My ipod isn't being read by any computer

I have an Ipod classic. It stopped being read by any computer. It still plays music, however, after about 3-4 songs, it takes awhile to play another. I save a few files on it and was wanting to figure out who I could take it to to recover any of those files. I know that if I send it to Apple it will get wiped. Need to get those files, so any kinda advise or suggestions would help me out.

It could be an indication or a damaged or dying hard drive. I would recommend doing a disk diagnostic on the iPod's HD using the instructions given by turingtest2 in this older thread. He also covers what the resulting numbers indicate.
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3784647?start=0&tstart=0
B-rock

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My iPod isn't reseting and isn't being read by my computer

I'm not sure whats wrong. I've had some trouble before but all i've ever had to do was reset it and its not working. Its been acting up for a long time and I REALLY don't want to reset it, I have over 1500 songs.
I've tried everything and have attempted to reset it multiple times and when I put it on my adapter all it does is go to the apple logo and then show the sick iPod telling me to go to apple/support/ipod where it tells me to do exactly what i've been doing to no avail. Anyone know what else I can do? Anything I might be doing wrong? I toggle the hold switch once, keep my fingers on the menu and select button until the apple comes up and then it just goes to the sick iPod.
It started doing this after I downloaded a podcast "muggle-nets" and quit listening at a point and whenever I try and listen to it it goes to the point I left off and the last time I tried this my iPod messed up and hasn't worked since. Please help. I am never getting podcast again.

Hello,
If a sad iPod icon or an exclamation point and folder icon appears on your iPod’s screen, or with sounds of clicking or HD whirring, it is usually the sign of a hard drive problem and you have the power to do something about it now. Your silver bullet of resolving your iPod issue – is to restore your iPod to factory settings.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60983
If you're having trouble, try these steps at different levels one at a time until the issue is resolved. These steps will often whip your iPod back into shape.
Make sure you do all the following “TRYs”
A. Try to wait 30 minutes while iPod is charging.
B. Try another FireWire or USB through Dock Connector cable.
C. Try another FireWire or USB port on your computer .
D. Try to disconnect all devices from your computer's FireWire and USB ports.
E. Try to download and install the latest version of iPod software and iTunes
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
For old and other versions of iPod updater for window you can get here
http://www.ipodwizard.net/showthread.php?t=7369
F. Try these five steps (known as the five Rs) and it would conquer most iPod issues.
http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/
G. Try to put the iPod into Disk Mode if it fails to appear on the desktop
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93651
If none of these steps address the issue, you may need to go to Intermediate level listed below in logical order. Check from the top of the lists to see if that is what keeping iPod from appearing on your computer in order for doing the Restore.
Intermediate Level
A. Try to connect your iPod with another computer with the iPod updater pre-installed.
B. Still can’t see your iPod, put it in Disk Mode and connect with a computer, instead of doing a Restore on iPod Updater. Go and format the iPod instead.
For Mac computer
1. Open the disk utility, hope your iPod appears there (left hand side), highlight it
2. Go to Tab “Partition”, click either “Delete” or “Partition”, if fails, skip this step and go to 3
3. Go to Tab “Erase” , choose Volume Format as “MAC OS Extended (Journaled), and click Erase, again if fails, skip it and go to 4
4. Same as step 3, but open the “Security Options....” and choose “Zero Out Data” before click Erase. It will take 1 to 2 hours to complete.
5. Eject your iPod and do a Reset
6. Open the iTunes 7 and click “Restore”
For Window computer
Go to folder “My Computer”
Hope you can see your iPod there and right click on the iPod
Choose “Format”. Ensure the settings are at “Default” and that “Quick Format” is not checked
Now select “Format”
Eject your iPod and do a Reset
Open the iTunes 7 and click “Restore”
In case you do not manage to do a “Format” on a window computer, try to use some 3rd party disk utility software, e.g.“HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool”.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=501330&tstart=0
C. Windows users having trouble with their iPods should locate a Mac user. In many cases when an iPod won't show up on a PC that it will show up on the Mac. Then it can be restored. When the PC user returns to his computer the iPod will be recognized by the PC, reformatted for the PC, and usable again. By the way, it works in reverse too. A Mac user often can get his iPod back by connecting it to a PC and restoring it.
Tips
a. It does not matter whether the format is completed or not, the key is to erase (or partly) the corrupted firmware files on the Hard Drive of the iPod. After that, when the iPod re-connected with a computer, it will be recognized as an fresh external hard drive, it will show up on the iTunes 7.
b. It is not a difficult issue for a Mac user to find a window base computer, for a PC user, if they can’t find any Mac user, they can go to a nearest Apple Shop for a favor.
c. You may need to switch around the PC and Mac, try to do several attempts between “Format” and “Restore”
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2364921&#2364921
Advance Level
A. Diagnostic mode solution
If you have tried trouble shooting your iPod to no avail after all the steps above, chances are your iPod has a hardware problem. The iPod's built-in Diagnostic Mode is a quick and easy way to determine if you have a "bad" iPod.
You need to restart your iPod before putting it into Diagnostic Mode. Check that your hold switch is off by sliding the switch away from the headphone jack. Toggle it on and off to be safe.
Press and hold the following combination of buttons simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds to reset the iPod.
iPod 1G to 3G: "Menu" and "Play/Pause"
iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Menu" and "Select"
The Apple logo will appear and you should feel the hard drive spinning up. Press and hold the following sequence of buttons:
iPod 1G to 3G: "REW", "FFW" and "Select"
iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Back" and "Select"
You will hear an audible chirp sound (3G models and higher) and the Apple logo should appear backwards. You are now in Diagnostic Mode. Navigate the list of tests using "REW" and "FFW". The scroll wheel will not function while in diagnostic mode. For further details on Diagnostic mode can be found at http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/ipodsupport/diagnosticmode/
Try to do the 5in1, HDD R/W and HDD scan tests. Some successful cases have been reported after the running the few tests under the Diagnostic mode. In case it does not work in your case, and the scan tests reports show some errors then it proves your iPod has a hardware problem and it needs a repairing service.
B. Format your iPod with a start disk
I have not tried this solution myself, I heard that there were few successful cases that the users managed to get their iPod (you must put your iPod in disk mode before connecting with a computer) mounted by the computer, which was booted by a system startup disk. For Mac, you can use the Disk Utility (on the Tiger OS system disk), for PC user, you can use the window OS system disk. Try to find a way to reformat your iPod, again it does not matter which format (FAT32, NTFS or HFS+) you choose, the key is to erase the corrupted system files on the iPod. Then eject your iPod and do a Reset to switch out from Disk Mode. Reboot your computer at the normal way, connect your iPod back with it, open the iPod updater, and hopefully your iPod will appear there for the Restore.
If none of these steps address the issue, your iPod may need to be repaired.
Consider setting up a mail-in repair for your iPod http://depot.info.apple.com/ipod/
Or visit your local Apple Retail Store http://www.apple.com/retail/
In case your iPod is no longer covered by the warranty and you want to find a second repairing company, you can try iPodResQ at your own risk
http://www.ipodresq.com/index.php
Just in case that you are at the following situation
Your iPod warranty is expired
You don’t want to pay any service charges
You are prepared to buy a new one
You can’t accept the re-sell value of your broken iPod
Rather than leave your iPod as paper-weight or throw it away.
You can try the following, but again, only do it as your last resort and at your own risk.
Warning !!!! – It may or may not manage to solve your problem, and with a risk that you may further damage your iPod, which end up as an expensive paper weight or you need to pay more higher repairing cost. Therefore, please re-consider again whether you want to try the next level
Last Resort Level
1. . Disconnecting the Hard Drive and battery inside the iPod – Warning !! Your iPod warranty will be waived once you open the iPod.
In Hong Kong there are some electronic shops offering an iPod service for Sad iPod, the first thing they do is to open up the iPod’s case and disconnecting the battery and the Hard Drive from the main board of the iPod. Wait for 5-10 minutes and reconnecting them back. The reason behind which I can think of is to do a fully reset of a processor of the iPod. In case you want do it itself and you believe that you are good on fixing the electronics devices and have experience to deal with small bits of electronic parts, then you can read the following of how to open the iPod case for battery and HDD replacement (with Quicktimes)
http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/index.cfm?page=Video/directory.html
2.Press the reset button on the Hard Drive inside the iPod – Suggestion from Kill8joy
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2438774#2438774
Have I tried these myself? No, I am afraid to do it myself as I am squeamish about tinkering inside electronic devices, I have few experiences that either I broke the parts (which are normally tiny or fragile) or failed to put the parts back to the main case. Therefore, I agree with suggestion to have it fixed by a Pro.
2. Do a search on Google and some topics on this discussion forum about “Sad iPod”
Exclamation point and folder and nothing else
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3597173#3597173
Exclamation point and folder and nothing else
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2831962#2831962
What should I do with my iPod? Send it or keep it?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=469080&tstart=0
Strange error on iPod (probably death)
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=435160&start=0&tstart=0
Sad Face on iPod for no apparent reason
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=336342&start=0&tstart=0
Meeting the Sad iPod icon
http://askpang.typepad.com/relevanthistory/2004/11/meeting_thesad.html#comment-10519524
Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2236095#2236095
iPod Photo: unhappy icon + warranty question
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2233746#2233746
4th Gen iPod Users - are we all having the same problem?
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=2235623#2235623
Low Battery, and clicking sounds
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2237714#2237714
Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2242018#2242018
Sad iPod solution
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=412033&tstart=0
Re: try to restore ipod and it says "can't mount ipod"
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=443659&tstart=30
iPod making clicking noise and is frozen
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2420150#2420150
Cant put it into disk mode
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3786084#3786084
I think my iPod just died its final death
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3813051
Apple logo & monochrome battery stay
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3827167#3827167
I am not suggesting that you should follow as well, but just read them as your reference. You are the person to make the call.
Finally, I read a fair comments from dwb, regarding of slapping the back of the iPod multiple times
Quote “This has been discussed numerous times as a 'fix'. It does work, at least for a while. In fact I remember using the same basic trick to revive Seagate and Quantam drives back in the mid to late 1980's. Why these tiny hard drives go bad I don't know - could be the actuator gets stuck in place or misaligned. Could be the platter gets stuck or the motor gets stuck. 'Stiction' was a problem for drives back in the 80's. Unfortunately the fix can cause damage to the platter so we temporarily fix one problem by creating another. But I know of two instances where a little slap onto the table revived the iPods and they are still worked a year or more later.”UnQuote

My sister's iPod isn't being read by iTunes.

My sister just got a new iPod Classic. We hooked it up to the family computer and Windows found it, but iTunes won't read it. We tried it on my computer and it worked fine. After updating iTunes and following the guide on this site, it still won't work. Any suggestions other than what we've already done? Is there a way to directly contact Apple? The family computer runs Windows XP Media Center Edition, by the way.

Well there are about a million "guides on this site" for the same problem.
Was it this one?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=304434
or this one?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301343

My ipod has been acting weird like it has been shutting off while plugged in the charging noise and animation have not been playing and it isn't being recognized by any computer even after 3 different cables how do I fix this?

PLZ Help I want to get my Ipod working again.

Try:
- iOS: Not responding or does not turn on
- Also try DFU mode after try recovery mode
How to put iPod touch / iPhone into DFU mode « Karthik's scribblings
- If not successful and you can't fully turn the iOS device fully off, let the battery fully drain. After charging for an least an hour try the above again.
- Try on another computer
- If still not successful that usually indicates a hardware problem and an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store is in order.
Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

My ipod isn't being recognized by my computer or itunes no matter what i do

I have tried my ipod on two different computer , install the new software and everything i could possibly do but it does have the folder with the icon but other then that it is frozen.

Got the same problem... ipod mini not recognised by the pc and the icon folder is displayed. Refused to reset or restore either from the pc via itunes or directly from the menu & set buttons on the ipod.
any luck in resolving it?

My iPod isn't being recognized by the computer.

I've had my classic since this past christmas (it's the new 120g), and last week, everything got wiped off of my iPod. I'm not sure what happened exactly. I restored it on my computer, and re-synced it. Ever since then, my iPod has been showing the big red X at least once a day. Sometimes I can restart it a couple of times, and it will be fine. Today it happened, and no matter how many times I reset it, it still shows the X. I have it plugged into my computer, but the computer doesn't recognize it. It doesn't show up on My Computer or iTunes or anything. I have no idea how to restore it or what do now. I've tried using the "contact the experts" thing online, but when I plug in the serial number for a classic (8M8398FV2C5), it tells me that the number is invalid. That's the number on the back of my iPod and when I plug that number in the search bar, it comes up with a classic.
Please help me, my iPod is my baby.

Did you try everything here:
iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Windows
or
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch: Device not recognized in iTunes for Mac OS X
Next try another computer.

My I iphone 4 isn't being recognized by any computer.

i have checked mulitple cables and computer and the iPhone doesn't shoe under my computer althou it does charge when i plug it to the computers usb

make sure you have itunes installed on that computer. itunes comes with the essential ios drivers which are needed in order for your computer to recognize your iphone.

My new iPod isn't being recognized by my computer

Here's my issue: the iPod is brand spankin' new; it was a graduation gift from my uncle, and since we finally got an operating system that's compatible with the software, I installed it all in yesterday. It posed no problems, so I downloaded music onto it and let it charge until this morning. When I took it off, it gave me the 'folder with exclamation point' icon, so I went to Apple's support site and it told me to download updater 2006-06-28. I was hesitant, so I tried everything else before I finally downloaded it.
Now, iTunes doesn't recognize it, the computer doesn't recognize it, and not even the freakin' updater recognizes it. Not to mention, of course, that all my music and settings have been completely erased from it and continue to be erased everytime I take it off in order to try something new.
Is there anything I can possibly do?
Windows XP

iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Windows
You need iTunes 10.7

Ipod isn't being recognized by my computer

My ipod has the icon that shows that it needs to be connected to itunes to be synchronized but once i connect it to the computer it won't recognize it. One of the reasons im thinking is because, i connected it to a new computer not the one i had originaly downloaded too. If this is the cause what can i do to install it to my new computer? All my USB ports are correct (I connected it to each one) and the wire is fine but i dont understand why it won't recognize it.
Pleas respond ASAP
Thank you
Andy61

Welcome to the discussions,
try the basic troubleshooting mentioned in this article: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1538

TS1538 my ipod touch 4g isn't being recognized by the computer nor Itunes.

My ipod touch 4g isn't being recognized by the computer nor itunes. I didn't charge my ipod for about a week and then I bought a new usb cord and since then my ipod won't be recongnized. I've tried everything and nothing seems to work. My ipod still charges on the computer. Please help!!!!

Did you try everything here:
iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Windows
or
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch: Device not recognized in iTunes for Mac OS X
Next try another computer.

HT2305 My iPod is not being read by iTunes. What do I do to be able to sync my iPod if iTunes is not starting the setup wizard for the iPod when it is connected to a Dell PC? I am new the iTunes and iPods.

My iPod is not being read by iTunes. What do I do to be able to sync my iPod if iTunes is not starting the setup wizard for the iPod when it is connected to a Dell PC? I am new the iTunes and iPods.

Hello, BAHannebaum.
The article below should resolve any device not being recognized in iTunes issue that you are experiencing. The most common issues are the Apple Mobile Device Support driver or iTunes is outdated. Start with the first step and test the results after each step processed.
iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Windows
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1538
Cheers,
Jason H.

My ipod touch is being read as just a simple camera and will not let me access it, how does one go about fixing this problem

My ipod touch is being read as just a simple camera and will not let me access it, how does one go about fixing this problem? My screen has recently cracked and i need to retrieve my music from it but cant do so when my computer is reading it as a camera and only showing me its pictures.

Here:
iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Windows
or
iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Mac OS X
Also try another computer.

I transfered all my G5 files onto a drive and am now trying to transfer to my new Mac Mini. I've selected my source as "another disc" but my drive (a rugged 500GB drive) isn't being recognized. Any tips?

I transfered all my G5 files onto a drive and am now trying to transfer to my new Mac Mini. I've selected my source as "another disc" but my drive (a rugged 500GB drive) isn't being recognized. Any tips?

Impossible to answer with information provided.
Allan

Low battery ipod is not being read by my new computer

I got a new computer recently and I hadn't thought of seeing if it could read my iPod or not. Today, I tried to charge it since it ran completely out of battery and I plugged it into my computer and nothing showed up. I read the pages on Windows not recognizing iPod, low battery, etc. but none of them has anything on Windows not reading the iPod software when the iPod's not working because there's no battery left.
Please help me?
iPod Nano (2nd Generation) Windows XP Pro

The iPod will not be read by your computer if there is no battery power. Leaving it connected for a while (sometimes quite a long while!) usually cures this.
However, sometimes if the battery gets completely discharged, simply connecting to a USB port on the computer doesn't supply enough power to "kick start" the charging process. In theory it should do, but yours seems to be a common problem.
Do you have access to a wall charger?

My Ipad 3rd Gen isn't being recognized by my computer...

My Ipad 3rd Gen isn't being recognized by my computer / (doesn't show up in itunes)...
I have tried to use it with the following:
Windows 8 64
Windows 7 64
Windows 7 32
Mac OS (newest)
All tried with Itunes 10.7.
I bought it about 3 weeks ago and activated it through WiFi.
It has never been recognized on any computer I have tired it with.
I also tried to connect in DFU mode(didnt work)
Do I have a defective Ipad?

make sure you have itunes installed on that computer. itunes comes with the essential ios drivers which are needed in order for your computer to recognize your iphone.

My ipod isn't being read by any computer

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