iPod Problem

[Old Gregg]

I've just connected my iPod to synchronise it after adding some music to my iTunes library. However, I get this message apperaing every time I try it:

"iTunes cannot read the contents of the iPod. Go to the summary tab in iPod preferences and click Restore to restore this iPod to factory settings".


Then I click ok and I get another window appear with the info:

Name: iPod
Capacity: n/a
Software Version: 2.0.4
Serial Number: xxxxxxxxxxxxx


VERSION:

Check For Update: Your software is up to date, iTunes will automatically check for an update on 27/2/11

Restore: If you are experiencing problems with your iPod, you can restore it to it's original settings by clicking Restore.


The only thing I can click here is "Restore", so I did, so now I have an empty iPod. But... when Restore is clicked (I've tried it again) a little box appears saying "Extracting Software" with the green progress bar, and right at the last moment it says:

"The iPod could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (1413)."



I've Googled this 1413 problem, and Apple's website ( http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1927?viewlocale=en_U... ) suggest SpyCatcher can cause this issue - except I don't have that.

In solution 3 of that page, it says "Locate the iPodUpdaterExt.dll file in Windows Explorer. This is typically found at the following location: C:\Program Files\iTunes". Now, I'm probably being thick here, but I cannot find that on my computer (I'm not really very good with computers, but I can get by). Any idea where I'm going wrong?



Other Googling suggests resetting my iPod (hold the middle button and Menu together). I've done this and it's still the same.

Another suggestion is to format it, which is basically wiping it...? I don't know how to format it though, other than a page I found when Googling on how to format it via windows when in disk mode - but then another website suggests not to do that!?

And how could switching it to Disk Mode help me? (Hold middle and Menu, when Apple logo appears, hold middle and play button until disk mode appears). I've done that but don't know what to do with it now?



Sorry for the long post, does anyone have experience of this or know how to help?

Thanks.

Edited by Old Gregg on Tuesday 22 February 13:05

[PJ S]

Did you follow the rest of Step 3 from the Apple KB linked?
If not, then do so, and see if that sorts it.

[james_gt3rs]

My iPod classic did this once, and I think it was Winamp trying to access it and breaking it for iTunes, as the files were all there and it worked before I started iTunes...

Make sure you only have one program at a time looking after the iPod.

[Old Gregg]

PJ S said:

Did you follow the rest of Step 3 from the Apple KB linked?
If not, then do so, and see if that sorts it.

No, I didn't do that because I couldn't locate theiPodUpdaterExt.dll file so when I get to step 6 of that method I wouldn't know what to type as being the path?

james_gt3rs said:

My iPod classic did this once, and I think it was Winamp trying to access it and breaking it for iTunes, as the files were all there and it worked before I started iTunes...

Make sure you only have one program at a time looking after the iPod.

It is an 160gb iPod classic that I have, actually.

So are you suggesting deleting Winamp? Because I just did that and it has made no difference.



Balls.



Thanks for your help chaps, I'll keep searching for a cure for this but I don't know where else to look.

Are there any other things I can try?

Cheers.



EDIT: I fact, I just tried doing the other steps in solution 3 anyway and I got an error message saying;

"The module c:\Program failed to load.
Make sure the binary is stored at the specific path or debug it to check for problems with the binary or dependant .DLL files. The specified module could notbe found."

So yeah, I'm really struggling for ideas now

Edited by Old Gregg on Wednesday 23 February 09:15

[NDA]

How frustrating..... I have spent many an unhappy hour fiddling with gadgets to get them back to how they once were.

I wonder if reinstalling iTunes might help? I guess your library location and it's general health is all OK?

[Old Gregg]

Well funnily enough, I've actually just downloaded the supposedly latest version if iTunes, but before I intall it I'm just looking into whether my music library will be ok when I do install it (i.e, I don't want to lose my music or have to spend hours sorting my iTunes library out).

Something I have just noticed, when I click the Settings function on my iPod, it's showing as having only 86.9gb free (it's a 160gb device), yet there's no music on it? As if the space that the music used to occupy is still taken up, yet there's actually no music there? I did have just over 60gb of music, so they do add up...

My iTunes library is fine, I can add files and play music without a problem.

Edited by Old Gregg on Wednesday 23 February 09:42

[NDA]

Have you tried restoring your iPod from a previous back up?

[Old Gregg]

I'm not 100% sure what you mean by that. How do I go about that?

Thanks for the helpful suggestions, by the way.

[NDA]

Actually, I think back ups only apply to iPhones and iPads.... I've just been and found an iPod to have a look for you.

[NDA]

Does Windows see your iPod in the file manager/explorer?

[Old Gregg]

Well I've just installed the latest version of iTunes and luckily, my library is intact, and as it was before.

There is also some other good news... the Restore iPod function seems to have worked and although my iPod is still showing as 89gb full, it is at least synhcronising with iTunes now and hopefully once finished it will be working correctly.


So I still don't know if there was a problem with my iPod (hence needing restoring)and iTunes, or if it was just the fact that iTunes needed updating. But then I don't understand why it didn't automatically update or even give me a prompt window to tell me that there was a new version?

Nothing's ever straight forward is it?

[Old Gregg]

NDA said:

Does Windows see your iPod in the file manager/explorer?

Yes, I checked that when I was trying to format via windows yesterday

[NDA]

It's never straightforward. The HOURS I have spent fiddling with gadgets is extraordinary.

Hopefully, now that you're on the road to restoration, it might clear up the mysterious used space.

[Old Gregg]

It's just finished synching and it's all sorted, although I'm still not sure what the problem was or why it occurred.

It is now showing 85.1gb of free space after adding the music that I originally wanted to yesterday, so all appears well.


Thanks to everyone who put forward suggestions.

[james_gt3rs]

Old Gregg said:

james_gt3rs said:

My iPod classic did this once, and I think it was Winamp trying to access it and breaking it for iTunes, as the files were all there and it worked before I started iTunes...

Make sure you only have one program at a time looking after the iPod.

It is an 160gb iPod classic that I have, actually.

So are you suggesting deleting Winamp? Because I just did that and it has made no difference.

No, just when you plug your iPod in, have nothing running apart from iTunes, to eliminate the possibility of other programs affecting the iPod.

Old Gregg said:

It's just finished synching and it's all sorted, although I'm still not sure what the problem was or why it occurred.

It is now showing 85.1gb of free space after adding the music that I originally wanted to yesterday, so all appears well.


Thanks to everyone who put forward suggestions.

Glad you got it sorted.

[Old Gregg]

james_gt3rs said:

No, just when you plug your iPod in, have nothing running apart from iTunes, to eliminate the possibility of other programs affecting the iPod.

Ah, understood. I've re-downloaded Winamp again now, so everything is back to how it should be.