Can keep everything but podcasts in proper order

Question

I've reviewed recent postings, but they don't seem to resolve my problem unless I'm missing something.
I have podcasts and then audiobooks at the top of my Shuffle, then the music. All options to shuffle tracks are turned off. I drag the podcasts onto the shuffle in content setting, with the left hand column clicked always. I then make sure the podcasts are in the right order by dragging them. I resync before I disconnect. While (using 7.3) the books stay in proper order when I listen on Shuffle, the podcasts always seem to go in reverse order (I order them 1,2,3, they play 3,2,1). When I reconnect Shuffle they show in reverse (3,2,1). I have turned Shuffle on and off, restored to original settings, updated to latest iTunes; nothing seems to help with this. I am using podcasts to try to learn a language, so it would really help to have them in order. Please, if anyone can help with this I will be really grateful!

Answer 1

Hey everyone,
Same problem here...
I'm using iTunes version 7.3.1 with 2nd Gen Shuffle.
iTunes is showing correct desired sort order (with some work), but Shuffle refused to play back podcasts in anything but release date order (apparently), even after being properly syncing. Music albums seem to be unaffected.
I think I've stumbled onto a fix (for a Win XP machine anyway) while playing around with something else. Now my Shuffle is playing both songs and podcasts in the proper sort order. In a nutshell, I stopped then restarted the iPod "service" in the Windows operating system.
Follow these steps exactly:
1. Quit iTunes.
2. Right click on "My Computer" (or "Computer") found on the Windows desktop or under the Windows Start menu in the lower left corner of the screen.
3. Click on "Manage"
4. If Windows requires your permission to continue, click Continue.
5. Click the plus symbol to the left of Services and Applications.
6. Click on "Services" listed under Services and Applications.
7. Double click "iPod Service" in the right hand panel.
8. Click the "Stop" button under the General tab and leave the iPod Service Properties window open.
9. Connect your iPod and wait until it is visible in "My Computer" (or "Computer"). Note: On my XP machine, I had a new file explorer window pop up showing the iPod assigned to a folder, which later closed on it's own).
10. Click the "Start" button in the iPod Service Properties window.
11. Open (start) iTunes.
12. Once iTunes is done reading the Shuffle, sort the Shuffle's playlist in the order you desire.
13. Right click on the Shuffle's name which is on the left side of the iTunes screen.
14. Click "sync"
That's it!
Good luck!