HELP - iPod not readable

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HELP - iPod not readable

Problem: When I connect iPod to my laptop I get the message 'iPod not readble - The iPod needs to be reformatted for use on your PC. Click on the update button below to run the iPod updater application that will allow you to reformat or restore your iPod'.

When I got this message the first time I clicked on the update button that can up, but it only confirmed that the software on my iPod was up to date. Confused, I decided to do a restore in the hope that that would solve the problem. Unfortunately that didn't help and I've continued to get the 'iPod not readable' message whenever I connect my iPod to my laptop.

When I go into My Computer it no longer recognises iPod and I only get a Removable Disk showing up.

I've downloaded and installed the most up to date versions of iPod updater and iTunes but that hasn't helped. I've tried repairing iTunes, uninstalling and reinstalling iTunes and a whole lot of other things.

I saw on another thread that reformating the disk in iPod has worked for someone else, but that hasn't helped either. I've tried in both disk and normal modes.

I've had iPod in diagnostic mode and it seems that iPod itself is OK.

I'm not sure where to go from here but everytime I connect iPod I get an 'Autoplay' box come up and then a message that 'iPod not readable'. Has anyone got any suggestions that I can try to get iPod working again?

Thanks<<br>
Dell Inspiron 1150 Laptop Windows XP U2 Special Edition iPod (4G 20GB)

Posted on May 7, 2006 5:18 PM

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Answer 1

May 10, 2006 9:51 AM in response to andy_t

This sounds like a problem post I could've written.

iPod was working fine yesterday on my wirk computer. Has become note readable today.

I have not restored it because I am not real excited about losing all the cool music on it.

So, I'm reavtivating this thread in the hopes of getting a resolution.

PEACE

4th gen (click wheel) 40 GB iPod Windows XP Mac Mini at home

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Answer 2

May 11, 2006 4:52 AM in response to andy_t

Seems the people in this thread that are having the problem are all on Windows XP. I don't have the time right now, but it would be interesting to find out if everyone who has complained about this problem is on XP.

That wouldn't solve the problem, but at least identify the conflict.

I tried to connect my iPod to my Mac last night and it is now not readable there either 😟

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Answer 3

May 11, 2006 8:56 AM in response to Schwarzstop

It could also be one file on the ipod that has somehow become corrupted... if it is critical for the identification of the ipod to the PC, your PC won't recognize it.

Just had another thought about these kinds of problems. Ipods are hard drives which get constant writing/erasing activity... and as such are prone to massive fragmentation.

I'll bet many of the problems associated with users on this board are caused by fragmented ipods... which causes corrupted files... so if you have nothing to lose, don't just reset/restore.... use a disk utility and try DEFRAGMENTATION! yay!

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Answer 4

andy_t Author

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May 11, 2006 7:05 PM in response to James Bond 007

I have dual USB 2.0 ports on my laptop, and have tried them both. I don't have a FireWire port though.

I did try my iPod on my work computer (which doesn't have iTunes on it) mainly in an effort to format the disk in Disk Utility that I was having trouble formatting on my laptop. Interestingly iPod also showed up as a Removable Disk on my work desktop as well. I would have thought that even without iTunes installed it still would have recognised iPod.

I've read on a couple of threads elsewhere that if you're having problems with iPod on a PC that you should try connecting it to a Mac (or vice versa). So I'm going to go and see the (hopefully) friendly people at my local computer store and see if they will let me connect my iPod to a Mac instore. Failing that I'm running out of ideas.

Anything else you can think of?

Dell Inspiron 1150 Laptop Windows XP U2 Special Edition iPod (4G 20GB)

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Answer 5

andy_t Author

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May 11, 2006 7:11 PM in response to Schwarzstop

Did the Mac recognise iPod or not at all? I need to go back and reread some of the other threads I've been looking at, but maybe you need to try formatting iPod from a Mac and then try it again on your PC.

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Answer 6

May 12, 2006 4:25 AM in response to andy_t

No, my iPod was not recognized on the Mac, either.

I was thinking my comment about it being a Windows XP issue was pretty useless since probably everybody is on Windows XP.

But I am pretty sure it is a Windows thing. I can't imagine anybody who has it Mac formatted is having any issues. It is, afterall, an Apple product.

The only reason I have it Windows formatted is so that I can play it and load it on both my work computer and my home computer. My understanding is Mac will recognize the Windows format but Windows will not recognize the Mac formatting.

But I'm babbling...

How can I "restore" the iPod if I can't get either computer to read (mount?)?

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Answer 7

andy_t Author

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May 18, 2006 5:39 PM in response to TeraByteMP3

I decided to go and try defragging my iPod but it doesn't show up under 'Disk Defragmentation'. It's there under 'Disk Management' where I can try to reformat iPod (which isn't completing successfully) but not under 'Disk Defragmentation'. Should it be there?

I also went into My Computer and tries to open up my iPod drive, which is appearing as a Removeable Disk. However I'm getting an error message that the drive is not accessable due to an input/output device error. Should this be doing this? Or should I be able to open the Removeable Disk in My Computer even though it is not recognising it as an iPod?

I'm still frustrated with this so if anyone wants to offer any pointers they're more than welcome. I'll try anything at the moment, save breaking iPod open. Next stop connecting it to someone else's computer, and then connecting it to a Mac. After that I'm out of ideas

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