Serial numbers for 2G iPod Shuffle on box and ASP are not the same

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Level 5

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Serial numbers for 2G iPod Shuffle on box and ASP are not the same

I notice that the Serial number on my 2G iPod Shuffle's box and the Apple System Profiler (ASP) aren't the same. Can this cause a problem when asking for Apple's Tech and/or Product support if they require the Serial number ? If so, which one should be conveyed ? Just curious.

Should they be different ? Is this a problem ?

iPod, Shuffle, Black MacBook, 17" PB, Dual 2.5GHz PM G5, Mac OS X (10.4.7), SwiftData 200, LightScribe DVD

Posted on Nov 3, 2006 6:04 PM

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Answer 1

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Cory-Mac-Man

Level 2

485 points

Nov 3, 2006 6:26 PM in response to BarryXSharp

Try looking in iTunes for the serial of your iPod. When connected open the iPod Preferences, or in iTunes 7 click the device, it will display the serial number.

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Answer 2

BarryXSharp Author

Level 5

7,918 points

Nov 3, 2006 6:48 PM in response to Cory-Mac-Man

Try looking in iTunes for the serial of your iPod.
When connected open the iPod Preferences, or in
iTunes 7 click the device, it will display the serial
number.

Hey - thanks. That did show the Serial number to be same as on the box. Hmmm - that means the Apple System Profiler is reporting bogus info for the iPod's serial number.

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Answer 3

Nov 3, 2006 6:52 PM in response to BarryXSharp

The Apple System Profiler normally only show the serial of your Mac, not the iPod.

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Answer 4

BarryXSharp Author

Level 5

7,918 points

Nov 3, 2006 8:04 PM in response to Cory-Mac-Man

Thanks... Actually, not quite true - it will also show Serial numbers for USB Apple devices under the USB category. Maybe the ASP reported serial number is for the 2G iPod Shuffle Dock which is the actual USB device. Hmmm - that must be it.

Message was edited by: BarryXSharp

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Answer 5

Nathan C

Level 5

6,260 points

Nov 6, 2006 8:37 AM in response to BarryXSharp

BarryXSharp,

It will show the USB device ID in the System Profiler. This is not necessarily the same as the serial number of the device. For some devices it might be the same. Not exactly, but similiar to how your Airport ID and the Computer Serial number are not the same.

I have verified the numbers reported in the Apple System Profiler for my iPod Shuffle, and my iPod (Fifth Generation) are not the same as engraved on the back or reported in iTunes.

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