Q: After iTunes 9 upgrade iPod Classic is corrupt without ability to restore

Fixed.

I now have a fully functioning Ipod clasic, here's what we did:

1. We plugged my brick into a PC running the latest i-tunes, using a borrowed i-phone cable.
2. It was immediately recognised by i-tunes so we uploaded the latest software onto the ipod, and then restored it.
3. I plugged the i-pod back into i-tunes using the cable, but i had a brick hiding again from i-tunes. When we went to disconnect it, we got a message saying the i-pod had a delayed write failure.
4. After googling "delayed write failed ipod" the first result (ie TF) suggested that the message indicated a corrupted hard drive on the i-pod so a low level format was required.
5. We downloaded "HDD Low Level Formattool" for free.
6. Closed I-tunes.
7. pressed CtrlAltDel and then task manager. Clicked on processes and stopped i-podservice.
8. Ran the low level format tool, which took several hours for my 80Gb.
9. The we reformated and reset the i-pod.
10. Open i-tunes, which treated my i-pod as a brand new one by asking me to name it, which we did.
11. Loaded a single song, ejected the i-pod from i-tunes and played it for the first time in weeks.
12. I then brought my working i-pod home to my computer which doesn't have i-tunes and loaded everything onto it using another program (ie MM)and my old cable.

It's now working like the day before I updated it to V9.

Edwardsd -- that is awesome. I need to find someone with an iPhone cord to try this out. Otherwise, I have to plunk down $20 for a new one?

Before you leave this forum, I have some follow-up questions for you:

1. Are you going to use iTunes again on this iPod or are you going to stick with third-party software? (By the way, what's "MM"?) It's really, really strange that after all this, we have to not use iTunes. That's just bizarre. All this just to get a working iPod.

2. Will you keep us posted in case your iPod becomes corrupt again?

3. Will you keep monitoring this forum for a while in case we have questions while trying your technique?

It will take me some time to find an iPhone USB cord and try this solution.

I'm using media monkey now, but only because my missus has another classic that hasn't ever connected to V9. Don't want to risk putting her classic through it.

I-tunes worked for me after fixing it, so it's entirely up to you if you use it or not.

I'll stay on for a while to help, although my friend did everything to fix it ... I just watched him.

If you don't have an i-phone cord, perhaps try an i-touch cord or go into an apple store and get them to upload the new software onto the i-pod for you. I think that's the issue here. The format tool & restoring worked for me on the old cord.

I could just cry. I downloaded Hard Disk Low Level Format Tool and attempted a low-level format of my iPod. It seemed to work, except that I got three errors along the way (this may interest any programmers reading this): Format error occurred at offset 44,300,763,136 and offset 49,789,534,208 and offset 50,962,366,464." I have no idea what this means. Nevertheless, the low-level reformat seemed to work. (Keep in mind I don't even really know what a low-level reformat does.) I plugged the iPod into iTunes 9, it did the usual attempt to restore it, it seemed to work (as usual), and then...nada. Now it doesn't even want to recognize it. I could scream.

Did you load the new software onto the i-pood before runnig the low format tool?

Yes, I did. Didn't work for me. I don't understand it.

I'm having the same problem, with no warranty there is no way i can fix it ):
also whenever i plug my ipod into a computer it starts to freeze up and will no longer respond. Shouldn't apple fix our ipods instead of us having to pay for a new one, since its obvious that the problem is with the itunes not our ipods.

There is a much longer discussion of what low level formatting is here:

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/geom/formatLow-c.html

However, a low level format usually means that the tool goes through and writes over the entire disk. 'Normal' formatting just sort of puts up a sign post that says "Its ok to write data here", but actually leaves all the old data. This is why there is software that lets you recover data from hard drives even after you have 'erased' or 'formatted' the drive. If you did a low level format, those data recovery tools would not be able to get back your files.

If you got errors during a low level format, that usually means that the drive has gone/is going bad.

Its a problem with the physical drive itself - not software or firmware. All hard drives will eventually fail like this - whether they are in your desktop, laptop or iPod.

i

Message was edited by: iPod Whisperer

iPodWhisperer-- thanks for the explanation of low-level formatting. However, I must protest the idea that my iPod's hard drive spontaneously went bad. Please remember this: my iPod (and the iPods of thousands of other users) was working just fine until the moment I installed iTunes 9. Then, suddenly, all these problems started happening. It's just too much of a coincidence. Why are all of us having these problems at the same time? All of our hard drives are just spontaneously going bad, coincidentally at the same time that we installed iTunes 9? This is a disgrace. Apple needs to address this. I'm still game for a class-action lawsuit if there are any lawyers reading this. I would prefer that Apple does the right thing and issues an iTunes 9 update that fixes this problem. Or if the problem is USB cords, then Apple should have a rebate program that gives us all new USB cords for free. I have spent more than 20 hours trying to solve this, using every solution on this board. Something in iTunes 9 killed my iPod, and Apple is responsible. Where's the love?

I Concur , also all my three ipods work on other computers just not the one with my music on ,all worked well before update v9

edwardsd, thank you so much. While I cannot do the bit with iPhone cable, I am doing a low-level format with the tool you recommended and I will let you know how it went for me.

All I know is that I doubt I'll want to engage in anything with cult-like proportions ever again after this disappointment.

Best of luck, like all the solutions here it's a bit hit and miss weather it works for you.

Like i-pod whisperer warned ... you cannot recover data after you've run a low level format. So make sure there's nothing on the i-pod that you can't afford to lose before doing it.

I know, don't worry. My music library has its own hard disk, actually.

Can you just elaborate on step 9, if possible? Did you format it through Windows or...?

I usually do this through command prompt, that's why I'm asking.

Message was edited by: Rustling Ragazza

Okay, so you have 3 iPods that all work on other computers.

Do these other computers have iTunes 9 installed?

Is the only real difference that the machine that is not working is the one with all your music?

If that is the case, it would seem like the problem is with that one system.

Create a new library, to test and see if the problem is actually with your existing music library. If it works fine with a fresh new library, then you know it has something to do with your old music library. In my previous post I linked to an article on how to create new libraries or select different ones.

i

Hello All,

I have one other suggestion to offer to you guys who may be having problems..

As iTunes will continue to use it's last known firmware file on your computer when you click the restore option... If that firmware file did have a problem then you will continue to install it, and then just keep putting you back into this cyclic cycle.

You could always try to do what you've been doing but before you click "restore" use this KB article and delete the local copy of the iPod firmware file previously downloaded.

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1813

This way it will redownload the firmware from apple before doing the restore.

It's a thought and a suggestion... Because if all other options aren't working this may be a additional option to try... Right??

Good luck... Sounds like some folks are findings resolutions but not 100% fixes... So I'm hoping that this may help in such cases.