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Trapper · Feb 27, 2005, 11:37 PM

Okay, I admit it, I made a bit of a mistake - I lent my iPod to my teenaged nephew so he could transfer some files from it to his PC laptop. Bad idea. Apparently he was having trouble getting Windows XP to recognize the iPod, so he reconnected it to my iMac and then ran Disk Utility to reformat it as a Unix device. Well, that seems to have pooched the device. Why did he do this? When I asked him, he replied that he thought that the iPod would thereby be compatible with both Windows XP and Mac OSX. That didn't happen. Instead, the iPod now doesn't work. I can't turn it on or off; all that I see is the Mac apple icon in grey on the iPod's screen. Moreover, the iMac doesn't even recognize the iPod. When I plug it in, nothing happens: no icon on the desktop, no beeping noise, iTunes doesn't start up. So, my request to the MNN forum community is this: help please!!!!

Thanks,

Travis Hreno

p.s. I'm not exactly sure what generation the iPod is. I bought it brand new 13 months ago. It has the 4 buttons along the top, and the unadorned scroll wheel.

Phoible · Feb 28, 2005, 12:16 AM

You have a 3G iPod. You should try downloading and running the firmware updater on Apple's web site. It should reformat your iPod and reinstall the system software, and get everything working again.

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macos...r20050222.html

Ω · Feb 28, 2005, 12:25 AM

Can you see the iPod in Disk Utility (ie is it mounting?)

I would guess that you need to reinstall the iPod Software onto iPod.

Trapper · Feb 28, 2005, 01:05 AM

Neither of these suggestions have worked, I'm afraid. Disc Utility and iPod Updater both fail to see the device. What can I do now?

-Travis Hreno

Phoible · Feb 28, 2005, 01:46 AM

Try resetting your ipod (follow the link for instructions). That may allow the computer to recognize it.

http://www.werty.net/2004/06/reset-ipod.html

Trapper · Feb 28, 2005, 02:49 AM

Nothing! None of these suggestions have helped, unfortunately. Thanks for trying. Keep the ideas rolling in, though. I don't want to turn it into an expensive paper-weight.

mawsdz · Feb 28, 2005, 02:57 AM

Is it under warranty? call apple care or take it to the retail apple store. See if the "genius" can fix it.

Ω · Feb 28, 2005, 03:05 AM

Can your PC see it?

proton · Feb 28, 2005, 10:34 AM

Here's how you should be able to fix it. All instructions for a 3G iPod.

Based on:
iPod only shows an Apple logo and doesn't start up
Restoring iPod to factory settings
iPod doesn't appear in iTunes or on my Mac desktop

Reboot the iPod to disk mode:
Connect your iPod to the power adapter.

Switch the hold switch on and off on the iPod. Now hold down menu and play/pause for about 5 seconds so your iPod reboots. Immediately the Apple logo shows up, start holding down rewind and fast forward until a screen saying Disk Mode appears.

Connect the iPod to your Mac.

Open the latest iPod Updater (available from http://www.apple.com/ipod/download/) and run the Restore option.

Your iPod should end up back functioning just the way it should.

- proton

Trapper · Feb 28, 2005, 12:07 PM

Thanks proton - that did the trick.

-Travis

mawsdz · Feb 28, 2005, 04:33 PM

Originally posted by proton:
Here's how you should be able to fix it. All instructions for a 3G iPod.

Based on:
iPod only shows an Apple logo and doesn't start up
Restoring iPod to factory settings
iPod doesn't appear in iTunes or on my Mac desktop

Reboot the iPod to disk mode:
Connect your iPod to the power adapter.

Switch the hold switch on and off on the iPod. Now hold down menu and play/pause for about 5 seconds so your iPod reboots. Immediately the Apple logo shows up, start holding down rewind and fast forward until a screen saying Disk Mode appears.

Connect the iPod to your Mac.

Open the latest iPod Updater (available from http://www.apple.com/ipod/download/) and run the Restore option.

Your iPod should end up back functioning just the way it should.

- proton

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