Mini is unrecognized USB device in Windows

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Mini is unrecognized USB device in Windows

First off, I have been using the same computer to run iTunes and manage my ipod mini for well over a year now (without issue).

Recently, however, when I plug my mini into any usb port on my system, Windows reports "USB Device Not Recognized".
(1) It used to work on this system
(2) It works on another computer still (though that is Windows 2003 and not Windows XP with SP2 (and I had no problems with the mini after upgrading to SP2)
(3) All other USB devices I have tried (printer, mouse, game controller, usb memory stick) all work
(4) I uninstalled iTunes multiple times with various flavors of cleanup as well

So, it appears to be a software issue causing windows to not recognize the ipod, even though it used to recognize it. I'm sure there were software changes in between when it lasted worked and now (MS has frequent updates!), but it is impossible to pinpoint some update as the cause.

Any other ideas to try?

Thinkpad T41p, Windows XP Pro

Posted on Nov 9, 2006 10:25 AM

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Answer 1

markpasch Author

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Nov 9, 2006 4:01 PM in response to markpasch

This solution worked (even though it's a Thinkpad):

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300836

The only problem is that I can reenable the Enhanced controller without causing the iPod to longer be recognized. At least I have a solution, though I lose USB 2.0 speed.

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Answer 2

Tzaddik

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Nov 9, 2006 8:07 PM in response to markpasch

Thanks for the great suggestion.

A friend sent my daughter a used Mac-formatted iPod for her birthday... and it worked great, playing the songs already stored -- until I connected it to my PC.

From that point began three weeks of trouble-shooting ****. Usually my computer wouldn't recognize the iPod at all (Unknown USB Device); Occasionally (for inexplicable reasons, every 10th try) it would say, 'Detected Mac-Formatted iPod' and alternately, every 20th try, 'Detected Corrupted iPod.' When prompted to reformat and restore, I'd download the software, and it would fail. After trying this, and the entire 5-R's troubleshooting steps, including re-downloading the freshest iTunes (thrice), I gave up. Today, I re-visited the problem, even trying the iPod on an iPod-savvy friend's Mac, and gave up, unable to even get the earlier error messages -- Unknown device, all the way. All the iPod (Mini) does is the 'Exclamation Mark-File Folder' icon.

I tried your suggestion (as well as another one in the forum), but disabling my sole USB 2.0 controller, labelled 'enhanced' (amongst 4 regular USBs) and also (following the advice of the other post) disabled the power-management feature that allowed the computer to shut-down the controllers to save power.

After that, the iPod was detected, labelled corrupt, and the restore went fine, and my happy (and now-functional iPod) is now taking a well-deserved charge. The only error was a Windows comment box that told me, 'Your device will run faster if you enable USB 2.0.'

I Thank you, and my broken-hearted tween daughter Thanks you. She will wake up to a happy and fully-loaded pink iPod, and it's all thanks to you! Long live Hilary Duff and Hannah Montana!

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