Can't transfer songs from iTunes to iPod!!

[Lexico]

Hi everybody, pleeeeease help me! I have a huuuuge problem with my iPod... I'll try to explain everything so you have all the info
Ok, so I use iTunes to transfer songs from my hard disk to the iPod... I don't have it sync, I just transfer manually the songs.
But, just a few weeks ago, with no aparent reason (I didn't install anything nor change anything), it stopped working. But this is the weird part: The iTunes acts as if there's no problem, it shows me the percentage of transfer, everything as normal. I can even play the songs from the iPod once transferred. But, the moment I unplug the iPod, it all disappears... it's like nothing ever happened! The songs aren't there and if I plug it again, they don't appear, like if I never transferred them! I don't know what to do! Everything I do with iTunes seems to work just fine, but when I unplug the iPod, nothing changes, it doesn't keep the changes!
I tried it on another computer (both PC) and got the same result. The only way I managed to transfer songs was using the Winamp plug-in (isn't that odd?). You might tell me to drop iTunes and use Winamp, but that plug-in is pretty lame, it doesn't have much options, and it's hard to work with it.
And here's something funny... I plugged the iPod to a Mac, and it worked perfectly! I could copy all the songs and the iPod kept them! So what could be the problem?? I don't wanna restore the iPod because... what if it doesn't work? Then I won't be able to transfer songs AND I won't have the songs I currently have on my iPod!

You may be bored now, but thanks even for reading... anyone with a solution, I'm all ears!

Oh, something else that might be important... once every while, when I try to copy the songs from iTunes to the iPod, it doesn't work and shows me a message that says that the disk may be corrupt... I know that's bad news, but it doesn't happen often, so I don't think THAT can be the whole problem... maybe just a side effect...

PS: Sorry about my english, if it's bad, I'm from Argentina

[iSaint]

Just a quick question because you didn't specify: are you properly ejecting the iPod from your computer before disconnecting it?

Also, give us details on what kind of iPod it is, and what kind of computer your iTunes is on. The more details you can give the folks at MacRumors, the better chance we have of helping you.

And your english is fine...

[Lexico]

Originally Posted by iSaint

Just a quick question because you didn't specify: are you properly ejecting the iPod from your computer before disconnecting it?

Also, give us details on what kind of iPod it is, and what kind of computer your iTunes is on. The more details you can give the folks at MacRumors, the better chance we have of helping you.

And your english is fine...

Of course, anything I can tell you that may help, I will do it!
That's a very good question, you see... I usually eject the iPod correctly, by pressing the button on iTunes or stopping the service on Windows... but, just this one time, a few weeks ago, my Windows crashed so I had to unplug the iPod without ejecting it... it was just the one time, and I waited for so long before doing it (I was afraid of doing something seriously wrong!). Please don't tell me that was the problem, because I'd kill myself!!!

My iPod is, I think, 4th generation... no video, no color, just regular 20 Gb iPod with Click Wheel... my computer is an Athlon 1800+, 1,25 Gb RAM (1Gb + 256 Mb), mmhh, Windows XP Pro, I connect the iPod through USB 2.0... and anything else you need to know, please ask me!
The other computer I tried the iPod is very similar to mine... and the Mac I tried it on (the one that worked) is a Mac Mini...

Thanks for answering!

[clintob]

Your iPod's hard disk is either corrupted or dying. Try these steps:

1) Eject your iPod.
2) Make sure you have installed all the iTunes updates.
3) Rebuild your iTunes library to make sure the XML file is intact and clean. You can find the directions for that here.
4) Plug in iPid and use the updater to completely restore your iPod to it's factory settings.
5) Replace the entire library on your iPod.

This fixes most corruption issues (which you have). IF it doesn't, it means there's a section of your actual iPod hard disk that is damaged or corrupt. You can try to run Disk Utility and repar and/or reformat the iPod's drive and then try the steps above another time.

Finally, bring your iPod to a local Apple Store or repair center and hope they don't tell you it's time to buy a new one.

[iSaint]

I'm not so familiar with iPod use on a Windows computer. The Apple support page for your iPod is going to walk you through the 5 R's, which includes resetting and restoring. There is also information on troubleshooting iTunes on a Windows computer.

Of course, since you said it works on a Mac Mini, why don't you go ahead and get a Mac?!

That's all I can offer at this point. If you can create backups of your iTunes and your iPod's music separately, then maybe you won't have to worry so much about restoring. You can pull music off of your iPod using programs like these on Versiontracker that allow you to mount your iPod and transfer music and other files to your PC.

I know there are many more people on this board who are more knowledgable than I am. Maybe they can offer further insight.

[Lexico]

Originally Posted by clintob

Your iPod's hard disk is either corrupted or dying.

Originally Posted by clintob

1) Eject your iPod.
2) Make sure you have installed all the iTunes updates.
3) Rebuild your iTunes library to make sure the XML file is intact and clean. You can find the directions for that here.
4) Plug in iPid and use the updater to completely restore your iPod to it's factory settings.
5) Replace the entire library on your iPod.

I can do all those things... the thing is... I'm afraid that, once I do that, I still won't be able to transfer songs... if that happens, then I will find myself with an empty iPod, and that's even worst than what I have now!

Originally Posted by clintob

You can try to run Disk Utility and repar and/or reformat the iPod's drive and then try the steps above another time.

Do you know any Windows application to repair an iPod disk?

Originally Posted by clintob

Finally, bring your iPod to a local Apple Store or repair center and hope they don't tell you it's time to buy a new one.

I did that, but the first thing they offer is to restore the iPod... pretty much the same you're saying here... and I refused due to what I just said...

Originally Posted by iSaint

I'm not so familiar with iPod use on a Windows computer. The Apple support page for your iPod is going to walk you through the 5 R's, which includes resetting and restoring. There is also information on troubleshooting iTunes on a Windows computer.

I've seen them, none of them worked for me... and the 5 R's... well, as I said, I'm worry about the "Restore" R...

Originally Posted by iSaint

Of course, since you said it works on a Mac Mini, why don't you go ahead and get a Mac?!

Hahahaha, believe me, I would if I could! But here, in Argentina, any Mac is way too expensive for the regular guy. In fact, the iPod is also something a little out of reach (I saved money for quite a long time in order to buy mine). That's why I need mine repaired! I couldn't possibly afford buying another iPod!

Originally Posted by iSaint

That's all I can offer at this point. If you can create backups of your iTunes and your iPod's music separately, then maybe you won't have to worry so much about restoring. You can pull music off of your iPod using programs like these on Versiontracker that allow you to mount your iPod and transfer music and other files to your PC.

All the music in my iPod is also in my computer That's no problem. The problem is not being able to transfer them back to the iPod once it's restored.

Originally Posted by iSaint

I know there are many more people on this board who are more knowledgable than I am. Maybe they can offer further insight.

That's ok, thanks a whole lot to you and clintob for all your help.
Clintob, I will take my iPod to the guys I bought it from (it's still under guarantee). If they can't give me any solution, I will try what you told me

Any other help you can give me, it's, of course, very welcome!

[iSaint]

The 5 Rs, including restoring, will be your best bet. If you back up your music you'll be fine. Restoring your iPod and reinstalling iTunes does erase your data. But, that's why you backup!

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[Jone Line]

It's because your iPod can only be synced to one computer at a time unless you enable the Manually manage music and videos option from under your iPod's summary tab. However, this method of syncing is much different from having iTunes automatically sync content for you.
So in order to sync your iPod with the new iTunes you'll need to copy the music from your iPod over to your new PC and then erase and sync it.
For more information on copying content to an iPod manually see this article how to transfer or copy music from iPod to computer.
Hopefully this works for all of you like it just worked for me!

[Lexico]

Originally Posted by Jone Line

It's because your iPod can only be synced to one computer at a time unless you enable the Manually manage music and videos option from under your iPod's summary tab. However, this method of syncing is much different from having iTunes automatically sync content for you.
So in order to sync your iPod with the new iTunes you'll need to copy the music from your iPod over to your new PC and then erase and sync it.

I don't mean to sound rude, but please check the dates before posting an answer, my question was posted 5 years ago! That iPod is completely broken by now, and I own an iPod Touch 4 now which works wonderfully.

Thanks for the troubles though!

[RustyLocks]

Sorry for the really late reply; but I just have one question;

My iPod is going through the EXACT same problem. Except I restored it and now I have a empty music player because as you predicted, it still won't accept song after you eject it [the proper way]. ( I read this AFTER I restored it... wish I'd come here first :L ).

Anyway, I did everything you did, I got the same warning messages. I've a 7th Gen iPod Classic, 120 gb, and I'm using Vista WITH 3GB RAM, 2.20 GHz Triple-Core Processor, 64-bit OS.


My question is whether there is anything I can do? Or can anyone else offer a solution?
Or is this history repeating itself and am I supposed to get a new one?

[xixameltor]

I would not use itunes. I would upgrade to some other system. Look at the very top posting on this page and go to almost the bottom. itunes shoots first and asks questins later with security issues. By using a new computer itunes will concider what you are doing as a security risk. You might be able to find someone that can walk you through it but if you slip itunes can delete your music, lock your ipod so you can't use it without hacking it etc.
Besides,there are some articles about transferring iPod Muisc to iTunes.
For Windows: How to transfer music from iPod to iTunes on PC
For Mac OS: How to transfer music from iPod to iTunes on Mac
Hope that work for you so much.

[maplelegend]

Actually you can consider transfer music to your ipod without using itunes.I also had many problems using itunes for transfering sometimes.Sometime it went too slowly to crash my computer.Therefore I use some 3-rd party software which enables me to do all the transfer without iTunes.
Here comes some FYI:
How to transfer songs from PC to iPod without iTunes
How to transfer or backup songs from iPod to Mac