Erasing IPOD contents....Help.

[jlozano]

Hello...I own a 20GB First generation ipod and the current problem is that I only have ~6GB available for Music (even though I do not have any music loaded on it). I want to completly erase the contents of the IPOD and start over and see if that fixes the problem.

I read that to do this one has to go under disk utilitites (MAC OS 10.3) and select erase. I try to do this, but I keep getting the response "could not unmount disk" Anyone have any ideas on how to proceed erasing the contents on my ipod?

[Sack]

You could try just downloading the latest 'ipod Updater' for that model and instead of 'Update', choose 'Restore'..... I'm pretty sure that will erase all data other than the Ipod OS. However, if you are having mounting issues.... that's another issue.... maby try another mac, or if you only have access to a PC, format it on a PC... (you'll still be able to use it fine on a Mac), then see if it mounts on the mac.

[staypuft]

If it is having problems unmounting the disk, that sounds like it is in use. Do you have iTunes open? Are you running an application off of the iPod, or do you have a documnet open form it? Any of those could cause that error message.

[KRaven0825]

If you can't find what is hanging it up, reboot your computer to be safe. See if it will unmount then, if it refuses to unmount, cd to /Volumes/(ipod name)

and do this at your own risk, but if you are desperate...

sudo rm -R *

this will delete EVERYTHING off your ipod, you will then need to reload it just like when you bought it.


try rebooting your computer first though, the hint above is a really desperate attempt and i am sure you won't even need to do it.