kayleighvarciu

Q: iPod classic 160 GB will not appear in iTunes

My iPod Classic 160 GB all of a sudden stopped showing up in iTunes yesterday. It still shows up on my computer, though. I tried resetting my iPod. Then I tried restarting my computer and iPod. Then I tried updating the software for my computer and iTunes. Then I tried putting the iPod in disk mode. Then, I even completely deleted iTunes and reinstalled it to my Mac. Nothing I have tried has worked.

iPod classic 160GB (Late 2009), iOS 9.3.1

Posted on Apr 27, 2016 9:11 AM

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Q: iPod classic 160 GB will not appear in iTunes

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  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 27, 2016 12:18 PM in response to kayleighvarciu
    Level 8 (38,766 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 27, 2016 12:18 PM in response to kayleighvarciu

    Does the iPod still work properly as an iPod when disconnected (play songs)?

    Then, I even completely deleted iTunes and reinstalled it to my Mac.

    Since you use a Mac and iTunes is part of the standard installation, how did your "completely delete iTunes"?  What version of OS X do you run on the Mac?

    Then I tried putting the iPod in disk mode.

    What specifically happens when you run iTunes on the Mac and then connect the iPod in Disk Mode?  What does the iPod's screen say when you connect it?

  • by kayleighvarciu,

    kayleighvarciu kayleighvarciu Apr 28, 2016 3:03 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPod
    Apr 28, 2016 3:03 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    The iPod works properly outside of iTunes, other than it is a bit slow since it is so old. To delete iTunes I went into system preferences found where iTunes was, clicked the button that looks like a lock to unlock it, I then had to enter my username and password for the computer, then I exited out of that and dragged the iTunes icon from my desktop to trash. I am running El Capitan of OS X. When I connect it in disk mode it says "do not disconnect".

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 28, 2016 6:01 PM in response to kayleighvarciu
    Level 8 (38,766 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 28, 2016 6:01 PM in response to kayleighvarciu

    To delete iTunes I went into system preferences found where iTunes was, clicked the button that looks like a lock to unlock it, I then had to enter my username and password for the computer

    I don't understand what you are describing about System Preferences.  Which pane in System Preferences did you use?

    then I exited out of that and dragged the iTunes icon from my desktop to trash.

    From the Desktop?  Why is iTunes on your Desktop?  The iTunes app is located in the Applications folder.

     

    NOTE:  On a Mac, you do not need to delete the existing iTunes app.  If you have a reason to install iTunes again, go here to download the latest version.  Then run the installer.

     

    http://www.apple.com/itunes/

     

    For your actual problem...

    When I connect it in disk mode it says "do not disconnect".

    That's good.  It means there is a data connection between the iPod and Mac.  Was iTunes running when you connected the iPod?  Normally, when you connect an iPod in Disk Mode (with iTunes running), iTunes should prompt you to do a Restore on the iPod.

  • by kayleighvarciu,

    kayleighvarciu kayleighvarciu Apr 29, 2016 9:19 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPod
    Apr 29, 2016 9:19 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    It unfortunately does not tell me anything about restoring my iPod when iTunes is running while the iPod is in disk mode.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 29, 2016 10:06 AM in response to kayleighvarciu
    Level 8 (38,766 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 29, 2016 10:06 AM in response to kayleighvarciu

    It's still not clear to me how you "completely deleted iTunes and reinstalled it"...  As the last step (for however you did it), did you download the latest version of iTunes here, then run the downloaded iTunes installer?

     

    https://www.apple.com/itunes/

     

    If iTunes is not properly installed, the background processes that identify when an iPod is connected may not be running.

  • by kayleighvarciu,

    kayleighvarciu kayleighvarciu Apr 29, 2016 10:21 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPod
    Apr 29, 2016 10:21 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Yes, I reinstalled iTunes following the exact instructions from the Apple website.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 29, 2016 10:30 AM in response to kayleighvarciu
    Level 8 (38,766 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 29, 2016 10:30 AM in response to kayleighvarciu

    Could you provide a link to those instructions?

     

    Do you have access to another Mac?  It would be helpful to narrow down the cause...  Is the problem on the Mac side of the connection or on the iPod?  If the iPod appears in iTunes on the other Mac, then the cause is more likely to be on your Mac.  If the iPod does not appear in iTunes on the other Mac either, then the cause is more likely to be on your iPod.

     

    Also, to rule out a faulty USB docking cable, try another cable (if you have one).  Or try your current cable with another Apple device, to confirm it works.

  • by kayleighvarciu,

    kayleighvarciu kayleighvarciu Apr 29, 2016 11:06 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPod
    Apr 29, 2016 11:06 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    All I did was find the latest version of iTunes on the Apple website, download it, open the iTunes installer, and install with that. I've tried using different USB cords and have tried all the ports on my computer. I just tried using it on another Mac, and it didn't work. so, it's definitely a problem with the iPod.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 29, 2016 11:13 AM in response to kayleighvarciu
    Level 8 (38,766 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 29, 2016 11:13 AM in response to kayleighvarciu

    You said the iPod still appeared on the Mac (although not in iTunes).  With iTunes not running, run Disk Utility.  Does the iPod appear in the Disk Utility sidebar?  If it does, you can try reformatting (erasing) the iPod's hard drive using Disk Utility.  This should be done in a particular way.  What version of OS X do you run on your Mac?  I ask, because the Disk Utility on El Capitan (latest OS X) was re-designed, so it works differently from previous versions.

  • by kayleighvarciu,

    kayleighvarciu kayleighvarciu Apr 29, 2016 11:22 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPod
    Apr 29, 2016 11:22 AM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    I have OS X El Capitan.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 29, 2016 11:58 AM in response to kayleighvarciu
    Level 8 (38,766 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 29, 2016 11:58 AM in response to kayleighvarciu

    If the iPod does appear in Disk Utility's sidebar... 

     

    NOTE:  If you Erase the iPod's hard drive using Disk Utility, this obviously removes all of your songs (and other media) currently on the iPod.  After the Erase in Disk Utility, you'll need to connect it to iTunes and do a Restore on the iPod, to re-install its onboard software.  Then, you can re-sync your content back.  However, you said your iPod currently operates as an iPod (plays its songs).  If the iPod has an odd hardware problem that is preventing iTunes from recognizing it, you will not be able to do the Restore and re-sync your content

     

    To proceed, quit iTunes if it's running.  Run Disk Utility.  Select the iPod device in the Disk Utility sidebar.  There may be a volume shown indented below the iPod device.  Select the iPod device, NOT the volume indented below the device.  Then, click Erase (along top of window).  In the Erase setup pane, set it up like this

     

          Name:  [does not matter]

          FormatOS X Extended (Journaled)

          SchemeApple Partition Map

     

    Click Erase.  Disk Utility erases and reformats the iPod's hard drive.  This should take less than one minute.  If the process hangs or errors out, there may be a hardware problem.

     

    After the Erase completes, quit Disk Utility.  Run iTunes.  Hopefully, the iPod device button appears on the horizontal bar.  iTunes may not prompt you to do a Restore, but you need to do the Restore

     

    Use iTunes on your Mac or PC to restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

     

    After the Restore, you can set up the iPod to sync like before.

  • by kayleighvarciu,

    kayleighvarciu kayleighvarciu Apr 29, 2016 12:25 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPod
    Apr 29, 2016 12:25 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    Just so you know this bit of information, this is what shows up sometimes when the iPod connects to the Mac:

     

    OS X can’t repair the disk “LILY.”

     

    You can still open or copy files on the disk, but you can’t save changes to files on the disk. Back up the disk and reformat it as soon as you can.

  • by Kenichi Watanabe,Solvedanswer

    Kenichi Watanabe Kenichi Watanabe Apr 29, 2016 12:46 PM in response to kayleighvarciu
    Level 8 (38,766 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 29, 2016 12:46 PM in response to kayleighvarciu

    That's a message from the OS X system (not directly related to iTunes) indicating there is data corruption on the iPod's drive.  If your computer's drive had data corruption, you'd see a similar message, so it's not specific to iPods.  (Your iPod is basically a mini hard drive with a built-in music player.)

     

    Normally, when you put an iPod into Disk Mode and run iTunes, iTunes picks it up as an iPod in "recovery mode," and prompts you to d a Restore.  Doing a Restore erases the iPod's drive, and that gets rid of the data corruption (if there's no hardware problem).  For some reason, iTune is not recognizing your iPod.  And that's why you may want to try doing the Erase using Disk Utility.

     

    But, if there's a hardware problem that caused the data corruption, the Erase may fail with Disk Utility, or you may not be able to do the Restore and re-sync with iTunes.

  • by kayleighvarciu,

    kayleighvarciu kayleighvarciu Apr 29, 2016 12:45 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPod
    Apr 29, 2016 12:45 PM in response to Kenichi Watanabe

    It worked! Thank you so much!!!!