mounting iPod

Open iTunes and connect your iPod:

A button on the iTunes navigation will appear. It will look like an iPod icon. Click it.

Select manual updating, rather than automatic.

Also, I would not recommend using the iPod as a Hard Drive. Transfer files over from one computer to another either directly or through CD/Zip media, or through the internet.

 

Why not, praytell? I use mine for file transfers to and from work, since I carry it with me anyway, I don't have to worry about grabbing the wrong CD...

pnw

 

I don't believe there is any harm associated with using the iPod as a backup device, I just think the original poster should be aware the price of the iPod's storage/dollar ratio is extremely high...much higher than an external hard drive from say LaCie....

 

I have tried to use the iPod as a Hard Drive many time before, for files transfers as small as 100MB. But, with the latest Mac OS software and the latest iPod OS installed at the time (this being the days of 10.1.5 up through 10.2.3) I had countless -36 errors, interrupting my file transfers, and causing the I/O processes to be halted for over a minute before I got the error message.

(iPod: 5GB model)

This even occured multiple times after I refreshed my computer and iPod completely and installed the latest software. I have had no success to navigate around the situation except for not using the iPod as a Hard Drive.

 

Problems with iPod as external HD?

I find King Cobra's comments rather alarming. I have been planning on getting an iPod for a while, and one of the ways I could justify the expense is that it could be used as both music box and backup/portable storage. Does anyone else agree that there are lots of problems with iPod as external HD?

 

No problems in using an iPod as an HD. Just read the manual before deciding.

TEG

 

I'll tell you what.

Let me try it again.

I have OS X 10.2.6 on two recently refresh machines. And I'll refresh my iPod completley and copy 4.5GB of information onto my 5GB model as a Hard Drive form one computer to another.

I'll let you know how it turned out...in a new post.

 

My attempt failed...yet again.

I kept a somewhat detailed progress.

I also did a fresh download and install of the latest available iPod software: version 1.3. I made no sudden movements with the iPod during or following the install.

After I copied 4.51GB of info to my refreshed iPod, I transferred my iPod to my Cube. I began the data into one folder.

Start: 7:45:15
500MB: 7:46:10
1GB: 7:47:08
1.6GB: 7:48:08
2GB: 7:48:56
2.5GB: 7:49:57
3GB: 7:50:51
4GB: 7:52:38

At 4.05GB, all transfers hung.
4.05GB: 7:53:00

The progress bar was stationairy, and no sync arrows appeared on the iPod. It has been hanging for 10 minutes.

I tried to terminate the progress window:
Attempt to abort: 8:03:41
Response: never

I had to force eject my iPod physically.


This is why I don't use my iPod as a Hard Drive. Yet I have not heard one such story from a 10+GB iPod user.

 

Yikes. That really sucks, King Cobra. Have you asked anyone at Apple about this (like a Genius at one of the Apple Stores)..? I would be upset about that problem if I spent my hard-earned money on an iPod.

 

Personally, I don't give two sh*** about the iPod being used as an external Hard Drive. I rarely ever have to resort to that method, when I have only around four other ways of getting information from one computer to another:

TDM
Ethernet Network
CD-RW
hotmail account (which has been dormant for about 100 years now)

 

Wait..isn't the actual usable size of a 5 gig iPod actually alot less then 5 gig. Is it possible that you are running out of room.

Anyway..I use mine for storage all the time no prob. I dont copy 4.5 gig files....Maybe 300 meg files. 4.5 Gig file is a little much I think..

 

aye, I use my old 10giger for file transfers all the time. Very useful and fast. Tazo's right about using it for backups though - it's far too expensive for that.

 

-->Wait..isn't the actual usable size of a 5 gig iPod actually alot less then 5 gig. Is it possible that you are running out of room. (DeadlyBreakfast)

No. I have made similar attempts with data transfers with my iPod when it has had over 2GB of extra space leftover.

But, again, 10GB and above models don't have this same problem. Perhaps I damaged the iPod somehow...?

Worse, my warranty is out.

But I can still play breakout and jack music through a set of earplugs.