Why will the ipod software not recognize my ipod?
[1283 byte] By [zombieman] at [2007-11-9 19:46:48] 
OMG, this thing is making me mad! Ok, i purchased a 20G ipod yesterday. I have yet to get it to work on my windows xp based pc. I have the loaded the correct PC software. OK, when you read the book it tell you to charge the ipod, load the software, and then connect and transfer your music. OK, when I load my software it tells me I need to configure the ipod and asks if i want to do it now or skip it. If you skip it, it never gives you the chance to do it again, if I choose to configure it, when i plug it into my computer the computer recognizes it (atleast its in device manager, and in the "safley remove hardware" list) but the ipod software that is trying to configure it continually tells me to plug it in! OMG, these apple people dont have a clue! every tech. support that i have been through on the net tell me if it doesnt recognize the ipod then I should update the software using the update manager. WELL YOU CANT DO THAT IF THE COMPUTER DOESNT RECOGNIZE IT! I have tried this over and over after uninstalling the software completly and removing the ipod from the device manager. it does the same thing everytime. oyea, and if i open itunes, the ipod is not listed there either. Someone please help me, i just spent $500 on this and dont know what to do.
# 1 Re: Why will the ipod software not recognize my ipod?
Ok, I figured one part of it out. My Ipod is formated for a mac. Apples tech tells me to do this:1. Make sure your computer meets the system requirements to use iPod for Windows Software 1.0. For more information on the system requirements, see technical document 60971, "iPod: System Requirements."
2. Find the iPod for Windows Software 1.0 CD-ROM disc that came with your iPod, and insert it into your computer's disc drive. Note: This software is not available to download from Apple's Web site.
3. Install iPod for Windows Software 1.0. For more information see technical document 61669, " iPod for Windows Software 1.0: How to Install".
4. Connect iPod to your computer using the FireWire cable that came with iPod. If your computer does not have a FireWire port see the Apple Store (http://www.apple.com/store/) for compatible FireWire cards you can install in your computer.
5. Open Updater and restore the software.
1. Choose the Updater from the Start menu: Programs > iPod.
2. Click Restore.
3. Follow the directions on the screen.
OK, this makes no since, My updater program cannot mount my ipod! Now what do I do???? they tell me to locate the 1.0 software on my disk that came with the ipod. well it only has version 2.1 on the disk. Is this a problem Or did apple simply meen to say "locate the update software"?? does it make a difference?
zombieman at 2007-11-15 14:04:22 >
# 2 Re: Why will the ipod software not recognize my ipod?
First things first, Zombieman. Calm down and don't panic. If you have new ipod (3rd Gen with dock connector) and windows XP then they WILL work. Try going through the following checklist:1. Are you connected through a firwire port or USB 2.0? The best way is through firewire as it charges the ipod at the same time.
2. Uninstall all the software and re-install following the instructions in the manual to the letter. Your ipod MUST be formatted to work with windows and this must be done first before you can do anything with it. This process should happen before the software installs itunes.
I am sure if you take it one step at a time you will get things working, but make sure your firewire connection is in place before inserting the installation cd.
Good luck, Bill.
Zab1955 at 2007-11-15 14:05:22 >
# 3 Re: Why will the ipod software not recognize my ipod?
Ok, I tried that and it didnt work. You said make sure the firewire is connected before starting the software? do you meen connected to the computer or both the comptuer and the ipod? I tried both and neither worked. I uninstalled everything, software and hardware in the device manager. I started over from scratch and it still will not recognize the ipod when i try to run the configure software. However the computer does see it as drive C and adds it to my list of disk drives. my computer even has it titles as ipod. is this format process the same as the configure process that the software is attempting to do? or do I need to skip the configure process and finish the rest of the installation of the software? the instructions say install all the software first and then plug the ipod in doesnt it? Thank you for any help.why would the ipod be listed in the device manager after i plug it in but the ipod software doesnt find it? Im using firewire (powered) and have tried both the dock and just plugging it into the pod itself. I read somewhere that you cannot plug the ipod into your computer before installing the software. it said something to the effect of it not recognizing it due to this. i did do that when i first got the thing, but since then i have uninstalled of the software and removed the ipod from the device manager to no avail. is there something embedded in the registry that may be causing the probem? please help.
PS. the instructions pretty much just tell you install software, plug in your ipod and then transfer your software. why do they never mention anywhere that it requires configuring the ipod and what the configuration is actually doing. these are the most usless instructions i have ever seen when it comes to the installation of software and hardware (for trouble installtions sake).
zombieman at 2007-11-15 14:06:20 >
# 4 Re: Why will the ipod software not recognize my ipod?
I agree with Zab1955, stop panicking.Now, I'll try to help as best I can.
I think you should forget the disc that came with it. Use the iPod firmware updater to format it. This can be found at http://www.apple.com/ipod/download/.
Connect the iPod to the computer with the firewire cable. Then, install that software. When it's installed and running, it should open, and give you two options. The first is to update, and the second is to restore. Choose restore, and it should format your iPod for Windows.
amped at 2007-11-15 14:07:17 >
# 5 Re: Why will the ipod software not recognize my ipod?
Well, I downloaded the 1.3 version for my docking station and when i activate it, it pops up and says "cant mount ipod". I tried it with both the dock and without it.zombieman at 2007-11-15 14:08:16 >
# 6 Re: Why will the ipod software not recognize my ipod?
i tried using ephpod2 and when i attempt to access the ipod with it it says:"The drive you have chosen does not appear to have the
proper iPod directory structure. All iPods have a main
directory called ipod_control, and several subdirectories,
including 20 hidden directories of music files.
You will not be able to continue with EphPod unless you
build this directory structure."
then when i tell it to build it it says "cant create :/ipod_control.
I suppose this is because my ipod is formated for mac and not PC?
zombieman at 2007-11-15 14:09:26 >
# 7 Re: Why will the ipod software not recognize my ipod?
Originally posted by zombieman However the computer does see it as drive C and adds it to my list of disk drives. my computer even has it titles as ipod.
Hmmm, I seem to remember reading about someone else who was having issues with his/her iPod, and it too was recognized on their PC as the C: drive. If you can, you might want to reassign the iPod to drive F: and see if that helps.
AndyH at 2007-11-15 14:10:19 >
# 8 Re: Why will the ipod software not recognize my ipod?
Originally posted by AndyH Hmmm, I seem to remember reading about someone else who was having issues with his/her iPod, and it too was recognized on their PC as the C: drive. If you can, you might want to reassign the iPod to drive F: and see if that helps.
Surprisingly, that's what I was thinking. But, I think I have it figured out.
Zombie,
Your iPod is formatted for a Mac. This means the filesystem is HFS+. Windows cannot write to or read(?) HFS+ filesystems. This is why it cannot be mounted, and you cannot restructure it properly. You need to convert the filesystem.
There are many tools to do this. First, you could use partition magic, but that costs money.
Second, you could just use windows explorer. So hit My Computer, and plugin your iPod. Right click IPOD C:\, and click something like format. I've never done this, so I'm not quite sure what it looks like. If it gives you any options, format it to a FAT32 partition. Then run the firmware updater, and do a restore.
Alright, reply if you have any questions or problems.
amped at 2007-11-15 14:11:21 >
# 9 Re: Why will the ipod software not recognize my ipod?
Well, I had a extra 40G hardrive and stuck it in my computer. I got xp installed and immeditally put the ipod software on the computer. Of course by default windows made the OS drive "C" and I dont remeber what it made my Ipod. As soon as the configure option poped up I clicked "ok" and plugged the pod in. IT WORKED! I guess this was the problem. ofcourse it coulda been a software conflict or something, being that on my newer HD I have nothing but the ipod software installed. But it makes since that the drive letter for the ipod was the problem. This defenelty needs to be put on apples tech. site. Thank yall so much! Now back to installing all this crap on my new HD and formating my old OS HD as a backup. Owell, take the good with the bad.zombieman at 2007-11-15 14:12:30 >
# 10 Re: Why will the ipod software not recognize my ipod?
I remember reading in the past that this is a problem with the ipod software. It doesn't look for the ipod on C: because the software thinks that letter is occupied by the hard drive. You can manually change the ipod letter by right clicking on it in my computer. Many people like to use I:skubish at 2007-11-15 14:13:22 >
# 11 Re: Why will the ipod software not recognize my ipod?
exactly how do you change the drive letter like that? I tried everything before installing that diff. HD. I even tried the partition magic but it only sees internal drives or my larger 80G exteral for some reason. But back to my question, how do you change the drive letter the way you were talking about? Does it work on your computer?zombieman at 2007-11-15 14:14:31 >
# 12 Re: Why will the ipod software not recognize my ipod?
I did a search and found this info in another post and it solved my prob that's been driving me nuts for weeks. Credit goes to EvilDude."Try changing the drive letter, if you use XP, go to Control Panel, then Administrative tools, then computer management, and then Disk Management option. There your iPod should be shown. Change your Drive Letter by right clicking iPod drive, and Change Drive Letter Option."
c1700 at 2007-11-15 14:15:28 >
[an error occurred while processing this directive]