connect it to another pc to see whether the same error. Or your device is dead. things often happen like this. next time, do get it out before shutting your pc down.

Alright guys, I think I've figured it out.

I got mine working again, and it's been down with the same problem since the 29th, you can see my post for help up above ^

So I tried to do the "Hold power for 30 seconds while plugged into your computer" thing. Didn't do anything, but thing is, I didn't unplug it from my computer afterwards, I just went to bed, and when I woke up, my creative was working again.

This, coupled with Oddu's solution have pretty much made me positive that for the problem we are having (only a blinking blue LED when connected to the PC or when you hold the power button) is just caused by an over-dead battery.

Plug your Creative Zen: Vision M into your USB 2.0 port, and just leave it overnight, mine was plugged in about 7 hours, I reccomend leaving it in at least that long, if not longer if it's still not working.

The situation that lead to mine becoming this way, was my Creative froze, and I didn't have a mechanicle pencil with me to hit the small reset button on the bottom so I just let it stay powered on until the battery died. I guess that kind of completly dead battery screws it over.

For prevention in the future, I reccomend not letting your creative get down to 0% battery. Keep it charged.

I have minimal-to-no experience with mp3 hardware, but having lost my mother and inheriting her iPod, I wish you the absolute best of luck and hope you're able to get it working again. Being able to plug in my headphones and listen to her favorite songs whenever I need to is such a comforting feeling. Godspeed.

Carbine15, I just had the exact same problem with my Zen today. I tried everything but then came to realize something: even if the power is switched OFF, the reset function restores the player to it's exact same place had it been just turned on. So, in effect, it should turn the player on if reset is hit. I just did this and presto! player is back to normal, it is powered on, screen works and computer recognized it instantly when plugged in while powered on. I hope this helps you! When Player is frozen, screen is black and blue light is on, you can power off your Zen as follows: You want the hold button at the top of the player in the ORANGE position, this will lock your keys. Hold the power button down for 2 or 3 seconds, the keypad will flash blue and then all buttons will be deactivated. Take a very fine paperclip, piece of fusewire, sewing neele (be careful of causing damage witht he needle, though) and underneath the player, right next to the cable connector is a tiny hole, put the pin or whatever you're using in there and push in slowly as to not damage the player. This should remedy any freezing problems and power on your Zen. If your player's screen has now lit up, plug it in and charge it fully. After a few hours, your zen should be ready to use.

could it be the usb cable got damaged some how? have you tried using a different cable with the same results?