Windows PARTIALLY reconises iPOD - Yes to iTunes, No to Windows Explorer...

Question

Right, I've read all of the posts on the fourms about connection to Windows, but this one is slightly different.
My ipod nano (4gb), has been working just fine for a couple of months (has just been replaced by Apple). I use it primarily for music through iTunes, but also sometimes as a portable hard drive.
All of iTunes and music is stored on my PC at home, but I also connect nearly every day to the PC's at my university.
Ok - so I'm sitting right now at the uni with my ipod connected (to charge), and the uni machines immediately pick it up and add it as a device. It is currently showing in Windows Explorer, and I can view it, edit it, and access all of the information that is currently on it - no problem.
The problem happened yesterday at home. For the first time ever, when connected my PC no longer recognises it properly. When you connect it initially, you get the "new device" sound from Windows, and the "new hardware" icon in the system tray pops fine. If I have Windows explorer open, it shows the Ipod fine, and allocates it a drive letter.
HOWEVER, after about 5 or 6 seconds, the ipod entry in Windows Explorer disappears again, never to be seen again. From this point on, it is inaccessible through Windows explorer.
FURTHERMORE, iTunes still picks it up fine! Even after it has disappeared from Windows explorer, it is still sitting there in the left hand menu of iTunes just fine. I can still access and update ok within iTunes - from the iTunes point of view, there doesn't seem to be any problem at all.
Therefore I am extremely confused.
It has been a couple of weeks since I last used the ipod with my home machine. The ONLY thing that has changed, is the SP2 updates which the machine automatically downloaded and updated. Therefore, I am concerned that this is the direct cause. I use Norton Internet Security 2006 on my machine, and it kicks up all sorts of fuss, if you don't have Windows updater set to automatic. I am aware of several Windows updates that it is has downloaded automatically (which you can see installing during the shut-down sequence).
* I can eliminate my apple data cable, as it is working fine on the PC that I am using right now.
* I can eliminate the ipod itself, as again, this is working fine with the PC that I am using right now.
* I can eliminate my USB ports on my home machine, as they too work fine with several other flash sticks connected to them.
* I have NOT downloaded or installed the recent 23.6.06 ipod updater which seems to be causing everyone lots of bother!
If I disconnect and reconnect the ipod, Windows Explorer, then briefly picks it up again, but then loses it again after about 6 seconds!
Also - the ipod is picked up fine (when connected) in Device Manager. It is listed under the "disk drives" icon, and when probed, Device Manager claims that it is working properly.
Also - the ipod is listed under the "safely remove hardware" icon in the sys tray. It simply isn't given a drive letter, which is the only apparent problem.
I remain CONFUSED, as it to what is partially blocking my ipod - it is clearly linked to Windows Explorer, and my guess is that some sort of security feature is causing it not to have a drive letter. I have Norton in charge of my security settings, and have mostly disengaged Windows in-house security settings.
I would be VERY, VERY grateful if someone can please help me, or let me know if they have suffered the same problem, and identified the resolution.
If I can't find an answer - I will try the 5 R's - which I didn't have time to do yesterday, and update if this is successful.
Thanks
Compaq PIV 3GHZ   Windows XP Pro   512MB / 120GB / USB 2.0 / Firewire

Answer 1

Can I ask you another question? (separate)
When using itunes - I had thought that you could literally dump ALL of your music into the itunes library and purely select what you want to appear on you ipod, by selecting the check-boxes, next to each track listed in the main library!?
I have my ipod full all of the time - and I would like to think that I can add more to my itunes library than actually appears on the ipod itself. However, I find that when I add a new folder to the itunes library - if I update my track listings by unchecking the older stuff in the itunes library that I want to remove from the ipod, and leaving the new stuff checked - when you click on update ipod - it does not delete the old "unchecked in itunes" stuff as I want it, and merely tries to add the new tracks. Because the ipod is already full - it cannot continue, and tried to offer a compromise of adding as much as it can etc etc.
The only way I have found to remedy this so far, is to physically "clear" all of the unwanted songs from the itunes library (but keeping the files where they are located on the HD), and then adding the new tracks/folders - and then itunes DOES delete the removed songs from the library, and adds the new ones.....
Is there a better way of doing this?
hi Richard!
Why also then, will she not show up on my home PC
(with the itunes installed), but show up perfectly
fine in Windows Explorer on the uni PC's?
yeah, i'm wondering about that too. the settings
in that preference tab are (mostly) stored on the
ipod itself, which is how if you switch an ipod to
"manually manage" on one PC, it connects manually to
a different PC also. so, initially, we're going to be
trying to work out which PCs (home or Uni) you're
getting the anomalous behavior on.
perhaps take a note of what preferences you've got
engaged when you're plugged into one of the uni PCs,
too? that might help with the untangling process.
keep us posted.
love, b