ipod charges but doesn't sync

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ipod charges but doesn't sync

i've been using my 10Go ipod with my powerbook G4 for 3 years and a half now. i've never had any trouble with it until tonight. the problem is i can't sync my music on it.

the ipod is connected and actually charging (meaning the wire isn't the issue), but it doesn't appear in iTunes nor on my desktop and when i use iSync i get an error message saying it's impossible to sync because the ipod isn't available.

i was using iTunes 6.something and i thought it might be the issue, so i downloaded iTunes 7.0.2, i restarted my computer, and the ipod still doesn't appear on the desktop or itunes, and i still get the error message using iSync.

i'm kinda scared of reseting my ipod... scared that it might never sync again and i might end up with an empty ipod forever.

do anybody know what i should do/try?

thanks in advance 🙂

powerbook g4, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Dec 13, 2006 8:50 PM

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Answer 1

Mitch 751

Level 6

11,624 points

Dec 13, 2006 8:58 PM in response to kimmb

Do you have isight? If do, please disconnect it, see if it solves

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Answer 2

kimmb Author

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Dec 14, 2006 2:35 PM in response to Mitch 751

nope, i don't have isight.

i've tried reseting my ipod last night using the menu and play/pause buttons. i did the reset thing about 10 times, and the ipod didn't go back to the default settings.

so i decided to restore it, but i couldn't. i have to restore it using itunes (and since it doesn't appear in itunes...)

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Answer 3

Mitch 751

Level 6

11,624 points

Dec 14, 2006 3:03 PM in response to kimmb

put your ipod into disk mode, open the disk utility

1. Open the disk utility, hope your iPod appears there (left hand side), highlight it
2. Go to Tab “Partition”, click either “Delete” or “Partition”, if fails, skip this step and go to 3
3. Go to Tab “Erase” , choose Volume Format as “MAC OS Extended (Journaled), and click Erase, again if fails, skip it and go to 4
4. Same as step 3, but open the “Security Options....” and choose “Zero Out Data” before click Erase. It will take 1 to 2 hours to complete.
5. Eject your iPod and do a Reset
6. Open the iTunes 7 and click “Restore”

Windows users having trouble with their iPods should locate a Mac user. In many cases when an iPod won't show up on a PC that it will show up on the Mac. Then it can be restored. When the PC user returns to his computer the iPod will be recognized by the PC, reformatted for the PC, and usable again. By the way, it works in reverse too. A Mac user often can get his iPod back by connecting it to a PC and restoring it.
Tips
a. It does not matter whether the format is completed or not, the key is to erase (or partly) the corrupted firmware files on the Hard Drive of the iPod. After that, when the iPod re-connected with a computer, it will be recognized as an fresh external hard drive, it will show up on the iTunes 7.
b. It is not a difficult issue for a Mac user to find a window base computer, for a PC user, if they can’t find any Mac user, they can go to a nearest Apple Shop for a favor.
c. You may need to switch around the PC and Mac, try to do several attempts between “Format” and “Restore

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Answer 4

kimmb Author

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Dec 15, 2006 7:39 PM in response to Mitch 751

okay, so i've been able to do everything you've listed in your post.

right now, my ipod is empty and back to the default settings. when i plug it into my mac, it doesn't appear in iTunes or on my desktop. is it normal? is there anything else i should try?

i own a pc but it doesn't have a firewire plug so i can't try to sync it. i'll try to find someone with a mac around my place and try to sync it.

EDIT: i've tried reseting a few imes and i've been able to make my ipod appear on my desktop and in itunes. itunes 7 opened and asked me to give a name to my ipod and to sync my songs, then itunes freezed and crashed.
and now i'm back to not being able to make it appear in itunes or on my desktop.

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Answer 5

Mitch 751

Level 6

11,624 points

Dec 15, 2006 9:26 PM in response to kimmb

seems that there is a problem on the hard drive of your iPod, it does not manage to solve it by doing a Restore or a format on a Mac computer. In my past experience, I do not worry about it too much, as I know that I can solve by doing a format but on a different kind of computer i.e. PC. In case you cant find a PC with a firewire port, but your iPod into disk mode, open the disk utility, but this time instead of choose volume formats as "MAC OS", change it to "MS DOS File", once it complete, re do the Restore on "iTunes 7"

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Answer 6

kimmb Author

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Dec 19, 2006 3:21 PM in response to Mitch 751

right now, i haven't been able to find a pc with a firewire plug.

i however went to my college and pluged my ipod in a Mac. After a few Reset, it finnally appeared and synced in the computer. It was detected by iTunes, it started to Sync but the program crashed and never synced the song into my ipod.

I retried a few times and the same thing happened. Evry time i tried to sync the program crashed.

Do you think changing the format to "MS DOS File" would resolve this?

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Answer 7

Mitch 751

Level 6

11,624 points

Dec 19, 2006 5:43 PM in response to kimmb

worth a try

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Answer 8

kimmb Author

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Dec 26, 2006 10:20 PM in response to Mitch 751

hi again.

i wanted to let you know that after a few tries, i've been able to correctly sync my ipod to my computer (and put back my songs on it).

it seems like the problem was the wire. looks like i could charge but not sync... anyway, after playing with it for a while, i was able to find a way to put the plug in it to make it sync.

thanks a lot for your patience, your time and your help.

have a nice day (and happy hollidays)

kim

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Answer 9

Mitch 751

Level 6

11,624 points

Dec 27, 2006 7:57 AM in response to kimmb

well done, Kim

Happy holidays

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