idumb,,, ipod nano help

[juanbenae]

got a nano for christmas and am having a hell of a time getting it to work. in fact ive already returned one and the 2nd is doing the same thing, meaning user error.

the facts- windows XP, it is recognized by "my computer" and is shown as a connected device, in a working USB port.

the unit- 1st unit charged for a full day and the screen continues to read "connected eject before disconnect", although when docked to my computer none of the ipod exterior buttons work, i cant pull up the menu or get it to react.. it states in the small included packaging when plugged in it should prompt me through instructions and such & ive been unable to get this to do anything. when i explore the ipod file it asks using what formate do i want to open it with? i tried the windows media player but it says no go.

i am about ready to chuck this thing out in the yard after trying the ipod help site...

thanks in advance,

toby

[slodave]

Have you installed the software?

[stomachmonkey]

iTunes that is.

[RANDY P]

you need the itunes installed - it will recognize the ipod and then will facilitate synchronizing between computer and ipod as it's described in the owners manual.

Also- it will act that way if you "enable disk use" on the ipod through itunes, you need to manually eject or use windows safely remove hardware feature to disconnect.

rjp

[peppy]

Originally Posted by car 311

got a nano for christmas and am having a hell of a time getting it to work. in fact ive already returned one and the 2nd is doing the same thing, meaning user error.

the facts- windows XP, it is recognized by "my computer" and is shown as a connected device, in a working USB port.

the unit- 1st unit charged for a full day and the screen continues to read "connected eject before disconnect", although when docked to my computer none of the ipod exterior buttons work, i cant pull up the menu or get it to react.. it states in the small included packaging when plugged in it should prompt me through instructions and such & ive been unable to get this to do anything. when i explore the ipod file it asks using what formate do i want to open it with? i tried the windows media player but it says no go.

i am about ready to chuck this thing out in the yard after trying the ipod help site...


thanks in advance,

toby

So I am not the only one.

Good luck Toby.

[ruf-porsche]

Originally Posted by peppy

So I am not the only one.

Good luck Toby.

Nope, you're the SECOND one on this thread that forgot to install Itune on their computer before using?

Even my 6 year old daughter can use her ipod and Itune.

[ruf-porsche]

Originally Posted by car 311

the facts- windows XP, it is recognized by "my computer" and is shown as a connected device, in a working USB port.

toby

Next time try it with a MAC.

[ramonesfreak]

as others have said, install itunes and youll see what to do

you dont use windows media player to explore ipod files !

it is perfectly normal that your ipod buttons do not respond when it is connected to the computer

if you dont have a disc with itunes software, you can download if off apple's site for free...takes just a few minutes. install and the plug in nano and youll see that itunes recognizes that its connected

[peppy]

Originally Posted by ruf-porsche

Nope, you're the SECOND one on this thread that forgot to install Itune on their computer before using?

Even my 6 year old daughter can use her ipod and Itune.

Oh, I down loaded itunes, but I still had a hard time with it.

[masraum]

You've probably already gotten this, but you have to install iTunes.

Without iTunes installed you CAN'T DO ANYTHING with a iPod. There are a couple of other pieces of software that allow you to use an iPod, but your best bet is to use iTunes.

NOTE: When the iPod is connected to the computer, you can't do anything with it. The computer assumes control of the iPod until you tell the computer (through iTunes) to "eject" the iPod.

[RANDY P]

IPOD basically operates like a removable HDD or USB flash drive in absence of ITUNES...

I used mine the other day to reload my computer after wiping it clean because of viruses. Plugged it into the fresh windows install without even proper drivers and the machine recognized it and I accessed the IPOD easily on my laptop.

rjp

[ruf-porsche]

Originally Posted by peppy

Oh, I down loaded itunes, but I still had a hard time with it.

Why?

You can configure Itune to load itself when the ipod is connected to the computer. From there it is just a matter of buying songs, movies, podcasts from the itune store or uploading songs from your cd or digital media to itune.

Transferring song from itune to an ipod is as easy as dragging and dropping. Couldn't be any simpler than that. If this was a Geico commerical I would say that it is so simple to use that even a CAVEMAN can use it (Hope the Z-man don't edit me).

[JavaBrewer]

Not so fast Ruf. I have two PC's, older P4 machines, that refuse to work with iTunes. If I plug in my iPod via USB the iTunes software will see it just fine but the second I try to sync or restore the iPod the iTunes software will crash leaving the iPod device iWiped.

Love the UI hate the software. iPod that is.

[ruf-porsche]

Originally Posted by dmoolenaar

Not so fast Ruf. I have two PC's, older P4 machines, that refuse to work with iTunes. If I plug in my iPod via USB the iTunes software will see it just fine but the second I try to sync or restore the iPod the iTunes software will crash leaving the iPod device iWiped.

Love the UI hate the software. iPod that is.

I run Itune on two P3 desktop and on four P4 laptop without any problems.
The desktops are Compaq with windows 2000, DELL with XP for home

Laptops are Toshiba running XP, HP running XP Pro, Dell running XP Pro, and another Toshiba running XP for Home.

[masraum]

I installed iTunes about 4-6 years ago when we got my daughter her first iPod. It crashed my machine. I uninstalled. I got an iPod 2 years ago as a Christmas present. I reinstalled the then current version of iTunes on my old Celeron processor eMachines machine (same one that crashed with the old iTunes) and haven't had a problem. I have iTunes on my new Vista/64 machine without any problems.

[Freybird]

I had a difficult time with mine also. Finally, I had to put it in Disc mode and then all was good.

[BReif61]

If you follow the instructions provided in the box you should be golden. I had zero problems setting mine up.

Just make sure you click "____'s iPod" on the iTunes sidebar, the click "sync" to get your music on it.

[ruf-porsche]

Originally Posted by BReif61

If you follow the instructions provided in the box you should be golden. I had zero problems setting mine up.

Just make sure you click "____'s iPod" on the iTunes sidebar, the click "sync" to get your music on it.

I like to manage my music manually and not synch it with a particular computer since we have some many computers running.

[BReif61]

Originally Posted by ruf-porsche

I like to manage my music manually and not synch it with a particular computer since we have some many computers running.

Ah. I'm a one-computer guy, so that's not something I've ever had to account for.

[teenerted1]

iTunes and iPods suck with a PC... iknow from personal experience WindowsXP user two.

have had three ipods and if you load the software first they will work for a while, but eventually any crash on your system will make the PC forget how to recognise you iPod.
iTunes finally crashed on my PC a year ago so all i use the USB for is to recharge the battery on the iPod. luckily the memory on the Ipod was full so i have a functioning library that i can listen thru the headphone port. but i have gone back to buying CD's again lately.

if i get another as a gift again down loading the NEW software might wake up they system but i doubt it.