Rio500 under Windows 2000 HOWTO

Amazing. People still want this howto! If this is useful to you, please click on some of my nice Google Ads.

Version 1.6a (updated with fixed link to zip file) -- Richi Jennings richi (at) richi (dot) co (dot) uk—feel free to e-mail me with suggestions or corrections.

Based on the original posting on NT Compatible by myan1 (at) san (dot) rr (dot) com Perhaps this works on Windows XP as well? I dunno: I have an iPod now...

1. Uninstall Audio Manager 2.1, if you have it installed. Make sure the Audio Manager directory is deleted (the songs database format is incompatible).
2. Unpack the RAM2020.ZIP (1.74MB) file to where you want it -- it will create a new RioPort\ directory (normally this is \Program Files\RioPort\). That's right: there's no installer -- you may need to create your own icon under the Start menu.
3. Open a CMD.EXE prompt, CD to the Audio Manager directory and run SWITCHTO500.BAT -- this will install all the MD*.DLL files in WINNT\SYSTEM32\. Check that MDMUSER.DLL is there -- if not, copy it from the RioPort\ directory.
4. Run the Audio Manager program, 1SMUSIC.EXE, just to make sure it works. Once you're happy that it's working, just close it (it may warn you that it can't find a portable player, but don't worry about that).
5. Unpack the USB1001.ZIP (8KB) file -- it should create a directory called USB 1.0.0.1\ with the Rio USB drivers in it.
6. Plug in your Rio500. Win2k will detect it, and will ask you for drivers for it. Click the Browser button, and point it at the USB 1.0.0.1\ directory. It will now install the drivers.
7. Now you can run the Audio Manager again, and it should all work... ;-)

If this has been helpful, please leave a comment below.

The master version of this HOWTO is kept at http://richi.co.uk/.