SailorDon

While in the process of uploading a bunch of .mp3 files from my hard drive (Windows XP), I had a 1G memory stick that used to work in my SYNC, go "bad". It would only show the titles and artists (not 100% correct). No sound, but the timer showed like it was playing the files. I never got any copyright messages like the OP mentioned.

I took a new memory stick and uploaded the very same .mp3 files and plugged it into the SYNC USB port and it plays fine.

My suggestion is to upload your files to another memory stick and try it. Hopefully it will work as good for you as it did for me.

Pale Screw

CallMeBean, Try like others have said. Get a new thumbdrive, and reformat it FAT32 using a PC. Make sure the thumbdrive you're using doesn't have security (U3) or biometric software (that requires a password to access the drive.)on it. This really screws with SYNC. After that copy your files to the thumbdrive as .mp3. SYNC requires metadata tags to properly index and catalog your music. This is so SYNC can find your music if you call out for artist, album, genre, or track. I think this possibly tells SYNC it is legally owned music.

Perform a master reset, or with the truck off pull the fuse for SYNC for a few minutes & reinstall. Turn the truck to the on position, and wait for SYNC to restart. This will take a few minutes. Then plug in your thumbdrive, and call out for USB (in dash) / USB2 (mod in glove box). It should show indexing on the display, and will take a few minutes or seconds to index depending on how many files.

The "This device does not support playing protected music through the sync system." I think is a legal disclaimer from Ford. I have heard this from day 1, and all my music plays just fine.

Pale Screw

Double Tap

CallMeBean

I figured it out.
My MP3s didn't have any of the tags set.
I entered the Title, Artist and Genre and now it works fine.
It's going to be a lot of work to set all these tags. Grrrrr.

Bean

Skipather

.45 ACP: because double-tapping is silly...

Pale Screw

Yea your right. I prefer 5.56 though.

Hey Bean, glad you got it figured out.

glenns280

Mine says the same thing,but like some others say, I hit play and its fine.

YourNameHere

I don't have a specific recommendation but if you have in a file structure with artistname/albumname/tracknumber_trackname.mp3 there are apps that will insert the tagging by looking at the file structure.

irebel

Yes I have fat32. I had a old small usb drive and it did work but I couldn't see what songs and what folder. So then I bought a 8gb flash drive and it will only play 1 song over and over. And then I put the old smaller one back in and it won't work. I can't remember what it said but it didn't say it anything about protected music.
I can't figure this one out. I tried everything I could think of. Why was the little one working before and now it's not...
I would appreciate some help with this one. TIA

Tallyman89

I use MP3 Tag to edit Meta tags on music. Sometimes when I rip a CD there are no tags so the music cannot be indexed. I use MP3 Tag to enter the tags manually. Works like a charm.

Irebel.....have you tried your usb drive on a computer? Does the music play properly in it?