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.
- Download and install the iPod Software 1.3 Updater.
- Run the software. It should have two disabled buttons: Update and Restore, with a message telling you to plug in an iPod.
- Plug in the iPod
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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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