sailor323

Q: i-pod classic not recognized by i-tunes

plugged the i-pod classic into a Mac computer.  Naturally, it erased all the music on the i-pod. However, none of the music on the Mac was recorded on the ipod.  The monitor read out for music says, “no music.”  Then, to make matters worse, when I plugged the ipod into my PC, it did not copy anything from the computer.  I went to devices on the i-tunes drop-down but the i-pod did not appear as a device.  At some point, I got an alert to the effect that the i-pod had been corrupted.  I tried to reset by pressing the menu and select button, got the apple image but i-tunes would still not recognize the device.  I tried this on another PC, one that I have before for the purpose.  Same result. Both PCs have the latest version of i-tunes.  On the “about” page on the i-pod I see that the version is 2.04PC  so I’m guessing that the original software was for a PC and plugging into a Mac messed that up.  Can I load PC software onto the ipod via the internet?

iPod classic 160GB (Late 2009), Windows 7

Posted on Sep 27, 2016 10:49 AM

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Q: i-pod classic not recognized by i-tunes

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  • by Kenichi Watanabe,Solvedanswer

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Sep 29, 2016 12:13 PM in response to sailor323
    Level 8 (39,338 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 29, 2016 12:13 PM in response to sailor323

    Naturally, it erased all the music on the i-pod.

    Not sure what "naturally" means...  If iPod was previously associated with your Windows PC's iTunes library, and you connected it to your Mac, it should not erase the iPod unless you specifically tell iTunes to Sync Music from the Mac's iTunes library or do a Restore (to erase the iPod).  Since it was erased (probably with a Restore), after the Restore, the iPod uses the Manually manage music and videos setting by default.  It still "syncs" but nothing gets loaded on iPod.

     

    If you expect iTunes to automatically sync your music library to iPod, you must set it to Sync Music.  Find iPod's device button in iTunes.  Here's a screenshot of upper left corner of my iTunes window, with iPod's device button circled in red

    iPod device button general.png

    Click that button, to show iPod's Summary settings screen in iTunes window.  Along the left side, in the sidebar, under Settings, click Music.  To the right, iPod's Music settings screen appears.  Checkmark the box for Sync Music.

     

    NOTE:  Any songs on iPod that are are not in your iTunes library (on computer) will be lost.

     

    This turns ON automatic syncing.  You can choose to sync Entire music library (if it fits) or a Selected portion.  Set up this screen as desired, and click Apply to sync.  Going forward, iTunes automatically keeps iPod "in sync" with changes to your music library (or selected portion of it) when you connect iPod (or click Sync if already connected).

     

    NOTE:  If your iPod is currently "corrupted," you'll need to do a Restore on the iPod in iTunes, before you can set it up to Sync Music.  The Restore button is on iPod's Summary settings screen in iTunes.  Use whichever computer you plan to use with iPod going forward for the Restore.

    Can I load PC software onto the ipod via the internet?

    The iPod's onboard software is the same, the only difference is how the iPod's hard drive is formatted, for Mac or for Windows.  And doing a Restore on the iPod in iTunes is how the iPod's software is reinstalled.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Sep 27, 2016 2:17 PM in response to sailor323
    Level 10 (189,599 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 27, 2016 2:17 PM in response to sailor323

    When you switch syncing computers you have to restore the device, which erases the device, on the second computer.

    To late now but:

    Syncing to a "New" Computer or replacing a "crashed" Hard Drive: Apple Support Communities


     

    Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Sep 27, 2016 2:24 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 8 (39,338 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 27, 2016 2:24 PM in response to lllaass

    NOTE:  If a media player iPod (not iPod touch) is set to use the Manually manage music [and videos] setting, it can continue to be used that way with a different computer that has a different iTunes library.  Also, a Mac can read/write the Windows format, so if going from Windows PC to Mac (not Mac to Windows PC), it does not need a Restore.  It can be used on the Mac with Windows format on iPod. 

     

    IF the iPod is set to use automatic syncing (the Sync Music setting), THEN it gets erased when setting up automatic syncing with a different iTunes library.  But a Restore is not necessary.  You can change the iTunes library association without clicking the Restore button.

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Sep 27, 2016 2:32 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 10 (189,599 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 27, 2016 2:32 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Not if you change between Mac and PC though

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Sep 27, 2016 2:33 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 8 (39,338 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 27, 2016 2:33 PM in response to lllaass

    Yes, I mentioned that in my post... 

  • by sailor323,

    sailor323 sailor323 Sep 29, 2016 12:15 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPod
    Sep 29, 2016 12:15 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Thank you, this seems to have worked, had to go through the steps several times but finally succeeded in copying music and playlists to the ipod

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Sep 29, 2016 12:30 PM in response to sailor323
    Level 8 (39,338 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 29, 2016 12:30 PM in response to sailor323

    Thanks for reporting back with the outcome.  Happy to hear it's working again...