My Ipod sucks

Submitted by KatakylsmCauser on January 29, 2006 - 5:58pm

My Ipod has stopped working completely. My computer doesn't
even recognize the removable disk drive the Ipod uses
( which is the G drive). It also says "Can't mount" when
you go to the Ipod Updater. I reset the Ipod by holding down
the "select" button and the "Menu" at the same time. The
screen showed the apple icon and then displayed what was a
folder with an exclamation point. I then held down both
the "select" button and the "play/pause" button and then
the screen said "O.K to remove" with a check mark. At the
top, it said "Disk Mode". I then resetted it again and it
simply repeated the process. Any ideas as to what I should do?

cwsmith's picture

Submitted by cwsmith on January 29, 2006 - 9:03pm.

What operating system are you using?
Mac OS X (Tiger, Panther, or Jaguar)?
Mac OS 9?
Windows (XP or 2000)?

What version of iTunes is running? Please give us the exact version number.
iTunes 6.x
iTunes 5
iTunes 4.x

What version of QuickTime is running? Again, the exact version number.
QuickTime 5.x
QuickTime 6.x
QuickTime 7.x

What iPod are you using? We know it's not a Shuffle, because you apparently have a display. But we know nothing else.
iPod mini?
iPod nano?
Full-size iPod? What version? Color screen or b/w? FireWire or dock connector? Video?

Have you downloaded the most recent iPod updater from Apple, and tried using it? Not just the one in the box. What were the results?

What else have you tried? What were the results?

Submitted by KatakylsmCauser on January 29, 2006 - 9:13pm.

Windows XP operating system, iTunes 6.0, Quicktime 5.0,
Full size iPod 4th generation, non-color screen, Firewire
connector, no video (obviously!!!).

I haven't downloaded the most recent version which I
believe is 6.0.2 (right?).I have resetted the thing so
many times. I didn't try disk utility or the Updater
because the Updater does not work. I don't know what
else to do. This freakin' Ipod is KILLING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!

cwsmith's picture

Submitted by cwsmith on January 29, 2006 - 9:33pm.

1. Go to Start>Control Panels>Add and Remove Programs. Uninstall iTunes (you'll still have your music files on your computer) and then uninstall QuickTime.

2. Go to www.apple.com and download the latest versions iTunes (6.0.something, includes QuickTime 7) and the iPod updater.

3. Install iTunes/QuickTime and restart the computer.

4. Install and run the iPod updater. Reset the iPod to its facory settings. Important note: you will lose all the music and data from your iPod. But you don't keep your only copies on your iPod, right? RIGHT?

5. Let us know how it turns out.

cwsmith's picture

Submitted by cwsmith on January 29, 2006 - 9:43pm.

Windows XP operating system, iTunes 6.0, Quicktime 5.0,
Full size iPod 4th generation, non-color screen, Firewire
connector, no video (obviously!!!).

I haven't downloaded the most recent version which I
believe is 6.0.2 (right?).I have resetted the thing so
many times. I didn't try disk utility or the Updater
because the Updater does not work. I don't know what
else to do. This freakin' Ipod is KILLING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Note: DO NOT use Disk Utility, Scandisk, Norton Utilites, etc. on your iPod. You will make things much worse than they already are.

Note: Download and install the very latest version of the iPod updater, from Apple's website. Don't use the one that came with your iPod.

Note: If your iPod is 4th generation, it uses a dock connector, not a FireWire connector. Generations 1 and 2 used a 6-pin FireWire connector on the top of the iPod. Genereations 3 and 4 used the Dock connector which can connect via a FireWire or USB cable. Generation 5 still uses a Dock connector, but can only connect via USB (will charge over FireWire, but won't show up on the computer).

Have you tried using a Dock-to-USB cable instead of Dock-to-FireWire?