APPLE IPOD 40GB - How long to format using Win XP

[robertuk]

Hi all,

How long should the 40GB Ipod take to format on a Win XP machine ?


....it's been 25 mins+ so far and no change !

Thanks in advance

R.

[Raify]

I had the same thing happen with my 20gig Pod. Looked on ipodlounge.com and found that it's a common 'hanging point' for the iPod with windows.

I just closed the dialogue box that was trying to format it, and the installing process continued with no problems.

[robertuk]

Oh dear no joy,

My friend turned up with his daughter (the Ipod was a 17th birthday present) spent three hours in total no joy.

Rang the store who gave me the care line.

Rang the care line ...pressed option three for Ipods.
The number disconnected. Tried again...the chap was helpful but whilst waiting for my computer to update the installation I got disconnected.

...and they did not call back.
I'm sure the call went to a call centre.
Would'nt it be great if you could just use an online chat facility with three tiers of support.

This is my friends second Ipod, overall hes not impressed and neither am I.

Most people are using Win XP with USB 1.0

I was about to buy one, must be a problem with this batch. I'm quite happy to tinker and play around but my friend is'nt. He's wasted two afternoons.

I think if your an Apple Mac person ,
Ipods are fine but if your a Wintel person then installation could be tricky.


We're going to try again tommorow !

R


>> Edited by robertuk on Saturday 5th March 19:18

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

You think supports going to help you?....

Chap at work had a mini iPox. Some of the buttons stopped working :-

Apple: Please reboot your machine sir.
Mate : Why, it's the iPod buttons that don't work.
Apple: If you could just reboot please sir.
Mate : Ok, whatever you like....still doesn't work.
Apple: Ok, we have to update the firmware.
Mate : Why?... oh don't bother, I'm doing it.
Mate : Nope, surprisingly no change!
Apple: Sir, I think it's a hardware fault.
Mate : No sh1t sherlock...

[robertuk]

***UPDATE***

I'm going to check format options
(I'm not going to format any of my hard disks)

I have a 60GB hard disk on my WinXP PC, partioned (or split) into 3.

C: is 10GB
D: is 10GB
E: is 40GB

Going to My Computer ->
Right click each hard disk in turn and
select format. Next to File System .
See which options are available
THEN SELECT CLOSE. Because we are not formatting our hard drives, remember.

For my C: and D: drives (10GB) I have a choice of filesystem FAT32 or NTFS.

E: Drive (40GB) NTFS is only available.

This is because FAT32 has a limit of 32GB !

So how does this effect a 40GB IPOD which uses FAT32
and is 40GB ?

Will find out and let you guys know.
R

>> Edited by robertuk on Sunday 6th March 14:41

[Bodo]

robertuk said:

This is because FAT32 has a limit of 32GB ! So how does this effect a 40GB IPOD which uses FAT32 and is 40GB ?

Not sure about the limit. I have an external HDD with 60GB, and it uses FAT for cross platform compatibility. It has so far been read and written on by Win98, Win2k, OSX, Linux 2.4 and 2.6 Kernel...

Download a Linux ISO CD such as the one from www.knopper.net and boot your computer from CD-ROM.
You now have a running Linux PC without changing anything to your harddrive. Plugin the ipod, and see if hotplugging works with your hardware. If it does (likely), use one of the Knoppix system tools to format the Ipod.

>> Edited by Bodo on Sunday 6th March 17:05

>> Edited by Bodo on Sunday 6th March 17:06

[anonymous-user]

Ummm, FAT32 theoretical max is 8TB according to MS

Incidentally, it seems as though the 40GB iPod has been dropped. Looks as though Apple are going to be phasing out the standard iPod in favour of the iPod Photo.