iPod not opening in iTunes

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iPod not opening in iTunes

Hello All-

I have a 2nd generation 15GB iPod that has worked wonderfully for 4 years. In the last week, however, I have been having a problem. When I connect the iPod to my iBook, the iPod isn't recognized by iTunes. The iPod does show up on the desktop, but in iTunes all I get is the spinning wheel of death. The iPod itself shows the "Do not disconnect" message. iTunes also freezes. Not even a force quit will shut it down, and after trying to force quit, my entire laptop freezes and I have to turn it off using the power button. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

iBook G4, Mac OS X (10.3.x)

Posted on Jul 6, 2008 12:02 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Kenichi Watanabe

Level 8

41,572 points

Jul 6, 2008 12:47 AM in response to wildphelps1

First, try resetting the iPod itself with the two button combo, if you have not done so already. If that does not do anything that helps...

Since the iPod is recognized, that's good. Don't start iTunes, but connect the iPod.

Run Disk Utility. Select the iPod as a hard drive (not the volume under the drive). Go to the Erase tab and erase (reformat) the iPod. After this completes successfully, quit Disk Utility. Note: If it errors out or stalls, there may be a hardware problem (most likely with the hard drive).

Try running iTunes now. If it starts up successfully and shows the iPod under DEVICES, use the Restore button on the iPod's pane.

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Answer 2

Jul 13, 2008 2:30 PM in response to wildphelps1

I had a similar problem to yours. This happened with all of the iPods in the house, so I knew it wasn't an iPod problem. I erased the iTunes preference file - "/yourusername/Library/Preferences/com.apple.ipod.plist" - then restarted iTunes and reset my preferences. Before plugging the iPod back in again I started up iTunes, then plugged in the iPod. Once the iPod mounted and appeared in iTunes, I clicked on the main iPod icon under "Devices" on the sidebar. Make sure the "Summary" tab is on screen, then find the check box labeled "Open iTunes when this iPod is connected" and click on the box to get the check mark. Now, iTunes once again automatically opens when I plug the iPod in.

Hope that helps!

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Answer 3

wildphelps1 Author

Level 1

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Jul 29, 2008 9:36 AM in response to wildphelps1

Thank you for the advice. I was able to get it resolved using the disk utility method and have had no problems since. And here I thought I had a good reason to upgrade to a new iPod, alas, the old one is still going strong.

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Answer 4

Aug 1, 2008 10:09 AM in response to wildphelps1

You can still get a new iPod. I use my old one as an emergency/maintenance startup drive, so that I can run Disk Warrior and Tech Tool Pro.

Thanks for posting back with the outcome.

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Answer 5

Aug 16, 2008 12:13 PM in response to wildphelps1

i have a 30gb ipod video and it works and itunes work but by thereselves and when i connect them itunes freezes and doesnt read the ipod and the do not disconnect stays on the ipod and i cant restore it. any suggestions on what to do?

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