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Level 1

125 points

Certain iTunes Store Videos Don't Play On 5th Gen iPod

Hi,

I'm using a 5th generation iPod (80 GB) model connected to a Mac Pro running OS X 10.4.11, using iTunes v7.6.2 to manually sync the content on the iPod. There were two files that I received today from the iTunes Store (via a season pass notification). The two files downloaded successfully to the desktop and I verified they were playable from within iTunes.

Since I am manually managing the content on the iPod, I manually copied the episodes from my iTunes TV Show library to the iPod. The files copied successfully (there were no error messages). I then attempted to play the videos from the iPod to my TV (using the Apple iPod AV Connection Kit). The two videos do not play (I did select the TV out option). They appear to start and then ... nothing. No output. I am still able to play video content in this manner using other files, but not these. I am also unable to play the files to the iPod screen (same symptoms as before).

I am able to play the two files with the iPod connected to the host computer (by double-clicking the files in their respective folder -- if this is actually playing the iPod files or the library files, I cannot determine).

I ran Disk Utility on the iPod, and no errors were reported. I reset the iPod IAW <http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/ipod5gen>. There was no change. I also deleted the two files from the iPod and replaced them with copied from the library. As far as I can see there are no pending iPod SW updates, so reinstalling the iPod SW may not help. I am also hesitant to blow away the contents of the iPod. I will ensure I have a good backup before doing anything like this...

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

Rocky

Mac Pro 2x2 2.66 GHz 7GB RAM, Mac OS X (10.4.10), 5th Gen iPod (80 GB)

Posted on Apr 14, 2008 11:14 PM

208 replies

Rocky Pope Author

Level 1

125 points

Apr 25, 2008 1:04 AM in response to Frost AD

Based on what have have said, you will have to open an issue with Apple Customer Support. I had to do the same (I have received mine two days ago), and I followed one of the "contact us" links from the iTunes Store. There are also other messages in this thread from others who have gone through the same process. Some of the messages specify the links they used to report the issue, I didn't save my link.

In any case, once you get the issue reported, they will issue you a credit for any non-playing episodes. You will have to delete the originals (or remove the items from the library and move the files elsewhere) download the new content, and copy (or sync) them to your iPod.

Good luck,

Rocky

Rocky Pope Author

Level 1

125 points

Apr 25, 2008 1:43 AM in response to Rocky Pope

Hi,

I'd like to let everyone on this thread know that I am marking this thread as "closed." Apple granted me credits for the affected videos. After deleting the affected episodes from the library (and moving the files to the trash), I repurchased them, and redownloaded them. After copying the files to the iPod, they played normally.

Thanks to everyone here with this issue. Good luck resolving your issues. In any case, we all know what we must do to rectify the problem.

Regards,

Rocky

Apr 25, 2008 4:58 AM in response to Rocky Pope

Well...

I got two new season downloads today:

. . My Name is Earl - Killerball
. . CSI - Drop's Out

They both work fine.

Has anyone had older Earl's work properly now?

Apr 25, 2008 2:02 PM in response to Rocky Pope

This worked for me too. I was issued a credit, I re-downloaded the TV show that had the problem and transferred it to my iPod, and it plays without any problems. Thanks for opening a discussion on this issue!

Rocky Pope Author

Level 1

125 points

Apr 25, 2008 3:49 PM in response to Irfan Refai

No problem. It only took 200 messages (the total after I post this one).

Rocky

tshepp

Level 1

0 points

Apr 26, 2008 1:18 PM in response to Rocky Pope

Deleted bad episodes from my TV list and from my Purchased list, re-downloaded each, working fine! Thanks to Rocky Pope for bringing attention and results to this wide spread problem!!!

Apr 26, 2008 2:34 PM in response to Irfan Refai

I got an email today saying that replacement episodes had been added to my auto-download list in iTunes.

They seem to work just fine.

Rocky Pope Author

Level 1

125 points

Apr 27, 2008 12:59 PM in response to tshepp

Thanks. I did what any of you would have done when faced with this issue.

Regards,

Rocky

Apr 28, 2008 3:01 AM in response to William Donelson

I'm glad this issue was resolved, but I've got a related one that has yet to be addressed. I've never had a problem playing iTunes Music Store videos in iTunes or on my 5G iPod - maybe I lucked out. But recently I lost the ability to play the shows and such on my TV via the a/v cables and dock and everything. Just audio; no video appears. It USED to work; I can say for certain it worked at least until this past November.

Some seem to think it has something to do with the 1.3 software update; is there any way to revert to the old software? Maybe the next update will fix this? If it was incompatible with my iPod, the updater should have prevented the update, according to this website.

Boo. Hiss.

tricksee

Level 2

184 points

Apr 28, 2008 1:03 PM in response to thebernreuter

You might want to start a new thread, but I'm wondering: are the shows playing on the iPod before you connect it to the TV? Are the shows playing on your computer? If so, I would guess the issue is with the AV connection. I don't think the software would affect the ability to send out the signal through AV cables.

Rocky Pope Author

Level 1

125 points

Apr 28, 2008 1:09 PM in response to thebernreuter

Hi,

I am not having any issues using the A/V cables and dock. Maybe it's a hardware issue ( I hope for for your sake)? I would think that posting another thread will help, as this thread is pretty much played out.

Good luck,

Rocky

May 16, 2008 11:30 AM in response to sfdays

I hate to say this, but I am still purchasing movies that won't play on my 5G ipod video. Some that I buy play fine while others don't. I do play along with the re-download thing in case it ever works, but not so far. Apple has issued refunds on some of the ones that we can't get to play. They do play in iTunes though.

I wish there was a way to identify which ones won't work. This latest one is I, Robot with Will Smith. Anybody else with 5G ipod had same problem with this particulary movie? Thanks.

R36 9346

Level 1

35 points

Jul 9, 2008 12:52 PM in response to Professor Kelp

"The Bat Jar Conjecture" from The Big Bang Theory, Season 1. I purchased it THREE times since it appeared on the Store (2008-04-23, 2008-05-13, 2008-07-09), and the problem still has not been resolved.

Certain iTunes Store Videos Don't Play On 5th Gen iPod