Q: Windoze has suddenly decided to disconnect my iPod as soon as iTunes recognises it

Thanks for confirming my suspicions, the surreptitious mention in the link of "driverdoc", rang a distant alarm bell.

Why is nothing as it seems?

Been reading the audiobooks link you sent me but don't understand how one would use the scripts that are linked to, since they are executables would you store them somewhere or download them only when in process of creating the book?

I'll think about that whilst I sleep!

I'm sure I'll sleep well given the progress we've made.

Not expecting that you will be there today, being Good Friday and such lovely sunshine!

Only Sad Bas***ds like me are stuck inside!

Just a note on my progress, unfortunately rather retrograde I'm afraid!

My earlier presumption that it had synced was incorrect, since I can find no evidence that it had.

This morning I began to trudge the well worn path once more!

I have been thwarted so many times that I can only describe some individual incidents, but all have lead to failure!

First, there were several attempts not in "Disk Mode", just connecting the switched off iPod, with the slide switched to "Hold".

As soon as it is connected, it lights up, Windows acknowledges "something" has been connected and opens the Autoplay menu, iTunes lagging behind, eventually sniffs out "Geoff's iPod", but too late, Windows has already rejected its advances and disconnected the iPod.

iTunes doggedly insists that it is "there", showing what appears to be a legitimate "Summary Page", however clicking on sync, there is an interminable "wait" whilst iTunes decides whether it's coming or going, ...eventually deciding to "do" something, it proudly proclaims in the top central window "Syncing Geoff's iPod step 1 of 1!

There is a blue progress line beneath this proclamation, from one side of the window to the other as if to say (Nodding its head) That's right, it's happening!

Unbeknown to the poor sap sat in front of the screen, eyes bleeding from the strain, iTunes has "Frozen"! ...God, at least Windows for all its "ingloriosity" gives some visual indication that it has wet it's pants!

Oy Vey!

Then there were several more attempts in "Disk Mode", with more or less the same unwanted outcome!

Then something else happened, and I can't remember if the iPod was in Disk or Normal mode.

ITunes pops up a new message which threw me completely!

"iTunes has detected an iPod in recovery mode", the message continued to the effect "Waddaya wanna do, punk!"

I was frozen to the spot!

I recall looking at the iPod, but can't recall what "state" the screen was in: if it was showing the "do not disconnect" No Entry sign, or if it was the Disk Mode "Tick" which confusingly states below "Safe to Remove".

Or if it was just the "normal" iPod screen.

I decided to call its bluff and accept whatever was being offered thinking, it can't be any worse than it currently is!

...but nothing happened, what a letdown!

This happened again at some later point, I know not when, how or even what my reaction was!

I had finally determined to attempt to be "quicker on the draw" than Windows, and see if I could get iTunes to start a "sync" before Windows decided to pull the plug, and waddaya know!

I finally hit the jackpot!

it began to sync updating the playlist with a freshly ripped CD, and removing a couple of duplicates.

The way I did it, if I remember correctly, was first to attempt a sync which was aborted, after the customary freeze.

I clicked "OK" on the usual "iPod not found" message, which left me still viewing the "Summary" page in iTunes. I think the iPod had returned to its menu screen by then, and I put it into "Disk Mode" whilst still attached to the PC, iTunes was quicker off the mark this time, and I was ready for it, hovering my mouse over the point where the connection would appear!

Bang! got you you Bas***d! and it synced perfectly!

I must apologise for creating this enormous post, but it will serve to remind me, in the event, (God forbid) that I should enter this cul-de-sac of equipment failure again in the future.

I would also be grateful if you could let me know if, having read this volume, you could maybe validate my experience with any logical process!

Finally it is documented so that others suffering this anguish, know that they are not alone, and that some measure of success awaits them, ...no matter how small and insignificant it may be!

I look forward to your comments tt2, and hope that what has just happened might be something that can be repeated, ...if needed.

Meanwhile, flushed from this success I might get started on digitising my Vinyl and cassettes!

Thought you'd be out enjoying the sun!

I second that hope!!

Actually, I just tried it again because I noticed that the "options" tab of my Audio books still retained the ticks I had wrongly put in the  "Remember playback position", and in the "Skip when shuffling" boxes.

Just as earlier, plugging in, the connection was cut by Windows, so without unplugging or disconnecting, I put the iPod into Disk mode and was quicker than Windows to grab the connection, it synced and the ticks are gone!

Thank you so much for your help and advice, and as much as anything, just for being there!

It's much appreciated.

I was just going through the posts in this thread, I was intent on marking several of your pearls of wisdom "Helpful", but it seems I'm restricted in the quantity and cannot "refine" my selections!

Though there wasn't one definitive answer, I have learned an enormous amount from your helpful replies and suggestions.

I have bookmarked this thread so that I can easily return and re-read some of the wisdom that I'm bound to forget, particularly your explanation of Playlists both Smart and Regular!