iTunes on Mac cannot detect Windows formatted iPod?????

wackybit · Mar 31, 2006

I Windows formatted my iPod because I want to be able to transfer file between a PC and a Mac. The songs only update the first time. When I plug it in again, iTunes doesn't detect the iPod. Instead, the Mac iPod Updater asks whether I want to restore my iPod or not. I quitted the Updater, but iTunes still does not detect my iPod.....

Any suggestions???????

Tony D · Mar 31, 2006

That is becuase the first time you used your iPod it optimized the disk for Windows (its formated as FAT32/NTSF). If you connect to a Mac first the iPod is formated as a Mac disk. For some reason, although this was not an issue with earlier iPod, Mac decided if you were using Mac the iPod must be in Mac format and if Windows then Windows format. I suspect this has something to do with DRM. Its a pain for those with both platforms. Apple annoyed me off when they made this change - just like when they removed the firewire sync capabillity on Nano's and video iPods (they'll still charge on firewire though).

wackybit · Mar 31, 2006

Tony D said:
That is becuase the first time you used your iPod it optimized the
disk for Windows (its formated as FAT32/NTSF). If you connect to a
Mac first the iPod is formated as a Mac disk. For some reason,
although this was not an issue with earlier iPod, Mac decided if
you were using Mac the iPod must be in Mac format and if Windows
then Windows format. I suspect this has something to do with DRM.
Its a pain for those with both platforms. Apple annoyed me off when
they made this change - just like when they removed the firewire
sync capabillity on Nano's and video iPods (they'll still charge on
firewire though).

This Sucks : /

Corkcampbell · Apr 1, 2006

I read somewhere that this has changed with the newer iPods, but don't know the details. My Shuffle will work on both, but my 3rd and 4th generation iPods will not. I haven't tried my Nano. Because my music library is kept on the Mac (although backedup to the PC and other places), I haven't had a need to use the iPods on both platforms.

Check out the iLounge website for available hints and third party software concerning this situation.

wackybit · Apr 1, 2006

Corkcampbell said:
I read somewhere that this has changed with the newer iPods, but
don't know the details. My Shuffle will work on both, but my 3rd
and 4th generation iPods will not. I haven't tried my Nano. Because
my music library is kept on the Mac (although backedup to the PC
and other places), I haven't had a need to use the iPods on both
platforms.

Check out the iLounge website for available hints and third party
software concerning this situation.

I believe that both the nano and the shuffle will work fine on both systems since they use flash memory. The problem is that Apple should open up their iPod so it can be used on both systems......

maflynn · Apr 1, 2006

Tony D wrote:
For some reason,

Tony D said:
although this was not an issue with earlier iPod

Actually its always been this way and worse. You had to buy a window's iPod or a Mac iPod and you couldn't even hook them up. That is the window's was usb, the mac was firewire.

Its too bad, it would seem to me that it would be easier for apple to use a single file format but life is not simple.

Mike

wackybit · Apr 1, 2006

maflynn said:
maflynn said:

although this was not an issue with earlier iPod

Click to expand...

Actually its always been this way and worse. You had to buy a
window's iPod or a Mac iPod and you couldn't even hook them up.
That is the window's was usb, the mac was firewire.

Its too bad, it would seem to me that it would be easier for apple
to use a single file format but life is not simple.

Mike

The 4G (and maybe the 3G) iPod was compatible with both Windows and Mac if you formatted the iPod to FAT32 (windows), but would only work on a Mac if you formatted it to HFS (mac). It works for FAT32 because Macs can read/write to FAT32 and HFS hard disks. But windows machines can only read/write to FAT32. But now, even though I formatted my iPod to FAT32, it detects my iPod the first time and updates all the songs in my iTunes libraray to it. But the next time on it wouldn't show up on iTunes, only shows in the Finder. Seems Apple is stepping back into the old days.....

Ian Eisenberg · Apr 1, 2006

Or you guys are both just bashing Aple again...

I have a 4G, a 3G and 2 Nanos.

All of them when prepared with the Apple update utility will work on both Macs and PCs.

If you format the iPod with a utility other than the updater (Disk Utilities on Mac or Disk Format on Windows) you are going to have problems since this is just a bare formatter and does not install some of the other necessary iPod file structure.

I regularly use my iPod photo to transfer files from Mac to PC as well as using an older 20GB iPod 4G as a photo storage drive.

Corkcampbell · Apr 1, 2006

Just tried my Nano on my PC and the format wasn't recognized. This is because I originally used it with a Mac (Tiger). However, if it had been originally setup on a PC, perhaps it would have been recognized on both systems (for use as an external HD). Perhaps someone has tried this? As I said before, the Shuffle works fine on both, even though originally set up on a Mac.

Adam H · Apr 1, 2006

Sorry to jump in on this thread but have a question pertaining to the new video iPods. Will they update and charge with a USB only connection?

Reason I ask is because I have a first generation iPod which uses FireWire and my kids and girlfriend have shuffle, nano and mini which use USB. It's a bit of a hassle being different as my iPod will update via USB, but only charge via FireWire. Given it's age and the poor display compared to the video iPod I have been thinking about getting a new one. I have about 17 GB of music so the smallest video iPod will do. (Was also wondering if Apple would be making any product announcements today due to their 30th anniversary. Maybe Monday?)

Corkcampbell · Apr 1, 2006

It is recognized that you apologized for diverting this thread, but, still, you can find your answers on Apple's website, iLounge, and many others. The original poster had a specific question.

wackybit · Apr 1, 2006

Corkcampbell said:
Just tried my Nano on my PC and the format wasn't recognized. This
is because I originally used it with a Mac (Tiger). However, if it
had been originally setup on a PC, perhaps it would have been
recognized on both systems (for use as an external HD). Perhaps
someone has tried this? As I said before, the Shuffle works fine on
both, even though originally set up on a Mac.

Restart the iPod (Menu + center button) and quickly press: (Play + center button) to go into disk mode

Other useful combinations:
System Check: (Rewind + center button)

wackybit · Apr 1, 2006

Ian Eisenberg said:
Or you guys are both just bashing Aple again...

I have a 4G, a 3G and 2 Nanos.
All of them when prepared with the Apple update utility will work
on both Macs and PCs.
If you format the iPod with a utility other than the updater (Disk
Utilities on Mac or Disk Format on Windows) you are going to have
problems since this is just a bare formatter and does not install
some of the other necessary iPod file structure.

I regularly use my iPod photo to transfer files from Mac to PC as
well as using an older 20GB iPod 4G as a photo storage drive.

I'm a devoted Mac user.........I wouldn't bash Apple

wackybit · Apr 1, 2006

Adam H said:
Sorry to jump in on this thread but have a question pertaining to
the new video iPods. Will they update and charge with a USB only
connection?

Reason I ask is because I have a first generation iPod which uses
FireWire and my kids and girlfriend have shuffle, nano and mini
which use USB. It's a bit of a hassle being different as my iPod
will update via USB, but only charge via FireWire. Given it's age
and the poor display compared to the video iPod I have been
thinking about getting a new one. I have about 17 GB of music so
the smallest video iPod will do. (Was also wondering if Apple would
be making any product announcements today due to their 30th
anniversary. Maybe Monday?)

I want to by ur 1G iPod!!!!!! How much are u offering?
Is it still in good condition?

Adam H · Apr 1, 2006

As soon as I can figure out how to send you a private message/email or you can do the same to me, we can discuss a price offline. I'd rather not post my email address where a spambot will be able to pick it up.

It works fine. I can't really attest to the battery life as it's the original battery and I usually have it plugged into my cigarette lighter as I pretty much use it exclusively in the car. It's a 20 GB unit that I purchased 10/08/03 with a 4-year Best Buy warranty. It's never been repaired or exchanged.

Corkcampbell · Apr 1, 2006

Thanks for your answer, but it is not clear to me. If I have a Nano, which was originally set up with my Mac, what must I do to make it work (as a Disk Drive) with both my Mac (Tiger) and PC (XP)? I don't mind reformatting it and reloading the music, etc.

Eug · Apr 1, 2006

Dunno, why yours doesn't work, but I formatted my 3G iPod and my iPod mini with FAT32 and they worked fine in iTunes on all of my Macs. What I did is use iTunes on Windows to format the iPod, and then just plugged them into my Macs. No problems syncing with iTunes on OS X.

I sold my 3G iPod a while back though and I switched my iPod mini to HFS+ last year because I no longer have any Windows PCs at home, and I was having some weird problems with Keynote documents saved on FAT32 drives. (I store my backup work documents on my iPod.)

Did you use iTunes on Windows to format you iPod or did you use something else?

wackybit said:
I Windows formatted my iPod because I want to be able to transfer
file between a PC and a Mac. The songs only update the first time.
When I plug it in again, iTunes doesn't detect the iPod. Instead,
the Mac iPod Updater asks whether I want to restore my iPod or not.
I quitted the Updater, but iTunes still does not detect my iPod.....

Any suggestions???????

--
Everything Apple - http://everythingapple.blogspot.com/

dreamdslr · Apr 1, 2006

I bought iPod photo last year, setup with iTune on my Window PC. This year I bought iPod Video and set it up on my Mac. I still have both iPod and the Win and Mac machines are using the latest iTune. Since I am lazy updating my iTune library on both machine, I normally only use one of the iTune to load the songs into the library then hook and update my respective iPod. Once I tried to also update my iPod using the "other's" library (hook up iPod Photo to Mac and vice versa), and it worked just fine. Can't tell why in technical terms, other than it just works. Maybe I am just lucky ?

dre@mz

wackybit · Apr 3, 2006

Corkcampbell said:
Thanks for your answer, but it is not clear to me. If I have a
Nano, which was originally set up with my Mac, what must I do to
make it work (as a Disk Drive) with both my Mac (Tiger) and PC
(XP)? I don't mind reformatting it and reloading the music, etc.

First reset the iPod (Menu + center button), then boot it to disk drive (Play + center button)

wackybit · Apr 3, 2006

Adam H said:
As soon as I can figure out how to send you a private message/email
or you can do the same to me, we can discuss a price offline. I'd
rather not post my email address where a spambot will be able to
pick it up.

It works fine. I can't really attest to the battery life as it's
the original battery and I usually have it plugged into my
cigarette lighter as I pretty much use it exclusively in the car.
It's a 20 GB unit that I purchased 10/08/03 with a 4-year Best Buy
warranty. It's never been repaired or exchanged.

My email is: (my dpreview username)[email protected]
Send me some pics too....

iTunes on Mac cannot detect Windows formatted iPod?????

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Forum Pro

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Forum Pro

Well-known member

Forum Pro

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Well-known member

Forum Pro

Senior Member

Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Similar threads

Keyboard shortcuts