ITunes not recognizing iPod and iPod tunes vanishing

I have had this happen on three different occasions now. I plug my iPod in the USB port to update my podcasts and iTunes says it does not recognize "iPodName", please run iPod updater to restore. I then look at my iPod and find that all my music and videos are gone! Each time this has happened I have had to restore my iPod then reload all my content (a painfully long experience) and I would like to find out why this is happening and if there is anything I can do to prevent it from recurring. Also, is there any way to recover the content on my iPod so that I do not have to re-transfer all the content each time this occurs?
I have also note some quirks in iTunes where some (not all) of my podcasts are not recognized when trying to update them from the Internet. It is not always the same podcast.
I am concerned that I may have a corruption in some of the iTunes configuration files and am considering a daily backup up of these files as preventive maintenance. Are they stored in a subdirectory of the iTunes folder or the program directory?
Thanks in advance,
iPod 5G 60 Windows XP Pro

Well before you install that new Harddrive, or if your system is acting "Funky" do a backup of all your music and iTunes ASAP. go to here to follow instruction on backing up in iTunes http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302392
If all your music is in the "My Music" folder you can just back up that whole folder to CD. this will make a backup of all your music AND a backup of the iTunes Library file so you will not loose any playlist you have created, rating, playcounts and the like. to do that put a black CD in, goto "My Music" then at the top select Edit>Copy to folder. in the window that appears pick your CD drive, whatever letter it is (Usually D drive) and hit OK. your system may bog down for abit but once windows as made a CD image it will burn it to the CD and there you have it

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Itunes not recognizing 7th gen iPod after updating to windows 8.1 and latest itunes, works on other computers

So I updated my computer to 8.1 I don't know if I synced my ipod after that, but I know immediately after updating iTunes, I began to receive an error message saying iTunes recognizes that I connected an iPod, but can't identify properly.
I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling as well as restarting the computer, trying different USB ports. it works when I connect it to other computers.

Hi HIJKay,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities. This article has some steps you can take if iTunes isn't correctly recognizing your iPod:
iPod: Appears in Windows but not in iTunes
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1363
Cheers,
- Ari

ITunes Not Recognizing/Reading iPod

Hello!
I've recently had trouble with iTunes not recognizing/reading my iPod. I've plugged it in, but iTunes fails to recognize that it's been plugged in. It does charge, but that's it. I've been trying to sync my iPod, but I'm now unable to. This problem only began a few weeks ago, rather suddenly, and has not yet worked since then. I'm hoping I don't have reinstall iTunes, as I've purchased some new songs and those are what I'm trying to copy over, and I don't wish to lose those.
I'm currently running Windows Vista, and I'm not sure which versions of iTunes I'm using. I know I was using 7 at some point, but I don't remember if I've updated beyond that. I'm also using a 2nd Generation iPod Nano.
Any suggestions as to why this is happening and/or what I can do to fix it will be eagerly waited for!
Thank you.

Unfortunately, there is no one ‘Silver Bullet’ answer for this issue. Many things can contribute to the problem. Here are various ‘generic’ solutions that you can try in an effort to correct your problem. One should work. These are listed in simplest to more involved order (usually). Read through them all, and see if one specifically matches your observed issue(s).
First, make sure that the iPod is fully charged.
Try Resetting Your iPod while it's connected to the computer.
Hold down the Menu and Select buttons until you see the Apple logo (or Menu & Play/Pause in older models).
This will often get it recognized. However, it may take several attempts.
Try closing and re-starting iTunes. There have been cases where iTunes refuses to see an iPod, but after re-starting, it works again.
Also try re-booting the entire computer. Especially if the PC has been operating for a long time &/or many programs have been opened and closed, repeatedly.
Other USB connected peripherals may be the cause as well. Try removing all connected USB items and attaching the iPod. If you have a USB keyboard, it may be worth a try using the adapter to convert it to non-USB. If the iPod connects, continue plugging things back in until you have the problem return. You may have then isolated the issue. Sometimes it could be a printer, camera, Flash Card reader, or other attached device causing a conflict.
Your iPod may be conflicting with other USB peripherals or network drives. If your iPod shows up in Explorer under 'my computer' try changing the drive letter:
-- Click on Start=>Control Panel=>Admin Tools=>Computer Management=>Disk Management
-- Right-Click on the iPod and select “change drive letter”
-- Choose something further along in the alphabet that is unused (Usually, “M”, “N”, “O” or something similar)
-- Safely eject the iPod
-- Reboot the PC
-- Open iTunes &/or Connect the iPod
If you do find that your Device Manager is blank, you should probably check up on this issue first: No Items Appear in the Device Manager List When You Open It
If that doesn't work, Put Your iPod into Disk Mode then plug it in and you should be able to Restore the iPod
Your PC may have difficulty with the USB2 protocol and the iPod. See this Article for a possible solution: iPod not Recognized Correctly
Also try these hints (and the other suggestions above) from any other USB port you may have on the PC. Sometimes switching USB ports can make all the difference.
Try using another PC if you have access to one. Even a Mac may help. Try Restoring it on the other computer and moving it back to yours.
Also See:
Your Windows PC doesn't recognize iPod
iPod does not appear in iTunes or on the desktop
iPod appears in Windows Explorer but does not appear in iTunes
“Strange iPod Behavior within Windows”

Solution!!! (for iTunes not recognizing Nano)

I've written this as a reply to the thread below as well - but as it seems more than just our friend below has this problem I've also posted this as a separate post
Hi everybody,
I have - like many of you, suffered through this frustrating process of Windows recognizing the Nano and yet iTunes not recognizing it, and after some research I think I may have found a solution (perhaps not THE solution).
Just so you are aware, I just want to warn you that I'm not some computer science expert or anything, and this is a pretty old article (written May 2006, http://pluralsight.com/blogs/keith/archive/2006/05/26/25476.aspx), BUT I think this works on iTunes 7.0 because it is now detecting my nano. Basically I think what the problem is that the Nano is supposed to be formatted as FAT32 to work with iTunes but for many of us outdated Nano users the Nano is still formatted as FAT.
So like the blog author has written, we need to go and run the Windows disk management tool (if you are not a computer person like I really am not, just go to Windows help and search "disk management" and it'll give you a link that brings you directly there). The disk management tool will probably show the C drive and then the iPod as well as any extraneous hardware. RIGHT CLICK on the iPod (it should be there since all of you are saying that XP recognizes it), format it to FAT32 (it will warn you that info on your ipod may be erased, but this doesn't matter since it's just info on your ipod and your music is on your C drive anyway). I didn't re-run the iPod updater like the blogger did (especially since the iPod updater is apparently included in iTunes 7.0 now and the latest one, which I believe is iPod updater 6-28-06..is now outdated and invalid)...but the next time I ran iTunes, it recognized the iPod!!!!!! HORRAY
So in simple instruction form,
- Open Windows disk management window (Control Panel --> Administrative Tools --> Computer Management)
- Once you have this window open, click on Disk Management (under Storage)
- If like you say, your XP recognizes your iPod (but iTunes doesn't), then your iPod should be listed under that window along with your C drive (and maybe others). Under File System, it might say FAT.
- If it does, RIGHT CLICK your iPOD and choose Format
- Change the Format from FAT to FAT32. (It will warn you that everything will be erased but that's ok)
Btw I also restored the nano (to factory settings).
I hope this helps...was glad to find there were other people suffering through the same thing. Misery loves company! Please let me know if it worked for you and if you have questions

I too am a victim of upgrading to iTunes 7.0 I reformatted my nano per instructions, even though it already was FAT32. I reset the nano as well, still no joy. What's interesting is that if I restart the computer with the nano plugged in, it recognizes it and tells me that I need to update to 1.2. As soon as I do this, however, it says that it's updating, but the ipod goes from 'do not disconnect' to the normal menu. iTunes says it’s updating, but it never does. I need to kill the process through task manager to get it to quit.
Additionally, if I choose not to update, the nano shows up in iTunes just fine and I can move songs to the nano. (I have it set to manually update the nano as I have more songs in my library than the nano can hold.)
However, as soon as I ‘eject’ the nano, reconnecting it does not show the nano, whether I stay in iTunes or close iTunes and then unplug and plug in the nano. The nano shows ‘do not disconnect’, and windows sees the nano, but still no joy in iTunes.
FYI, I have also uninstalled and reinstalled the software and tried all the directions at:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93716
Which I was directed to when doing the diagnostics on the iPod through iTunes.
This is a total crock. Some upgrade.

When I plug my iPod into the computer, itunes won't come up on the screen and my iPod is not recognized anymore and it use to be. Please help because I can't sync it at all because it won't show up as a device

When I plug my iPod into the computer, itunes won't come up on the screen and my iPod is not recognized anymore and it use to be. Please help because I can't sync it at all because it won't show up as a device on the right hand side of itunes.

Try
iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Windows
I would start with
Removing and Reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows XP
or
Removing and reinstalling iTunes and other software components for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8
Before you reinstall the Apple software, also remove iCloud vi Control Panel Remove programs. The reinstall the Apple programs
New cable and different USB port?
Runs this and see if the results help with determine the cause
iTunes for Windows: Device Sync Tests
Try on another computer to help determine if computer or iPod problem

HT1212 Ipod locked and can not unlock it. Itunes not recognizing it either. What now?

Ipod locked and can not unlock it. Itunes not recognizing it either. What now?

If you're unable to do the Restore, go into Recovery Mode per the instructions here. Also, if you have IOS-7, read this.

ITunes not recognizing new PC and, therefore, doesn't recognize my IPOD

ITunes not recognizing new PC even though it says it is authorized. The result: ITunes doesn't recognize my IPOD. It does still have my old PC name attached to my account. What can I do to rectify this situation?

It could be a tiny bit of fluff in the dock that's preventing a particular wire from connecting. A magnifying glass and a decent light should let you inspect the port. If there is any rubbish lodged in the dock opening use a can of compressed air or a fine needle to ease it out taking care not to damage the connectors.
tt2

ITunes Not Recognizing my iPod Touch after Upgrading from Tiger to Leopard

After upgrading from Tiger (10.4.x) to Leopard (10.5.0=>10.5.6), my iPod Touch is no longer recognized by iTunes 8.0.2. The iPod Touch no longer appears in iTunes' "source list" (left side pane in iTunes' GUI).
Immediately prior to that upgrade, my iPod Touch was working great with Tiger (10.4.x). iTunes 8.0.2 recognized it (listed it in sources) and always synchronized with it successfully.''
My iPod Touch is also not shown in the Finder. However, it does show up as recognized in iPhoto.
Any ideas on how to get the iPod recognized again in iTunes under Leopard?

Thanks to a posting by Jim in a different Apple Discussions (forum), my problem is now resolved. Read on for the details.
iPods & Finder. Some other postings incorrectly lead me to believe that the iPod would show up in the "Finder". Jim's posting set me straight on this.
iTunes Not Recognizing iPod Touch. Prior to Jim's posting, I had already read the article that Jim referenced (to remove and reinstall the Apple Mobile Device Service per article "http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1747").
Prior to Jim's posting, I had also read other articles in various "Apple Discussions" (forums) that suggested this recognition problem could be resolved by uninstalling/re-installing iTunes 8.0.2. Some implied that you could just re-install iTunes 8.0.2 right over the currently installed one without bothering to uninstall it.
Based on those postings, I "gambled" last night and simply downloaded and re-installed iTunes 8.0.2 (without uninstalling it first). I noticed during the installation that the Apple Mobile Device agent was also re-installed. Well, my gamble paid off! After the installation (and a reboot?), iTunes onces again RECOGNIZED my iPod Touch.

ITunes not recognizing original IPod touch after new one installed

I tried to set up new IPod touch but itunes wouldn't recognize it. Downloaded latest version of itunes. Was able to set up new IPod touch but now old touch not being recognized by itunes. Went through the troubleshooting guide with no positive results. Old (unreconized) touch is fully charged. Restarted computer. Restarted itunes. Changes usb ports. Nothing working. Any ideas?

Hi Jim,
Thank you for your reply to my posting about iTunes not recognizing my iPod Touch after upgrading to Leopard.
iPods & Finder. Some other postings incorrectly lead me to believe that the iPod would show up in the "Finder". Thanks for setting me straight on this.
iTunes Not Recognizing iPod Touch. Prior to your posting, I had already read the article you referenced (to remove and reinstall the Apple Mobile Device Service per article "http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1747").
Prior to your posting, I had also read other articles in various "Apple Discussions" (forums) that suggested this recognition problem could be resolved by uninstalling/re-installing iTunes 8.0.2. Some implied that you could just re-install iTunes 8.0.2 right over the currently installed one without bothering to uninstall it.
Based on those postings, I "gambled" last night and simply downloaded and re-installed iTunes 8.0.2 (without uninstalling it first). I noticed during the installation that the Apple Mobile Device agent you referenced was also re-installed. Well, my gamble paid off! After the installation (and a reboot?), iTunes onces again RECOGNIZED my iPod Touch.

Itunes is not recognizing that my ipod is plugged in so I am unable to sync the device. What can I do to get Itunes to notice my device?

Itunes is not recognizing that my ipod is plugged in so I am unable to sync my device. What an I do to get itunes to notice my device is plugged in?

iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Mac OS X
Or
See
iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Windows
- I would start with
Removing and Reinstalling iTunes, QuickTime, and other software components for Windows XP
or
Removing and reinstalling iTunes and other software components for Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8
However, after your remove the Apple software components also remove the iCloud Control Panel via Windows Programs and Features app in the Window Control Panel. Then reinstall all the Apple software components
- New cable and different USB port
- Run this and see if the results help with determine the cause
iTunes for Windows: Device Sync Tests
Also see:
iPod not recognised by windows iTunes
Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates
- Try on another computer to help determine if computer or iPod problem

Itunes not recognizing my ipod after restoring it

My ipod decided to go crazy on me, so I followed the 5 r's. After restoring the ipod it is no longer being recognized. I have restarted my computer, downloaded the latest software, used different usb ports but to no avail.
There is no icon in devices that pops up. When i run a diagnostic is states that an ipod is connected.
Any helps?

Hi Jim,
Thank you for your reply to my posting about iTunes not recognizing my iPod Touch after upgrading to Leopard.
iPods & Finder. Some other postings incorrectly lead me to believe that the iPod would show up in the "Finder". Thanks for setting me straight on this.
iTunes Not Recognizing iPod Touch. Prior to your posting, I had already read the article you referenced (to remove and reinstall the Apple Mobile Device Service per article "http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1747").
Prior to your posting, I had also read other articles in various "Apple Discussions" (forums) that suggested this recognition problem could be resolved by uninstalling/re-installing iTunes 8.0.2. Some implied that you could just re-install iTunes 8.0.2 right over the currently installed one without bothering to uninstall it.
Based on those postings, I "gambled" last night and simply downloaded and re-installed iTunes 8.0.2 (without uninstalling it first). I noticed during the installation that the Apple Mobile Device agent you referenced was also re-installed. Well, my gamble paid off! After the installation (and a reboot?), iTunes onces again RECOGNIZED my iPod Touch.

When I plug in my ipod to my laptop instead of my desktop, nothing pops up to sync my ipod. Has anyone had a problem with itunes not recognizing an ipod?

When I plug in my ipod to my laptop instead of my desktop, nothing pops up to sync it. Has anone had any problems with itunes not recognizing an ipod?

Hi sarahdavis0_o,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!
If neither your iPod or iPhone are being recognized by iTunes when connected, I would recommend the steps in the following article.
iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Windows
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1538
Have a great day,
Joe

Computer not recognizing that my ipod is pluged in!!

I have recently reformatted my comeputer and got some new music put on my itunes and when i tried to plug in my ipod it just doesnt do anything...like the little screen on the ipod that usually sais "do not disconnect" doesnt come up...the computer doesnt even accnowladge that anything is pluged in...i tried downloading the newest ipod softwhare and that didnt work...i tried putting in the origional disk that came with it and that didnt do anything...also when i plug my ipod into the computer it drains the battery instead of charging it...suggestions??

I don't know if this might work for you guys but this is what got my problem solved. If you experience the following, the Ipod was working but suddenly it stops working (i.e. the ipod screen is totally blank no icons like battery low or whatever) and when you connect it to the computer the little sign that means do not disconnect does not appear (the pc does not recognized that the ipod is connected) then maybe this might solve your problem. Do not connect the Ipod to the computer for about 24 hours. Do not try to charge it or anything just leave it by itself let the battery drained then try it the next day and hopefully the icon of battery is low will appear then you can charge it by connecting to the pc.
This is what happened to me by accident i guess, i had given up and had realized that i had just spend two hundred dollars on something that didn't work but today i tried to turned it on and the battery is low icon appeared so i connected to the PC and now it works.
Good Luck.

USB not recognized from my ipod touch 2nd gen on any of computers.

USB not recognized from my ipod touch 2nd gen on any of computers.

Just what are you doing where?
Are you trying to sign into Settings>iTunes and App Store?

HT1386 My Ipod and Ipod touch both sync and update latest CD music added to Itunes, however when I connect my Iphone it wont sync my most recent CD addition to iTunes?

My Ipod and Ipod touch both sync and update latest CD music added to Itunes, however when I connect my Iphone it wont sync my most recent CD addition to iTunes?

I have my iTunes settings to prevent my iPod from synching automatically.
Open iTunes (without the iPod Touch connected) , go to "iTunes"--->"Preferences"--->"Devices", select the box that says "Prevent iPods, iPhones, and iPads from synching automatically", select "OK".
I would then close iTunes and then reopen it. Verify that the settings you just changed are intact.
Log into the iTunes store and update any Apps that you may have purchased.
Connect the iPod Touch via USB with iTunes open. You will see the icon on the left side under "Devices" as normal, however it will not automatically sync.
Click on the "Device" in iTunes and from there you can manually adjust all the items you want to sync and then select sync when you are ready.
I sync mine this way because I feel it gives me more control over the syncing process. Also, I always log into the iTunes store first, check for updates to my Apps and then connect the iPod to manually sync.
So, to me, I guess that perhaps is a way to "force" the sync but in a controlled manner.
I hope that helps.

I can't connect to the itunes store. I have the latest version of itunes on my windows 7 computer. I can connect to itunes from my ipad and ipod but no my windows computer. i dont get any error message, the bar at the top just says accessing itunes.

I can't connect to the itunes store. I have the latest version of itunes on my windows 7 computer. I can connect to itunes from my ipad and ipod but no my windows computer. i dont get any error message, the bar at the top just says accessing itunes

Close your iTunes,
Go to command Prompt -
(Win 7/Vista) - START/ALL PROGRAMS/ACCESSORIES, right mouse click "Command Prompt", choose "Run as Administrator".
(Win XP SP2 n above) - START/ALL PROGRAMS/ACCESSORIES/Command Prompt
In the "Command Prompt" screen, type in
netsh winsock reset
Hit "ENTER" key
Restart your computer.
If you do get a prompt after restart windows to remap LSP, just click NO.
Now launch your iTunes and see if it is working now.
If you are still having these type of problems after trying the winsock reset, refer to this article to identify which software in your system is inserting LSP:
Apple software on Windows: May see performance issues and blank iTunes Store
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4123?viewlocale=en_US

ITunes not recognizing iPod and iPod tunes vanishing

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