iTunes 5.0 Special Report: iPod not recognized

MacFixIt reader Richard reports that his iPod is no longer recognized by iTunes after the update:

"As soon as I upgraded iTunes to version 5 I was unable to upload or communicate with my iPod Mini. I have iPod OS 1.4 on the iPod. Every time I plug it in the do not disconnect symbol comes up. In iTunes the iPod does seem to exist."

In some cases this issue can be solved by re-applying the most recent iPod updater, or resetting your iPod.

In other cases, this, more involved process may be necessary:

• Download Cocktail and set invisible items ( found under interface->finder tabs within Cocktail) to be visible
• Navigate to the top level of the iPod.
• Copy the contents of the iPod_Control folder to your local desktop
• Trash the iPodPrefs and the contents of the iTunes folder but not the folder itself. Also I think I may have trashed the device/preferences file but I am not sure
• Trash the contents of the Music folder which should be already be copied to your local drive.
• Unmount and unplug the iPod
• Reset the iPod by Toggling the Hold switch on and off. (Set it to Hold, then turn it off again.), Press and hold the Play/Pause and Menu buttons until the Apple/iPod logo appears. as per Apple Knowledge Base article #61705)
• Mount the iPod on the desktop.
• Startup iTunes. The iPod should appear now
• copy the individual folder contents of the Music folder you copied earlier onto your iPod.
• The music is back and you can start iTuning again
• Do not forget to reset the finder with invisible items turned off using Cocktail.

Index:

• Release Notes
• iTunes 5.0.1 coming with several bug fixes
• Album art not displayed, solutions
• Disc burning issues: Drives not recognized, more
• New interface design complaints
• iPod mini problems
• iPod not recognized
• iTunes encoded tracks not playing correctly in other applications
• Jumping from song to song erratically
• Entire library lost, fix
• Make sure your iApps are updated
• Sharing not working; fix
• Persistent "Quit iTunes before installing" message, fix
• Podcasts lost
• Purchased music playlist lost
• Reverting (downgrading) to iTunes 4.9
• Some music (particularly purchased tracks) not transferring to iPod
• Playback problems
• Tracks demanding re-authorization
• Improvements

Resources