Apple: the last thing I ever thought I'd need help with

Larlar

My sister was visiting for the weekend. She has a 15Gb 3rd-generation iPod. I have an 8Gb 2nd-generation iPod nano. Hers came with a firewire cable, and since my computer doesn't have a firewire port I just took the USB cable that came with mine to attach hers to my computer, so I could give her some of my music.

My computer is running Windows XP SP2. The little, cute installation balloons popped up in the bottom right corner about a found USB device, blah blah blah, as usual. A little balloon pops up for a second about some kind of failed installation or error with the device and vanishes before I see the whole thing, but I don't really mind because iTunes picks up her iPod and so I figure it's all good enough. I transfer the music. All goes well.

Except now, when I hook my nano back up to my computer, nothing happens.

iTunes doesn't do anything, Windows doesn't do anything. There's nothing showing up in the device manager and there's nothing under disk management. I've rebooted my computer and I've reset my iPod. Still nothing. I reinstalled iTunes. Still nothing. I reattached hers and uninstalled it using the device manager, and then reattached mine. Nothing.

I never thought I'd actually need any help with any kind of apple product, but this is just ridiculous. Any suggestions? Keep in mind she's now gone back across the country and took her iPod with her, so I can't do anything with that.

If this has actually been mentioned before, my bad, just point me to the right thread. I just did a quick skim of the forum, didn't find anything, and didn't really expect to.

Heir

My 4th gen mini started to act up once, and suddenly was no longer recognized by windows. It was still recharging, but no actual connection.

I ended up having to reinstall the ipod software that comes with the device. I'm sure you can find it on apple's website though.

Larlar

I'll give that a try if I can find it, but to let you know, mine doesn't even charge. On or off, it does nothing to show that it's physically connected.

corcorigan

If you format the iPod on a Mac, you can't use it on a pc. Is that the issue?

Try going to device managed and uninstalling the 'unknown thing' or whatever, and restarting.

Meiz

Sounds like you plugging in the firewire cable might have upset something in the greater balance of your USB ports.

Now it's time to do a little process of elimination.

-Try plugging your iPod in another USB port
-Try plugging it in another PC.
-Try plugging in stuff in the USB port it came on to begin with.

If your iPod detects on another PC, you know it's the USB ports that are more then likely fried.

If it doesn't, it's more then likely the iPod that's fried.

The other stuff is just to test that USB cable.

If it's a hardware issue on either side, which I'm assuming it is, check your warranty and replace if necessary.

Willeth

My brother had an issue with his Nano when we first got it, similar to this one. It was fixed by uninstalling iTunes and completely clearing any installation files, and then reinstalling. I suppose you've tried something this simple, but simply uninstalling the software didn't cut it - we had to go balls-deep and physically remove anything to do with Apple, the Update software, etc. I think we still kept the playlists, though.

The only other advice I can offer is obvious stuff like browsing around the Apple Knowledge Base.

Pheezer

corcorigan wrote: »

If you format the iPod on a Mac, you can't use it on a pc. Is that the issue?

Try going to device managed and uninstalling the 'unknown thing' or whatever, and restarting.

Try reading his post. The problem happens with HIS nano AFTER he disconnects his sister's nano. Since he has a Windows PC, it is safe to assume that his iPod is not Mac formatted.

Hook up the iPod, and do a soft reset (hold the center button and the Menu button down for about five seconds). When the iPod reboots, it might link up to the PC. You might get lucky, rebooting tends to fix a lot of random badness.

Larlar

Turns out plugging in a 3rd-gen iPod using a new nano USB cable fucks up the cable for good. On a whim, I tried using the other cable I own that came with the power adapter I bought separately, and everything worked fine.

So, uh, don't ever use a new cable with an old iPod, I guess.

Willeth

That's the most ridiculous thing ever. Are there any words to that effect in either manual? If not, go and whinge at Apple for a replacement.