Eugene user
Level 1
(4 points)
Q: Mac mini does not have firewire port to restore my iPod 1st generation
I have a very old iPod (first generation, I think, with 4 buttons under display and a scroll wheel). I want to restore the iPod and erase all of my music and other data before giving it away to a computer reuse and recycle place. When I try to do with with iTunes I get a message saying I need to connect with Firewire. But the firewire connection on my iPod cable does not fit the Firewire ports on my 2012 Mac Mini. Is there another way to restore???
Kenichi Watanabe
Level 8
(39,278 points)
I have a very old iPod (first generation, I think, with 4 buttons under display and a scroll wheel).
That's actually a 3rd gen iPod, if those four buttons are round touch buttons (that glow orange), in a row between the screen and touch wheel. It has a dock connector, like later iPods, but it only charges from a FireWire port, and you need to connect it to a FireWire port when doing a Restore.
You need to connect it to a computer that is running iTunes to do a Restore. If your Mac mini has a FireWire port, it is FireWire 800. You need an adapter like this one, to convert it to FireWire 400.
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/FIR1369AD/
(You also need the FireWire docking cable that came with those iPods.)
