Restore an iPod that won't mount

Aug 27, '03 10:41:00AM

Contributed by: kconboy

I restored my iPod today (5gb, 1st generation) but when I plugged it into my Mac (after flawless use for over eight months), I got disk errors and a couple windows asking me if I'd like to re-initialize an unreadable disc. I never clicked any of the buttons on those red and scary windows. I ran Disk Utility on ths iPod numerous times, and "repaired" it every time. Every time I plugged it back in, I got the same disc errors. Here's how I finally fixed it.

YOU WILL LOSE ALL THE MUSIC, CONTACTS AND EVENTS ON THE iPOD. Make sure the iPod is not plugged in. Quit iTunes.

  1. Download and install the iPod Software 1.3 Updater.
  2. Run the software. It should have two disabled buttons: Update and Restore, with a message telling you to plug in an iPod.
  3. Plug in the iPod
  4. When you get your expected errors (for me, there were two windows: one asking if I wanted to open Disk Utility and another asking if I wanted to Initialize, Ignore or Eject), move all the windows aside (they still stay in front of everything) so that you can see the iPod Software Updater in the background.
  5. The "Restore" button should now be enabled in the iPod Updater Software. Take a deep breath, understand you'll have to put everything back on your iPod that was there, and click "Restore." I believe there will be a dialog box making sure you want to do this.
  6. As I recall, after an on-screen status bar, the iPod will ask to be unplugged. Do so and close the error windows you got when you plugged in the iPod the first time.
  7. On the iPod's screen, you'll get a status bar. When it's done with whatever it's doing, it'll give you an icon telling you to plug it back into the firewire cable. Do so.
  8. Your iPod should now (after a few seconds) re-appear on the desktop with a generic name. Launch iTunes and you'll get a dialog box asking what you'd like to name it, yadda yadda yadda, it's like new again.
I can't guarantee this will work for you, but it worked for me with no problems. I'm now saddled with the task of re-populating and syncing my iPod with my Mac. This is annoying but a lot less annoying than being saddled with the task of buying a new iPod or (shudder) a different, less-spiffy MP3 player.

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