iPod Updater 2006-03-23

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iPod Updater 2006-03-23

Beware that this update is causing grief with quite a lot of users. This updater installs software version 1.1.1 on your Nano from a PC. By running it, you run the risk of corrupting something in your iPod which will make it invisible to Updater or to iTunes thereafter. Windows may recognize it, but you will not be able to do much. Generally, the iPod will remaing hung on the "Do not disconnect" screen while connected. No amount of uninstalling/reinstalling - for either Updater or iTunes - will solve your problem.

I would advise not installing the update until Apple gets their act together and fixes the issue.

If you have installed the update, then follow this procedure, which is based on a post by GailPod (29 Apr) on another thread on this site (many thanks to GailPod). I am adding some clarifications based on my own experience with the procedure, which worked fine for me.

1. You will need to reformat the HD on your iPod. To do this, use the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool, which you can download from the following address:

ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/softpaq/sp...500/SP27213.exe

This will install the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool on your computer.

2. Connect iPod to USB and set the iPod to Disk Mode if it is not already in that mode. In my case, my iPod was already in disk mode, as shown by the "Do not disconnect" screen.

3. Run the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool. The tool recognized that my iPod was connected on one of my USB ports. Select FAT32 as the format. No need to specify anything else. Start the format. You will be advised that everything will be erased from your iPod. That's ok, because nothing is there anyway. Start the format. Should take less than a minute.

4. You now need to run the iPod Updater 2006-03-23. But before you do, I recommend you uninstall it, restart your computer, reinstall the Updater, and restart the computer again. Anyway, that is what I had to do because running the Updater right after the reformat did not work for me.

Note: you should probably unplug your iPod while you do all this restarting. Once your computer is back up with a fresh install of Updater, plug your iPod in.

If like me your iPod remained blank at this stage even while connected, then just reset it.

5. Run the Updater. It should at last recognize your iPod. Select "Restore", and let the software do its work for a couple of minutes. You should be back up with your iPod.

Dell Latitude Windows XP Pro iPod Nano 4G

Posted on May 4, 2006 7:48 PM

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Answer 1

May 4, 2006 8:06 PM in response to JeanC

Beware that this update is causing grief with quite a lot of users.
No, it's not.

By running it, you run the risk of corrupting something in your iPod which will make it invisible to Updater or to iTunes thereafter.
No, you don't.

Generally, the iPod will remaing hung on the "Do not disconnect" screen while connected
Generally, iPods work just fine and the 1.1.1 firmware update is very stable and quite safe to install.

I would advise not installing the update until Apple gets their act together and fixes the issue.
What issue? You are talking complete nonsense!

I advise readers to ignore JeanC's entire post.
This user obviously has some other agenda.

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Answer 2

JeanC Author

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May 4, 2006 8:15 PM in response to Rich Fleming

Hello Rich,

I don't think I dreamt up the last two evenings I spend trying to fix my iPod problem. And I am not the only one who had serious grief with this update. I am not dreaming up this thread either...

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=460669&tstart=0

Glad that you did not have any problems with the update. Was not the case for me.

Best,

JC

Dell Latitude Windows XP Pro

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Answer 3

May 4, 2006 8:31 PM in response to JeanC

don't think I dreamt up the last two evenings I spend trying to fix my iPod problem
Fine, so you had a problem with YOUR iPod.
Your alarmist post indicating that the 1.1.1 firmware is flawed to the point where it will destroy any Nano is just plain ridiculous.
The VAST majority of iPods will never see a problem resulting from this firmware update, or any firmware update.
Just because you did... that doesn't mean everyone will.
Your warning is completely uncalled for.

It doesn't matter how many threads you link to on Apple discussions.
The truth is, there are always going to be handfuls of users who experience problems. They come here, report the problem, and more often than not.. it gets fixed. This is a very small percentage of iPod users.

It's unfair to the rest of the forum users for you try to scare people into not updating their firmware. These firmware updates are released for a reason, and should be installed.

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Answer 4

JeanC Author

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May 4, 2006 8:45 PM in response to Rich Fleming

The issue is not about the firmware. It works fine. The issue is about the PC updater software that installs it.

If I had known that even a few people had had problems with this updater, I would not have attempted the install. Period.

But hey, that's just me.

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Answer 5

sirburst

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May 5, 2006 12:32 AM in response to JeanC

Rich-

Can I ask you a question? How in the **** do you know that many people aren't having problems with this updater. I had the same exact problem he describes in his original post. I didn't want to void the stupid warranty so I took the ipod into an Apple store. While they couldn't fix it, they did say that they have 5+ people a day coming in with nano's that stopped working after trying the 3-23 update. Just FYI.

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Answer 6

May 5, 2006 1:00 AM in response to Rich Fleming

Hi Rich,

I have read your thread, and I am even more confused. I have two 4g Nano's and updater worked fine with my first nano, bit my second is hung up on the do not disconnect screen, therefore I am interested in anyone else who is experiencing difficulties with their ipod being hung up.

I think Windows is trying to write to it as when I plug it in, I get a pop-up saving "Autoplay" and a scrolling bar at the bottom of the pop-up screen which stay's on for about 30 seconds.

I have managed to disconnect savely, but everytime I plug it back in it tries to write to it again and will not go off the "do not disconnect" screen.

Any ideas would be great!

Thanks

BJ

Elonex eXentia Windows XP Nano 4G

Elonex eXentia Windows XP

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Answer 7

avig_b

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May 5, 2006 4:26 AM in response to Big Bear Jon

my ipod has also been out of commission since the update. I've spent hours trying to fix it according to the instructions from support. Has anyone else tried this fix and does it work or am I further endangering my ipod

Avi

Windows XP Pro

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Answer 8

JeanC Author

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May 5, 2006 6:36 AM in response to avig_b

Avi,

Have a look at the following thread to see how others dealt with the situation.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=460669&tstart=0

This thread was my main source of info for the procedure in my original post. Again, main credits for this procedure should go to GailPod. I just added some clarifications based on my own experience.

I suppose one issue is trusting the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool. I had never heard of this tool before. I downloaded it and ran suitable checks on it (like antivirus, etc.) and it came clean. I would suggest you do the same. Installing this tool was a risk I took. But I suppose so was running that darn updater.

I did spend a good 15 hours trying to fix my iPod and I was just about to return it to the store. This was my last ditch attempt to get it to work, and the procedure was successful.

By the way, this will install firmware 1.1.1 on your iPod, which works absolutely fine.

I am not a regular here, but I will check in a couple more times over the next few days in case there are questions.

Jean

Dell Latitude Windows XP Pro iPod Nano 4G

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Answer 9

TrevorQ

Level 2

450 points

May 5, 2006 6:54 AM in response to JeanC

This whole "HP USB Format tool" nonsense is, well, nonsense. You can just right click the thing in Windows and format it, you don't need any additional 3rd party software. And GailPod didn't invent this, it's been a fix floating around these parts for weeks now.

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Answer 10

JeanC Author

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May 5, 2006 7:15 AM in response to TrevorQ

While the iPod drive showed up in My Computer (Drive E: in my case), clicking on it sent Windows Explorer in neverland. I had to go to Task Manager and manually stop the task. I tried this a couple of times and same results: as far as I was concerned, reformatting through Windows was a no-go. But I agree that there might be a better way than downloading the tool mentionned earlier.

Regarding credits for the procedure, I evidently did not take the time to trace them to the source, and so I hope I did not offend anybody.

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