Ipod Touch 4 device not listed - cannot sync, and have tried everything listed!

Question

Help! I pulled my IPod out to take on a trip, and I cannot get it to sync. It has been a couple months since I used it, and have gotten a new computer in the meantime. I installed the latest Itunes version to the computer (windows 7). The Ipod Touch 4 is charged. I have tried changing cords, changing hubs, uninstalling/reinstalling itunes. My computer and another home computer WILL NOT recognize the device. It does not give me an error message - it gives me nothing. I have rebooted both computer and Ipod. I went into msconfig as listed on the hlp page. Nothing. I probably need to update the Ipod too, but is there a way to do this other than connecting to Itunes through the PC? Any suggestions?
Thank you.
Vanessa

Answer 1

Does your Touch charge? When you plug it into the wall does it charge? If so, that's good because it means mechanically it's fine.
When you plug it into the computer does it recognize the ipod at all? Often you can get the photo import wizard opening up, which is a confirmation that the hardware works and that your issue is likely a software one.
You can try resetting your ipod by holding down the home and sleep key, past the red slider, and until you see the silver apple. Let it reboot and try again.
You may also want to research into Windows 7 and the Apple Mobile Device Driver because I think that's the root of your problem. No driver, the computer has no instructions what to do with this thing plugged into it.
You've probably already done this, but make sure it's plugged directly into the box and not into a hub.
There's usually no singular silver bullet fix, rather a combo that just happens to trigger things right, which only makes it more frustrating.
I know that I've seen that windows 7 comes with its own set of challenges (they work so hard to make it 'user friendly' that I find it's so automatic that it lacks the control to make it do what you want it to do rather than what they think you want to do)
Unfortunately, unless you have iOS5.0+ you can't update it without a computer.