Support NeoGAF

[UtadaBarkley]

No, I didn't buy an iPod shuffle...but my sister did. :lol

Of course she expects me to show her how to use the damn thing, and even I can't figure it out. How does Apple consider this thing user friendly? Their online faqs/tech support sucks ass as well.

That's another issue though. Here's my problem:


When I hook the shuffle into my usb port, it recognizes it as a [Removable Disk J:] When I click it, it asks if I want to format the drive... Of course I say no. Next I try to run the iPod update software, and when I launch the proggie, I get an "iPod service error" so it kicks out of the update program.

So basically, there is nothing on the ipod shuffle, it's blank and apparenetly unformatted according to Windows XP. The odd thing is, is that when I initially tried to hook this thing up, iTunes recognized it, and I was able to put some music on it or so I thought. After attempting to play however, I got the lil green/amber alternating lights indicating that there was an error, or that the device was empty... That's what made me run the iPod updater, and ever since then, I've had problems.

Does anyone have any ideas, or know what the hell is going on here? I need a quick solution to get this problem resolved! Does it need to be formated with Fat32 (considering the thing is only compatible with NT based Windows machines? But then again, it interfaces with OSX as well, so that's why it's confusing, and I'm hesitant to format the thing using the Windows format utility...) Help Please!!!

 

[Hooker]

I wouldn't format it if I were you, maybe the thing is defective and formatting it would revoke your garantee.



I'd first check the USB drivers of the PC, and when that doesn't work as well, return it. Say it doesn't work...

 

[Shogmaster]

Formating flash memory doesn't do shit, IIRC. It's not like formatting hard drives.

edit: What I mean is, it's gonna erase it, but won't do anything physical to the flash memory. It's similar to defragging flash memory doing absolutely nothing also. Flash doesn't need defrag.

 

[rastex]

Uninstall everything itunes, and then reinstall with the latest versions (including the updater) that should sort you out. Unfortunately I ran into the same problem, it's the stupid updater's fault and not the iPod itself. Though it's strange you couldn't listen to music on it right away, I could wihtout updating it. Make sure you (or your sis) isn't just plugging the thing in and out all the time, do it the proper way with ejecting it and all of that.

 

[UtadaBarkley]

Good advice, I'll try that next.

 

[tigerfan12345]

I'm almost 99% sure If you are using it for the first time, you are SUPPOSE to format it first.

Maybe it has something to do with whether you are going to use it for pc or mac, since it can also be used as removable storage.

 

[Dilbert]

There is a new version of the iPod updater (v1.1 for the shuffle). One option is to restore factory settings...I'd try that if I were you.

Also, it's best to manage the ejection of the shuffle through iTunes. I've noticed that when you update the shuffle, you get a "removable disk" window during the transfer, but it disappears when complete.

 

[Dilbert]

I'm almost 99% sure If you are using it for the first time, you are SUPPOSE to format it first.

That is only true for the hard disk-based iPods, since they have to know whether to create a PC or Mac filesystem. It shouldn't matter for the flash players.

 

[mrklaw]

FWIW, my ipod HDD was a nightmare to get working. I think its now syncing music, after many updates/resets and it thinking it needed formatting.

I've just noticed that iTunes appears to be copying all the music files (ipod control folder, right?) onto my Irive, which is my linkstation external Hard drive. That can't be right?

 

[Pedigree Chum]

When i got my iPod 10Gb the only annoying thing was putting the thing in harddrive mode. Once I did that, Ephpod took care of the rest.

 

[UtadaBarkley]

Okay I tried the suggestions to no avail. WTF apple, how could you make this such a difficult and cryptic task. For a product marketed to laymen, they sure as hell made it a pain in the ass to configure. That shitty ipod updater software keeps locking up.

 

[rastex]

Did you uninstall EVERYTHING? iTunes, updater, quicktime... pain in the ass I know.

 

[UtadaBarkley]

Did you uninstall EVERYTHING? iTunes, updater, quicktime... pain in the ass I know.

Yes, everything associated with apple was gone from my pc. iTunes, pos updater, quicktime, all that shiznit.

 

[UtadaBarkley]

There is a new version of the iPod updater (v1.1 for the shuffle). One option is to restore factory settings...I'd try that if I were you.

Also, it's best to manage the ejection of the shuffle through iTunes. I've noticed that when you update the shuffle, you get a "removable disk" window during the transfer, but it disappears when complete.

Downloaded the update, and it worked. WTF. I tried it last night, no go.

Maybe it was the fact that i removed everything, then installed the new update.

F**k you apple.

Thank you GAF.

:lol

 

[UtadaBarkley]

One more question... My sis has a Windows 98 box, that she plans on upgrading in the near future. For the time being though, what alternatives are there to iTunes so that she can utilize her iPod shuffle on the Win98 box (iTunes only compatible with 2000 O/S and up). What about media player? All she wants to be able to do is rip her cd's, and place her music on the device, not much more than that...

 

[Vark]

for future reference and for all USB devices, make sure you install all the drivers FIRST BEFORE PLUGGING IN THE DEVICE.

Windows get flat out wonky if you plug in a device and THEN install the drivers. In fact every device you've ever bought will say as much in the instructions, its there for a reason (basically windows will assign the wrong generic drivers and won't let go of the device even if new correct drivers are installed).

Formatting the shuffle won't hurt it, its FAT32.