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

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately that doesn't work for me. I can still only write up to around 13GB to the ipod. Can you keep us updated as to whether this still works for you?

My iPod is working again, I installed Windows 7 and used iTunes 8, but I also low formatted my iPod. But I don't think many of you guys are going to instal Windows 7

Right now I only have 3.37GB of music on my 80GB ipod. I used to have more on it but that's also another thing I did that I forgot to mention when I formatted and uninstalled/reinstalled itunes, I deleted my entire music library and playlists. Afterwards I dragged some of my music back into the library and resynced. Who knows maybe I'll start having problems once I hit 13GB...

This is BS when are they going to fix the I been reinstalling downgrading refomatting restorin all week I got work tomorrow

Well Im going to the Apple store by my house on tuesday. Bring my ipod, laptop, and a printout of all these complaints in this forum topic. See what they say and I'll post another message with my results. Wish me luck

Just to add my experiences and complaints to the growing list, partly because I'm better off than I was a while back and so the steps I took might help others, partly to record disaffection with Apple.

First problem with recently-out-of-warranty iPod Classic 120Gb was skipping tracks (see the other, even-longer and also unresolved thread with that title) - though don't recall if this was after or before updating to iTunes 9.

Then iPod crashed two weeks ago after attempting to sync, with all of the problems recorded here by other users ('unknown errors' of various numbers, computer failing to recognise iPod after attempting to restore, restores failing repeatedly, very worrying crackling/whirring noises coming from iPod, on rare occasions when iTunes recognises the iPod, attempting to Sync and then reporting unknown errors, even with the 'manually update' option ticked).

I'd tried the many things suggested here without success, but this one measure has at least got me back with some music on my iPod. I had been using my iPod with Windows XP, and recently bought a new laptop with Windows 7. I tried installing iTunes (version 9) on the new laptop and attempting restores etc. with that too, without any success.

But then I recently tried attaching the iPod to the new laptop and had a Windows 7 system message saying that disk errors had been detected, and asking if I wanted to find and repair them. I did this, which led to the iPod rebooting - I then disconnected, rebooted and reconnected the iPod, let iTunes detect it as a new Ipod, restored it, and it then started synching.

It stalled after 300-hundred-odd tracks, but unlike all previous efforts, this time the tunes remained on my iPod and so I had some music to listen to.

That was yesterday - today I plugged the iPod in again to see if I could get further, but the sync failed and I ended up with an iPod with no music at all again. So I then restored, chose the 'Manually update' option, and have just succeeded in transferring about 10Gb of music, which seems to be working after the iPod has been disconnected. Sometimes the process stalled and so I had to do it album by album to get any success, but it is an improvement...

So a combination of using a detect and repair utility on the iPod drive, restoring again and deselecting the 'automatically update' option in order to manually transfer files across might at least help some others get some music back onto their iPods... Will be trying to get further over Christmas, and will keep an eye out for any better solutions - or maybe even (though I won't hold my breath) an acknowledgement from Apple that there are problems, and whether there's a fix or whether our hard drives have been permanently damaged...

You'll definitely have to let us all know how that turns out for you... The closest one to my house is over an hour away. But if it gets you anywhere, I might just take the drive

Good luck!

Looking at all the posts here--26 pages, 53K+ views, it seems this is a widespread issue with the ipod classic and itunes 9. There are obviously thousands of people with ipod classics that have been rendered useless by updating to itunes 9. I am just wondering if apple intends to do anything about this--by issuing a fix for the problem, etc.--or if we are all just SOL. It sure would be nice to hear from apple that they are going to be able to fix this issue. I am thinking of purchasing a Cowon mp3 player and giving up on the ipod. My question is: Should I wait and see if apple can or will fix this? Or should I just toss the ipod and spread the word to everyone I know: Do not buy an ipod! iTunes will destroy it and your money will be wasted? The last comment I posted here was removed by the "community post" because it was deemed "an unproductive rant or complaint." At least someone at apple is reading these posts--and that is a good thing. Maybe if they could spend some time actually trying to fix this problem instead of editing posts like mine we would all be in better shape. I believe my question here is legitimate and is not an "unproductive rant": should I give up on my ipod or wait and see if apple will address this problem? Please, someone at apple, let me know what to do. I am a professional musician/producer and I need to have a working mp3 player. Please help and please do not remove this post as "unproductive." Thank you so much, dear sweet kind beautiful apple employee! I love you so much.

is this a common occurance that if you do get your iPod Classic 6th generation working then it crashes at approximately 10GB? or is this just me? would appreciate any top tips if people have them (other than just using me 80GB iPod as a 10GB one for now)

before apple remove this all uk users report it to BBC watchdog!!!! we may then get a response instead of apple's ignorance!!!

My iPod has also been rendered useless. It would appear that iTunes 9 has actually buggered the firmware on the iPod as it won't even appear on a virgin PC with a fresh install of iTunes 8.
<Edited by Host>

Dear Gary 1953: Well, what happened at the apple store? What did they say? Did they help you or did they just tell you to buy a new ipod? As if . . .

I am VERY VERY ANGRY!!!
i got an ipod classic on christmas day and had it not 24 hours even before iTunes stopped recognising it, it is aparent all of my music and videos and pictures have become invisible to the ipod even though the memory space is still taken up. I have tried every suggestion and nothing is working is there anything apple will do to fix this, im obviously still within warranty and it's obviously not my fault so why should i pay for it?!
please help, any suggestions would be great.
its good to know im not the only one in this situation!!

Hello Maddiemo.
Please refer to Electricpig (a gadgets magazine) to post your comment. Catch this comment while you can as it will be removed. Also, if you are in the UK, check your consumer rights. Also, report it to ****** (a type of dog associated with the eyes, also something you wear on your wrist owned by the BBC)
Hope this helps and sorry to hear about your problem. Please also refer to a certain Book website (tap face) where you will find an Ipod page.

Hollie Finch
(sorry for the message being in code)

OK, we're all angry and frustrated, and we'll all be looking to other brands in future, but in the interest of working things out for ourselves (in the absence of a fix or even acknowledgement from Apple), then here's as far as I've managed to get after experiencing the same range of problems as others posting here:

Using Windows 7, then formatting the iPod hard drive with the 'Quick Format' button deselected took 4 hours, but did eventually work. I then scanned it using the 'scan and fix' option and no errors were detected.

I then restored the iPod (using iTunes 8.2, having removed 9.0.2 and gone back to this as advised by Apple Technical Support), which was also slow but worked. On the following sync, it started off very slowly, but got quite far before it eventually stalled (error 69, the one I've been getting most often) at around 22 Gb (out of 120). The 22 Gb of music remained on the iPod after ejecting.

On rebooting the PC and trying to see if I can get more on the iPod, Windows 7 detected disk errors on connecting the iPod. I have been unable to add new music since then, and the iPod makes buzzing hard drive sounds for ages when I try.

Conclusion(?): The hard disk is not permanently damaged if I can format it and no errors are detected, and a restore works, but something occurs when iTunes (even version 8.2 once the problems have started) which introduces disk errors.

One or two posts have reported success using different software (Music Manager) - never tried this and reluctant to waste more time, but maybe worth a shot - anyone tried this and found it HASN'T worked?