iPod now showing as portable drive (no synch)

Question

iPod now showing as portable drive (no synch)

Hi there,

I've had a few issues recently but this one has me flummoxed. Itunes has been re-installed and works fine. Windows is up-to-date. The iPod alone works fine too - however connecting the two just leads to issues.

The USB cable is fine. What happens is that when connected iTunes stops working, the ipod is not recognised when plugged in (by iTunes itself). Windows show the ipod as a removable disk, and right or left clicking on it just shuts that whole page down. The whole of Windows is affected by this too. In Device Manager the ipod is listed under Portable Device with a yellow warning traingle - and also under Disk Drives as well. I've tried updating drivers but this has no affect. I think this might have something to do with the issue, but I'm clueless!

Any ideas? Anyone?

Posted on Dec 18, 2015 12:45 PM

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Answer 1

turingtest2

Level 10

278,015 points

Dec 19, 2015 9:48 AM in response to stephen harry

Actually those instructions are for iOS devices rather than a classic. 😮😊

If you have Norton Anti-virus that could possibly be the cause of your problem. It seems to affect communications using the iPod Service. Check that it is installed. Try starting it before you connect the device to see if there is any change in behaviour. If you put the iPod in disk mode does it show up in Windows Explorer and/or iTunes?

See the second box in Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates for detailed iTunes tear down and rebuild instructions which might help.

tt2

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Answer 2

Dec 18, 2015 3:26 PM in response to stephen harry

When you connect iPod, what does the iPod's screen say or do?

Did something significant change with your system, such as upgrading to Windows 10?

If you did a re-install of iTunes already, but it was only a re-install, you may want to try removing iTunes and then installing it again, following these instructions

Remove and reinstall iTunes and related software components for Windows 7 and later - Apple Support

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

278,015 points

Dec 19, 2015 11:42 AM in response to stephen harry

But those reallocated sectors tell a sorry tale. Although the device might fire up and play Windows must be struggling to read some data from the drive which will be why it seizes up.

If there is content on the device that isn't in your library see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device. You may be able to explore the drive if you start the computer with it connected in disk mode.

tt2

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Answer 4

Oct 5, 2016 3:12 PM in response to stephen harry

If the iPod is not connecting properly now, the best way to "totally wipe" the iPod is to put it in Disk Mode first

How to put your iPod into disk mode - Apple Support

However, you mention in another post that Disk Mode did not help this iPod to connect, so if this is still the case, there may be something physically wrong with iPod's dock connector. It may be causing a short-circuit when you connect it to computer, which results in the "everything freezes up" symptom. Since the other older iPod connects fine, I'll assume it's not a software problem on the computer, and a software-related issue normally does not cause things to lock up on the computer. You're using the same USB docking cable (when you connect both older and newer iPods), correct? Shine a flashlight into iPod's dock connector, to look for any obvious debris (perhaps something metallic) or damage to the "pins."

If Disk Mode does allow iPod to connect without those issues, run iTunes. iTunes should prompt you to do a Restore, with a message about "recovery." The Restore erases iPod and sets it it to default "factory" condition.

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Answer 5

turingtest2

Level 10

278,015 points

Dec 19, 2015 7:07 AM in response to stephen harry

Try the following:

Open Control Panel > Device Manager
Plug in your device
Locate Universal Serial Bus Controllers > Apple Mobile Device USB Driver
Right-click and select Update Driver Software...
Click Browse my computer for driver software
Browse to C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers or
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\Drivers
Click Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer
Click Apple Mobile Device USB Driver
Click Next, then Close and exit Device Manager

tt2

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Answer 6

Dec 19, 2015 9:37 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Kenichi Watanabe

When I connect the ipod, it states that it is connected and the circle spins... that is all. There is also no 'legitimate' option to eject other than pulling the cable.

iTunes was removed but that was an issue, the new version (previously installed) wouldn't load due to the inability to remove the older version. Eventually I had to download software to force a removal - whcih worked and the latest version was installed with no issues.

Windows 10 was updated recently but I removed those updates, I believe that the system has re-installed them now as I'm up to date.

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Answer 7

Dec 19, 2015 10:05 AM in response to turingtest2

turingtest2

Thanks. There is no Norton, the iPod Service is running, Disk mode makes no difference to anything. I am now able to right click the 'USB device' from my My Computer screen and from here I can eject or format?

iTunes was stripped with those instructions previously, the regedit details and missing msi file issues, I believe, are now sorted.

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Answer 8

Dec 19, 2015 11:58 AM in response to turingtest2

Thanks for your help.

I'm afraid Disk mode makes no difference to anything. Looking now at dates, I can see this all began the night Windows updated, perhaps the ipod was plugged in at the time? I think I was signed up to 'developer updates' too, I'm sure something happened then that caused these errors to begin, but I can't fathom how to undo whatever happened. I don't want to plug in to a friends laptop and attempt to restore the iPod as I'll lose my music, perhaps it's just best to live this one out. The iPod is almost full, everything else works - there's a smaller iPod at home (better sound quality than this one / Wolfson chip) so life goes on. 🙂

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Answer 9

Dec 19, 2015 2:06 PM in response to stephen harry

I read the additional posts below...

Have you tried connecting iPod when it is the only USB device on computer (with a direct connection to computer's USB port)? That is, the only device other than standard USB keyboard/mouse, if used.

If iTunes is not running when you connect it, either normally or in Disk Mode, does it still mess up the system until you disconnect it? Would it be possible to use Windows to reformat the iPod's hard drive like it was a regular USB external drive? If that's possible (and it's OK to lose the iPod's current content), use FAT32 as the disk format. If there's an option to do a fast format, select to do a FULL format. If successful, run iTunes with iPod connected, to see if there is any difference. NOTE: You will need to run a Restore using iTunes to put the iPod's onboard software back.

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Answer 10

Dec 21, 2015 10:19 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Kenichi Watanabe

The iPod is the only connected device it clearly prefers 2.0 to 3.0 too.

If iTunes is not running when I connect then 'yes' the whole Windows system gets a little funky to say the least and only re-instates itself as normal once the iPod has been pulled - and there lies the rub - I can't use the Windows options (Format etc) whilst the iPod is connected! iTunes does state that the iPod is corrupted when I dis-connect but, obviously, I can't restore when disconnected and don't get that option to do so when it is plugged in as iTunes freezes!

Right now I'd prefer to keep the content intact and keep using the iPod, recharging from the mains when required. I can't take the chance that content is deleted and the problem remains until I am closer to my spare iPod... which is in another country right now! I might plug into a friends laptop and try a restore from there but they are in another country too and keeping the content (which is backed up) is paramount right now.

Personally, I really think the software on the iPod itself is corrupted and this is causing these effects. Stand alone, both iTunes and the iPod function as they always have. I can see in the device properties (I can't recall exactly which window - or route to get there) that the device was 'migrated' at the time of those dastardly updates and I wonder if it has something to do with USBSTOR etc... which also gets a mention in that window.

Thanks for sticking with the issue and trying for me! ATB 🙂

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Answer 11

Oct 5, 2016 11:50 AM in response to stephen harry

Well... here we are again. Just to update, the iPod is happily playing away as ever, but has never re-connected to iTunes since my last posts here. I'm stuck with last years playlists and nothing new on the iPod, which isn't a problem as I have fabulous taste in music 😉 - however I have my old 40gb 5th gen connected and that puppy fires up right away!

What I think I'd like to do is totally wipe the 'busted' iPod and reinstall everything from scratch... is there a good way to do that? Bearing in mind I have no access to the problem iPod whenever it's connected to this laptop... everything freezes up. Too risky or worth a try?

😀

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Answer 12

Oct 14, 2016 4:07 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Hi thanks for that... I have access to another laptop and downloaded the latest iTunes, I tried connecting on that, with the original and a different cable, using both the other laptops 3.0 and 2.0 USB ports and had exactly the same issue! iTunes does not recognise the iPod. Windows initially shows and 'unrecognised USB', seems to be installing but then just hangs.

If iTunes is open and 'My Computer' also open, the iPod is shown as a USB and there seems to be an install going on... across the address bar above (or thereabouts) the slot fills with a green bar from left to right, but again it hangs at the very end (right hand side) once it's almost fully green.

If iTunes is not open, but 'My Computer' is, then (when the iPod is connected) the iPod shows simply as a USB there, iTunes never opens, and clicking anywhere on the 'My Computer' page freezes up if any attempt is made to right click and examine the 'USB', or left click. Exactly the same issue.

So, a software issue on the iPod? 'Damaged' connector connections within the iPod itself - it would have to be one or both of these right? Is that part on the iPod replaceable? I have replaced the battery in my 5th Gen successfully and am looking to replace the battery and maybe the hard drive too in my 4th, but I haven't had my 7th gen apart yet.

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Answer 13

Oct 22, 2016 9:26 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

Putting the iPod in disk mode makes no difference and the results are the same on both laptops. The iPod shows as an unrecognised USB and only upon disconnecting does iTunes state that the iPod may be corrupted - before that it's impossible to do anything due to the 'freeze'.

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