iPod Nano problem

[DeLorean]

My girlfriend got an iPod Nano recently. When she hooks it up to her laptop it gives her a message that it doesn't recognise the device. Any words of wisdom would be appreciated!

[OneRedArmy]

What is giving the unrecognised message, the iPod or the laptop?

Is the Nano used or new? If it was previously connected to an Apple computer, it can't be used with a Windows computer without re-formatting it?

What OS is the laptop using, is it compatible with itunes minimum specs?

[DeLorean]

The Nano is brand new and the laptop is giving the unrecognised message. The Nano itself seems to be working ok otherwise ie. she can scroll through the menus and play the radio. iTunes is already installed on the laptop, don't know anything about OS or minimum specs I'm afraid!

[tetsujin1979]

had she previously connected the nano to another computer? They can be locked to an individual install of iTunes.

[dahamsta]

Sounds like a driver issue to me. What version of Windows? What's the /exact/ message?

[DeLorean]

had she previously connected the nano to another computer? They can be locked to an individual install of iTunes.

Nope. Brand new, only connected to her laptop.


Sounds like a driver issue to me. What version of Windows? What's the /exact/ message?

Not sure what version of Windows she has, what version should it be? Can't remember the exact message but it basically just says that it doesn't recognise the device. They may even be the exact words.

[dahamsta]

Any modern Windows should recognise a Nano, but not everyone runs a modern version of Windows. Plug it back in and take a screenshot of the error (PrtScn and paste into Word or similar). Google the error message.

[DeLorean]

Thanks for the help lads. I checked out a few forums, mostly from a couple of years back but with the very same problem. Lots of highfalutin responses that didn't seem to help the guys with the problem too much. We'll have another crack at it later on and I'll try the things above.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Similar problem. Any help appreciated. Think mines a Nano as well. I essentially use it as an 8GB memory stick. It got no bangs, wallops or exposure to moisture. I put some audio files on it this morning. went to check em on another machine at my lunch break as I often do. Message reads* "Your iPod needs to be reformatted for use with Windows. Would you like to run iTunes to restore your iPod now?".

Same thing comes up on all machines I hook it up to now -including the original one it succuessfully read and wrote to and from most recently. Thought it might've run out of juice but it's got charge.

Tried a couple of online yokes that promised the stars and delivered less than nothing. These include YamiPod and mediawidget both of which assume all anyone does is use the thing as a walkman anyway so even if recovery was possible all they'll recover is itunes stored music (m4a files?), photos and video.


*would it break their hearts to make it possible to copy and paste these error messages?

[tetsujin1979]

why does it need to be reformatted? Was the original machine Windows or an Apple?

I've been given that message a few times with my iPod, which is probably on its last legs right now, but simple plugging it out, resetting it, and plugging back in to the original machine fixed it.

[Lionel Ritchie]

all microsoft windows os PCs. Have tried resetting, different cables, crash-booting PCs (literally yanking the plug out of the wall -legend has it it helps reset USB ports). Nothing works. Everybody who ever has, does or will work for the Apple corp should be stabbed with something rusty and blunt.

[L.T.F.C.]

If the first computer that you connected the nano to was an Apple you have to re-format it to get it to work on a Windows. But don't think that you have to reformat the iPod and lose all your music when you connect it to another PC from a PC because that is non-sense.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Hasn't been anywhere near macs or any other apple device. Not interested in music, playlists etc -but I'd an amount of files of various types on there that are seemingly lost. I'd about 7GB of material on there. Mostly recording sessions and MS office docs. I'd the greater portion of it backed up but I'll still have lost an amount of stuff.

I gave up and reformatted the thing. Might I say, by the way, that Apples online support matches their device for complete and utter uselessness, non-customer friendliness and non-end-user orientation. I suspect they know if their help facilities involved actually dealing with device failures of customers rather than keeping them at arms length with "have you done the 5-steps" nonsense -then they'd do FA else.