Well I finally got my second ipod mini! It was a four week wait and I was pretty excited that the mini finally made it back in stock at the Mac store where I ordered it.
After I had bought a mini over a month ago I spent a frustrating nine hours searching the web and reading forums trying to get the little device to run on my PC. Early on when I started to download the software and just as I pluged the unit in, I would get an error message saying that the computer did not recognice the device in the USB port.
I looked for drivers, downloaded the latest Microsoft Service Pack for Windows XP and generally left no stone unturned trying to get the little audio player to work…no way. So finally, as a last resort I returned it to the store. Some of you might remember when I posted that the mini was declared ‘defective’. I was actually relieved as I felt that it wasn’t a software problem afterall.
So I get a refund, wait a month, bring my second mini home, plug it in, SAME ERROR MESSAGE, right off the bat. I call Apple for help, they say uninstall itunes, I back everything up (all 715 songs that I had on there already) and try again, SAME ERROR MESSAGE!!!
So what would you do? Apple support is closed now. I am at a dead end.
I am wondering if I should just abandon the ipod idea. Is there a reasonable alternative? Something else out there that might work with itunes of a similar program. I am kind of attached to the idea of having a small portable audio device now but am thinking that the ipod simply isn’t going to work on this particular computer.
Any suggestions or comforting messages would be greatly appreciated
The only thing I can think of is totally starting from scratch, reformat your computer. That is a big job, depending if you have a lot of stuff on your computer, but I really think there is something else you could do. Geek sqaud maybe?
did you run the iPod Updater? I think it comes with the iPod, but if not, download it from apple.com. and if that doesn’t work, then…I donno. oh wait, I’ve an idea! reset the iPod.
to reset it, turn it off, and hold the menu and the select button down at the same time for like ten seconds. eventually, the Apple logo will come up. I’m not completely sure what resetting it does…but it doesn’t get rid of any songs, or anything, but it usually solves problems. try that. good luck!
Buddy of mine had a similar problem with his ipod, even returned one that way- only to have the same problem on the next one. The way we fixed it was to charge it overnight before trying to connect it to the computer- it seems tha ipods (and i don’t know about minis, but prbably similar) need a full charge before they want to talk to your computer for the first time… It’s worth a shot.
How many times have I heard this as a solution for Windows problems? Unfortunately it’s not a reasonable way to fix things. I’m still gradually recovering from the last time I had to do that with my home PC (to get my old version of Norton AntiVirus off of there). How come I never hear this advice for Macs?
Not that buying a Mac is a reasonable solution for iPod Mini problems either. But when it’s time for a new computer… (I don’t think I’ll be buying another PC for home)
The advice from John Childs sounds pretty hopeful. Updating the iPod might do something. Resetting it shouldn’t do anything if it acted this way out of the box.
I wonder if your computer can see the iPod as a disk drive? You have to activate disk mode or similar from iTunes, if it will let you. This is where you can copy files to the pod other than your songs. That probably doesn’t work, if the pod isn’t being recognized in the first place…
Next place to go is Windows and Apple support forums. Sounds like other people have had similar problems. If so, there will be something about it out there somewhere.
I had a similar problem a few years back with some other USB device. My computer refused to see it. I don’t remember the details, but I had to uninstall and reinstall something that was inhibiting my computer’s ability to work with the USB interface.
You could try going into your Device Manager and uninstalling, then reinstalling your USB device drivers. I can’t give you detailed instructions here because I don’t even have Windows XP.
When in doubt, blame Windows. This being your second iPod it doesn’t appear to be that. Now to figure Windows out…
I really do appreciate your suggestions and, yes, without a doubt, a Mac will be my next computer.
But in the meantime I tried the ipod at work today on both a Mac and a PC and the wee device was recognized quickly and painlessly on both of these computers.
So…I returned it and got a Creative MuVo Mp3 player instead.
Just finished downloading the software, plugged the device in…same error message. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
What’s a girl to do?!
Do you have any other USB devices plugged in? Are you using an unpowered USB hub to get extra USB ports?
Unpowered USB hubs can cause problems with devices that get power from the USB ports. The unpowered hubs don’t add any extra power and spread out the minimal amount of power they get from the USB port to multiple devices. That means some devices can get starved for power.
I have tried all possibilities short of the reformating of the drive. Though my digital camera continues to run fine through the USB ports and always has, the computer simply can not recognize the ipods or mp3 players through the USB 2.0 ports. I have tried all four of them on the pcu. And no I don’t have the hub you speak of, John.
Jagur, I’m pretty close to your idea now. I am returning the mp3 player today and have dusted off an old discman which I will use for now. When it is time to get a new computer I’ll buy a mac and then revisit this portable audio idea again.
Thanks to those of you who read this thread and made suggesions. I always value your insights and advice.
USB devices can be a problem. When you plug a USB device in the computer tries to figure out what the device is and what driver is needed to talk to that device. If the exact driver isn’t available the computer may make a best guess for a suitable driver. If that best guess is all FUBAR then the device won’t work. That can be a problem because the computer will try that exact same driver next time.
Many USB devices require that you install the USB driver first before plugging in the USB device. If you plug in the USB device first then the computer makes a best guess and ends up using the wrong driver. At that point you have to go through a troubleshooting procedure to uninstall the wrong driver and get the correct driver installed.
I’d have to do some Googling to find the troubleshooting steps to remove a problem USB driver. It can be done. There is no need to reinstall Windows just to fix a USB driver problem. I would think Apple would have the troubleshooting steps for the iPod somewhere on the customer support section of their web site.
I agree with your description of the driver related issues around USB’s John. I talked to the technical support people at Apple for two long sessions this week and finally they admitted that they did not know what to suggest next.
We did a lot of unistalling and unchecking of programs in the registry to try to get the computer to recognize the player but still no luck.
A friend has suggested I install a firewire and thus try to bypass the USB method. What do you think about that John? Would the firewire function slightly differently or could there still be the mismatched driver problem?
Firewire handles the driver issues differently than USB. I’ve never used Firewire though. I don’t even know if any of the MP3 players support Firewire.
USB is a real pain when the drivers go FUBAR. It’s way too easy to plug the thing in first before the proper drivers are installed. With some devices that messes things up big time. With other devices it makes not difference at all. Not quite the plug and play experience people expect.
Go to:
Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Hardware (tab) -> Device Manager
Now plug the mp3 player (with it turn on in the correct mode) into the USB port and see what pops up (as in what new device appears on the list now). If something pops up, then right click on it and select uninstall. Now unplug it, reinstall all the software and drivers that came with the mp3 player. Reboot the system. Then plug in the mp3 player.
On Windows systems. Sorry, had to elbow that one in there. Though I’m sure a Mac is capable of similar problems, it’s not well known.
I think the Firewire solution will work. Different drivers, hopefully no interference from whatever issue is keeping your USB hub from recognizing your players.
What you might try doing in the meantime is plugging in some other USB devices you might borrow from friends. See if any of them work. Don’t know how much help this would be though. Gilby’s suggestion also seems like a real solid one to try. Something that’s installed in USB-land is interfering with your MP3 devices. It has to be uninstalled. Or get the Firewire card. I think they’re pretty cheap. Make sure your iPod comes with a Firewire cord though. Some of them may come with only the USB one.
That’s not a bad idea. So where do you live anyhow? Why not add it to your profile?
