Ipod Classic 160GB having issues, need help please?

Question

I am on vacation away from my home computer where my iTunes is.  I turned on my iPod and scrolled down to Music and it showed "No Music."  Went to "About" and saw that there were only 9GB of free space, so I felt for sure it was there because that's right at what I had when I last synced it, which was a couple days ago and it finished syncing with no problems.  Went to the next "About" screen where you can see how much Audio, Video etc. etc. you have and it showed 0 Audio and The "Other" category had all the data in it.  What happened to my music, and can I get it back on vacation without my iTunes on my computer at home?  I tried the holding down of the Select middle button and the Menu button until the Apple logo appeared but that did not restore any Audio.  Hope someone can help me out here.....Thanks

Answer 1

Solved my issue and thought I might do someone a favor by posting the answer.  If you wind up with NO MUSIC and find all your audio files have been synced into the OTHER folder on your iPod such as what happened to me, AND if you happen to be unlucky enough not to have access to your computer where your iTunes program would allow you to re-sync your iPod, here's what worked for me in a Windows7 OS.
1.You will have to find a computer that has enough storage to hold the amount of information stored on your iPod.  In my case, 139GB!!!  Download iTunes if it is not already on the system, or if it is, update to the latest software.
2.  Plug your iPod into one of the USB ports.
3.  Open iTunes if it does not open itself.
4.  Select your iPod from the menu on the left and you should get a message that iTunes cannot read the iPod. Simply close that box.  If you get a message that syncing your iPod will erase all content then decline the sync.
5.  Open Computer and you should see your iPod as an external hard drive.
6.  Open it and you will see some folders and a few files.  The folders will likely look like they are a washed-out yellow instead of a deep yellow like you're accustomed to seeing.  That threw me initially because as I was looking for the folder with @ 139GB, it was not there.  Right click each folder, go to Properties and check the "Show hidden files" in the View menu.  After that, the folders will appear dark yellow and as you hover over each one, you will see one that will have the full amount of data that was on your iPod before the mess started. Open that folder and you will see a bunch of other folders with strange names, like F00, F01 etc. etc. Do the Edit, Select All, right click and in Properties, View menu, check the Show Hidden Files again.  All the folders that were that light yellow color will now turn deep yellow.  Be sure to select show hidden files not only for the folder but all sub folders and files box that will come up....forgot to mention that earlier.  Now all your folders and the files in them will be readable by iTunes.
7.  The folders will all still be selected.  If not, select them and then do either a copy/paste into iTunes Music Library or drag them over into that pane.  The process will begin and likely take quite a while.  In my case, several hours.  When it is done, you will see all your music in iTunes along with the album art if you had any.
8.  Now you will need to sync your iPod to that library, but before you do, you will need to Restore it.  Simply select it from the left menu and click on the Restore iPod option.  That will only take a few minutes and it will wipe your iPod clean.  Before you do that, it is a good idea to MAKE SURE YOUR MUSIC IS ALL THERE!!!  I also went to about a half dozen of the albums and tried playing a few songs just to be double sure.  Proceed with the Restore, and when it is complete change the iPod name that will be in the small box on the same page as the Restore option and likely be something like"karens iPod" (whoever the computer belongs to will be the name there) to exactly what your iPod is called on your iTunes on your computer that it was originally synced to.  I found that before I did this, it would not sync.
9.  When you hit Sync, be patient because it took a minute or so before it actually began to sync.  Then, it will be another few hours if you have as much music as I did for the sync to complete and depending on the speed of the computer you're using.
That's how I got all my music back and I am now a happy camper/listener again.,
I called Apple support and they were absolutely no help.  Just told me I would have to re-sync to my iTunes even though I kept telling them that was 1,650 miles away at my house and not going to be possible.  I even asked if the above process would work and they said they didn't know but "You could try it....." :-(  At that time, I didn't have access to a computer with enough hard disc space on it yet so I called the Apple store in Louisville, KY which was 65 miles from where I was hoping that they might be able to help.  After 2 calls and getting hung up in the same loop of menus that left me on hold for over 20 minutes long distance, I gave up and concluded that Apple and Support are two mutually exclusive terms and have no relationship to one another. This has been quite a nightmare, and if anything good has come of it aside from having my music back, it might be the learning process but I really feel that is a rather small reward for the time spent!
Not likely to be an Apple fan when considering my next purchase of home computer, laptop, nor the phone I am preparing to buy.
Hope this has helped someone.
Fishead