For the past week or so, every time I connected my iPod to my laptop, I would get a message alerting me to new iPod software that I should download. I avoided it for a while, but downloaded the software update yesterday. I disconnected my iPod from my laptop and when I put the cable back in, my computer shut off. I feared the worst when the computer wouldn't turn, but everything was fine after a few minutes.
Everything...except now my laptop isn't recognizing my iPod when I connect it to the USB port.
I went to apple's web site and the iPod manual covers what ails me, but it hasn't solved the problem.
"If you Connect iPod to a USB Port and it Doesn't Work Correctly"
"If you Connect iPod to your Computer and Nothing Happens"
As I've said, there is nothing in these sections that fix the problem. I reset my iPod, restarted my computer, checked the cable connections, and both the iPod and computer are fully powered. My iPod works, that's not a problem, and when I check the settings, it says it has the most current iPod software, so it seems like that correctly.
I also used my brother's cable to try and conect the iPod and laptop, but that, of course, didn't work.
I didn't think about that. I'm running XP Professional and it has system restore. I know what it does, but have never tried it myself. I'm hesitant to do so, but I don't even know why. I may try this tomorrow.
System Restore will take your computer back to exactly(more or less) as it was at a previous time. That time being the last time it created a restore point, which XP will create on it's own from time to time if you let it, or it will sometimes create one when you install certain devices or software. In other words, you may end up losing whatever changes you've made since the last restore point was created. Personally I've never had much luck with the feature and when it's allowed to make it's own points it can suck sytem resources to a huge degree so I disable the feature and take other precautions instead.
As for your USB problem, do any USB devices work when plugged into that port? Do you have any other devices you can test it with? The question is whether it's the Ipod or the USB port giving you the trouble. Go into your device manager and make sure the USB port is still listed there and says it's functioning. If you can get other devices to work on that port, then you'll have a better idea where to go next. If not, then I would suggest removing the USB port and having the computer find and install it again to see if that fixes the problem. Maybe even uninstall and reinstall the Ipod software while you're at it.
Thanks, wma, it looks like the problem is with the USB. I attached my external hard drive to the laptop and the USB is not picking it up. I went through Windows' troubleshooting and uninstalled then reinstalled each USB port listed, but it still doesn't work. And when I check device manager, it says that all USB devices are working properly.
I'm not sure where to go from here. Will time tell? Probably
I'm thinking it is more likely that you have a bad driver than a bad USB port. Do you have access to a CD-ROM burner? You could download a linux ISO that would boot from a CD and try the USB support from there. All this does is give you a way to test your hardware without reinstalling your OS - you don't accidentally install Linux
I think Morphix has pretty good USB support, as does the Ubuntu live CD if I recall correctly. If you want to try this and are afraid of Google, let me know and I'll laugh at you publically, then help.
Originally posted by Guru ZimIf you want to try this and are afraid of Google, let me know and I'll laugh at you publically, then help.
I'll take my chances with being laughed at, as I don't know exactly what I'm looking for.
I tried a few other things, including pressing F2 and F12 at startup and going through those menus, disconnecting USB at one point, but that didn't work. I also ran "SFC /scannow" and that did nothing.
The Linux ISO option would just help pinpoint where the problem is, it wouldn't fix it? I'm willing to try that (and updating the BIOS and chipset drivers), but I'll need a little help.
Yeah, so here's my thought process. If you can boot the Linux CD and your USB drive works, you know that you are looking at an OS level and not a Hardware level issue.
This could mean a couple of things; you may need to do a lot of OS troubleshooting in Windows in order to get everything to work.
On the plus side, if you can convince yourself that it isn't a hardware issue, it's probably easier to convince yourself to try out that system restore option and work forwards from your last known good config.
Keep in mind with Windows many people will tell you not to bother with all of this and just reinstall the OS, assuming your hardware is good.
Of course, if you boot the Linux CD and it doesn't work, this doesn't guarantee that the hardware is bad. It could just be incompatible. So, don't assume that No USB in Linux = Bad Hardware. You still have a few options.
#1, you could try to find one of those Windows PE (pre-installation) CD environments like Bart PE. I think this may have some USB driver support. You could also try to borrow a bootable USB device from someone else and set your BIOS up to boot from USB. You may already have this option with your USB hard drive.
Originally posted by Guru ZimYeah, so here's my thought process. If you can boot the Linux CD and your USB drive works, you know that you are looking at an OS level and not a Hardware level issue.
Or perhaps, locate a USB mouse/keyboard, and try plugging that into the USB port.
(edited by Leroy on 25.1.06 1816) "Those of you who think you know everything are annoying to those of us who do."
Well, if you are trying to determine if the USB driver in the OS is hosed or if the USB is broken, you'd probably still need a different OS to test it with.
A USB keyboard might be able to test this on boot, assuming you could hit F8 or something and get to safe mode. Do you have a USB Keyboard?
I bought that over the weekend. It does not solve the underlying issue of my usb ports, but it has solved my immediate need to update my iPod, print, and transfer files to the external hard drive.
Thanks for the suggestions. You all are truly the greatest friends in the history of life.
Cool. That works too. If you didn't have USB 2.0 before, you will also notice a nice speed boost on your 2.0 compliant devices like your iPod. Just make sure that your USB cable is rated for 2.0 - I recall that this makes a difference in the transfer speeds.
USB 2.0 will throttle down to 1.1 speeds with older devices and older cables, so just make sure that you are using 2.0 across the board with your newer stuff for the best performance.
Before that button was there, you could always have a separate buddy list saved somewhere you could load up, then set the preferences so only people on that list could see you.