iPod doesn't appear in iTunes or on desktop

I have a 40GB iPod with version 2.2 software. My iTunes 4.9 suddenly won't recognise it even though it mounts on the desktop and begins charging.

Is there a software conflict between 4.9 and the iPod software?

Does anyone know a way round this?

I've tried getting 4.7 but it's greyed out when I go to install it at the Easy/Custom Install stage.

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks

Piers

I have a 15 GB ipod, and a pismo with 10.3.8 installed. Until the last week I have had no problem with my set up. Until now. The ipod icon appears on the desk top when I click on Itunes it either freezes or doesn't acknowledge a connection. I have tried to reset the ipod but nothing happens. I have tried the on and off and plugg in after nothing.
For some reason I am wondering if there is virus or something out there?
does anyone know what the **** is going on?

same problem here.. my ipod started acting funny a few days ago, like sometimes skipping songs etc.. it actually seemed to have problems only with an album i had just bought on itunes so i i thought that was the problem.. any way when i came back home ( i was travelling at the time) i resetted it, just in case.. and then when i tried to reload the songs on the ipod in would stop uploading them after a while, itunes would freeze, i resetted it a couple of times and then it just stopped showing up on either the desktop or itunes.. it just says do not disconnect and then charges, if i unpulg it it seems to work, i can play the games on it and stuff, i don't get the folder icon or anything, but i can't restore it or put music in it..

hello
I am yet another one with the same problem. I have itunes 4.9 and a 10gig touch wheel ipod. When i connect the ipod, Itunes opens and then immidiately closes, with the warning message saying other applications were not affected. The weird part is that it shows up on the desktop.
I have tried all of the suggested fixes, and none have worked. My ipod is slowly becoming more and more useless. I can use it, but I can't change anything on it. I am also scared to format the ipod, because if it still does not work after i do that, I will have a useless device.

I seem to have found a solution to my iPod not being recognised by iTunes.

When plugging in my iPod I was prompted (as usual) to reset the factory settings using iPod Software Updater. I located the software (Applications/Utilities/ipod Software Updater) and found I still had version 1.2.1 (as well as version 2.1).

I used 1.2.1, it wiped my iPod. I then ejected the iPod, quit iTunes and plugged the iPod back in. iTunes recognised the iPod but prompted me to update to the latest version of iPod software (v2.2). I ignored this prompt and can now use my iPod as before.

In short, the older Software Updater (1.2.1) seems to be the key.

It's been almost 10 months since my 3rd gen. iPod stopped showing up on my iMac desktop when I placed it in the docking station, stopped showing up in iTunes, and would lock up iTunes. I'd just about given up, had tried many of the cures I read about here, none worked, and then all I did one day was perform the reset followed by the disk mode steps (i.e., pressing combinations of buttons) but this time I did it w/ the iPod in its docking station. Suddenly, the iPod started syncing w/ my iMac, and a bunch of songs I'd added to iTunes previously started moving over to the iPod. (Previously I'd been resetting, and setting to disk mode, w/ holding the ipod in my hands). Worth a try.

I had the same problem, in my case it was the cable. altough it was charging still trough the cable. A friend of my had the same thing, so check your cable.
good luck

Although you might have been using iTunes 4.9 and it might have been fixed, you might have a new problem with iTunes 5.0. In case you do have a problem with your iPod being not recognized on iTunes and/or Finder, this is what you do:

Go to System/Library/Extensions and delete a file called iPodDriver.kext . Reboot your computer and it should work. I am posting this on as many posts as I can. See "The Solution to many iTunes 5.0 Problems" thread.

ME 2 - iPOD NOT MOUNTING PROBLEM!

I'm having serious problems - ipod will not mount unto desktop.Tried EVERYHTING-since updating itunes-5.0.1 and ipod updater-iPod Updater 2005-09-23. Get the Warning /Folder sign.everytime.

Have been working on this for well over 7 hours!

I am not paying £169.00 to repair- thats what it costs in the UK! It was working fine until i completed and installed via Sotware Update, and dowloaded the new itunes/ipod software. And it's just gone a few days out of warranty!

Also tried to verify and rerpair the disk using Utilities.

Here's the reply - Verify and Repair disk “iPod”
Checking HFS Plus volume.
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Overlapped extent allocation (file 6 Allocation File)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 16 /.journal)
Overlapped extent allocation (file 17 /.journal infoblock)
Checking Catalog hierarchy.
Checking volume bitmap.
Volume Bit Map needs minor repair
Master Directory Block needs minor repair

But then it just stops in it's tracks and doesn't complete the repair.

Oh im really p'eed off by all of this!

Anybody , anywhere , can you shed some light on this for me!

I'll buy you a pint and a packet of crisps,I promise.

CJ

Here is my contribution to this debate. I have no solutions, but I do have some slightly more detailed diagnostics.

As a family we have 3 computers (all running OS X 10.4.2) and 3 ipods (1 3G, 2 4G). One of the 4G iPods developed a fault (under warranty) and has just been returned from Apple repair (since there are no scratches it looks like a new iPod). My daughter found immediately that when she plugged it into her computer, it didn't show up.

So, with more than one computer and one iPod. I could do quite a few tests.

The problem exists for one specific iPod (the repaired one) and one mac (a Quicksilver G4). The one specific iPod has no problems with the other two macs (one powerbook, one dual-G5). The one specific mac also has no problems with the other two iPods (one of which is an identical model). It really does look like a specific computer/iPod combination.

This specific computer/iPod combination looks okay using the USB connectivity (although the computer only has USB 1, so it isn't a great alternative).

So what happens when we use the faulty computer/iPod combination? The iPod is not seen on the desktop, iTunes or iPod updater. But, when I run the system profiler it is seen in the FireWire Device Tree as an iPod. However, if you know how the report should look, there are 4 layers of detail. Usually you get the layers iPod: > iPod Unit: > iPod SBP-LUN: > "My own iPod name". Under each layer you get some information, down to information abut the Mount Point. The interesting thing is that when I use the faulty computer/iPod combination, and run system profile, the report on the iPod un the FireWire Device Tree only reports down to the heading for iPod SBP-LUN:, but reports no information for this layer not for the fourth layer.

I have tried various tricks, such as resetting/reinstalling the iPod software on one the computers it works with, and playing with the trick of putting into disk mode and back again (both plugged in and unplugged). With regard to setting the iPod into disk mode, when I do this, the computer still doesn't see the iPod as a disk on the desktop. I have also tried resetting the firewire bus by switching off the computer for some time, but I don't believe the fault is with the firewire bus specifically because other iPods work with FireWire as do other devices.

So, it really does look like a computer/iPod combination, as at least one other person has suggested. But I have no idea of what to do next!

I should add that I have looked at both

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60950

and

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61937

But neither really help. I noted the advice to reinstall 10.4, but haven't tried that one. Perhaps I should, but given that other iPods work with this computer, I am not sure about this.

I hope this level of detail helps in the discussion.

A SOLUTION TO THE ABOVE PROBLEM - iPOD NOT MOUNTING!

After many hours of trying almost
every conceivable work around and fix you could think of
I finally solved the problem with the iPOD not mounting on
desktop and speaking to iTUNES.

1 - Even though your iPOD may look like it is fully or patially
charged,charge it up anyway using your firewire /MAINS adapter
NOT using your APPLE /firewire connection.

2 - Revert to the earlier iPOD Software updater - 2005 - 06 26

THAT's IT, and IT WORKS! - YES, Im free to MOVE ON!

Got my ipod back - NO WARNING FOLDER signs or UNHAPPY
iPOD ICONS - NO, having to pay out large sums of money to
fix this little conundrum.

STEVE, GIVE ME A JOB !

I've had the same problem a couple of times, starting in January, and Apple has simply replaced my iPod (it was just before and just after my iPod went off warranty). But the last time it happened, the fellow at the Genius Bar said I was "cut off" if it happened again -- I'd have to find a way to fix it myself, pay Apple to fix it, or buy a new iPod. (Nice, huh?)

Anyway, our work computers were recently updated to OS 10.3.4 (no Tiger for us, nosiree), and as expected, iTunes disappeared. I downloaded iTunes 5.0.1 and used the Firewire cable to connect my 3rd generation iPod (with dock connectior, though I don't use one), and...nothing.

When I got home, I connected the iPod to my G4 Powerbook, which is running OS 10.3.4, and iTunes 4.9, and...there was my iPod on the desktop and in iTunes! As far as I can tell, I haven't lost any music or contact files -- probably because iTunes 5.0.1 couldn't find my iPod!

I decided to run the iPod updater (the 2005-09-23 version), but when I did, I got a message that I had the most up-to-date version (my iPod shows it as 2.3) already.

Granted, I can at least synch my iPod and update my Podcasts at home, but it's a bummer not to be able to use the iPod equally well at home and at work. And you can bet that iTunes 5 isn't getting anywhere near my home setup!

Any comments or suggestions would be most welcome. Otherwise, we'll just file this one under "misery loves company"!

I too have fallen victim. I updated iTunes (to 5.0.1) and I installed the iPod Updater recently (9-23-05 I think), and all was well. I even listened to it last night. Then I plugged it in today, it was recognized and was updated, so I clicked eject next to the iPod in the source list of iTunes but left the iPod connected in order to charge the battery. I left my computer, it went to sleep, and when I woke it back up the iPod had the "Do not disconnect" message. So I closed and quit iTunes and restarted it, but it still didn't recognize the iPod in iTunes or on the Desktop/Finder. I eventually disconnected it, restarted my Powerbook, and still nothing. I went through all the help topics on this website, but I can't even reset my iPod. I called them up but since it's not covered, it would have cost like $45 to talk to them. Not happening. I want to go back to iTunes 5.0 or 4.9 to see if that'll work. Does anyone know how I can do that? Will it help? Any solutions yet? COME ON STEVE JOBS, DON'T LET ME DOWN!!!

COME ON STEVE JOBS, DON'T LET ME DOWN!!!

Apple has given no indication that they will fix any of these mounting (pun)
problems. To Steve all they want you to do is go out and buy another one no matter how old or what you spent on the first one. Read they threads people, this has been going on since iTunes 4.8. There is a serious issue with iPods being able to stay stable enough to mount over time. My questions is why has the problem not made it out of these hundres of threads and into the mainstream media?

Just updated itunes the other day to 5.0.1 and my ipod sync'd just fine. However now it does'nt even show up on the finder or in itunes. I followed all the troubleshooting suggestions with no success. Sounds like this is common for everyone else. What a pain! Hope one of our readers get lucky and figure out a solution since MAC support is useless. I'll sure try to figure it out and share the results. Also, lets hope Apple does'nt follow Bill Gates lead and ignore those that are responsible---Its CUSTOMERS! Apple's stock doing so well for this to happen. Guess I'll just wait for the next Itunes update, hopfully fixing this problem.