Can't mount iPod, can't run restore

[claudineb]

Hi guys

I'm really hoping someone can help with my problem -- I'm at the end of my tether!

A quick re-cap: last week my 15GB, 3G iPod randomly developed a hard disk problem for no apparent reason. Lots of whirring, clunky and loud, uhealthy noises. It wouldn't let me unmount my iPod, so I had to pull the plug, wiping everything on it in the process. Eventually, it started showing the icon of the folder with the exclamation mark, and got stuck in a reset cycle that I couldn't stop until the battery drained.

My solution: I replaced my iPod hard disk with a 20GB drive, and added a new battery for good measure. It all SOUNDS fine, but when I turned on my pod for the first time after the re-fit, it showed the folder-with-the-exclamation-mark icon.

I've put the iPod into disk mode in an effort to carry out a restore of the software (both my iPod and iTunes software are up to date). However, I get one of two error messages:

The first simply says "Error: A single iPod was detected, but it must be mounted on the desktop for this operation to work." The second says something about the hard disk containing files that the Mac OS X doesn't recognise, and it prompts me to initialise (which brings up Disk Utility), eject or ignore.

In Disk Utility, I can see my iPod listed as an Apple Computers Inc firewire-mounted device, but I can't repair or restore it from there.

Is there anything I can do to force a software restore on my iPod? I can't help but get the feeling that it won't restore the data until I mount it on the desktop, but that it won't mount on the desktop until I've restored the software!

I've tried all the Apple trouble-shooting advice, and have reached a dead end. All advice appreciated.

I'm running 10.3.9 on a G4 iBook. The iPod is a 15GB (now 20GB) 3G 'pod, out of warranty, hence the DIY repair.

Cheers,
Claudine

[hayne]

I don't think you should mount the iPod as a disk to do the restore.
You should just connect the iPod, then run the restorer application.
See this Apple doc:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60944

[claudineb]

Thanks for the reply. Sadly, my iPod now seems to have taken on a life of its own and automatically starts in disk mode even when I don't press any buttons!

We have a Windows 2000 PC in the house with Firewire connections. Do you think it would be worth plugging the iPod into that to see what happens? I can always reformat it for my Mac at a later date, but I need to get it kick-started somehow, and nothing seems to be doing the trick.

If I could just get the latest software on there...

[JP13829]

Hi I have a 10GB ipod, I have sort of the same problem. Mine automatically boots into disk mode and my ibook says "The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer. Initialize..., Ignore, Eject" but when I hit "Initialize" and the disk utility opens, my 10GB comes up as "41.3GB Apple Computer Inc.":mad:

I tried the ipod updater and it said I needed to create a partition, and when I tried to, the ibook froze and my ipod just sat there saying "disk mode, do not disconnect." I don't have the money for a new one (plus I hate the 5G), if someone could help, that would be great. :confused:

[JP13829]

Just found that when connecting by USB it comes up as "9.3GB Apple iPod Media" (Which is right) but I still can't restore!:mad:

can someone please help! I can't take much more :mad: :confused:

[hayne]

I tried the ipod updater and it said I needed to create a partition
That is not normal.
When you use the iPod Updater, are you pressing the "Restore" button?
See also this Apple document: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60983

[JP13829]

I press "restore", because when I press "update" the updater just closes by itself.