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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Ipod Won't Mount/sync Reliably
dashaw - Nov 17, 2005 - 2:24 am
recently my iPod (20gb 3G) began to exhibit the above problem. I am running 10.4.3 on a Mac mini 1.25 gb with 256 ram. The Ipod is connected via a dock. The problem is either it won't mount or when irt does it won't sync well in iTunes or Backup & soon freezes the Mac completely - apps, finder everything. I cannot quit, force, quit or even do either via the Activity Monitor. Yet when I disconnect the iPod all is well. More importantly if I disconnect the firewire cable running from the dock & reconnect all is well again. So my question is: is it my iPod or the Firewire 400 port on my Mac?
LovesMacs - Nov 17, 2005 - 3:04 am
Hello David :-)
I have an iPod 20gb 3 generation also, so maybe I can help you out.
It won't mount on the Desktop, but if you connect it via Firewire, does it automatically launch iTunes and show in the Source List??? If that happens, it would eliminate your Firewire being the source of the problem.
Have you tried Resetting your iPod? If not, try this:
Connect the iPod to a power source; since it isn't always mounting properly on your Mac, I suggest you use an alternate power source with the AC Adapter. Now, slide the Hold switch on and off again. Press and hold the Play/Pause and Menu buttons for at least 5 seconds, until the
Apple logo appears. If all goes well, the iPod will go through the boot sequence and then return to the main menu. At this point, try mounting on the Desktop on the Mac and see if the problem still persists.
More troubleshooting tips:
If You Connect iPod to Your Computer and Nothing Happens
• Make sure you have installed the software on the iPod CD.
• Make sure you have the required computer and software. See “What You Need to Get
Started” on page 7.
• Your iPod may need to be reset (see page 50).
• Check the cable connections. Unplug the cable at both ends and make sure no
foreign objects are in the FireWire or USB ports. Then plug the cable back in securely.
Use only Apple iPod cables. Be sure the connectors on the cables are oriented
correctly. They can only be inserted one way.
• If you’re connecting iPod to a Windows PC using the optional iPod Dock Connector
to USB 2.0 + FireWire Cable, be sure you’re connecting it to a USB 2.0 port.
• If you’re connecting iPod to a Windows PC laptop computer using the optional iPod
Dock Connector to USB 2.0 + FireWire Cable, connect the laptop to a power outlet
before connecting iPod.
• If that doesn’t work, restart your computer.
• If that doesn’t work, you may need to restore iPod software.
To update or restore iPod with the latest software:
1Go to www.apple.com/support/ipod and download the iPod Updater application.
2Double-click the software install file and follow the onscreen instructions to install the
iPod Updater application.
3Connect iPod to your computer and open iTunes. The iPod Updater application opens.
If you’re using a Windows PC and the iPod Updater application doesn’t open
automatically, you can find the updater by choosing Start > All Programs > iPod.
4Follow the onscreen instructions to update or restore iPod software.
If you use the iPod Updater application and it doesn’t see that iPod is connected to
your computer, reset iPod
If you want to restore iPod software and you don’t have an Internet connection, you
can use the iPod Updater application that was installed on your computer when you
installed the software from the iPod CD.
To restore iPod software without downloading the latest version:
• If you have a Mac, you can find the updater in Applications/Utilities.
And another thing to try if all of the above fails: You can scan the iPod's hard disk. Since it is causing your Mac to freeze up, the iPod hard disk could be the problem according to the information in the iPod & iTunes Missing Manual I'm refering to.
Reset the iPod as I described previously. When you see the Apple logo appear, slide the Hold switch on an off again. Now, press the Menu and the Play/Pause button simultaneiously. Hold them down until the Apple logo appears on the screen. If all goes well, the iPod will go through a boot sequence and then returns you to the main menu. If you iPod is having disk problems you may see the iPod Disk Scan icon when you turn it on. That's an indication that the iPod has noticed that it has a disk problem. It's running a built-in disk fixing program automatically. Now, press the
Previous/Rewind button, Menu, and Next/Fast Forward buttons all at once. If the scan icon is in the screen it can take up to 20 minutes for this utility to scan the drive. When it's finished, 4 things can happen. One, an icon with a check mark on the left side could appear and that means the disk is fine. Or, and Exclamation alert triangle on the disk means the scan test failed and needs to be run again, Or, an Arrow on a disk, means the scan test found some problems on the disk and fixed them. But if this is the case, then you need to connect the iPod to the Mac, get online and download the latest version of iPod software, run the Restore program and reformat the disk. Or, if you see an Exclamation alert
triangle on a sad iPod icon, then your iPod needs to go in for service as soon as possible
Also, have you got the iPod Manual? Here is the link to one you can download from Apple in pdf format.
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iPo...rUserGuide.PDF
I certainly hope something has helped. Please post back and keep me informed!
Regards,
Carolyn :-)
PS... and thank you for choosing Macosx.com for your Mac support needs.
I have an iPod 20gb 3 generation also, so maybe I can help you out.
It won't mount on the Desktop, but if you connect it via Firewire, does it automatically launch iTunes and show in the Source List??? If that happens, it would eliminate your Firewire being the source of the problem.
Have you tried Resetting your iPod? If not, try this:
Connect the iPod to a power source; since it isn't always mounting properly on your Mac, I suggest you use an alternate power source with the AC Adapter. Now, slide the Hold switch on and off again. Press and hold the Play/Pause and Menu buttons for at least 5 seconds, until the
Apple logo appears. If all goes well, the iPod will go through the boot sequence and then return to the main menu. At this point, try mounting on the Desktop on the Mac and see if the problem still persists.
More troubleshooting tips:
If You Connect iPod to Your Computer and Nothing Happens
• Make sure you have installed the software on the iPod CD.
• Make sure you have the required computer and software. See “What You Need to Get
Started” on page 7.
• Your iPod may need to be reset (see page 50).
• Check the cable connections. Unplug the cable at both ends and make sure no
foreign objects are in the FireWire or USB ports. Then plug the cable back in securely.
Use only Apple iPod cables. Be sure the connectors on the cables are oriented
correctly. They can only be inserted one way.
• If you’re connecting iPod to a Windows PC using the optional iPod Dock Connector
to USB 2.0 + FireWire Cable, be sure you’re connecting it to a USB 2.0 port.
• If you’re connecting iPod to a Windows PC laptop computer using the optional iPod
Dock Connector to USB 2.0 + FireWire Cable, connect the laptop to a power outlet
before connecting iPod.
• If that doesn’t work, restart your computer.
• If that doesn’t work, you may need to restore iPod software.
To update or restore iPod with the latest software:
1Go to www.apple.com/support/ipod and download the iPod Updater application.
2Double-click the software install file and follow the onscreen instructions to install the
iPod Updater application.
3Connect iPod to your computer and open iTunes. The iPod Updater application opens.
If you’re using a Windows PC and the iPod Updater application doesn’t open
automatically, you can find the updater by choosing Start > All Programs > iPod.
4Follow the onscreen instructions to update or restore iPod software.
If you use the iPod Updater application and it doesn’t see that iPod is connected to
your computer, reset iPod
If you want to restore iPod software and you don’t have an Internet connection, you
can use the iPod Updater application that was installed on your computer when you
installed the software from the iPod CD.
To restore iPod software without downloading the latest version:
• If you have a Mac, you can find the updater in Applications/Utilities.
And another thing to try if all of the above fails: You can scan the iPod's hard disk. Since it is causing your Mac to freeze up, the iPod hard disk could be the problem according to the information in the iPod & iTunes Missing Manual I'm refering to.
Reset the iPod as I described previously. When you see the Apple logo appear, slide the Hold switch on an off again. Now, press the Menu and the Play/Pause button simultaneiously. Hold them down until the Apple logo appears on the screen. If all goes well, the iPod will go through a boot sequence and then returns you to the main menu. If you iPod is having disk problems you may see the iPod Disk Scan icon when you turn it on. That's an indication that the iPod has noticed that it has a disk problem. It's running a built-in disk fixing program automatically. Now, press the
Previous/Rewind button, Menu, and Next/Fast Forward buttons all at once. If the scan icon is in the screen it can take up to 20 minutes for this utility to scan the drive. When it's finished, 4 things can happen. One, an icon with a check mark on the left side could appear and that means the disk is fine. Or, and Exclamation alert triangle on the disk means the scan test failed and needs to be run again, Or, an Arrow on a disk, means the scan test found some problems on the disk and fixed them. But if this is the case, then you need to connect the iPod to the Mac, get online and download the latest version of iPod software, run the Restore program and reformat the disk. Or, if you see an Exclamation alert
triangle on a sad iPod icon, then your iPod needs to go in for service as soon as possible
Also, have you got the iPod Manual? Here is the link to one you can download from Apple in pdf format.
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iPo...rUserGuide.PDF
I certainly hope something has helped. Please post back and keep me informed!
Regards,
Carolyn :-)
PS... and thank you for choosing Macosx.com for your Mac support needs.
dashaw - Nov 17, 2005 - 5:41 pm
Thanks for the help - all seems okay now but I may try some of what you suggest later on if it reoccurs. I have reset it more than once so know how to do that & also know how to set it into disk mode but the hard disk test you suggest seems interesting - though I have tune tech whih is an Ipod utility and have run a series of test which seem to confirm it is fine... still always good to have another trick up your sleeve!
Thanks once again.
david
Thanks once again.
david
LovesMacs - Nov 18, 2005 - 12:40 am
Hello David,
Glad everything's in good repair now. If you need further assistance please do not hesitate to post back here at Macosx.com. Also, the www.apple.com site in the Support/iPods is a great place to get expert help from Apple!
Regards,
Carolyn :-)
Glad everything's in good repair now. If you need further assistance please do not hesitate to post back here at Macosx.com. Also, the www.apple.com site in the Support/iPods is a great place to get expert help from Apple!
Regards,
Carolyn :-)
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