the Creative logo appears, immediately release the "Stop" button and then press and hold the "Play" button for about 1 second. You will then be in Maintenance Mode, allowing you to "Format" your drive or do a "Cleanup". If you see the EAX logo, and it boots to the "Now Playing" screen, you did not press the buttons in sequence quickly enough. Try it again.


• Nomad Jukebox Zen
:
• Maintenance Mode: If the Zen has been powered down for more than 30 minutes, press and hold the "Now Playing" button while turning the Zen on using the "Power" button. Otherwise, press the "Reset" button while holding the "Play/Pause" button.

Every Jukebox model also has a "Reset" button, the kind that can only be pressed using a straightened paper clip. It is usually located on the side or bottom of the unit. If your Jukebox gets stuck while booting up, try using the "Reset" button.

The Creative Nomad Detector is installed on your computer when you install the PlayCenter software bundled with your Nomad. It runs in your systray and basically launches PlayCenter whenever you plug in your Nomad.

If you are using Notmad Explorer, you may not want PlayCenter to be automatically launched when you plug in your Nomad. Unfortunately, the Detector's own "Disable Nomad Detector" menu option doesn't seem to disable it permanently. It appears on the next reboot even if do this.

To permanently disable Nomad Detector, you'll need to edit the Windows registry. Run "regedit.exe". Then go to the following keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

And remove all references to the Nomad Detector.

For the free Trial Edition of Notmad Explorer, go to our Trial Download page. Registered users of the full version of Notmad Explorer looking to upgrade should use the "Registered User Login" at the top of every page on this website.

From time to time, a user will say that they could not download the file because they were asked for a username and password after clicking on the download link (we're not talking about Registered User Login here). Our downloads are not password protected, so if you are getting that message, you have some software running that is mistakenly thinking that they are. If you are using Netscape Navigator, temporarily turn of SmartDownload. Otherwise, disable any download manager software you may have running.

After download, simply double-click on the installer file. If you get a message about a CRC error, that means your download was somehow corrupted. In that case, clear your web browser's cache and download again.

To install Notmad Explorer, just double-click the installer file. The installation process is divided into the following steps:

• License Agreement
  If you agree, click "I Agree". If not, click "Cancel".
  
  
• Select Device Support
  Check the devices you need support for, and uncheck the ones you don't. Make sure to uncheck support for devices that you don't have, or you will end up with extra icons that don't do anything.
  
  
• Install Directory
  Choose the directory where you'd like Notmad Explorer to be installed. If you don't have a good reason for changing it, just leave it as the Windows-standard location for program files.
  
  
• File Installation
  The installer then unpacks, places, and registers all the files it needs.
  
  
• Install Log
  If you'd like to see all the gory details of the install, click "Show Details". Otherwise, you're done.

At the end of the install process, you may see a message indicating that some files were locked and could not be immediately overwritten and that you need to reboot. If you see this message, you do need to reboot before using Notmad. If you don't, you may get mismatched versions of Notmad Explorer and Notmad Manager, which can cause problems. For more detail on this, see the following section on "Upgrading Notmad Explorer".

The following is a list of the files installed by Notmad Explorer, their locations, and under what circumstances.

C:\Program Files\Red Chair Software\Notmad Explorer:
File Name	Installed when supporting
notmad.dll	All
notmgr.exe	All
uninst.exe	All
skins (directory)	All Jukebox models
httplog.html	All Jukebox models
smallparser.dll	All Jukebox models
notmadmv.dll, sendtomv.exe	Nomad MuVo
notmadii.dll, sendtoim.exe, sendtosm.exe	Nomad II
notmadcr.dll, sendtocr.exe	CardReader
notmadj1.dll, sendtoj1.exe	Nomad Jukebox
notmadj2.dll, sendtoj2.exe	Nomad Jukebox 2
notmadj3.dll, sendtoj3.exe	Nomad Jukebox 3
notmadjz.dll, sendtojz.exe	Nomad Jukebox Zen
C:\Program Files\Common Files\DEVConcept Shared\JBDirect:
File Name	Installed when supporting
jbdirect3.dll	Nomad II and Nomad Jukebox

The installer creates a program group in the Windows Start Menu named "Red Chair Software". This group contains shortcuts to documentation, for opening Notmad Explorer, Notmad Manager, and running the uninstaller. Shortcut icons for launching Notmad are placed on your Desktop. The installer also places shortcuts in the Windows Send To context menu.

If upon running Notmad Explorer you get a Windows message saying that the file "oleacc.dll" is missing, you need to go into the Windows Control Panel and install the Windows accessibility features. The normal Windows installation process installs accessibility features by default, but in case you turned it off during install, you'll need to add it now. Notmad Explorer needs this Windows component to enable some of the features we have for blind users.

We had mixed feelings about writing this section. Our hope is, of course, that nobody ever uninstalls Notmad Explorer! :-)

When Notmad Explorer is installed, an uninstall program called "uninst.exe" is automatically generated and placed in the main program directory. You can run that directly by double-clicking it or using the shortcut placed in the "Red Chair Software" program group in the Start menu. Another uninstall method, which is functionality equivalent, is to go to the Windows Control Panel applet called "Add/Remove Programs", and select Notmad Explorer to be removed.

Because the JBDirect driver may be used by other software, the Notmad Explorer uninstaller does not remove it. If you don't use any other software that requires JBDirect, you can remove the jbdirect3.dll file yourself as well.

Upgrading from one numeric release of Notmad Explorer to another normally involves just downloading the installer file for the newer version and running it.

Because Notmad Explorer is tightly integrated with Windows Explorer, there are a few things you should be aware of to ensure smooth upgrades.

The main component of Notmad Explorer is a DLL (dynamic link library) file that is loaded by Windows Explorer (explorer.exe) when you browse to your Nomad device. While this DLL file is loaded and in use by Windows Explorer, the operating system locks it, preventing it from being deleted or overwritten. Depending on how you use and navigate Notmad, the DLL may continue to remain loaded and in use by Windows Explorer even after you close the Notmad Explorer window.

These DLL files need to be replaced with newer versions during an upgrade. When the Notmad installer runs, it examines each DLL file to be replaced. If a particular DLL is in use and locked, Notmad will place the new version in a temporary location and then leave a message for the Windows operating system to replace the file the next time your computer is rebooted. If the installer finds one or more such files, it will notify you at the end of the install process and prompt you to reboot immediately. You can choose to defer the reboot until later, but you should not try to use Notmad Explorer until after you do. The reason is that if Notmad Manager (notmgr.exe) is upgraded to a new version but one of the Notmad Explorer DLL files is not because it is locked, Notmad may malfunction because of the version mismatch.

After you install or upgrade Notmad, you can check the file versions by going into "C:\Program Files\Red Chair Software\Notmad Explorer" in Windows Explorer. When you get to that folder, switch Explorer to "Details" view. Then right-click on the column header area in the right pane to add a new column. The column you want is named "File Version" or "Module Version". Explorer will then display a column listing the versions of all the files in that directory.

If for some reason you run into trouble with the upgrade process and need to start again from scratch, we recommend the following process:

1. Uninstall Notmad Explorer as described in Section 2.2.3.
2. Make sure "C:\Program Files\Red Chair Software" is empty. If it is not, manually empty it. You may have to reboot first to unlock DLL files in use.
3. If you did not reboot in the previous step, do so now.
4. Download the latest Notmad installer and run it.
5. Reboot.

First let's define two terms. "Physically connected" means you have your Nomad device powered on and it is plugged physically into your computer via a cable or dock. "Soft-connected" means that Notmad Explorer has established a software connection and is communicating with your Nomad device. Please keep in mind that physical connection and soft-connection are two distinct states and do not confuse them. Your device must be both physically connected and soft-connected before using Notmad Explorer.

When your Nomad is merely physically connected, it can still be controlled using the on-board buttons and display. However, once your Nomad is soft-connected to Notmad, a "connection graphic" (varies depending on Nomad model) appears on its display, and its on-board buttons stop responding to input until you soft-disconnect your device. Note that from this point forward in the discussion we will assume your Nomad is always physically connected to your computer, so when we talk about connecting and disconnecting we'll be referring to soft-connection.

Do not physically disconnect your Nomad while it is still soft-connected. In some rare instances, the Nomad may "forget" some of the new content you transferred if you don't soft-disconnect before physically unplugging your device.

The device icons displayed by Notmad Manager in the systray are used for soft-connection. The way Notmad Manager displays these icons depends on which Nomad model you have:

• Nomad MuVo, MuVo NX/TX/Slim, Rhomba: When your MuVo or Rhomba is not physically connected, no icon appears. After physical connection, the icon appears.
  
  

  		MuVo
  		MuVo NX,TX,Slim and Rhomba

  
  
  
• Nomad II-series: When your Nomad is not physically connected, no icon will be displayed. After you physically connect your Nomad, a device icon will appear. Initially, the icon's little LCD window will be dark. When your Nomad is soft connected, the LCD window will light up either green or blue.
  
  

  		Nomad II/IIc
  		Nomad II MG

  
  
  
• Nomad Jukebox, Jukebox 2, Jukebox 3, Jukebox Zen, MuVo²: A device icon with a dark LCD window whether your Nomad is physically connected or not. When you soft-connect your Nomad, the LCD window lights up either green or blue.
  
  

  		MuVo2
  		Nomad Jukebox
  		Nomad Jukebox 2
  		Nomad Jukebox 3
  		Nomad Jukebox Zen

Right-clicking on one of the systray icons will bring up a menu for the device:

As mentioned in Section 1, the last two items in this menu are the same for each device:

• Notmad Manager Options... - Opens a dialog where you can set Notmad Manager's various options.
• About Notmad Manager... - Displays the version of Notmad Manager you are running.
• Exit Notmad Manager - As mentioned above, you should usually leave the Manager running, but if you really need to close it, this menu item will do it.

The first three items are also the same:

• Connect [device name] - Soft-connects your device.
• Disconnect [device name] - Soft-disconnects your device.
• Open Notmad Explorer [device name] - Opens Notmad Explorer for your device.

The menu for each of the Jukebox models will also include items related to Notweb Explorer. These are discussed in the Notweb Explorer section.

To soft-connect your Nomad, just use the "Connect [device name]" item in the menu of the systray icon. Make sure you use the correct systray device icon. The following is a list of the icons and which Nomad device they represent.

		Nomad II/IIc
		Nomad II MG
		Nomad Jukebox
		Nomad Jukebox 2
		Nomad Jukebox 3
		Nomad Jukebox Zen

Once you are soft-connected, you will see the connection graphic appear on the Nomad's display. At this point, your Nomad is under the control of the computer and you cannot use the buttons on the Nomad itself until you soft-disconnect.

At the present time, Notmad does not support having more than one device soft-connected at once.

After soft-connection, you'll want to launch Notmad Explorer itself. There are several different methods for doing this.

Once you are soft-connected, the most basic way of launching Notmad is also one of the reasons Notmad was created: integration into My Computer. For each device you selected for support during the installation process, a device icon will appear in the My Computer folder of Windows Explorer.

Simply double-click your device icon and you will begin browsing the contents of your Nomad. For your convenience, the installer also creates a Desktop shortcut for each device. Double-clicking one of the Desktop icons will also launch Notmad to your device.

Another way to launch Notmad is to double-click the Notmad Manager device icon in the systray. In fact, this may be the quickest way because it combines the steps of soft-connecting and launching Notmad into one double-click.

While your device is soft-connected, it is under the control of your computer and cannot be operated by the on-board buttons and controls. You will see a graphic displayed on the Nomad device's screen that indicates this state. To regain control of your Nomad using the on-board controls, you must soft-disconnect from Notmad.

Before you can soft-disconnect, make sure all Notmad Explorer windows are closed. Notmad won't let you soft-disconnect if there is a Notmad Explorer window still open.

To soft-disconnect, simply use the "Disconnect [device name]" item in the menu of the Notmad Manager systray icon for your device. Once you have soft-disconnected, you can safely unplug your Nomad.