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Level 1

10 points

2ndd gen Shuffle not recognized in OSX/iTunes after OSX/Itunes update

After updating two iMacs to 10.6.5 and iTunes 10.1 my 2nd gen Shuffle isn't recognized on either.

1. It still plays music so I know it's not dead
2. It stopped syncing after updating but not sure which update could be the cause.
3. I've tried rebooting the computer(s)
4. I've tried the iPod restore utility and it doesn't recognize the iPod at all.

Is there anything else I've missed?

iMac 20" 2.4ghz, Mac OS X (10.6.5), 4 gig ram

Posted on Nov 16, 2010 4:11 PM

26 replies

Dec 26, 2010 8:16 PM in response to jetb2

I figured it out- I have Snow Leopard, current itunes version on my iMac...
just came back from genius bar- they could not do it-
Their recommendation was to connect my shuffle to a computer with Tiger, then RESTORE it.

Fortunately, had my old macbook lying around- connected it, RESTORE- and voila! Just finished uploading all my music to it from my iMac.

That's the solution.

Find someone with an old computer lying around... hook it up, restore and you are good to go.

WHEW!

PJTmedia

Level 1

4 points

Dec 28, 2010 6:15 PM in response to JWA

Well, that sort of worked. iPod is back on the desktop and in iTunes, but won't sync. And now my audio output doesn't work! Arrrghh.

PJTmedia

Level 1

4 points

Dec 29, 2010 5:59 AM in response to PJTmedia

Thank you JWA - Everything is working again! Although it looked like the iPod would never finish syncing, it was done and just needed a force quit. When I restarted iTunes the iPod connected and was finished syncing. As for my sudden loss of audio output, this process somehow changed my Mac settings. When I selected the right audio output setting, it worked. Phew!

Feb 24, 2011 4:18 PM in response to jetb2

Have the same issue. Works just fine on a PC, but isn't recognized by my Mac/Itunes, or on my desktop.

Made some progress initially, but now I'm back where I started.

1. Plugged the shuffle into a PC, it loaded perfectly into Itunes, reformatted/erased it to work on that PC, and enabled disk mode.
2. Opened Disk Utility on my MacBook, verified/repaired hard drive permissions for the Macintosh HD.
3. Plugged in the Ipod, it showed up in Disk Utility, erased the drive in Mac OSX Journaled format.
4. It immediately opened in iTunes, saying the format was bad, and asking me to restore. Clicked yes, allowed it to restore.
5. Worked like a charm, was recognized in iTunes, let me add/delete songs and sync just fine.

Then after about 10 minutes, it spontaneously disconnected and now I am right back where I started. Can't get it to connect to my MacBook at all. All other iPods/devices connect just fine.

SO FRUSTRATING!

Any thoughts anyone?

Synsongs

Level 2

312 points

Mar 15, 2011 1:31 AM in response to cwdavis19

Well, I can add that my Mac Pro does no longer recognize the Shuffle correctly, too.

Here´s what it does:
When I connect the Shuffle to the upper USB port on the front side, nothing happens at all.
When I connect the Shuffle to the 2nd USB port on the front side, the Shuffle is recognized perfectly, BUT: my keyboard gets disconnected! So I can use / fill the Shuffle but it´s not possible to type anything until I reboot the Mac.

Strangely, everything works on a factory-new Macbook Pro. And it has worked on the desktop machine prior to some of the last updates (sadly, I don´t know which ones).

Cheers
Tom

P.S.: Forgot to add that both USB ports work nicely with the iPhone 😉

Message was edited by: Synsongs

happyted

Level 1

5 points

Nov 14, 2011 2:55 AM in response to jetb2

With regard to the syncing issue I see this as a failure by Apple on customer relations and attitude that falls below what one would expect to legacy customers with regard to warnings.
.

Regarding the iTunes upgrade to 10.5 and how it impacts on legacy users of their hardware. I see it as ill thought out with a poor attitude towards a customer within their Cambridge UK branch.

I have been an Apple user within the professional graphics field since the late 80s. Through all the trials and tribulations involving cost and OS systems, glitches, patches the lot. When Jobs return products started working better, The OS 8 and 9 operating systems were approaching a solid secure working base. The advent of the Intel Macs and OSXs marked a change for an even better computer/OS system and the music hardware such as the iPods were being embraced by the mainstream public along with the iTunes software. Roll on a few years and Dec 2007 I get an 'official' refurbished iPod 2nd generation shuffle. Small, well engineered and most importantly it works and is simplicity itself, great.

Roll on through the OS updates and the iTunes updates fine, great, still works. Move to now, November 2011, and the much heralded 10.5 iTunes update is released. I am regularly 'reminded' by the automatic updater to update and it lists the reasons why... great BUT DOES it tell you that if you have a 2nd gen shuffle it will mean it will no longer sync with iTunes if you update to 10.5. NO, but can you find mention of this no...

So before this was related to me after many fruitless attempts to sync with the updated iTunes I venture forth to the prestigious Cambridge Apple store in the Grand Arcade. I counted 14+ members of staff, all clutchingiPads and matching tops...
.

Great i thought, here we go. I explain the situation and were Apple aware and what was the fix.... The assistant thought on it and then went out 'back' and left me for a few minutes alone to reflect on the splendour.

He returned to inform me that it was an issue that Apple had been aware of for awhile and there was nothing they could do... Hold on I said, if Apple have been aware of this for awhile why on earth do they send update reminders to customers WITHOUT WARNING them that if they have a legacy product that syncs with iTunes that it may no longer synch there fore becomes useless...
.

he said Apple no longer support that product there fore it was not in their realm...WHAT, so Apple don't care, Can I quote you on that I said...
.

He checked and stiffened, then said, No, I'll have to stop you right there and no Apple don't say that and I'll have to speak to my manager. He goes off back again for a much longer period and several other customers have heard my exchange and seem to be loitering and listening in.

He returns and explains there is nothing he can do, there is no fix, he can't give me a disc with a pre 10.5 version of iTunes when I ask for one but he tells me there is a solution 'Great!' I say what is it... 'you can buy another shuffle for £40' he tells me.

WHAT!!! So, I have a perfectly good working shuffle but I can no longer add and take away my music and it is suggested by an Apple employee that the solution is to buy another newer shuffle... How dare they say that...

Will a warning appear on the Apple iTunes site now? He didn't know... Ignorance is best served with a solution to buy a newer product regardless of the fact the older product works perfectly.

FACT: The very fact Apple know there are issues and a 2nd gen shuffle will not sync with iTunes 10.5 does not stop Apple sending online Update reminders WITHOUT fore warning that it will not work with some legacy products.

FACT: This illustrates there is a lack of care in dealing with customers from Apple on some issues IF your product is deemd redundant despite the fact they gave no warning when the issues were known and that a 'given' solution to remedy this is a fiscal outlay.
.

The upshot as far as I am concerned is Apple have have displayed a lack of interest and care towards customers (it appears on many forums) with products they would rather they up date as displayed by the 'solution' I was given.

How sad is that with regard to customer relations and after care regarding a legacy product...

Very poor and I as a long term customer feel that the Apple after care to long term customer regarding legacy products is sadly lacking and I fear this is the tip.

chuneest

Level 1

0 points

Dec 18, 2011 11:43 PM in response to jetb2

hey so i had the same problem. and i fixed it by first plugging and syncing in my 2nd generation ipod nano because for some reason itunes recognized that but not the shuffle. (i have both 2nd and 4th gen. ipod shuffle, and they both had the same problem.) and once the ipod nano was synced in itunes, i plugged in both shuffles, and both of the shuffle got recognized. so i think first any ipod that can get recognized should be plugged in first, then the shuffle while the first ipod is still plugged in. hope this helps ..XD

chuneest

Level 1

0 points

Dec 18, 2011 11:46 PM in response to chuneest

i tried all of what ppl suggested like pluggin in the usb cord all the way and restarting itunes and all that. and then i tried this randomly and it worked for me. i hope it works for you guys too.

Dec 21, 2011 5:59 PM in response to cwdavis19

I'm having a similar problem with an ipod classic 160gb (late 2009), since updating itunes to 10.5 my ipod gets corrupted every time I try and sync it on my macbook pro. You'd think they'd test these things before releasing an update of hteir own software with no real changes...

happyted

Level 1

5 points

Jan 2, 2012 1:09 PM in response to happyted

come on Apple... what about it... 2nd gen iPod Shuffle... will they be able to synch so that one can change their music on iTunes 10.5.1/10.5.2 and further upgrades or is 'a fix' not worth the bother. Time to let those that spent their money on your product know where they stand and how Apple feel about perfectly good working product or is the fix as I was told at the Cambridge Apple Store to 'buy a new one'... at least have the honesty and dignity to reply on this...

happyted

Level 1

5 points

Jun 13, 2015 5:14 AM in response to jetb2

well... after all this time an answer that works for an iPod Shuffle 2nd generation!

this from monseigneur_wood

"I had the same issue with my Late 2009 Mac mini running Mavericks and iTunes 12. When I connected my 2nd generation iPod shuffle it would blink amber once then do nothing. This seems to be a common problem with the iPod shuffle and newer versions of Mac OS X (10.6 and up) and iTunes albeit with somewhat varying symptoms but the same overall problem syncing the iPod with iTunes.

The predominant go-to solution is to give the iPod more power by either connecting the iPod directly to a USB port on the Mac or by disconnecting all other USB devices. On paper this makes sense.

What worked for me, however, was the opposite. After trying to solve this problem for hours (weeks, months), I had success ONLY after adding a low-powered 4-port USB hub to the chain between the iPod and the Mac. I suspect this had the effect of throttling the power supplied to the iPod from the Mac. I was able to perform a restore on the iPod then sync my music over.

I can't tell you much about the USB hub except that it is running at USB 1.1 speeds (12 Mb/sec). In theory a USB 1.1 extension cable should also do the trick. You might even be able to use the USB hub in old wired Apple USB keyboard. I will attach a photo of the hub I used to this post for greater clarity."

I used a Keyspan USB 4 port USB hub. plugged in and immediately worked, the shuffle was recognised and apperaed on my Mac but also synched to itunes immediately for the first time in 4 years

Then just for a clear out as even though I could charge the device I had not been able to synch or change songs for 4 years I then used the iPod Reset Utility and it has been working fine for several days with new songs etc...

Thank you monseigneur_wood

2ndd gen Shuffle not recognized in OSX/iTunes after OSX/Itunes update