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moggy · Dec 24, 2004, 10:08 PM

So I updated my iPod mini with the November 15th updater and now when I plug in the iPod, it launches iTunes automatically and freezes. It gives me that lovely dark grey screen telling me I have to restart in several languages.

I already reinstalled iTunes, but I don't know what else I should try (i.e. restory factory settings). Please, please, if anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it!

mgehman · Dec 24, 2004, 10:23 PM

Can you launch iTunes without the iPod attached and not have it crash? If so, you need to reset your iPod to the factory settings which can be done by turning the hold switch on then off and holding the select(center) and menu buttons at the same time. Then re-attach it to the computer and re-install your songs. It is explained pretty well here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=61705
Hopefully this works.

moggy · Dec 24, 2004, 11:11 PM

Holy crap, this thing is completely f*cked. I ran the restore option on the updater and when it got to the end, it said it had an error, then the iPod updater froze. The iPod itself said it was ok to disconnect and now it can't find the system folder.

moggy · Dec 24, 2004, 11:51 PM

So I initialized the disk in Disk Utility and then everything seemed immediately fine. iTunes launched, so I added my music back on, disconnected it, but it STILL gives me the no system folder looking icon.

The iPod mounts, but the updater does not identify it. Any ideas?

mgehman · Dec 25, 2004, 01:11 PM

Originally posted by moggy:
So I initialized the disk in Disk Utility and then everything seemed immediately fine. iTunes launched, so I added my music back on, disconnected it, but it STILL gives me the no system folder looking icon.

The iPod mounts, but the updater does not identify it. Any ideas?

Did you try resetting without connecting it to the computer. Check out the link that I put in the previous posting.

moggy · Dec 25, 2004, 05:48 PM

Alas! The iPod problem has been resolved. It's been through the fiery depths of hell only to resurface back to life. Thanks hgehman for your help (on Christmas of all days!).

For all of you who are having similar problems I wanted to document how I got to the solution in this post. It was a mix of Apple help docs and various articles from websites like macosxhints.com.

So I followed mgehman's instructions and reset the iPod mini. I actually put it into disk mode (instuctions are at the link mgehman gave) and then connected it to the computer. You see, my iPod mini had the folder icon with the exclamation point. When I launched the latest iPod updater, the restore was not available to click on. So I deleted the iPodDriver.kext in the System Extensions folder. Go to terminal and type:

sudo rm -R /System/Library/Extensions/iPodDriver.kext

After that, the restore feature was still not available, so I deleted all of the iPod drivers from Library/Receipts/ and also all of the iPod updaters under /Utilities

Then I put in the original iPod CD that it came with. Show package contents (right click) on the iTunes pkg and find the iPod installer in the Resources (I believe, I'm trying to recall this all offhand). I ran the installer, then ran the iPod mini installer from the CD and the restore button was available! After restoring everything it was all back to normal. I just wouldn't recommend doing any of the new iPod updaters if you're worried.

Ahh, good ole xmas spirit and some mac friends, and the iPod is fixed. Thanks!